With three and a half hours remaining, we’re in the heart of the slow grind now. Each day, the bite has slowed drastically around 11 a.m., and all but died in the afternoon, with the exception, that is, of the occasional big bite. And that’s exactly what the guys are in dire need of now.
Seven of our Top 10 have a limit. Keith Poche has four fish in fifth, and Chad Pipkens and Kenta Kimura sit in ninth and tenth with three and two fish respectively. We’ve seen several anglers catch quality fish in these last four hours each day, the most notable being Clifford Pirch’s 5-8 Phoenix Boats Big Bass of Day 3, which came at 1:32 yesterday.
Hunter Shryock just caught a quality fish, a 2-8 at 11:06, and is the latest to cull up towards leader Brock Mosley. He started in 10th though, so he still sits nearly 5 pounds behind. Clark Wendlandt had much less ground to make up today, starting only 4-14 back. He’s in second now on BassTrakk, with three bass in his 11-pound bag of five that are under 2 pounds. With a 1-7 as his smallest, and 1 pound, 13 ounces back of Mosley, a 3-pounder for Wendlandt will make things very interesting. He already has a 4-1 in the boat.
The tide is topped out. The water has gone slack. The bite has slowed now. But this tournament isn’t over. It will still take a big one from someone, Mosley or one of his pursuers, to determine the outcome.
