Tharp Heads Back To Norfork With 6-Ounce Lead

By BassFan Staff

The two anglers who said after day 1 they couldn’t wait to get back to Lake Norfork will get their wish – and they’ll be 1-2 on the leaderboard when they take off in the morning.

Randall Tharp and Chris Zaldain were both pretty impressed with the fishing on Thursday at Norfork – Tharp caught 15-08 while Zaldain sacked 16-02, both fishing techniques they’re comfortable with – and remarked how anxious they were to get another shot at it come Sunday. To get there, though, they had to hold their own over 2 days at Bull Shoals.

Thanks to a 16-04 stringer today, his best of the week, Tharp leads a tightly-packed group of 12 finalists with a 3-day total of 45-08.

“I’m not running around tomorrow,” Tharp said. “I’m going to stay in the area I caught them Thursday. I may move around in that area, but I won’t be running all over the lake. There are too many fish there. Heck, I’ll take my culls from Thursday and take my chances with those. I hope it’s fun like that tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Zaldain, who shared the day-2 lead, is just 6 ounces back with 45-02 after sacking 14-04.

“It’s going to be a shootout,” he said. “It’s going to be so cool. Both of us (Randall and I) have to reconnect with our fish and the potential for the biggest bag of the week is there. I’m ready for it. I’ve been pumped for it all week long.”

A margin of 3 pounds, 10 ounces separates Tharp from rookie Adrian Avena in 12th.

Skeet Reese made the biggest move of the day, thanks to a tournament-best 19-02 stringer. He advanced 24 spots to 3rd with 44-13 to give himself a legitimate shot at his sixth career Elite Series win, which would tie him with Kevin VanDam for most in the circuit’s history.

Jacob Powroznik sight-fished his way up to 4th, catching 16-04 to run his total to 44-05. Matt Herren, who led after day 1, bounced back from a so-so effort on Friday with 15-05 to move into 5th with 43-11.

Here's a look at the Top 12 entering the final day competition, with the deficit margin from Tharp indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Randall Tharp: 45-08
2. Chris Zaldain: 45-02 (00-06)
3. Skeet Reese: 44-13 (00-11)
4. Jacob Powroznik: 44-05 (1-03)
5. Matt Herren: 43-11 (1-13)
6. Bill Lowen: 43-10 (1-14)
7. Brandon Palaniuk: 43-03 (2-05)
8. Brian Snowden: 42-15 (2-09)
9. Koby Kreiger: 42-12 (2-12)
10. Mike McClelland: 42-03 (3-05)
11. Steve Kennedy: 42-01 (3-07)
12. Adrian Avena: 41-14 (3-10)

Catching fish was not a problem at Bull Shoals as evidenced by the sheer volume of 2 1/2- to 3-pound fish that were weighed in over the last 2 days. What separated the finalists from the pack was triggering bites in the 3-pound class and up. That theme will carry over to Sunday at Norfork, which produced a few 4-pounders on Thursday.

Tharp and Zaldain did their damage at Bull Shoals around brush – Tharp with a jig and Zaldain with a 6-inch worm on a dropshot – but that scenario is hard to find at Norfork. However, with the fish there settling into their spawning ritual and a full moon along with slick, calm conditions in the forecast, it’ll make for a wide-open conclusion to the event.

Brian Snowden, a native of the Ozarks, qualified for the final day behind a 16-01 stringer that moved him up seven spots into 8th. Steve Kennedy jumped three spots to 11th with a 14-12 bag.

Keith Poche zeroed today and plummeted from 3rd to 48th. David Mullins caught a 9-12 limit, but it dropped him from 6th to 31st while Carl Jocumsen tumbled from 7th to 46th after bagging just two fish.

With the weights as tight as they are, it’s conceivable there could be a tie atop the standings Sunday. If that happens, there will be a fish-off between the tied anglers, the format of which is up to the discretion of tournament director Trip Weldon. With practice for the Wheeler Lake event set to begin Monday morning, a fish-off would further delay the travel plans of those involved.

With the Bull Shoals portion of the tournament now complete, here’s a look at the anglers who bagged the most weight over the last 2 days:

1. Jacob Powroznik: 31-12
2. Skeet Reese: 31-09
3 (tie). Tommy Biffle: 31-07
3 (tie). Brandon Palaniuk: 31-07
5. Mike McClelland: 31-02
6. Brian Snowden: 30-09
7. Todd Faircloth: 30-05
8. Koby Kreiger: 30-04
9 (tie). Randall Tharp: 30-00
9 (tie). Bill Lowen: 30-00

Tharp Likes His Chances

> Day 3: 5, 16-04 (15, 45-08)

It’s a good time to be Tharp. Not only will he leave the dock in the morning with the tournament lead, he’ll finish the event as the new leader in the Angler of the Year points, a position he’s never been in.

He’d like nothing than to close out the win and carry that momentum over to next week at Wheeler Lake, where he has a ton of experience.

“I’ve won at every level I’ve competed at, but these guys over here, I think, is the strongest field ever assembled in history,” he said. “To come out on top and sit on top of the points, it’s a good feeling. I definitely want a blue trophy. To be the best for this particular week would be great.

“In this one I’ve fished really well. I’ve made good decisions and made the right adjustments. That’s the reason I’m in the lead. It’s not going to be easy tomorrow. Any of those guys are capable of winning.”

He said the unique format of the tournament will truly be felt tomorrow when he gets back on Norfork.

“It’s a different feeling,” he said. “When you fish a 4-day event on the same lake you have a good idea of what you’re faced with the next day. That’s not the case here.”

He didn’t have a lot of confidence at Bull Shoals after practice, but today changed that.

“For me, Bull Shoals stunk in practice, but it was a different lake today,” he said. “Norfork was good in practice and if it gets better, it’ll be ridiculous. It’s been a few days since I was there, but I’m looking forward to it because it was amazing. I’ve been there 3 days now and they’ve all been amazing. It’s going to come down to a bite. Whoever can cull up to 15 or 16 pounds or the guy who catches a 4- or 5-pounder will win.”

After a slow start today, he made a bait adjustment and immediately started catching better fish.

“It was like magic,” he said. “Every good-looking bush had one in it. Then I caught that 4-08. All of my fish were better than 3 pounds. It was a solid, fun day. I went through a lot of fish.”

He didn’t run near as far today as he had yesterday because he didn’t see the need.

“When it started clicking and nobody else was around, I just stayed there,” he said. “I only moved twice within that area. I caught them in the back and on points. It was random.”

2nd: Zaldain Stoked to Have a Shot

> Day 3: 5, 14-04 (15, 45-02)

Zaldain is giddy at the prospect of having a shot to win his first full-field Elite Series tournament tomorrow. He’s a big fan of the format of this event because he likes being able to change on the fly.

At Norfork, though, he plans to go back to where and what worked on Thursday.

“I’ve never been so excited for a Top-12 day,” he said.

He treated Friday and today like a business trip to Bull Shoals and he took care of what he needed to in order to stay in the hunt. After having to change out his prop this morning on the water, he stuck with the dropshot presentation in flooded bushes that produced on Friday, but had to back out to slightly deeper water before he started doing his damage.

“I noticed first thing that the water had come down some more,” he said. “Four or 5 inches is huge when you’re fishing in 2 feet of water. My starting stretch got dirty and stagnant. The adjustment I made was the turning point. As soon as I went out toward the main river, I saw deeper bushes and steeper banks and the water 3 to 4 feet deep. That’s when I started catching the better 3-pound fish that I needed.”

He did have to endure a 4-ounce penalty today for having a dead fish. He said none of his fish were hooked deep, so it took him by surprise. Without that, he’d be a mere 2 ounces behind Tharp.

“I hope it doesn’t matter,” he added. “I have to show up on the last day and show up big. I’m not letting it hurt me. I’m not going to think about it. The goal tomorrow is 20 pounds.”

3rd: Fun Day For Reese

> Day 3: 5, 19-02 (15, 44-13)

Reese moved up 24 spots behind a bag that weighed more than he thought it did. He’s been committed to fishing for spawners all week, pitching a Berkley Havoc Pit Boss rigged on a 5/0 flipping hook under a 1/4-ounce worm weight.

“All of these fish came out of 1 foot of water,” he said on stage. “You’d pitch up there thinking there’s no way there’s a fish up there and then, ‘Boom.’”

He caught more than 20 keepers that way at Bull Shoals and now has himself in position to win his sixth career Elite Series event, a feat that would tie him with Kevin VanDam for most Elite Series wins.

“Every stretch I fished today I’d never seen it before in my life,” he said. “It was all new water to me and it was a lot of fun.”

4th: Powroznik Ready for Anything

> Day 3: 5, 16-04 (15, 44-05)

Powroznik’s stringers have gotten heavier each day and he’d like that trend to continue tomorrow. He rigged up nearly 20 rods Saturday night in preparation for Nofork, which is a bit of an unknown right now.

“You have to figure out how to catch one big one,” he said. “If I can catch one big one, I’m in.”

He figures he could go back on Bull Shoals on Sunday and catch another 15 pounds, but he likes the challenge of having to figure out Norfork again.

“We haven’t been over there in 2 days,” he said. “Whomever figures them back out … it’s been changing at Bull Shoals, so it’s one of those deals where you clear your mind and it’s a 1-day shootout.”

He caught the majority of his fish at Bull Shoals on a wacky-rigged 7-inch finesse worm using 6-pound fluorocarbon.

“I had fun and caught the snot out of ‘em,” he quipped. “It’s been fun. There’s a smallmouth every 20 feet on a bed. Most are 10 or 11 inches long so this place is alive and healthy. Guys have been saying the fish on beds are spooky, but that makes it fun. It gives guys like me and Koby (Kreiger) and guys who live to sight-fish a good chance.

“It’s supposed to be flat slick calm tomorrow and there’s only 12 of us out there, plus a full moon. It’s game on. Anybody can win this. I like my chances and I like what’s going on. I like the way I’m fishing – it’s one of the ways I love to fish. I can’t wait to get out there.”

5th: Herren Bounces Back

> Day 3: 5, 15-05 (15, 43-11)

Herren was happy to get some redemption today after a disappointing effort Friday. Now, he’s in position to make a run at his first career Elite Series win.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “We just have to see how the day goes. I won’t be able to find out anything until I get to my first area. I just have to roll with it tomorrow and see.”

After getting hung up between power-fishing and sight-fishing on Friday, Herren went through nearly 40 fish today and lamented the time he lost figuring out which ones to keep and which to throw back.

“They were all between 2-11 and 3-04,” he said. “The most frustrating part of the day was how much time I lost culling. I cycled through four limits to gain an ounce at a time.”

He knows he’ll need to on top of his game tomorrow and hopefully get lucky again like he did Thursday when he caught a 6-01 kicker that helped him sack up 17 pounds.

“Whoever catches a quality limit and gets a 5- or 6-pound bite will win,” he said. “It’s as simple as getting one bite. There are a ton of 2 1/4- to 2 3/4-pound fish there. The game changer will be a 5 or 6. We saw that on day 1 and that’s what probably is going to happen tomorrow.”

48th: Poche Lost ‘Em All

> Day 3: 0, 0-0 (10, 30-10)

Keith Poche figured he needed 10 or 11 pounds to secure a spot among the Top 12. He’s convinced he had that much weight on his line today, but he couldn’t get any of the fish in the boat.

He had four bites all day and lost them all, falling out of contention for a win and settling for a disappointing 47th-place finish.

“I don’t even know what to say, there’s nothing I could do,” he said. “It was totally out of my control. I didn’t get as many bites as yesterday and I knew I wouldn’t get many today. I probably could’ve done something different, but I wanted to stick with I was doing.”

He went back to his pattern of pitching a jig around buck brush, but instead of pulling the fish out of the cover cleanly or freeing them from momentary hang-ups like he did Friday, they either broke off or pulled off today.

“I just didn’t make it happen,” he said. “I saw one big fish on a bed yesterday and I went straight to it today. It bit, but got wrapped up around a limb. It was downhill from there.

“I really think that had I caught that one this morning, the day would’ve gone differently, but I got off to a bad start. I wasn’t feeling it. I fished too fast. I was out of control and panicked a little. After you lose a couple fish, it gets to you because I knew I’d only get so many bites.”

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 50 anglers, 40 limits, 5 fours, 1 three, 3 twos, 1 zero.

Weather Forecast

> Sun., April 24 – Sunny - 84°/57°
- Wind: From the S at 5 to 10 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Randall Tharp -- Port St. Joe, FL -- 15, 45-08 -- 110
Day 1: 5, 15-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-12 -- Day 3: 5, 16-04

2. Chris Zaldain -- Laughlin, NV -- 15, 45-02 -- 109 -- $250
Day 1: 5, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12 -- Day 3: 5, 14-04

3. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 15, 44-13 -- 108
Day 1: 5, 13-04 -- Day 2: 5, 12-07 -- Day 3: 5, 19-02

4. Jacob Powroznik -- Port Haywood, VA -- 15, 44-05 -- 107
Day 1: 5, 12-09 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08 -- Day 3: 5, 16-04

5. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 15, 43-11 -- 106
Day 1: 5, 17-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-06 -- Day 3: 5, 15-05

6. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 15, 43-10 -- 105 -- $250
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 5, 17-04 -- Day 3: 5, 12-12

7. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 15, 43-03 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 11-12 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13 -- Day 3: 5, 15-10

8. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 15, 42-15 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 12-06 -- Day 2: 5, 14-08 -- Day 3: 5, 16-01

9. Koby Kreiger -- Bokeelia, FL -- 15, 42-12 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13 -- Day 3: 5, 16-07

10. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 15, 42-03 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 11-01 -- Day 2: 5, 16-10 -- Day 3: 5, 14-08

11. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 15, 42-01 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 13-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-09 -- Day 3: 5, 14-12

12. Adrian Avena -- Vineland, NJ -- 15, 41-14 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 14-00 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15 -- Day 3: 5, 11-15

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

13. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 15, 41-13 -- 98 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-00 -- Day 3: 5, 14-01

14. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 15, 40-08 -- 97 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-03 -- Day 2: 5, 13-14 -- Day 3: 5, 16-07

15. Justin Lucas -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 40-06 -- 96 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 5, 14-08 -- Day 3: 5, 14-01

16. Kelly Jordon -- Flint, TX -- 15, 40-05 -- 95 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-05 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06 -- Day 3: 5, 15-10

17. Randy Howell -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 40-02 -- 94 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03 -- Day 3: 5, 14-05

18. Alton Jones -- Lorena, TX -- 15, 40-02 -- 93 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-02 -- Day 3: 5, 14-00

19. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 15, 39-15 -- 92 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 12-12 -- Day 3: 5, 14-06

20. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 15, 39-13 -- 91 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-15 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06 -- Day 3: 5, 14-08

21. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 15, 39-11 -- 90 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-05 -- Day 2: 5, 13-05 -- Day 3: 5, 13-01

22. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 15, 39-08 -- 89 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-09 -- Day 2: 5, 14-15 -- Day 3: 5, 14-00

23. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 14, 39-07 -- 88 -- $10,000
Day 1: 4, 08-00 -- Day 2: 5, 18-07 -- Day 3: 5, 13-00

24. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL -- 15, 39-07 -- 87 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 13-08 -- Day 3: 5, 14-09

25. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 15, 39-07 -- 86 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00 -- Day 3: 5, 14-07

26. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, AR -- 15, 39-07 -- 85 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-02 -- Day 2: 5, 13-10 -- Day 3: 5, 13-11

27. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 15, 39-06 -- 84 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11 -- Day 3: 5, 14-14

28. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, OK -- 15, 39-04 -- 83 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01 -- Day 3: 5, 14-12

29. Fletcher Shryock -- New Philadelphia, OH -- 15, 38-10 -- 82 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-11 -- Day 2: 5, 13-11 -- Day 3: 5, 13-04

30. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 15, 38-09 -- 81 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-12 -- Day 3: 5, 12-03

31. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 15, 38-07 -- 80 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13 -- Day 3: 5, 09-12

32. Ott DeFoe -- Knoxville, TN -- 15, 38-07 -- 79 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03 -- Day 3: 5, 12-12

33. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, PA -- 15, 37-07 -- 78 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-15 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03 -- Day 3: 5, 11-05

34. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 15, 37-03 -- 77 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-12 -- Day 3: 5, 13-06

35. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 14, 37-03 -- 76 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-03 -- Day 3: 4, 13-01

36. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 15, 37-02 -- 75 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 5, 14-13 -- Day 3: 5, 11-14

37. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 15, 37-02 -- 74 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00 -- Day 3: 5, 11-12

38. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, TN -- 15, 36-15 -- 73 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 09-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-05 -- Day 3: 5, 12-12

39. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 15, 36-13 -- 72 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-13 -- Day 2: 5, 14-01 -- Day 3: 5, 11-15

40. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 14, 36-05 -- 71 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-09 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15 -- Day 3: 4, 09-13

41. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 15, 35-12 -- 70 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-05 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13 -- Day 3: 5, 11-10

42. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 14, 35-08 -- 69 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-06 -- Day 2: 5, 14-05 -- Day 3: 4, 10-13

43. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 15, 33-15 -- 68 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-01 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04 -- Day 3: 5, 09-10

44. Josh Bertrand -- Gilbert, AZ -- 14, 33-05 -- 67 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-05 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00 -- Day 3: 4, 09-00

45. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 12, 32-03 -- 66 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-05 -- Day 2: 5, 16-00 -- Day 3: 2, 04-14

46. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, Australia – 12, 32-00 -- 65 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-09 -- Day 2: 5, 17-00 -- Day 3: 2, 03-07

47. Morizo Shimizu -- Osaka, Japan -- 14, 31-13 -- 64 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04 -- Day 3: 4, 07-13

48. Keith Poche -- Pike Road, AL -- 10, 30-10 -- 63 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-13 -- Day 2: 5, 14-13 -- Day 3: 0, 00-00

49. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 13, 29-15 -- 62 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 09-15 -- Day 2: 5, 14-07 -- Day 3: 3, 05-09

50. James Elam -- Tulsa, OK -- 12, 29-03 -- 61 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-12 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06 -- Day 3: 2, 05-01