Chad Pipkens just broke the jinx spell with a 1 1/2 pounder, and just about any other time and place that would be a yawner of a tournament blog post. But why is this a big deal? It is notable because fish of even that size go on the scoreboard in this catch-weigh-release format event. Pipkens has room to grow, of course, and all it will take is another 8-pounder (the going weight for a lunker) like he caught on Friday.
Anything can happen here with this format and the wide-open size of these Lake Fork fish. Pipkens has to be frustrated, though because he expressed confidence in having developed the skills needed to make adjustments with postspawn transitional bass.