Kentucky Lake Northern Open
Sain Prevails By 2 Pounds

Photo: Bassmaster.com Jason Sain caught his final fish just minutes before weigh-in.

Cordle weighed daily limits for 47-09 total (13-10 today) to finish 2nd. Lashlee led the first 2 days but dropped to 3rd today after failing to catch his limit fish. He weighed 14 for 47-08 total (4 for 10-10 today), just 1 ounce behind Cordle.

Scott Campbell moved up four spots to finish 4th with 46-15 (14-12 today). Rodney Brown (12-09 today) dropped two places to finish in a tie for 5th with Harold Knight (13-05 today), each with a total of 46-11.

The rest of the Top 10 finishers were:

7. Curt McGuire: 46-03
8. Shawn Penn: 44-05
9. James Charlesworth: 43-04
10. Charlie Weyer: 38-00

Weights were down overall, a fact anglers attributed to the crowding as several other large tournaments also launched this morning.

Sain Sacked Four

Sain barley got his fifth fish yesterday, but today it didn't happen, and he weighed just four bass for 13-01. It was y far his lowest daily weight of the tournament.

Fortunately for him, Lashlee also weighed just four, and Sain passed him to take the win.

"This is the highlight of my fishing career," he said. "I don't know if I could feel any better than I do right now."

His 2-pound margin of victory almost didn't happen. With just minutes to go in his fishing day, he decided to make one more stop. About 3 minutes later he hooked and boated a 2-pounder that gave him the win.

"I'm just thankful that I made the decision to stop at that last spot. That won the tournament for me."

He fished Lake Barkley each day, hoping for less boat traffic and fishing pressure than anglers faced on Kentucky Lake.

Details of his winning pattern will be posted soon.

3rd: Lashlee Not Complaining

Lashlee has been the most celebrated and watched angler on Kentucky Lake for weeks now, and for good reason. He won the Old Hickory FLW Series event a month ago, then followed that up with a win at the Kentucky Lake Midwestern Stren, leading 3 of 4 days each time.

"It was one of those days," he said. "I just couldn't get that fifth fish. I think I could have won if I'd have caught it. There were people on everything I wanted to fish, and every place I've fished this week had boats on it. It's just that way out here.

"But I'm not complaining," he added. "I've had a great month, and BASS couldn't have a better champion than Jason Sain. He's a great guy."

Lashlee fished principally three lures this week: a Strike King Series 6 crankbait, a prototype 11 1/2-inch black/grape Strike King paddletail worm, and a 1/2-ounce Strike King football head jig. "The first day I was hopping the worm and they'd get it. After that I had to just barely move it or let it sit for 7 or 8 seconds at a time. Today I even went to finesse stuff.

"I caught one of my fish today on a watermelon red Strike King Zero rigged on a finesse head. It was my smallest fish, but I sure could have used one more like it."

His big bag the first day (23-13) came from a new spot he'd found in practice, a place that even with his extensive local knowledge, he hadn't fished before. "I didn't get another fish from it the next 2 days though. I couldn't get back on it – so many people had seen me fish it."

4th: Campbell Cleaned Up

Missouri's Scott Campbell moved up four places today. The finish matched his 4th as a co-angler in last week's Bassmaster Elite Series event here. His day in the boat with pro Skeet Reese revealed a key fishing spot, which he used to full advantage this week.

"It's not much of a spot, just a (combination of a) flooded pond, a sandbar with current rolling over it, and a mussel bed," he said. "It's about 40 yards long and I think I caught 60 fish off it over the three days.

"It was an early bite. By 9:30 it was done. I think they got up on top of the break at night and we were just catching the end of their feeding.

"They were really stout, not skinny with big heads like a lot of guys were saying the ledge-fish looked like. It was fantastic fishing out there, even though I had to share the spot with four other boats every day. You still had to make the right cast, along the seam between the break into the pond and the mussels.

"I feel pretty good about my finish," he added. "I fished real clean, and even though I lost one each day, they wouldn't have helped."

He fished a locally made 11-inch paddletail worm. "If you got one where the tail wasn't right, it was a dud. I'd bounce it sharp but only 6 to 8 inches off the bottom. First thing in the morning they'd eat anything you threw, but later the paddletail was key to getting bit. I tried a Zoom Ol' Monster (which has a swimming ribbon tail), but they didn't take it."

Notable

> Day 4 stats – 50 anglers, 24 limits, 7 fours, 4 threes, 6 twos, 7 ones, 2 zeroes

> The next Northern Tour event will be July 20-22 on the Mississippi River in Fort Madison, Iowa.

> Lashlee still hasn't decided if he'll fish the rest of the Tour. "I'm going on vacation to my sister's in North Carolina," he said. "We'll have a lot of family there, and we'll talk about what my options are and pick everybody's brain. I want to think about the pros and cons of fishing one of these tours, and brainstorm about what sponsorship deals are possible. If we decide it would take too much money and time away from my family, I won't do it. But I'll make my decision in a week or two."

> Campbell is having a good run as a co-angler in the Bassmaster Elite Series. He finished 3rd at Grand Lake and 4th at Kentucky Lake.

Day 3 (Final) Standings

1. -- Jason Sain -- Beechgrove, Tenn. -- 14, 49-09 -- 305 -- $68,100
Day 1: 5, 18-06 -- Day 2: 5, 18-02 -- Day 3: 4, 13-01

2. -- Donald Cordle -- Brentwood, Tenn. -- 15, 47-09 -- 295 -- $51,160
Day 1: 5, 20-04 -- Day 2: 5, 13-11 -- Day 3: 5, 13-10

3. -- Sam Lashlee -- Camden, Tenn. -- 14, 47-08 -- 300 -- $34,310
Day 1: 5, 23-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01 -- Day 3: 4, 10-10

4. -- Scott Campbell -- Springfield, Mo. -- 15, 46-15 -- 285 -- $25,000
Day 1: 5, 14-01 -- Day 2: 5, 18-02 -- Day 3: 5, 14-12

5. -- Rodney Brown -- Eddyville, Ky. -- 15, 46-11 -- 278 -- $6,930
Day 1: 5, 18-03 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15 -- Day 3: 5, 12-09

5. -- Harold Knight -- Cadiz, Ky. -- 15, 46-11 -- 278 -- $6,930
Day 1: 5, 17-12 -- Day 2: 5, 15-10 -- Day 3: 5, 13-05

7. -- Curt Mcguire -- Lawrenceburg, Tenn. -- 15, 46-03 -- 272 -- $5,005
Day 1: 5, 15-06 -- Day 2: 5, 16-15 -- Day 3: 5, 13-14

8. -- Shawn Penn -- Eddyville, Ky. -- 15, 44-05 -- 268 -- $3,850
Day 1: 5, 19-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06 -- Day 3: 5, 12-00

9. -- James Charlesworth -- Saint Cloud, Fla. -- 15, 43-04 -- 264 -- $3,465
Day 1: 5, 13-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01 -- Day 3: 5, 16-12

10. Charlie Weyer -- West Hills, Calif. -- 15, 38-00 -- 258 -- $3,195.50
Day 1: 5, 10-13 -- Day 2: 5, 10-05 -- Day 3: 5, 16-14

10. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, Ga. -- 15, 38-00 -- 258 -- $3,195.50
Day 1: 5, 16-05 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00 -- Day 3: 5, 10-11
12. Todd Ary -- Moody, Ala. -- 13, 37-06 -- 254 -- $3,080
Day 1: 4, 13-06 -- Day 2: 4, 10-15 -- Day 3: 5, 13-01
13. John Cox -- Debary, Fla. -- 15, 36-08 -- 251 -- $3,003
Day 1: 5, 13-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06 -- Day 3: 5, 11-01
14. Monty Fralick -- Martin, S.D. -- 14, 36-07 -- 248 -- $2,926
Day 1: 4, 10-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12 -- Day 3: 5, 10-13
15. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, Ala. -- 13, 35-11 -- 245 -- $2,849
Day 1: 5, 13-12 -- Day 2: 3, 9-12 -- Day 3: 5, 12-03
16. Pat Golden -- High Point, N.C. -- 15, 34-13 -- 243 -- $2,772
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 5, 9-03 -- Day 3: 5, 9-14
17. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, Ky. -- 15, 34-12 -- 241 -- $2,695
Day 1: 5, 8-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07 -- Day 3: 5, 14-06
18. Gregory Dipalma -- Millville, N.J. -- 15, 34-03 -- 239 -- $2,618
Day 1: 5, 10-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-09 -- Day 3: 5, 10-11
19. Sammy Burks -- Joplin, Mo. -- 15, 33-12 -- 237 -- $2,464
Day 1: 5, 11-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-09 -- Day 3: 5, 10-05
20. Rogne Brown -- Kimball, Tenn. -- 12, 33-10 -- 235 -- $2,310
Day 1: 4, 9-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-14 -- Day 3: 3, 6-15
21. Travis Rulle -- Loveland, Colo. -- 13, 33-04 -- 233 -- $2,233
Day 1: 3, 5-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-01 -- Day 3: 5, 12-13
22. Matthew Sphar -- Pavilion, N.Y. -- 15, 33-02 -- 231 -- $2,156
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-03 -- Day 3: 5, 9-08
23. John Kolinski -- Greenville, Wisc. -- 12, 32-13 -- 229 -- $3,079
Day 1: 3, 7-05 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15 -- Day 3: 4, 13-09
24. Craig Dowling -- Many, La. -- 13, 32-12 -- 226 -- $1,963.50
Day 1: 4, 11-07 -- Day 2: 4, 8-00 -- Day 3: 5, 13-05
24. Billy Hurt -- Spring Creek, Tenn. -- 11, 32-12 -- 226 -- $1,963.50
Day 1: 2, 5-14 -- Day 2: 5, 17-12 -- Day 3: 4, 9-02
26. Michael -- Gary Stinson -- Scottsville, Ky. -- 11, 32-08 -- 223 -- $1,848
Day 1: 5, 15-11 -- Day 2: 4, 12-05 -- Day 3: 2, 4-08
27. Derek Remitz -- Hemphill, Texas -- 13, 32-07 -- 221 -- $2,271
Day 1: 3, 7-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-09 -- Day 3: 5, 10-14
28. Brian Wilhoit -- Oxon Hill, Md. -- 14, 30-09 -- 219 -- $1,694
Day 1: 5, 12-01 -- Day 2: 5, 10-11 -- Day 3: 4, 7-13
29. Darrin Schwenkbeck -- Silver Spring, Md. -- 12, 30-05 -- 217 -- $1,617
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 2, 5-15 -- Day 3: 5, 11-08
30. Matt Hupp -- Gainesville4, Texas -- 13, 29-01 -- 215 -- $1,540
Day 1: 5, 10-05 -- Day 2: 3, 9-01 -- Day 3: 5, 9-11
31. Glenn Delong -- Bellville, Ohio -- 12, 28-04 -- 213 -- $1,502
Day 1: 4, 8-11 -- Day 2: 3, 6-15 -- Day 3: 5, 12-10
32. Chris Daves -- Hopewell, Va. -- 14, 27-12 -- 211 -- $1,463
Day 1: 5, 9-07 -- Day 2: 5, 9-15 -- Day 3: 4, 8-06
33. Clark Reehm -- Leesville, La. -- 11, 27-11 -- 209 -- $1,425
Day 1: 5, 12-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-13 -- Day 3: 1, 1-15
34. Ray Brazier -- Lawrenceburg, Tenn. -- 11, 27-07 -- 207 -- $1,386
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 4, 7-14 -- Day 3: 2, 5-05
35. Randy Mccarty -- Hagerhill, Ky. -- 10, 27-00 -- 205 -- $1,348
Day 1: 5, 13-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04 -- Day 3: 0, 0-00
36. Ed Dunnaway -- Flowood, Miss. -- 9, 25-11 -- 203 -- $1,309
Day 1: 5, 15-14 -- Day 2: 3, 7-00 -- Day 3: 1, 2-13
37. Mark Hicks -- Millfield, Ohio -- 10, 25-10 -- 201 -- $1,271
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 3, 6-11 -- Day 3: 2, 3-12
38. Doug Story -- Stewart, Tenn. -- 12, 25-04 -- 199 -- $1,232
Day 1: 3, 5-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00 -- Day 3: 4, 7-06
39. Jason Welch -- Royse City, Texas -- 11, 24-12 -- 197 -- $1,194
Day 1: 4, 9-08 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11 -- Day 3: 2, 3-09
40. Larry Mazur -- Lancaster, N.Y. -- 9, 24-01 -- 195 -- $1,155
Day 1: 2, 6-06 -- Day 2: 4, 10-08 -- Day 3: 3, 7-03
41. David Hovanec -- Unionville, N.Y. -- 12, 23-11 -- 193 -- $1,155
Day 1: 4, 7-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-08 -- Day 3: 3, 4-13
42. Ron Wheaton -- Columbia, Tenn. -- 9, 23-08 -- 191 -- $1,155
Day 1: 3, 5-06 -- Day 2: 4, 13-06 -- Day 3: 2, 4-12
43. Dave Parsons -- Yantis, Texas -- 9, 22-12 -- 189 -- $1,155
Day 1: 1, 1-08 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13 -- Day 3: 3, 5-07
44. Ron Brown -- Mount Pleasant, S.C. -- 11, 22-04 -- 187 -- $1,155
Day 1: 5, 11-11 -- Day 2: 4, 6-08 -- Day 3: 2, 4-01
45. Anre' De Villiers -- Goodwood, South Africa -- 8, 20-04 -- 185 -- $1,155
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 2, 3-08 -- Day 3: 1, 1-15
46. David Barnes -- Weeks Mills, Maine -- 6, 19-01 -- 183 -- $1,155
Day 1: 3, 6-12 -- Day 2: 3, 12-05 -- Day 3: 0, 0-00
47. Paul Mazzitelli -- Pittston, Pa. -- 7, 18-13 -- 181 -- $1,655
Day 1: 3, 7-05 -- Day 2: 3, 8-10 -- Day 3: 1, 2-14
48. Eric Nethery -- Acworth, Ga. -- 9, 18-12 -- 179 -- $1,155
Day 1: 5, 11-14 -- Day 2: 3, 5-05 -- Day 3: 1, 1-09
49. Danny Davis -- Franklin, Tenn. -- 10, 18-02 -- 177 -- $1,155
Day 1: 4, 6-07 -- Day 2: 5, 9-14 -- Day 3: 1, 1-13
50. Steven Bunt -- Wallkill, N.Y. -- 7, 17-06 -- 175 -- $1,155
Day 1: 3, 6-04 -- Day 2: 3, 8-10 -- Day 3: 1, 2-08

Big Bass

Day 1: Sam Lashlee -- Camden, Tenn. -- 7-00 -- $1,000
Day 2: Paul Mazzitelli -- Pittston, Pa. -- 5-03 -- $500
Day 3: Derek Remitz -- Hemphill, Texas -- 5-03 -- $500
Day 4: John Kolinski -- Greenville, Wisc. -- 5-03 -- $1,000