Table Rock up for grabs

Limits will be key for EverStart Central Finalists

KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. – Table Rock Lake has teased and taunted the EverStart Series Central Division field for two days, and although the top-10 finalists have their work cut out for them, today’s weigh-ins have all the makings of dramatic conclusions.

Here’s how it’s shaping up. Robbie Dodson of Harrison, Ark. has led the field for two days and enters the final round with a total weight of 27-2. Trailing Dodson by 2 pounds, 6 ounces is Richland, Mo. pro Tom Murphy, who has caught 24-12 over two days. In third, Zach King, of Clarksville, Ark. trails Murphy by nearly the same margin at 22-7.

Now, Dodson’s no stranger to Table Rock and his list of spots is a long one. However, he admits to having struggled through two days of just grinding through spots and finally putting together his limits. On day one, he bagged 15 pounds but saw his productivity slip on day two with a bag weighing 12-2.

Conversely, Murphy saw an improvement on day two, as he bolstered his day-one score of 11-5 with a 13-pound, 7-ounce effort on the second day. Likewise, King enjoyed a much better day two, as he added the event’s heaviest bag – 15-2 – to the 7-5 he caught a day earlier. King also found the biggest bass of day two – a 5-pound largemouth.

Given Table Rock’s temperamental fall disposition, it’s unlikely that any of the finalists will guarantee limits today. However, the top three all bagged five yesterday and depending on how they fare today, the final standings could see some interesting twists. Essentially, if Dodson’s productivity continues to slip, and if either Murphy or King continues improving, the tournament could end with a different order at the top.

Granted, King will have to really pour it on today for a shot at the win, but he clearly found good fish yesterday and on day one he made that 7-5 with just two fish. Dodson and Murphy both bagged limits for two days and they’ll need to do so again today. For Dodson, working through a large number of spots has been the strategy. He fished about 100 spots on day one and 150 on day two.

“I’m just going to put out four rods and go fishing,” he said. “Maybe I’ll catch one that will key me in (on a pattern). A spinnerbait, jig and square bill crankbait will probably be my main baits.”

Murphy has been following a two-stage plan of working brush piles early with spinnerbaits and shaky heads and then moving to boat docks, where he’s looking for bigger fish with football head jigs and spoons. A third day of sunny conditions should position the fish well for his pattern.

King found his big day-two bag by bumping a custom-made balsa crankbait off of wood in the back of a creek. Yesterday’s strong wind piled the shad onto the shorelines and bass followed predictably. Today’s wind forecast is a little lighter, so King’s hoping the forage stays shallow.

“They weren’t in there good on the first day, but yesterday, the wind pushed them up and got them in the back of the pocket where they’re supposed to be,” King said. “Hopefully, they’ll be back in there today.”

In fourth place, Earl K. Garrison IV is hoping to regain the momentum he had on day one when he sacked up a limit of 12-10 and had three more shots at big fish that escaped. He stumbled on day two and caught four for 7-14. He’ll pull out a mix of reaction baits today.

Fifth-place pro Randall Hutson will start close, near the Highway 13 Bridge and look for a few early bites with a jig. He’ll then make a 30-mile run to a spot where he caught fish yesterday on a spinnerbait.

Logistics

Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at Walmart located at 18401 State Highway 13 in Branson West, starting at 4 p.m. Weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

Pros will fish for a top award of $35,000 plus a 198VX Ranger boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award consisting of a Ranger 177TR with 90-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $5,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.

The EverStart Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western. Each division consists of four tournaments and competitors will be vying for valuable points in each division that could earn them the Strike King Angler of the Year title along with $5,000 for the pro and $2,000 for the co-angler. The top 40 pros and co-anglers from each respective division will qualify for the EverStart Series Championship that will be held on Kentucky Lake in Buchanan, Tenn., Oct. 27-30.

The EverStart Series tournament on Table Rock Lake is being hosted by the Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

Saturday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 7:12 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 58 degrees

Expected high temperature: 81 degrees

Wind: SSE 10-15 mph

Humidity: 30 percent

Day’s outlook: Mostly sunny