BENTON, Ky. – A few minutes after the top 10 blasted off at the Kentucky Lake EverStart this morning, tournament leader Jonathan Newton of Rogersville, Ala., was already boating keeper bass on crankbait.

As of yesterday, Newton had a 3-pound lead, but he will likely need more than a limit of keepers today to fend off a group of hard charging Kentucky anglers.

Over Newton’s shoulder are David Young of Mayfield, Ky., Britt Cone of Benton, Ky., and Billy Schroeder of Paducah, Ky. – three Kentucky Lake sticks that are not going to let Newton off easy.

Also boating bass this morning was Newton’s co-angler, David Fields of Sikeston, Mo. Fields was leading the co-angler division by 2-1/2 pounds and he added a nice bass to that lead this morning.

The top 10 pros and co-anglers will have a perfect day for offshore fishing today – the skies were sunny and the lake was calm.

The winner of this Kentucky Lake offshore war will be determined today at the final day weigh-in at the Benton Wal-Mart. The weigh-in begins at 3:30 p.m. Central.

Saturday’s conditions:

Air temperature: 60 degrees

Water temperature: 77 degrees

Wind: light and variable

Day’s outlook: sunny, high of 82