BRANSON, Mo. – Brian Snowden envisions anglers from another tournament having some fun at his expense.
With the takeoff of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open again fog delayed at Table Rock Lake, Snowden stood at the dock and said he knows the Joe Bass Team Trail anglers were already fishing.
“They’re catching them,” said the Elite Series angler, who stands second just 14 ounces behind leader Tommy Martin’s 22-5. “ ’Oh, Brian caught one here yesterday. Got one. (Snowden feigns reeling one in) Hey, where is he?’ “
Snowden was among the Top 12 who finally did launch at 8:45, an hour and a half late, similar to Day Two.
“Every hour that passes hurts me because I need that early morning bite,” he said. “That’s really the key part of my strategy because I’m catching a lot of fish shallow. Hopefully the wind is going to pick up today and let me do that longer. That’s what it’s going to take for me to win.”
Snowden, who is from nearby Reeds Springs and knows Table Rock well, said he has a number of spots to visit.
“We’re going to do some milk runs of the good old ones that have been producers for years,” he said.
Two more Elites are fishing Saturday’s finale, James Niggemeyer (3rd, 2-5 behind Martin) and Kevin Short (5th, 4-4 back).
Day One leader Robbie Dodson of Harrison, Ark., is fourth with 19-13 after catching only one fish on Day Two. Casey Scanlon stands sixth with 16-15.