You would expect the Top 51 anglers in what was a 109-angler field to post some better overall numbers on the third day of any tournament anywhere. As you can see from the chart below, that’s exactly what happened Sunday in the GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge.
A higher percentage weighed-in 5-bass limits, and the average weight of the bass brought to the scales went up. But hidden in those numbers are the continuing individual struggles for consistency on this ever-changing Arkansas River impoundment.
For instance, Shane Lineberger never got his groove back after being fourth on Day 1. He still had a great chance to make the Top 12 after Day 2 in 14th place, but finished 32nd with a four fish weighing 8-1 Sunday. And Elite Series rookie Stetson Blaylock seemed to be on the rise, going from 12th on Day 1 to 8th on Day 2, before finishing 21st with a limit weighing 10-2 on Sunday.
Today will present a new challenge to an already formidable fishery as heavy overnight rains have added a new twist.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | |
| Total anglers | 109 | 109 | 51 |
| 5-bass limits | 80 | 65 | 43 |
| Anglers/limits | 73% | 60% | 84% |
| Bass weighed-in | 487 | 451 | 242 |
| Total weight | 1,213-10 | 1,080-13 | 621-14 |
| Ave. bass weighed-in | 2.49 lbs. | 2.39 lbs. | 2.57 lbs. |
| 16-lb.-plus bags | 17 | 4 | 4 |
| Big bag | 19-3 | 19-4 | 18-14 |
| Big bass | 6-8 | 5-4 | 5-8 |