Opens: Final round on ‘The Rock’ with Watson

Follow along with James Watson as he punches his ticket to the 2016 Geico Bassmaster Classic by winning the Bass Pro Shops Central Open #3 presented by Allstate on Table Rock Lake.

Follow along with James Watson as he punches his ticket to the 2016 Geico Bassmaster Classic by winning the Bass Pro Shops Central Open on Table Rock presented by Allstate.
Follow along with James Watson as he punches his ticket to the 2016 Geico Bassmaster Classic by winning the Bass Pro Shops Central Open on Table Rock presented by Allstate.
A cold morning to start the final round on Table Rock Lake, but Watson does have a 4-pouind lead to warm him up.
A cold morning to start the final round on Table Rock Lake, but Watson does have a 4-pouind lead to warm him up.
It's not long before Watson hooks up...
It’s not long before Watson hooks up…
and puts keeper number one in the boat.
and puts keeper number one in the boat.
No time to lift the trolling motor, time to move around this set of docks.
No time to lift the trolling motor, time to move around this set of docks.
This woodpecker played peekaboo with Watson as he made his way down the bank.
This woodpecker played peekaboo with Watson as he made his way down the bank.
On the move again after another unproductive stop. Watson is on the run and gun pattern again.
On the move again after another unproductive stop. Watson is on the run and gun pattern again.
Sergeant First Class Watson has paid his dues to this great nation...
Sergeant First Class Watson has paid his dues to this great nation…
serving 9 years as a Drill Sergeant in the US Army.
serving 9 years as a Drill Sergeant in the US Army.
A cast goes out...
A cast goes out…
and then another as Watson works through the morning lull.
and then another as Watson works through the morning lull.
Watson, like most anglers this week, has had a hard time finding a morning bite.
Watson, like most anglers this week, has had a hard time finding a morning bite.
The GoPro will be rolling though when the action pics up.
The GoPro will be rolling though when the action pics up.
On the move again.
On the move again.
Co-angler Matthew Krekovich getting in on the action with keeper number one.
Co-angler Matthew Krekovich getting in on the action with keeper number one.
Watson grinds on...
Watson grinds on…
and is finally rewarded with another bite as the 10 o'clock hour rolls around.
and is finally rewarded with another bite as the 10 o’clock hour rolls around.
...
...
...
That's one more fish closer to the Bassmaster Classic.
That’s one more fish closer to the Bassmaster Classic.
Two hours later and Watson breaks the dry spell with another bite...
Two hours later and Watson breaks the dry spell with another bite…
and this one's a good.
and this one’s a good.
Pro and co check the fish out as it enters the boat.
Pro and co check the fish out as it enters the boat.
That's big.
That’s big.
Another 3-pounds closer to the Classic berth that comes with a win here for Watson.
Another 3-pounds closer to the Classic berth that comes with a win here for Watson.
Future pro...
Future pro…
enjoying a day on the lake with his dad.
enjoying a day on the lake with his dad.
Time to make another move.
Time to make another move.
Watson has been on the move all day...
Watson has been on the move all day…
wasting no time whether he's on the trolling motor or big motor.
wasting no time whether he’s on the trolling motor or big motor.
Back on the deck.
Back on the deck.
Time to apply a little sunscreen...
Time to apply a little sunscreen…
and then get back at it. The sun is Watson's friend, crucial for positioning the fish.
and then get back at it. The sun is Watson’s friend, crucial for positioning the fish.
The Showboat Branson Bell rolls down the lake...
The Showboat Branson Bell rolls down the lake…
as Watson hooks another good one.
as Watson hooks another good one.
This one will be a huge help if Watson can get it in the boat.
This one will be a huge help if Watson can get it in the boat.
Several near misses with big fish have Watson on edge...
Several near misses with big fish have Watson on edge…
but this one only has a few feet to go.
but this one only has a few feet to go.
In the boat.
In the boat.
Watson is feeling it now.
Watson is feeling it now.
Wooooooo!
Wooooooo!
A little joyriding...
A little joyriding…
and parasailing going on out here.
and parasailing going on out here.
Several of Watson's fish have come on wind blown points, falling victim to his topwater.
Several of Watson’s fish have come on wind blown points, falling victim to his topwater.
As Watson's topwater nears the boat...
As Watson’s topwater nears the boat…
another good one slams it.
another good one slams it.
In the boat...
In the boat…
and that's number 5. Watson has definitely put the pressure on the rest of the field.
and that’s number 5. Watson has definitely put the pressure on the rest of the field.
This feels good.
This feels good.
Going in the box.
Going in the box.
Another wind blown point... this could get ugly.
Another wind blown point… this could get ugly.
Blast off.
Blast off.
Watson leans into another big one.
Watson leans into another big one.
The Classic is getting closer by the cast.
The Classic is getting closer by the cast.
Another solid fish...
Another solid fish…
makes it's way...
makes it’s way…
in the boat.
in the boat.
Time to cull.
Time to cull.
The one's going back aren't exactly small.
The one’s going back aren’t exactly small.
Watson's putting together a nice bag.
Watson’s putting together a nice bag.
Back down the bank we go.
Back down the bank we go.
Keep the line tight...
Keep the line tight…
and wait, the bite will come.
and wait, the bite will come.
Watson hooks into another chunk.
Watson hooks into another chunk.
This one feels big...
This one feels big…
and it is.
and it is.
Watson...
Watson…
is...
is…
feeling it.
feeling it.
Another chunk.
Another chunk.
In the box.
In the box.
That may be enough to do it...
That may be enough to do it…
but why not add one more!
but why not add one more!
Watson hooks up again on the same bush where caught his biggest fish of the week on Day 2.
Watson hooks up again on the same bush where caught his biggest fish of the week on Day 2.
And now this bush has produced his two biggest fish of the week.
And now this bush has produced his two biggest fish of the week.
Watson is on cloud 9.
Watson is on cloud 9.
Time to do a little celebrating.
Time to do a little celebrating.
Show her to the GoPro...
Show her to the GoPro…
do a little culling...
do a little culling…
chunk the smallest one back....
chunk the smallest one back….
then pack up and head to weigh-in to make it official.
then pack up and head to weigh-in to make it official.