Dustin Lester’s third trip to Table Rock could be a charm.
The Huntington Beach, Calif., angler jumped into the pro division lead with 37 pounds, 3 ounces in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open at Table Rock Lake by catching the biggest limit (21-15) of the tournament today. His catch puts him in a good spot to win the event and a berth in the Bassmaster Classic.
“I had a limit by 10 o’clock and then it slowed way down until about 1 o’clock,” Lester said. “Then I caught two of my big ones but never had another bite afterwards.”
Lester made the long drive from California last spring to compete in the 2011 Open at Table Rock, but flooding conditions caused the postponement of the tournament until the fall.
“I fished for five days (before the event was postponed), and then I had to drive back home, but it was a good practice,” he recalled.
Lester fished in the rescheduled Open at Table Rock last fall, but had a tough time.
What he found out in practice last spring apparently is helping him in this event. “I practiced for five days and figured this pattern out two days before this tournament started, and I don’t believe many people are doing it,” said Lester.
Since he likes to fish rivers back home, Lester is making a 45-mile one way run up one of the rivers at Table Rock to catch shallow bass. “I just feel at home up there,” said Lester, who weighed in a 15-4 limit yesterday. “I did the exact same thing today. I have been catching some good fish up there, but yesterday I just didn’t get the good bite.”
Greenville, Texas angler Brady Winans had some “good bites” each day to move into second place with 37-2. “I worked the same pattern as yesterday (when he had a 19-2 limit) and got lucky again and had another good fish,” he said. “Keepers aren’t really hard to come by, but big fish are.”
Winans believes his pattern has gotten stronger each day. “I’ve keyed in on what type of pattern was going on and what type of bank to look for,” he said. “I have just been burning up the bank winding and grinding.”
Local favorite Kelly Power of Cape Fair, Mo., is lurking in third place in the pro division with 36-6, followed by Casey Scanlon, Lenexa, Kan., in fourth with 35-13, and James Kiser, Cypress, Texas, in fifth with 33-8.
Cattle rancher Michael Kent Robinson took the lead in the co-angler division with 19-6. “I didn’t have a fish until about 9:30, and we got into one little area and started catching them,” said the Carter, Okla., angler. “I probably had a limit in about 30 minutes then.”
Rounding out the Top 5 in the co-angler division were Mike Burns, Lucas, Texas, in second place with 18-9; Kenneth Moore, Red Oak, Texas, third, 17-13; Mike Williams, Delhi, La., fourth, 17-10; and Roger Hackman, Harrison, Ark., fifth, 17-4.
The top 12 competitors on the pro and co-angler side advanced to the final round tomorrow.
The Branson/Lakes Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (www.ExploreBranson.com) is hosting the Open. Tomorrow’s launch will be held at the Table Rock State Park Marina, 380 State Park Marina Drive. The weigh-in will move to the Branson Landing water fountains near Bass Pro Shops at 1 Bass Pro Drive and will begin at 3:15 p.m. CDST.
2012 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2012 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Mercury, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2012 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsor: Boat U.S., BOOYAH, Carhartt, Humminbird, Luck “E” Strike, Minn Kota, Power-Pole
About B.A.S.S.
For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.
The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications – Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times – comprehensive Bassmaster website and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Cabela’s B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.
B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.By: B.A.S.S. News
