Bull fight

Stable conditions promising for TBF Championship final

BRANSON, Mo. – Nick Smyers is in no hurry to get wet, but he’ll endure a little dampness if it means a good bite for the last round of the TBF National Championship presented by the National Guard on Bull Shoals Lake.

Leading the Boater Division, the Franksville, Wisc. competitor overtook day one leader Derek Cummings on the strength of his 15-pound, 12-ounce bag. Thankful for his weight, Smyers lamented the degree of difficulty he experienced in securing competitive fish.

“I have a spot that, on the first day, I made five casts and caught four that were 3 1/2 pounds,” Smyers said. “Yesterday, I’m not sure where the big fish pulled off to. I caught most of my fish in that area, but the size wasn’t there.”

Smyers surmised that the high pressure on the backside of a mid-week cold front pushed a lot of fish into deeper water. Sunny skies clearly indicated the transition and as the day grew brighter, the fishing dimmed.

Day three’s forecast calls for cloudy skies and a good chance of showers by midday. Smyers said that the absence of high pressure bodes well for a good bite. “I don’t want to get rained on, but if I’m getting bitten, then it’s worth it.”

Smyers has been working an area of points and bluff walls toward the back of a creek, some 50 miles down lake from the launch site. Convinced the area still holds enough fish to secure the win, he’s committed to sticking it out there all day.

“I know the fish are (in the area), it’s just a matter of them pulling up onto where I can catch them,” Smyers said. “I have a deeper diving crankbait tied on and I might give that a shot because I have an area that I think they might have pulled off to. It’s just a matter of getting five bites and working on it from there.”

Smyers holds a 4-pound, 8-ounce lead over Brandon Craner of Flier, Idaho who won the Western Division with 30-3. Craner knows he has to close the gap, but he feels confident that Bull Shoals has the potential to give up the right fish.

“I know I have to go out and catch up with Nick, but out here four pounds can be one fish,” he said.

Craner’s game plan is one of angles – specifically, banks with 45-degree inclines and chunk rock. On day one, Craner got all his fish on crankbaits, but the lackluster day two action required him to slow down and fish a jerkbait. Craner expects to use both baits today, but he said he’ll probably have to work several areas.

“I’ve had to run a little bit farther south each day because fishing’s getting tougher for me,” he said. “Hopefully, I won’t have to run to the dam today but we’ll see what happens.”

Leading the co-angler division since day one is Mark Modrak of China Township, Mich. He’ll stick with a shad colored crankbait and focus on popping the bait off of rocks and wood to attract attention.

Logistics

The TBF Championship comprises 44 boaters and 44 co-anglers representing six TBF divisions nationwide. Competitors qualified through local, state and divisional championship series tournaments. The top boater and co-angler from each division compete in today’s final round.

TBF National Championship anglers are competing for their share of over $200,000 in cash and merchandise. The top boater and top co-angler from each of the TBF’s six divisions will advance to the 2009 Wal-Mart BFL All-American presented by Chevy. The TBF National Champion boater and co-angler also qualify for the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Castrol. Additionally, the winning boater at the TBF National Championship will receive $10,000 cash, the use of a “Living the Dream” wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha, sponsor merchandise, paid entry fees into the winner’s choice of either the 2010 FLW Tour or Wal-Mart FLW Series and travel expense money.

Anglers will weigh in today at 3 p.m. at the Branson Convention Center, located at 200 W. Main St. Weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

In conjunction with the weigh-in today, as well as Sunday’s final weigh-in of the FLW Tour event on Table Rock Lake, FLW Outdoors will host a free Family Fun Zone and outdoor show at the Branson Convention Center each day at noon. The Family Fun Zone offers fans a chance to meet their Fantasy Fishing team anglers face-to-face and review the latest products from Berkley, Lowrance, Ranger, Evinrude, Yamaha and other sponsors while children are treated to giveaways, fishing themed games and rides like the Ranger Boat simulator. Children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone on Sunday will receive a free rod and reel combo courtesy of US 97 FM while supplies last.

The TBF Championship is hosted by the 2009 TBF National Championship is hosted by Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau as well as the Missouri Bass Federation.

Saturday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 7:25 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 37 degrees

Expected high temperature: 49 degrees

Water temperature: 48-54 degrees

Wind: from the NE 5-10 mph

Humidity: 52 percent

Day’s outlook: Cloudy with afternoon showers