Carl Jocumsen had only three bass as the minutes ticked down to when he had to leave in order to make his 3:20 p.m. check-in time Saturday.
“We’re in the back as far as you can get in Jack’s Creek,” Jocumsen said. “On my last flip I caught a 3 1/2-pounder, put it in the box and we took off.”
Jocumsen made his check-in deadline by 15 seconds. I repeat, 15 seconds. And Jocumsen is the Day 3 leader in this tournament by that tiny margin of error. It’s slim margins on the leaderboard too. Jocumsen’s 50-pound, 10-ounce total is only 13 ounces ahead of second place Austin Felix (49-13) and 1-pound, 3 ounces ahead of Day 2 leader Brandon Palaniuk (49-7).
But anyone can win this one. Bill Lowen took the final spot in Sunday’s top 10 finale. He’s 7-13 behind Jocumsen.
“It’s going to be decided on everyone’s last cast,” Jocumsen said. “On that last cast, you can catch a 9-pounder – a legitimate shot at a 9-pounder on your last cast.”
Jeff Gustafson still has big bass for the tournament. He caught a “legitimate 9-pounder” Friday. It weighed 9-7 to be exact. Gustafson will have a chance to repeat that, as he’s 8th place (45-4). There have been multiple 7-pounders weighed in this event.
So, yeah, Jocumsen’s point is well taken. This tournament very well could come down to someone’s last cast Sunday.