MONROE, La. — While other contenders are going for broke now to get back in the hunt, Alabama’s Jamie Horton just hopes to catch a limit on the final day of the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Championship (FNC) presented by Yamaha Outboard and Skeeter Boats.
Horton has set a goal to bring in 8 pounds of Ouachita River bass today.
“If I could catch 8 pounds I will be happy,” said the River Region Bass Fraternity club member. “That may not win but I will feel like I have done my part this week.”
“I made a good decision by getting the 16 pounds I caught (the first day) out of my head and focus on catching 8 pounds (yesterday). When I saw things weren’t going the way to catch a big stringer I dropped back and made sure I caught a limit and it paid off.”
History is on Horton’s side since he won a Bassmaster Series South Central Regional here in 2006.
“The fish were doing the same thing (as 2006),” said Horton. “A lot of the places I caught fish then I hadn’t even fished in eight days of practice or this week until (yesterday). This is a tough place. Anybody can catch them here, but also not catch them, including me.”
The only strategy change Horton has planned for today is to run to his primary spot first.
“I don’t know how good it will be this morning,” he said. “I will get there a little bit earlier (he was Boat 1 in the first flight). I have been fishing my way there and it has been taking me about two hours to get up there. If I go straight without stopping it takes me about an hour and 10 minutes to get there.”
The tournament champion and top divisional finishers will be determined during today’s weigh-in set for 3:30 p.m. CDST at the Forsythe Park boat ramp at 2201 Riverside Dr., in Monroe.