OSAGE BEACH, Mo. – After three days of nonstop casting, there simply aren’t many secrets left when it comes to bass fishing on the deep, clear impoundment of Lake of the Ozarks. Most of the finalists are fishing docks with either a jig or a crankbait. With so many similar patterns unfolding, day four of the final Stren Series Central Division qualifier is all about on-the-water execution.
After catching 21 pounds, 6 ounces yesterday, pro Brian Maloney put himself in a two-man shootout with leader Jason Christie. Maloney, the TBF Divisional champion in the state of Missouri, still trails by 4 pounds, but he has eight years of home-water experience to tap into today.
“My wife called me last night and said `You better get going or that Maloney boy is going to catch you,'” said Christie. “I told her it’s not like shopping, you don’t get to pick which ones you want.”
Christie has won three of the past four points title’s in the Okie Division of the Wal-Mart BFL. He hopes to step up to the Wal-Mart FLW Tour next year, as well as fish the Stren Series Central Division again. Christie has been fishing the last 16 days in a row and 23 of the past 25 days. Once this tournament is over, he’ll trek home to fish a team tournament with his dad on Grand Lake.
“This lake fishes a lot like Grand. It’s deeper, but the style of fishing is still the same. Both lakes are just full of big shad.”
Lake of the Ozarks is a very popular recreation lake and the big cruisers will be out in full force by about 10 a.m. Stren Series pros would be wise to get while the getting is good.
Saturday’s weigh-in, which is free and open to the public, will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 4252 Highway 54 in Osage Beach beginning at 4 p.m.
On the Web
For Stren Series fans unable to catch the weigh-in action in person, FLWOutdoors.com offers FLW Live, an online application that brings fans real-time weigh-in results, streaming video and audio.
The stakes
Pros are competing for a top award of $25,000 plus a $40,000 519VX Ranger powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard and equipped with a Minn Kota trolling motor, Lowrance electronics and EverStart batteries if contingency guidelines are met. Ranger will award another $3,000 to the winner if he or she is a participant in the Ranger Cup program. If the winner is not a Ranger Cup participant, Ranger will award $1,500 to the highest-finishing participant in the contingency program. Yamaha will match 50 percent of Ranger Cup earnings if “Powered by Yamaha” guidelines are met.
Co-angler competitors are fishing for a top award of $5,000 plus a $30,000 Ranger boat and trailer if contingency guidelines are met.
Saturday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:58 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 67 degrees
Expected high temperature: 87 degrees
Water temperature: 78-82 degrees
Wind: NE at 9 mph
Maximum humidity: 58 percent
Day’s outlook: partly cloudy