Day 2 on Fort Gibson

Day 2 gets underway as we head out in search of the anglers who faired well on Day 1 of the 2015 Bass Pro Shops Central Open #2 presented by Allstate.

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Day 2 gets underway as we head out in search of the anglers who faired well on Day 1 of the 2015 Bass Pro Shops Central Open #2 presented by Allstate. We start the morning with Day 1 leader Brad Whatley.
Day 2 gets underway as we head out in search of the anglers who faired well on Day 1 of the 2015 Bass Pro Shops Central Open #2 presented by Allstate. We start the morning with Day 1 leader Brad Whatley.
Whatley brought in 18-9 on Day 1 to take the lead by nearly a pound.
Whatley brought in 18-9 on Day 1 to take the lead by nearly a pound.
Plenty of shallow cover in this area.
Plenty of shallow cover in this area.
The sand bar you see here is all the land that's left in this area after the water rose 2-to-3 feet two days ago and covered all the land that was then exposed around the bases of these trees.
The sand bar you see here is all the land that’s left in this area after the water rose 2-to-3 feet two days ago and covered all the land that was then exposed around the bases of these trees.
A little cooler this morning after last night's rainfall.
A little cooler this morning after last night’s rainfall.
Whatley targets shallow cover looking for one or two key bites.
Whatley targets shallow cover looking for one or two key bites.
When Whatley found this area in practice, the tree in front of him on the bank was the end of the line.
When Whatley found this area in practice, the tree in front of him on the bank was the end of the line.
Now with over two more feet of water there are a lot more places for the fish to hide.
Now with over two more feet of water there are a lot more places for the fish to hide.
The added acreage doesn't deter Whatley as he slowly picks the area apart.
The added acreage doesn’t deter Whatley as he slowly picks the area apart.
Squarebills, ChatterBaits and flipping baits are all on deck for Whately.
Squarebills, ChatterBaits and flipping baits are all on deck for Whately.
Another boat rounds the bend.
Another boat rounds the bend.
Brian Snowden fishes his way along.
Brian Snowden fishes his way along.
Looks like someone got hung in this brushpile... sorry I couldn't help it.
Looks like someone got hung in this brushpile… sorry I couldn’t help it.
Snowden chats with Whatley...
Snowden chats with Whatley…
and swaps sides so as not to impede the leader.
and swaps sides so as not to impede the leader.
Snowden fishes on...
Snowden fishes on…
and so does Whatley. Both without a bite so far.
and so does Whatley. Both without a bite so far.
Snowden works his way farther into the creek.
Snowden works his way farther into the creek.
Whatley puts one in the boat...
Whatley puts one in the boat…
but it's not quite long enough and heads back into the lake.
but it’s not quite long enough and heads back into the lake.
The sun is trying to break through, but the outlook calls for clouds most of the day.
The sun is trying to break through, but the outlook calls for clouds most of the day.
Shallow cover abounds. Small tree tops...
Shallow cover abounds. Small tree tops…
stumps...
stumps…
laydowns...
laydowns…
you name it, it's all here.
you name it, it’s all here.
The problem now seems to be there's too much cover.
The problem now seems to be there’s too much cover.
In practice, these isolated pieces of cover were all that was available for the fish which made targeting them much easier.
In practice, these isolated pieces of cover were all that was available for the fish which made targeting them much easier.
Now, who knows where one might be.
Now, who knows where one might be.
Time to make a move.
Time to make a move.
Trim her up...
Trim her up…
you don't want to hit anything.
you don’t want to hit anything.
Whatley hunts the next spot.
Whatley hunts the next spot.
Got to idle a ways.
Got to idle a ways.
Other anglers in the area...
Other anglers in the area…
but nobody seems happy with the production of this spot.
but nobody seems happy with the production of this spot.
The next stop produced a big bite on Day 1.
The next stop produced a big bite on Day 1.
Whatley is now targeting shallow cypress trees.
Whatley is now targeting shallow cypress trees.
Most of these were out of the water two days ago, including the one Whatley caught his 4-pounder on yesterday.
Most of these were out of the water two days ago, including the one Whatley caught his 4-pounder on yesterday.
No luck here today.
No luck here today.
Whatley moves up river and starts firing away on a ledge.
Whatley moves up river and starts firing away on a ledge.
Cast...
Cast…
after cast....
after cast….
after cast.
after cast.
Then a bite.
Then a bite.
But unfortunately...
But unfortunately…
it's a swing and a miss.
it’s a swing and a miss.
Back to casting.
Back to casting.
Add a little die to the bait...
Add a little die to the bait…
and then cast some more.
and then cast some more.
This spot produced three big bites yesterday...
This spot produced three big bites yesterday…
but for now it seems dead. Whatley moves on and so do we in search of other top contenders from Day 1.
but for now it seems dead. Whatley moves on and so do we in search of other top contenders from Day 1.
Here comes Tommy Biffle and his armada.
Here comes Tommy Biffle and his armada.
Biffle flying under the radar this week in a borrowed and unwrapped boat.
Biffle flying under the radar this week in a borrowed and unwrapped boat.
James Overstreet is in hot pursuit.
James Overstreet is in hot pursuit.
Josh Bertrand started the day in 5th, a little over a pound behind the lead.
Josh Bertrand started the day in 5th, a little over a pound behind the lead.
Time to make a move...
Time to make a move…
...
…
...
…
....
….
Back at it.
Back at it.
Bertrand is doing more of the same...
Bertrand is doing more of the same…
fishing shallow cover with a soft plastic.
fishing shallow cover with a soft plastic.
Zero in the boat for Bertrand so far.
Zero in the boat for Bertrand so far.
This time yesterday...
This time yesterday…
Bertrand was fishless as well and ended up with over 17-pounds.
Bertrand was fishless as well and ended up with over 17-pounds.
Still frustrating...
Still frustrating…
but all you can do is put your head down and fish.
but all you can do is put your head down and fish.
As Bertrand fishes on...
As Bertrand fishes on…
Josh Douglas realizes the place he was running to is occupied...
Josh Douglas realizes the place he was running to is occupied…
and he quickly pulls a u-turn.
and he quickly pulls a u-turn.
...
…
...
…
Bertrand fishes on a bit...
Bertrand fishes on a bit…
then decides it's time to change things up a bit.
then decides it’s time to change things up a bit.
On to the next spot and we move on as well.
On to the next spot and we move on as well.
Stetson Blaylock hooks up as soon as we sit down.
Stetson Blaylock hooks up as soon as we sit down.
But unfortunately this one comes unbuttoned.
But unfortunately this one comes unbuttoned.
The wind is starting to blow.
The wind is starting to blow.
Blaylock makes a move...
Blaylock makes a move…
and hooks up.
and hooks up.
Blaylock started the day in 4th with 17-4.
Blaylock started the day in 4th with 17-4.
He has a limit but it's small and needs an upgrade to make the Day 3 cut.
He has a limit but it’s small and needs an upgrade to make the Day 3 cut.
This fish might be enough to put Blaylock in Day 3.
This fish might be enough to put Blaylock in Day 3.
We're about to see how big this one is.
We’re about to see how big this one is.
A nice one.
A nice one.
Blaylock works the fish down.
Blaylock works the fish down.
...
…
Time to bring this one aboard.
Time to bring this one aboard.
...
…
In the boat.
In the boat.
This one will help.
This one will help.
By Stetson's calculations, this one has him at 11-pounds and should put him in the Top 12.
By Stetson’s calculations, this one has him at 11-pounds and should put him in the Top 12.
Blaylock fishes on in search of another upgrade.
Blaylock fishes on in search of another upgrade.