Randy Howell made the biggest final-day comeback in Bassmaster Classic history in 2014 when he started Sunday in 11th place, 9 pounds out of the lead, and caught 29-2 to win at Lake Guntersville.
Consider 29 a significant number. Howell mentioned another 29-pound bag Friday. It was on March 14, 2015, at Grand Lake when Zack Birge caught a 5-bass limit weighing 29-1 to win a Walmart Bass Fishing League event.
With that in mind, it would seem almost all of the top 25 anglers who fish on Sunday will have at least a thread of hope. Granted, four other anglers caught over 20 pounds last year in that BFL, and we’ve seen no evidence of another day like it this year at Grand. But everyone knows what lives in this lake.
“Depending on how stacked the weights are, anybody within 7 pounds or so of the lead can win here,” Howell said Friday. “This lake is like a Guntersville even though it doesn’t have grass. It’s got a lot of 4- to 6-pounders in it.
“I think it’s going to be a good dramatic-type tournament because stuff happens late in these warming trends. And that’s what keeps me confident.”
Howell’s words spoken Friday look even more prophetic today, based on what has happened, or maybe not happened, so far.