Blaylock closes with a bang

A couple of casts later, Blaylock hooks up with another good one.

In what turned out to be his last cast of the day, Stetson Blaylock closed it with what may be the difference-maker in an excruciatingly close Bassmaster Classic. Unlike the other bass in his livewells, including a 5-4 and a 5-2, Blaylock didn’t have time to weigh this one. But it but it definitely culled his smallest fish, a 2-12. That should put him just over 20 pounds for the day. A red crankbait retrieved over a brush pile did the trick.

However, this one is still too close to call. Blaylock started the day in sixth place, 3 pounds, 11 ounces, behind Jason Christie and Kyle Welcher, who were tied for first place. By all accounts, this was one of the best finishes in the 52-year Bassmaster Classic history.