Grateful, that’s the general attitude every angler has when they set the hook on Lay Lake right now. Jason Christie, 2022 Bassmaster Classic Champ and winner of umpteen other titles, just set the hook on what looked like a small keeper. And in an apparent sheer panic, he burned the bass in to boat flip it before the fish had a prayer at pulling free. He pulled the board out, measured it quickly and happily stowed it away in the well.
Gary Clouse put a line-burner on the board, flipped the bass like a pancake a couple of times to get it to go and then put a cull clip on the bass and dumped it into his livewell. We saw the opposite happen with Brandon Palaniuk earlier. The bass he caught tossed and turned on his measuring board like Palaniuk probably did on his bed last night, concerned about just catching five keepers after holding the Day 1 lead with 19-7.
The fishing is tough. Nothing is guaranteed. Of the group of anglers that went out in the Top 10 this morning, only one has a limit after the first three hours of fishing. That’s Justin Atkins in 10th with five for 8 pounds.
