Shryock with No. 5, finally

Hunter Shryock had four keepers before 8 a.m. today. His fifth keeper didn’t come until just after 11 o’clock. But it was his best one of the day – a 3-pounder. Brandon Lester mentioned Shryock yesterday when asked to name an angler or two who might be contenders at Guntersville this week.

“He’s done well anywhere there’s grass,” Lester said. “He’s not afraid to lock a big rod in his hand and stick with it.”

That’s the thing about those four early fish that Shryock caught first thing this morning. It’s so much easier to keep that flipping stick in your hand when you’ve got four fish in the boat, even if they’re small ones.