By BassFan Staff

Less than a pound will separate the Top 3 anglers when the weather-delayed final round of the Bull Shoals Lake Bassmaster Elite Series gets under way on Monday. What's set that trio apart to this point has been remarkable consistency – between them, they haven't weighed a bag lighter than 13-09 nor heavier than 15-05 on the ever-changing Ozarks impoundment.

Second-year pro Casey Scanlon, a Kansan with a great deal of experience in the region, took over the lead on day 3 with a 13-12 sack that bumped his total to 43-14. He's closely pursued by two running buddies from the Palatka, Fla. area

Terry Scroggins, still seeking an elusive first Elite triumph, is just 12 ounces back with 43-02 after catching 13-09. Cliff Prince, who like Scanlon is in his second year on the circuit, sacked a day-best 14-11 to climb into 3rd with 42-15.

Bassmaster Classic champion Cliff Pace slipped one position to 4th with a 12-01 stringer that gave him a 41-15 aggregate, but he's still very much in the hunt. So are Jonathon VanDam and Fred Roumbanis, who are tied for 5th with 40-07 after catching 14-05 and 12-07, respectively.

Here are the totals for the 12 competitors who'll return to the water tomorrow:

1. Casey Scanlon: 43-14
2. Terry Scroggins: 43-02 (0-12)
3. Cliff Prince: 42-15 (0-15)
4. Cliff Pace: 41-15 (1-15)
5. (tie) Jonathon VanDam: 40-07 (3-07)
5. (tie) Fred Roumbanis: 40-07 (3-07)
7. Britt Myers: 40-06 (3-08)
8. Brian Snowden: 39-09 (4-05)
9. Casey Ashley: 39-08 (4-06)
10. Greg Hackney: 38-12 (5-02)
11. Jason Christie: 38-08 (5-06)
12. Chris Zaldain: 37-14 (6-00)

Conditions today were breezy and overcast for the most part, but the fish didn't bite as well as some anticipated under that scenario. Three anglers who'd started the day in the Top 12 managed 7 1/2 pounds or less, including two-day leader Greg Vinson, who weighed in five barely legal spotted bass and plummeted to 23rd place.

Also falling out of the 12-cut were Pete Ponds (5th to 27th, 7-06 on day 3), Ish Monroe (11th to 41st, 5-10) and Skeet Reese (12th to 13th, 11-00). They were supplanted by VanDam (17th to 5th, 14-05), Casey Ashley (16th to 9th, 13-05), Greg Hackney (19th to 10th, 13-01) and Jason Christie (14th to 11th, 12-01).



B.A.S.S./Gary Tramontina
Photo: B.A.S.S./Gary Tramontina

Terry Scroggins moved up two places on day 3 despite weighing his lightest bag of the event.

The sun will be much more prevalent tomorrow, which opens up the possibility for sight-fishing to play a prominent role in the outcome. The consensus is that more and more fish are continuing to move shallow as the weather and the water warm up. The high air temperature is expected to reach 72 degrees, with the wind blowing from the south/southeast at 13 mph.

Scanlon's Bites were Limited

> Day 3: 5, 13-12 (15, 43-14)

Scanlon caught 18 keepers today, which was about half of his total from the previous day. He had a small limit by 8 o'clock and upgraded gradually throughout the remainder of the day.

He weighed five smallmouths that were all in the 2 1/2- to 3-pound range.

"I lost three that I never saw, but they were pretty good ones, I believe," he said. "They were biting funny today and I had several strikes that I just couldn't get the hook into.

"I tried a few places I'd been saving, but there wasn't anything on them for whatever reason. Maybe my timing was off. I went shallow for awhile and caught a few keepers, but they weren't what I was looking for."

He said he isn't nervous heading into what will be the biggest day of his pro career thus far.

"I'd much rather be in first in this tournament than anywhere because it's going to come down to ounces and every ounce I'm ahead, that's one I don't have to make up. I'm not really feeling any pressure. I'm just looking forward to going out and having a good day."

2nd: Scroggins a Little Lighter

> Day 3: 5, 13-09 (15, 43-02)

Scroggins came in with less than 14 pounds for the first time in the event, but gained two places in the standings.

"I caught a bunch, but the quality wasn't the same as it was the last couple days," he said. "I only had a few ounces less, but yesterday I threw back the same size limit I had today.

"I'm liking it, though. Whoever can get a 4- or 4 1/2-pound kicker tomorrow is probably going to win. It's going to be a close one."

B.A.S.S./Gary Tramontina
Photo: B.A.S.S./Gary Tramontina

A 3-pounder was the biggest fish he caught today. He lost a few, but didn't know whether they would've gone to the scale.

"I'd say if I can catch 15 pounds tomorrow, I'll have a really good shot at it. It's warming back up and the fish are wanting to go to the bank, but there's still a lot out deep. I'll keep doing what I've been doing and if it doesn't work, I'll go to the bank."

3rd: Prince is Confident

> Day 3: 5, 14-11 (15, 42-15)

Prince is brimming with enthusiasm for the final day.

"I really believe it's my tournament to win," he said. "Steve Kennedy and I have been sharing a pocket, me on one side and him on the other, and he's been catching them about like I've been. He won't be there tomorrow and that'll give me a little more room to operate.

"With nobody in there with me, I think I've got a legitimate chance."

He made two major upgrades in the final hour of day 3.

"I made a move to where I'd caught some really good ones the first day, and then left alone the second day. I decided to run up there just to check it and I caught two of the biggest smallmouths I've seen all week.

"The real difference today, though, was I also had two really good largemouths, about 3 1/4 (pounds) each. I hadn't been catching those."

He's employed a variety of tactics to this point.

"I'm fishing out deep and I've thrown everything but the kitchen sink, and I've caught them on everything. I can throw a shaky-head until I think I've got them all caught, then pick up a jig and cull everything I had."

4th: Pace Stays Put

> Day 3: 5, 12-01 (15, 41-15)

Pace has been in 3rd place after each of the three weigh-ins and has one more chance to make an upward move. He boated just five keepers on day 3 and the last one didn't bite until 10 minutes prior to check-in time.

"My fish left and went toward the bank," he said. "I had to change up this afternoon to catch a few and I don't know what to expect tomorrow. As it has been every day, yesterday is pretty useless in this event."

He weighed three smallmouths, a largemouth and a spot. None were over 2 1/2 pounds.

"I've got a few ideas about tomorrow, but I need to take them one step at a time and just go fishing. This isn't a tournament where you're going to find big schools of fish – I'm fishing a pattern and when the pattern changes, I have to figure it out and run with it.

"Today I didn't figure it out until 12 o'clock and tomorrow I hope it'll happen a little quicker."

23rd: No Regrets for Vinson

> Day 3: 5, 5-12 (15, 36-01)

Greg Vinson said his primary area changed dramatically today.

"I think the biggest thing that hurt me was some big mats of (vegetative) trash blew in," he said. "It didn't worry me too much when I got there because I thought I could work around it and let the fish reposition or whatever, but that didn't work.

"The baitfish had left, too, and I think those were what was keeping (the bass) there and allowing them to replenish. I tried quite a few things in that same creek arm, but I couldn't find them. Some might've moved up to spawn, but all I saw up shallow were males."

He fished most of the week with two jerkbaits – a Megabass Vision 110 and a Lucky Craft Slender Pointer.

"The biggest think I was keying on was the margin where the dirty water and the clean water met. Something was going on with that trash, though – they either moved or didn't want to bite or something.

"I don't have any regrets and I'm not going to beat myself up over it. It was something that, as far as I can tell, was beyond my control."

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 50 anglers, 44 limits, 3 fours, 2 threes, 1 one.

> Edwin Evers, who finished 25th, will be the new leader on the Toyota Tundra B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year race when the event concludes.

Weather Forecast

> Mon., April 22 – Mostly Sunny - 72°/52°
- Wind: From the S/SE at 13 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Casey Scanlon -- Lenexa, KS -- 15, 43-14 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05 -- Day 3: 5, 13-12

2. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 15, 43-02 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-11 -- Day 3: 5, 13-09

3. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 15, 42-15 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 14-01 -- Day 3: 5, 14-11

4. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 15, 41-15 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12 -- Day 3: 5, 12-01

5. Jonathon VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 15, 40-07 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 12-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06 -- Day 3: 5, 14-05

6. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, OK -- 15, 40-07 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 14-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00 -- Day 3: 5, 12-07

7. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 15, 40-06 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 13-05 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06 -- Day 3: 5, 12-11

8. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 15, 39-09 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 14-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-05 -- Day 3: 5, 11-12

9. Casey D Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 15, 39-08 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06 -- Day 3: 5, 13-05

10. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 15, 38-12 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00 -- Day 3: 5, 13-01

11. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 15, 38-08 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 14-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-08 -- Day 3: 5, 12-01

12. Chris Zaldain -- San Jose, CA -- 15, 37-14 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 14-00 -- Day 2: 5, 13-09 -- Day 3: 5, 10-05

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on day 4.

13. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 15, 37-11 -- 88 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-13 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14 -- Day 3: 5, 11-00

14. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 15, 37-10 -- 87 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-03 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13 -- Day 3: 5, 13-10

15. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 15, 37-10 -- 86 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-02 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03 -- Day 3: 5, 12-05

16. Jami Fralick -- Martin, SD -- 15, 37-09 -- 85 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-12 -- Day 2: 5, 11-05 -- Day 3: 5, 14-08

17. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 15, 37-02 -- 84 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08 -- Day 3: 5, 11-08

18. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 15, 37-02 -- 83 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-09 -- Day 2: 5, 13-02 -- Day 3: 5, 12-07

19. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 15, 36-14 -- 82 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-09 -- Day 2: 5, 09-13 -- Day 3: 5, 13-08

20. Jeremy Starks -- Scott Depot, WV -- 15, 36-09 -- 81 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-03 -- Day 3: 5, 10-03

21. BJ Haseotes -- Centerville, MA -- 15, 36-06 -- 80 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 5, 11-10 -- Day 3: 5, 10-15

22. Morizo Shimizu -- Osaka, Japan -- 15, 36-04 -- 79 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 09-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-10 -- Day 3: 5, 12-13

23. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 15, 36-01 -- 78 -- $10,500
Day 1: 5, 16-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-08 -- Day 3: 5, 05-12

24. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. -- Gainesville, FL -- 15, 36-00 -- 77 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13 -- Day 3: 5, 11-14

25. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 15, 35-15 -- 76 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-10 -- Day 2: 5, 10-12 -- Day 3: 5, 13-09

26. James Elam -- Tulsa, OK -- 15, 35-13 -- 75 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-02 -- Day 2: 5, 09-05 -- Day 3: 5, 13-06

27. Pete Ponds -- Madison, MS -- 15, 35-12 -- 74 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 5, 14-11 -- Day 3: 5, 07-06

28. Scott Ashmore -- Broken Arrow, OK -- 15, 35-11 -- 73 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-03 -- Day 3: 5, 10-13

29. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 15, 35-09 -- 72 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-05 -- Day 2: 5, 10-11 -- Day 3: 5, 11-09

30. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 15, 35-06 -- 71 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03 -- Day 3: 5, 12-14

31. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, KY -- 15, 35-05 -- 70 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-15 -- Day 2: 5, 10-02 -- Day 3: 5, 11-04

32. Nate Wellman -- Newaygo, MI -- 15, 35-05 -- 69 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13 -- Day 3: 5, 11-09

33. Hank Cherry -- Maiden, NC -- 15, 34-15 -- 68 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 5, 11-09 -- Day 3: 5, 11-09

34. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, GA -- 15, 34-08 -- 67 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-06 -- Day 2: 5, 13-00 -- Day 3: 5, 09-02

35. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, AL -- 15, 34-08 -- 66 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-02 -- Day 3: 5, 11-13

36. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 15, 34-05 -- 65 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04 -- Day 3: 5, 08-09

37. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 15, 34-04 -- 64 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-12 -- Day 2: 5, 09-06 -- Day 3: 5, 11-02

38. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 15, 34-01 -- 63 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07 -- Day 3: 5, 11-03

39. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 15, 33-12 -- 62 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-04 -- Day 2: 5, 11-14 -- Day 3: 5, 10-10

40. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 15, 33-09 -- 61 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-00 -- Day 3: 5, 09-01

41. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 13, 32-11 -- 60 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-09 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08 -- Day 3: 3, 05-10

42. Matt Greenblatt -- Port St Lucie, FL -- 15, 32-08 -- 59 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-09 -- Day 2: 5, 09-00 -- Day 3: 5, 09-15

43. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, AR -- 15, 32-05 -- 58 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-04 -- Day 2: 5, 10-01 -- Day 3: 5, 10-00

44. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 15, 32-00 -- 57 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-05 -- Day 2: 5, 12-12 -- Day 3: 5, 07-15

45. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 14, 31-09 -- 56 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 5, 09-09 -- Day 3: 4, 07-07

46. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 15, 31-06 -- 55 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-02 -- Day 3: 5, 07-10

47. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 13, 30-03 -- 54 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-03 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07 -- Day 3: 3, 05-09

48. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 14, 29-13 -- 53 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-15 -- Day 2: 5, 08-10 -- Day 3: 4, 06-04

49. Dennis Tietje -- Roanoke, LA -- 11, 28-08 -- 52 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-11 -- Day 3: 1, 02-00

50. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, OH -- 14, 27-01 -- 51 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-15 -- Day 2: 5, 10-06 -- Day 3: 4, 04-12