BASSTrakk shows 4 ounces separation between leader Kelley Jaye and Brandon Palaniuk. Jacob Wheeler is third and 1 ounce behind Palaniuk.
What if there is a tie for first place? Here is the answer, straight from the B.A.S.S. rule book.
“In case of a tie for first place weight at the end of the tournament, there will be a fish-off between the tied competitors under the direction and special rules established by tournament officials.”
Tournament Director Trip Weldon will make that call, if needed. Back in the late 1980s I was B.A.S.S. assistant tournament director and found myself having to exercise that rule at a B.A.S.S. Nation regional qualifier.
The late summer event on the East Coast allowed for plenty of daylight after the weigh-in. I chose to have the sudden-death fish-off immediately after the weigh-in. The option would have been staying overnight and fishing the next day. It was a good decision. The tied anglers went out and the tournament was decided within an hour.
Lots of us, the anglers included, will love it if Weldon choses that option, especially since we’ve all been on a two-week road trip.