Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
As Finale Friday kicks off in Osage Beach at the Chompers NPFL Stop Number Five, presented by Bait-Wrx, Texas angler Nick Brown has surged into the lead with a two-day total of 33 pounds, 3 ounces. Brown’s impressive comeback on day two included the biggest bag of the event, weighing in at 21 pounds, 8 ounces, propelling him to the top of the leaderboard.
Brown went from trying to secure a limit and making a check to now finding himself in control on Lake of the Ozarks (LOZ), with the opportunity to earn his first NPFL victory. Making a move on day two, his morning spot was dead. He worked through what he thought was a productive area, despite not getting a bite on day one, and found that big fish had moved in. Understandable, he was reluctant to give up too much information, but Brown noted he is “not really” fishing docks, and is “working isolated targets on a big flat.”
On day one, Brown was the only angler in his creek. That number jumped up to two or three on day two, and besides a few kayak anglers practicing for an event this weekend, he is alone.
“A few of the kayak guys were a little close but were super respectful once they realized I was fishing the tournament,” said Brown. “I told them I needed one more day, and I would even tell them exactly what I was catching fish on when it was all over.”
He noted after the day two weigh-in that LOZ is one of the toughest places to stay consistent, especially under these conditions.
“On this place, you can feel like you found the winning area and the next day it’s a ghost town,” he added. “I may not get a bite out there (today), but I am going to fish through that area and have a couple of backup plans.”
A Tough Bite/Big Movers
Overall, only 22 anglers caught five keepers on day two, down from 27 on day one, and just ten anglers did so two days in a row. Ryan Satterfield is the lowest standing angler with ten fish weighed in over two days, sitting in 20th place, highlighting the importance of catching keepers. With the weights tight, not only are keepers important, but one big fish per day can jump an angler several places, potentially into check range, on the final day.
Big movers of the day include Oklahoma pro Zack Birge, who climbed into the top ten with a 16-pound, 10-ounce bag on day two. Wes Logan reported a tough practice in a video on social media, and on day one only weighed in a single bass, a 2-pound, 6-ounce keeper. On day two, his 16-pound, 10-ounce bag, coincidentally the same as Birge, rocketed him back into 21st place, well in check range with only today to go.
Progressive AOY Update
While Kyle Welcher came into the event as the Progressive AOY leader, he has since fallen to second place behind Georgia Pro Drew Cook. Welcher was in 31st place on day one, but his 6-pound kicker on day two jumped him into 13th place, just 2 points behind Drew Cook, who moved into 5th place.
With his big move, Nick Brown also takes the lead in the Bass Cat Boats NPFL Quest Program. Day one leader Michael Stout holds the big bass honors so far with his day one lunker weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces.
Catch the Live Final Day Weigh-In from the Pa He Tsi Boat Launch this afternoon at 3:00 pm CST on TNPFL.com.
Weather Watch
This morning’s launch temperatures hover in the low 60s, with afternoon highs reaching the low 70s. Today will feature mostly cloudy skies with a slight chance of a rain shower, and a light North wind increasing to 10 MPH by the afternoon.
How to Watch
Tune in daily from October 23 through 25 to watch the action from Lake of the Ozarks. Follow along and watch the daily LIVE Leaderboard, LIVE Blog and photo galleries throughout the event.
Under the Go Live Tab, choose LIVE Broadcast or check out the real-time, unofficial leaderboard on the Weigh Live Tracker with estimated weights entered by the anglers on the water, and join us for the LIVE Weigh-ins!
And be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
The Chompers/NPFL Stop 5 on Lake of the Ozarks presented by Bait-Wrx is hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association.
