Team: Final day with Clift and Adams

The final day of the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship Classic Fish-off is the season concluding day as 6 anglers battle for the final spot in the 2017 Geico Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
The final day of the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship Classic Fish-off is the season concluding day as 6 anglers battle for the final spot in the 2017 Geico Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
Scott Clift was the angler that was leading the pack and all eyes were on him as he started the final day with an 8 pound, 6 ounce lead over 2nd place Barron Adams.
Scott Clift was the angler that was leading the pack and all eyes were on him as he started the final day with an 8 pound, 6 ounce lead over 2nd place Barron Adams.
Today was a different day though as the weather shifted once again and instead of sunny skies and no wind, a thick blanket of clouds covered the sky and the wind was a constant all day. Clift looked to the heavens as he evaluated if they would break or remain all day.
Today was a different day though as the weather shifted once again and instead of sunny skies and no wind, a thick blanket of clouds covered the sky and the wind was a constant all day. Clift looked to the heavens as he evaluated if they would break or remain all day.
So Clift adjusted accordingly and changed colors on his jerkbait.
So Clift adjusted accordingly and changed colors on his jerkbait.
His teammate Ashley Medley ran by as he was making an early move.
His teammate Ashley Medley ran by as he was making an early move.
Meanwhile the wind was picking up so Clift suited up to stay as warm as possible.
Meanwhile the wind was picking up so Clift suited up to stay as warm as possible.
Two hours into the day and Clift was still searching for a keeper bite as it certainly wasn't a fast start unlike his Friday.
Two hours into the day and Clift was still searching for a keeper bite as it certainly wasn’t a fast start unlike his Friday.
A few minutes later, Clift hooked up with a bass that would probably measure 15 inches.
A few minutes later, Clift hooked up with a bass that would probably measure 15 inches.
He landed the keeper and got the skunk out of the boat. Keeper number 1 for the leader.
He landed the keeper and got the skunk out of the boat. Keeper number 1 for the leader.
It wasn't a big one, but it was certainly long and lean.
It wasn’t a big one, but it was certainly long and lean.
Every fish added to his total would help him. Every ounce makes a comeback slightly harder for his five opponents.
Every fish added to his total would help him. Every ounce makes a comeback slightly harder for his five opponents.
His color change paid off as he landed the first keeper and hooked up a few casts later with another fish.
His color change paid off as he landed the first keeper and hooked up a few casts later with another fish.
This one pulled like a solid fish so Clift wasn't going to take any chances with this one.
This one pulled like a solid fish so Clift wasn’t going to take any chances with this one.
He gets ready in the passenger seat as the fish makes its way to the boat.
He gets ready in the passenger seat as the fish makes its way to the boat.
Clift goes for the scoop in the 50 degree Kentucky Lake water.
Clift goes for the scoop in the 50 degree Kentucky Lake water.
Boom! Number 2 in the boat for Clift.
Boom! Number 2 in the boat for Clift.
This largemouth had a gut on it for sure.
This largemouth had a gut on it for sure.
Clift estimated the fish as a solid 3+ pounder.
Clift estimated the fish as a solid 3+ pounder.
“Three more of those and I’ll be just fine,” Clift said.
He has done almost all of his damage with a jerkbait this week and for sure every fish these last two days.
He has done almost all of his damage with a jerkbait this week and for sure every fish these last two days.
After getting multiple updates from Barron Adams' marshal I decided to make the 25 minute drive south to try and find him. I found the second place angler and he already had a limit and had pulled in front of Scott Clift unofficially.
After getting multiple updates from Barron Adams’ marshal I decided to make the 25 minute drive south to try and find him. I found the second place angler and he already had a limit and had pulled in front of Scott Clift unofficially.
His limit was roughly 13 pounds or so at the moment, but he hooked up soon after I arrived.
His limit was roughly 13 pounds or so at the moment, but he hooked up soon after I arrived.
He goes to the console as he prepares to land his 7th fish of the day.
He goes to the console as he prepares to land his 7th fish of the day.
He decided to swing it over the gunnel of his Phoenix.
He decided to swing it over the gunnel of his Phoenix.
Adams immediately knows this fish will cull for him and give him a needed upgrade.
Adams immediately knows this fish will cull for him and give him a needed upgrade.
It was his second cull of the day.
It was his second cull of the day.
He pulls out his cookie-cutter largemouths to determine what order he will need to cull when the time comes.
He pulls out his cookie-cutter largemouths to determine what order he will need to cull when the time comes.
He finds his two smallest bass.
He finds his two smallest bass.
And tosses the little one back. That was a pretty good cull.
And tosses the little one back. That was a pretty good cull.
Adams had a ditch that was holding a good number of fish. He said they had caught numerous limits over the last few days at that exact spot.
Adams had a ditch that was holding a good number of fish. He said they had caught numerous limits over the last few days at that exact spot.
His spot was pumping out fish today when he needed it the most.
His spot was pumping out fish today when he needed it the most.
This one wouldn't help, but at this point he needs a solid keeper to contribute to his limit.
This one wouldn’t help, but at this point he needs a solid keeper to contribute to his limit.
He wasn't quite sure why they didn't bite the previous day and he knew it would be hard to dig himself out of an 8-pound hole.
He wasn’t quite sure why they didn’t bite the previous day and he knew it would be hard to dig himself out of an 8-pound hole.
He would alternate between a lipless crankbait, a jerkbait and a spinnerbait once the fish stopped biting the lure he was using.
He would alternate between a lipless crankbait, a jerkbait and a spinnerbait once the fish stopped biting the lure he was using.
This fish looked like it could possibly help, but he would have to check.
This fish looked like it could possibly help, but he would have to check.
This one fell for the jerkbait. He said he had them fired up this morning and caught four fish in a matter of minutes to start his day.
This one fell for the jerkbait. He said he had them fired up this morning and caught four fish in a matter of minutes to start his day.
Adams, a member of the Georgia duo fishing today, said he caught a 7 and 6+ here in practice.
Adams, a member of the Georgia duo fishing today, said he caught a 7 and 6+ here in practice.
He eyes up this fish to see if it will be of any help.
He eyes up this fish to see if it will be of any help.
He put it on the cull beam with his smallest fish...
He put it on the cull beam with his smallest fish…
But it didn't help as he had to throw that one back and get back out there with his bait.
But it didn’t help as he had to throw that one back and get back out there with his bait.
Next cast resulted in another fish for Adams.
Next cast resulted in another fish for Adams.
He thought it could help until he swung it in and realized it was hooked funny, which made it feel bigger.
He thought it could help until he swung it in and realized it was hooked funny, which made it feel bigger.
No harm, no foul as he hooked up for what seemed like the 5th or 6th time while I was watching.
No harm, no foul as he hooked up for what seemed like the 5th or 6th time while I was watching.
When this fish didn't help his total I began to think he was a little closer to the 15-pound mark rather than the 13-pound guess he had.
When this fish didn’t help his total I began to think he was a little closer to the 15-pound mark rather than the 13-pound guess he had.
He continued to probe the area with a jerkbait.
He continued to probe the area with a jerkbait.
After switching to his lipless crankbait he hooked up again.
After switching to his lipless crankbait he hooked up again.
It was small and wouldn't help, but on the final day of a tournament anglers want to catch everything that bites.
It was small and wouldn’t help, but on the final day of a tournament anglers want to catch everything that bites.
He took a moment to retie after he broke off his bait.
He took a moment to retie after he broke off his bait.
He lets his area rest for a couple minutes as he picked up a spinnerbait and hit some shallow targets.
He lets his area rest for a couple minutes as he picked up a spinnerbait and hit some shallow targets.
He was hoping he could catch a big one shallower with a spinnerbait since he was catching cookie cutter fish at his primary spot.
He was hoping he could catch a big one shallower with a spinnerbait since he was catching cookie cutter fish at his primary spot.
Barron was as calm and cool as he could be, but he had a look of determination in his eye.
Barron was as calm and cool as he could be, but he had a look of determination in his eye.
He needed one more kicker to close the margin to just ounces at the moment.
He needed one more kicker to close the margin to just ounces at the moment.
He took a moment to get hydrated. Meanwhile I got an update that the leader had moved up to 4 fish, which put even more pressure on Barron to catch a bigger bag. But he obviously didn't know that.
He took a moment to get hydrated. Meanwhile I got an update that the leader had moved up to 4 fish, which put even more pressure on Barron to catch a bigger bag. But he obviously didn’t know that.
He pulled up his trolling motor and went over to a shallow flat as he threw a lipless crankbait around.
He pulled up his trolling motor and went over to a shallow flat as he threw a lipless crankbait around.
It was getting close to noon so I made the 25-minute run back to the leader to see how he was doing.
It was getting close to noon so I made the 25-minute run back to the leader to see how he was doing.
Clift had 4 fish and was looking for his limit fish, but he said he had already lost it at the boat once prior.
Clift had 4 fish and was looking for his limit fish, but he said he had already lost it at the boat once prior.
He caught a big shad on a jerkbait while I was there.
He caught a big shad on a jerkbait while I was there.
With two hours left, his 5th fish would be the most important of the day...if he could get it.
With two hours left, his 5th fish would be the most important of the day…if he could get it.
He waves goodbye as I head to the ramp. He would later catch his 5th fish as the weigh-in approached.
He waves goodbye as I head to the ramp. He would later catch his 5th fish as the weigh-in approached.