Tharp's big morning - Bassmaster

Randall Tharp made the 10-minute boat run to his first spot on Championship Sunday at Norfork Lake. He did pretty well here on Thursday, and if he can repeat he’ll likely take the title.

Before the sun tops the ridge behind him, Tharp knows that he’s five fish away from his first Bassmaster title. He said the fishing usually starts out a bit slow before the sun warms the shoreline. But, there are usually a few fish wiling to eat early.

Bassmaster LIVE will bring the action straight to Bassmaster.com today.

Tharp’s first fish of the day eats his jig almost as soon as it hit the water, and he flips the fish into the boat.

It’s a solid 2-pounder, and a good start. The angler weighed 15-8 on Norfork during the first of four competition days, and to remain in the hunt for the win, he’ll likely have to do just as good if not better. This fish will likely need to be culled out later in the day for that to be a possibility.

Tharp is happy to have one in the box, and he places the cull tag on the bass’ lower jaw hoping to replace it later with a bigger fish.

It’s a good start!

Just a few yards down the bank and a few casts later, he hooks into another fish, but it appears to be just shy of the 15-inch minimum for largemouth.

The fish tries to throw the hook one last time before Tharp flips it into the boat.

Tharp digs his jig from the fish’s mouth before measuring it and releasing it. It was 14 inches.

Again, after a few more minutes and casts, he hooks up again, and this one looks like it’ll easily measure.

Into the boat it comes; next stop the livewell.

Tagged and added to his total.

Happy with his early progress, the Bassmaster LIVE cameraman exchanges knuckles with Tharp. He’s feeling good so far.

Tharp squeezes past a couple of local crappie anglers, who caught quite a few fish while they watched him fish through. The crappies are biting this time of year.

Almost immediately after clearing the crappie boat, Tharp hooks into another bass.

It gives a few head shakes before being flipped into the boat, but this one looks like it might be short.

Tharp checks to make sure the fish isn’t a spotted bass, as the minimum length requirement is 12 inches for spots. He grabs for the bump ruler knowing it’ll likely be released–better safe than sorry.

Back it goes.

Meanwhile, Matt Herren, who led on Day 1, heads to his next spot.

Tharp finds another bass willing to eat near some wood, a combination that has produced several times for him so far this morning.

Tharp flips the bass into the boat, but will it measure? Too small, and it goes back.

But, it doesn’t take long and Tharp finds another fish, this one looks better.

So far, Tharp’s jig pattern has been catching him a lot of fish. But, nothing exceptionally large, yet.

This one will measure putting his total to three.

So far, he’s comfortable with just an hour of fishing. He stowed his trolling motor and makes a short idle across the creek channel.

Within minutes, he hooks up again, and the bent rod makes it look like there’s some weight on this fish.

Tharp flips the fish into the boat, and instantly knows it’s a keeper. Not a giant, but his fourth fish of the day.

Count it! As he suspected, there were more active fish on the sunny side of the creek.

Tharp’s fist pump tells you he’s satisfied, especially considering that at this time a few days ago, the full field of 108 anglers hadn’t even left the take-off area due to the fog.

Next cast yielded another fish for Tharp, but one that would not measure.

He measured it anyways to be safe, but immediately released it.

One of the Tharp’s secrets? Every few casts, he adds a little scent to the jig and trailer. He said that he’s seen how much of an impact a bit of scent can have, claiming that the fish hang on longer.

Tharp sets the hook again. Is a limit in Tharp’s future?

He begins to swing the fish into the boat.

It’s a good one, and it’ll fill his limit for the first time today.

Time to start culling.

Obviously, he feels confident that the spray-on scent is working, so he applies another coat.

A few casts later, he hooks up again, but the fish likely won’t help his total.

Tharp’s jig has been seeing a lot of action today, but he’s still looking for a kicker to keep him in the hunt.

The bass is too short, but his pattern is still producing. Tharp is on a great bite, but will a big kicker round out his limit later in the day? Time will tell!