Team: Final 6 battle on Kentucky

After thousands of teams across the country battled it out in their own team trails it came down to the 186 teams in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship. After two days of competition and declaring a winner, the Top 3 teams split up into 6 individuals. They will compete for two full days of fishing to see who will garner the final Geico Bassmaster Classic berth.
After thousands of teams across the country battled it out in their own team trails it came down to the 186 teams in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship. After two days of competition and declaring a winner, the Top 3 teams split up into 6 individuals. They will compete for two full days of fishing to see who will garner the final Geico Bassmaster Classic berth.
Anglers were greeted with temperatures in the low 30's and high 20's along with some light and patchy fog for Friday's competition day on Kentucky Lake.
Anglers were greeted with temperatures in the low 30’s and high 20’s along with some light and patchy fog for Friday’s competition day on Kentucky Lake.
I stopped on Ty Faber who was half of the Team Championship winning duo from Colorado.
I stopped on Ty Faber who was half of the Team Championship winning duo from Colorado.
He didn't start on the spot where he and teammate John Gardner did the majority of their damage this week, but instead started within eye sight at another place.
He didn’t start on the spot where he and teammate John Gardner did the majority of their damage this week, but instead started within eye sight at another place.
He started the morning by catching a white bass on his jigging spoon.
He started the morning by catching a white bass on his jigging spoon.
He unhooked it and flipped a couple more casts out.
He unhooked it and flipped a couple more casts out.
As he let it flutter he felt a bite and hooked up.
As he let it flutter he felt a bite and hooked up.
This wasn't a white bass, but instead looked like a decent largemouth by the way it pulled.
This wasn’t a white bass, but instead looked like a decent largemouth by the way it pulled.
The big fish surfaces near the side of the boat as Faber gets ready to grab it.
The big fish surfaces near the side of the boat as Faber gets ready to grab it.
He grabs the big fish and pulls it aboard for his first keeper of the day.
He grabs the big fish and pulls it aboard for his first keeper of the day.
That one will certainly help the cause and it also gets Faber a little shaken up with excitement.
That one will certainly help the cause and it also gets Faber a little shaken up with excitement.
He takes a moment to gather his nerves and retie his bait.
He takes a moment to gather his nerves and retie his bait.
Faber was looking for another quick fish to keep the momentum rolling.
Faber was looking for another quick fish to keep the momentum rolling.
He swung in a couple white bass as he doubled up on his spoon.
He swung in a couple white bass as he doubled up on his spoon.
With perfect timing, Faber hooked up with another fish and this time it seemed to be a bass.
With perfect timing, Faber hooked up with another fish and this time it seemed to be a bass.
The fish head shakes and acts like its going to come to the driver side of the boat...
The fish head shakes and acts like its going to come to the driver side of the boat…
But it digs back to the passenger side as Faber heads to get it in the boat.
But it digs back to the passenger side as Faber heads to get it in the boat.
He swings in a chunky second keeper to keep his momentum rolling.
He swings in a chunky second keeper to keep his momentum rolling.
He checked to see if it was 15 inches just to be sure, but it was indeed and it goes in the livewell.
He checked to see if it was 15 inches just to be sure, but it was indeed and it goes in the livewell.
A slight breeze shifts the patchy fog and positions it right near Faber.
A slight breeze shifts the patchy fog and positions it right near Faber.
As he kept catching white bass.
As he kept catching white bass.
There was so much bait activity on his graph he invited his marshal to come check it out.
There was so much bait activity on his graph he invited his marshal to come check it out.
I left Faber and found Ashley Medley who was half of the second place team from Missouri.
I left Faber and found Ashley Medley who was half of the second place team from Missouri.
Medley had two fish for roughly 5 pounds when I showed up.
Medley had two fish for roughly 5 pounds when I showed up.
He was working around a shallow and rocky bank looking for a reaction bite.
He was working around a shallow and rocky bank looking for a reaction bite.
After fishing down that stretch of bank he decides to takeoff and go around the corner.
After fishing down that stretch of bank he decides to takeoff and go around the corner.
He kept a jerkbait in his hand for most of the morning. As an Ozark Mountain angler it is understandable that he has utmost confidence in that bait.
He kept a jerkbait in his hand for most of the morning. As an Ozark Mountain angler it is understandable that he has utmost confidence in that bait.
He makes another quick move to the next rocky point.
He makes another quick move to the next rocky point.
With Kentucky Lake roughly 6 feet low there are a lot of banks that are exposed.
With Kentucky Lake roughly 6 feet low there are a lot of banks that are exposed.
Medley and his partner Scott Clift had 37-3 for a two-day total and narrowly missed taking home the title. A Bassmaster Classic berth may be the best prize up for grabs now.
Medley and his partner Scott Clift had 37-3 for a two-day total and narrowly missed taking home the title. A Bassmaster Classic berth may be the best prize up for grabs now.
He went around the corner to the shady side and hooked up.
He went around the corner to the shady side and hooked up.
This one put a decent bow in his rod, but he wasn't so sure it was a bass.
This one put a decent bow in his rod, but he wasn’t so sure it was a bass.
His biggest fear was realized as it looked like a drum as it surfaced.
His biggest fear was realized as it looked like a drum as it surfaced.
So he scoops it up and unhooks it.
So he scoops it up and unhooks it.
Medley shows off the thick drum and tosses it back.
Medley shows off the thick drum and tosses it back.
After leaving Medley, I found his partner Scott Clift, who is also his brother-in-law.
After leaving Medley, I found his partner Scott Clift, who is also his brother-in-law.
Clift said he had four fish, but had three opportunities at number 5 and had lost them all. As he told me he hoped they kept biting, he was interrupted by a bite so he set the hook.
Clift said he had four fish, but had three opportunities at number 5 and had lost them all. As he told me he hoped they kept biting, he was interrupted by a bite so he set the hook.
This fish went back and forth as Clift kept it buttoned up.
This fish went back and forth as Clift kept it buttoned up.
He goes to the driver seat to land this fish. He reaches over the gunnel and into the water.
He goes to the driver seat to land this fish. He reaches over the gunnel and into the water.
And scoops up his 5th keeper of the morning.
And scoops up his 5th keeper of the morning.
Clift was pumped up as it was a solid one as well.
Clift was pumped up as it was a solid one as well.
Thats a limit for the Missouri angler. He realizes a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders as he had roughly 15 pounds by his guess.
Thats a limit for the Missouri angler. He realizes a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders as he had roughly 15 pounds by his guess.
He offers up a fist bump to his marshal.
He offers up a fist bump to his marshal.
He continued to fish around the area, but wasn't sure if he should start practicing for the final day because 15 pounds a day should be a good mark.
He continued to fish around the area, but wasn’t sure if he should start practicing for the final day because 15 pounds a day should be a good mark.
He hooks up with a gizzard shad and brings it aboard.
He hooks up with a gizzard shad and brings it aboard.
“I want to catch a bass that eats these things,” Clift said.
His partner Ashley Medley heads to his next spot.
His partner Ashley Medley heads to his next spot.
He decided to hang around for a couple more minutes before trying some new water.
He decided to hang around for a couple more minutes before trying some new water.
He, too, was looking for a reaction bite.
He, too, was looking for a reaction bite.
I left him and found John Gardner who is part of the Championship winning team.
I left him and found John Gardner who is part of the Championship winning team.
Halfway through the day he still didn't have a keeper and was getting a little worried.
Halfway through the day he still didn’t have a keeper and was getting a little worried.
His biggest fear was blanking and you could see it was wearing him down mentally, but there was plenty of time for an adjustment.
His biggest fear was blanking and you could see it was wearing him down mentally, but there was plenty of time for an adjustment.
He caught a small white bass as he searched for a largemouth or smallmouth.
He caught a small white bass as he searched for a largemouth or smallmouth.
A blue heron flies by as Gardner contemplates leaving this area.
A blue heron flies by as Gardner contemplates leaving this area.
He makes a quick bait adjustment as he gets prepared to leave.
He makes a quick bait adjustment as he gets prepared to leave.
He bundles up for the cold run that is in store for him and his marshal.
He bundles up for the cold run that is in store for him and his marshal.
Gardner takes off looking for a keeper to get his day going in the right direction.
Gardner takes off looking for a keeper to get his day going in the right direction.