Christie's Lead Grows Again; Win No. 3 In Sight

By BassFan Staff

As those around him in the standings continue to take their best swings at his home lake, Jason Christie keeps edging further and further away.

The man who's been the talk of the bass fishing world this year saw his lead at the Grand Lake FLW Tour grow to 3 1/2 pounds today after he weighed 17-10 to push his 3-day total to 58-04. He's hardly out of the reach of his closest pursuers, but there's a sense that he's not going to crumble on the final day on the lake where he learned his craft.

Christie's on the verge of becoming the third angler to win three tour-level events in the same year. Kevin VanDam did it in 2005 while Denny Brauer claimed four victories during the 1998 season. And then there's this: Christie has at least five events left (three Elite Series, one FLW Tour and the Forrest Wood Cup) on his schedule in 2013.

He knows it's far from over, though.

"I've really been pretty calm all week, but this evening it's kind of hitting me," he said. "It's not that I'm leading a Tour event, but that it's here. Today, I had about 20 or 25 boats following me and I feel like being from Oklahoma, I represent this state and those people and it means a lot to me. I want to catch them tomorrow so that trophy can stay here at home.

"The state of Oklahoma has been through some tough times in the last month or so and I represent them and it'd feel good to win the tournament and keep it here."

While Christie's held the lead throughout, Barry Wilson is the third different angler to occupy the No. 2 spot on the leaderboard. His 19-04 bag was his best of the event and it bumped him up five spots and gave him a total of 54-12. He's 5 ounces ahead of Andy Morgan, whose 19-06 catch was the heaviest of the day and moved him up six slots to 3rd with 54-07.

Jimmy Houston stayed in the Top 5 with an 18-04 effort that has him 4th with 53-12. Robbie Dodson caught 15-04 today, but slipped from 2nd to 5th with 53-02.

The 10 anglers who'll fish tomorrow are aligned as follows, with deficit margin from Christie indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Jason Christie: 58-04
2. Barry Wilson: 54-12 (3-08)
3. Andy Morgan: 54-07 (3-13)
4. Jimmy Houston: 53-08 (4-12)
5. Robbie Dodson: 53-02 (5-02)
6. Bryan Thrift: 53-01 (5-03)
7. Jay Yelas: 51-11 (6-09)
8. Zell Rowland: 51-06 (6-14)
9. Stetson Blaylock: 51-01 (7-03)
10. J.T. Kenney: 50-12 (7-08)

Stetson Blaylock made a nine-spot leap and made his second straight Top-10 cut with a 16-13 stringer while Jay Yelas moved to 7th from 13th after bagging 17-02 today. Todd Auten sacked 14-01, his smallest bag of the event, and slipped to 12th after holding in the Top 5 the first 2 days. Matt Stefan caught just 8-10 and fell from 8th to 20th.

Morgan, who clinched his second Top-10 of the year, will leave Grand with the lead in the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings no matter where he winds up tomorrow. Bryan Thrift has assumed the No. 2 spot now with Jacob Powroznik, Brent Ehrler and Blaylock completing the updated Top 5 entering the final day at Grand.

While some good fish are being caught away from the bank via cranking and other reaction baits, most of the Top 10 are focused on flipping some sort of shoreline cover. With the water stabilizing, the flipping bite continued to be strong today. Christie and Morgan are sharing water up the lake and Wilson's not too far from them, so there should be some pretty good theater on the final day.

There's a chance of thunderstorms overnight in the Grove, Okla., area and a 50-percent chance for additional storms tomorrow with partly sunny skies later on and a high of 83. A slight south breeze of 5 to 10 mph is also in the forecast.

Christie Committed to Flipping

> Day 3: 5, 17-10 (15, 58-04)

Early today, Christie made a call to run downlake to some crankbait fish just to see if it'd be worth his time on Sunday should things not go his way in his primary flipping area. He came away from his recon mission convinced he needed to stick with what he's been doing.

"I was sitting there thinking if things don't happen tomorrow like they did today, I didn't want to be thinking I should be down there cranking for those fish," he said. "It gave me some peace of mind for tomorrow and I'm totally committed to fishing shallow now."

He maxed out at 12 keeper bites today, but he continued to pluck some quality fish out of an area that's been picked over pretty well since day 1. He's convinced, however, the derby can still be won there.

"Today was a little bit tougher. I didn't get as many bites today," he said. "I don't know if they're not biting, but the numbers have to be going down with me and Andy in there, not to mention on day 1, four of the Top 10 or 15 were in there. I'm sure the numbers are going down.

"My plans won't change," he added. "I'm going to live or die with what I've been doing. Tonight, we have to transition over to the FLW boat and it'll be pretty easy for me. I'm going to get a couple of rods and a bag of baits. I'm not going to need any GPS waypoints. I'm just going to fish what I've been doing. I've committed to an area and that's where I'm going to stay."

He had a couple flurries in the middle of the day where he caught fish on back-to-back flips, but he also lost a couple that may or may not have helped him.

"It's work," he said. "I've caught 21, 18 and almost 18 and I have a 3 1/2-pound lead. I feel like I'm going to have to catch 18 tomorrow to have a chance, and that won't be easy."

2nd: Wilson's Key Area Produced Again

> Day 3: 5, 19-04 (15, 54-12)

Wilson said he'd have been satisfied with being in 3rd entering the final day, but after gaining 2 1/2 pounds on Christie and being 3 1/2 pounds out of the lead in 2nd, he'll take it.

"He's just tough," he said of the man everyone's chasing. "It's his home lake and he's an incredible fisherman. He's probably the best there is on this lake."

Wilson said he can see Christie's floatilla of followers from where he's fishing so he'll be able to keep an eye on the leader on the final day.

"I'm going to try to keep doing what I've been doing and hope my magic spot holds up," he said. "It took me a little longer to find them today, but once I did, I caught a 5 and a 4 on back-to-back casts and then caught another 4 and a 3 so I had close to 16 pounds in 45 minutes.

"Hopefully, it'll last one more day. These fish are coming off beds. They're tails are real bloody and I think they're pulling out to recuperate before they head on to their next stop."

He weighed three fish off a crankbait today and two were caught flipping. He said he lost one in the 5-pound range flipping today, but it never got the hook in its mouth.

"I caught more quality today flipping than I had the previous days," he added.

After an 89th-place finish at Lake Eufaula, he dropped to 47th in AOY points so he's thrilled to get back into contention for a Cup berth this week.

"I knew coming into this one I needed a good finish and then maybe a Top 30 or Top 50 at Chickamauga to make it," he said. "Making the Top 10 in 2nd place, it's more than I could've imagined. The Lord has blessed me. It's just been magical these last couple days."

3rd: Slower was Better for Morgan

> Day 3: 5, 19-06 (15, 54-07)

Morgan knew he and Christie were fishing the same area on day 1, but he has ceded the water in the morning to the tournament leader each subsequent day and he'll do it again tomorrow.

"I didn't want to get in his way," he said. "I like the heck out of Jason and I didn't want to go in there and beat up his stuff. I'm going to go in there tomorrow. I have to, but I'm not going in there first. I'm going to give him his space, but I have some other places where I think I can catch them in the morning. Still, it's the best area and we've caught the heck out of them in there."

Coming off a 50-keeper day 2, his catch rate dropped to a dozen today, but he also was more thorough.

"There's a lot of stuff to fish here and you have to be careful you're not flipping the wrong stuff," he said. "It's one of those deals where you're not sure whether to slow down or speed up. I slowed down today and was more methodical. I think I got clued in on what I was looking for early and when I'd get to that type of place, I'd be sure to go slow."

Despite trailing Christie by less than 4 pounds, he knows it'll take a big bag tomorrow and a stumble by the leader for the door to open up.

"I think I've got an outside chance," he said. "It would have to go really well. I caught some fish today that I probably should've lost. Some were over a log that were just skin-hooked when I got them in the boat. Everything just fell my way today."

Regarding taking over the lead in the AOY race, he's just focused on taking each day as it comes.

"I swear I haven't even thought about it," he said. "I'm just taking it day by day and I'm having a lot of fun fishing this way, just flipping in the bushes. I had fun at Smith Lake earlier this year fishing a jig and here we get to flip pretty much from blast-off to check in and have a chance to catch a good bag. There aren't many FLW venues we can do that. We don't get to power-fish as much as we'd like."

4th: Houston Having a Blast

> Day 3: 5, 18-04 (15, 53-08)

Houston had to miss his grandson's wedding Saturday night, but his absence was quickly forgiven after his family learned he'd made the Top-10 cut.

"I'm having fun," he said. "It feels like old times. It's pretty exciting. It's fun when you're on a lot of fish and if those guys (ahead of me) blink a little. …"

He said he should have his two primary spots to himself tomorrow, including a cranking spot that continues to hold good quality.

"I lost a big one there today, but caught a couple 3 1/2s," he said. "Maybe some 5-pounders have pulled in there. I'm around some big ones. I need five of those tomorrow and Jason Christie needs to blink."

He thinks day 2, when he weighed 14 pounds, will eventually be his undoing at this tournament, but he was happy with his decisions on the water today.

"I didn't get nearly as many bites, but my first five were better," he said. "They were about 14 pounds and my fifth fish was 4 1/4. Yesterday, it just seemed like I'd keep catching 2-pounder after 2-pounder. I liked my decision to move to my cranking area. There are big fish there and who knows what'll happen. The lake's dropped some and there could be more fish move in there."

5th: Dodson Shooting for 2nd

> Day 3: 5, 15-04 (15, 53-02)

Dodson had a couple fish come off today that would've definitely helped him, but he's still pretty happy with where he sits after 3 days. He came into the event 51st in AOY points so a Top-10 this week will mean he'll head to Lake Chickamauga with a chance to make the Forrest Wood Cup.

"I've had a good week so far," he said. "I had three decent fish today and the two I lost hurt me a little. I'm not catching a lot of fish so I don't know what those other guys are doing to get so many bites. I'm just getting six or seven. It's pretty well been a grind for me. I'm getting lucky and getting one or two good bites."

He says he's pretty well stayed on the same stretch of water with some shallow grass all tournament.

"Every time I go through it, I give it a rest and I'll get a bite," he said. "I probably should be moving around more. I'll start there again tomorrow and maybe I'll get lucky and catch two or three good ones so I can go hunt around for some big ones."

He thinks he's fishing for 2nd tomorrow.

"I'm hoping to catch 18 or 19 pounds and try to get up to second," he said. "With the conditions the way they are and Jason's history on the lake, his lead is like a 10-pound lead elsewhere."

15th: Big Ones Elude Clausen

> Day 3: 5, 14-02 (15, 48-13)

Luke Clausen has had an up-and-down season, but his Top-15 finish this week went a long way in helping him secure a ninth Forrest Wood Cup berth. He entered the event 21st in points and figures to climb close to the Top 10 heading to Chickamauga.

"I never really think much about the Cup berth," he said. "The way I see it, you don't deserve to be there if you think about it. This year's been a struggle for me, but throughout the year I feel like I've done progressively better at each event. I made one bad decision after another at each tournament early on, but it feels good to have a shot to get in the Top 10 in points."

Today's stringer was his smallest of the tournament.

"I knew I was fortunate to be where I was after day 2," he said. "The big bites here have been so random. Catching them on day 1 was pretty easy and in hindsight, I should've sat where I was and whaled on them more because I had most of my weight by 9 a.m. There were several other boats there and I ended up leaving the area and most everybody else in there caught them good.

"I caught them on a square-bill crankbait, buzz bait, frog and flipping a Z-Man Palmetto Bugz. I just fished stuff that looked good. There was really no rhyme or reason to it. The wheels kind of fell off today, but I kind of expected that. It was just a matter of time before I made a wrong move."

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 20 anglers, 19 limits, 1 four.

Weather Forecast

> Sun., June 9 – Chance of Rain - 88°/75°
- Wind: From the SSW at 10 to 15 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, Ok -- 21-12 (5) -- 18-14 (5) -- 40-10 (10) -- 17-10 (5) -- 58-04 (15)

2. Barry Wilson -- Birmingham, Al -- 18-07 (5) -- 17-01 (5) -- 35-08 (10) -- 19-04 (5) -- 54-12 (15)

3. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 18-13 (5) -- 16-04 (5) -- 35-01 (10) -- 19-06 (5) -- 54-07 (15)

4. Jimmy Houston -- Cookson, Ok -- 21-07 (5) -- 14-01 (5) -- 35-08 (10) -- 18-00 (5) -- 53-12 (15)

5. Robbie Dodson -- Harrison, Ar -- 19-09 (5) -- 18-05 (5) -- 37-14 (10) -- 15-04 (5) -- 53-02 (15)

6. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, NC -- 17-00 (5) -- 18-08 (5) -- 35-08 (10) -- 17-09 (5) -- 53-01 (15)

7. Jay Yelas -- Corvallis, Or -- 18-10 (5) -- 15-15 (5) -- 34-09 (10) -- 17-02 (5) -- 51-11 (15)

8. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, Tx -- 19-08 (5) -- 16-14 (5) -- 36-06 (10) -- 15-00 (5) -- 51-06 (15)

9. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, Ar -- 17-15 (5) -- 16-05 (5) -- 34-04 (10) -- 16-13 (5) -- 51-01 (15)

10. JT Kenney -- Palm Bay, Fl -- 18-05 (5) -- 16-00 (5) -- 34-05 (10) -- 16-07 (5) -- 50-12 (15)

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

11. Travis Fox -- Rogers, Ar -- 17-01 (5) -- 17-08 (5) -- 34-09 (10) -- 16-01 (5) -- 50-10 (15) -- $12,216

12. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 20-12 (5) -- 15-04 (5) -- 36-00 (10) -- 14-01 (5) -- 50-01 (15) -- $12,216

13. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Ca -- 19-04 (5) -- 15-03 (5) -- 34-07 (10) -- 15-10 (5) -- 50-01 (15) -- $12,216

14. James Biggs -- Richland Hills, Tx -- 16-00 (5) -- 19-00 (5) -- 35-00 (10) -- 14-05 (5) -- 49-05 (15) -- $12,216

15. Luke Clausen -- Spokane, Wa -- 17-14 (5) -- 16-13 (5) -- 34-11 (10) -- 14-02 (5) -- 48-13 (15) -- $12,216

16. Ramie Colson Jr. -- Cadiz, Ky -- 17-06 (5) -- 16-14 (5) -- 34-04 (10) -- 13-11 (5) -- 47-15 (15) -- $11,726

17. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 16-02 (5) -- 18-03 (5) -- 34-05 (10) -- 11-03 (5) -- 45-08 (15) -- $11,726

18. Lendell Martin Jr. -- Nacogdoches, Tx -- 16-13 (5) -- 17-06 (5) -- 34-03 (10) -- 10-13 (4) -- 45-00 (14) -- $11,726

19. Tommy Martin -- Hemphill, Tx -- 14-03 (5) -- 20-07 (5) -- 34-10 (10) -- 9-13 (5) -- 44-07 (15) -- $11,726

20. Matthew Stefan -- Park Ridge, Il -- 19-14 (5) -- 15-03 (5) -- 35-01 (10) -- 8-10 (5) -- 43-11 (15) -- $11,726