Day 3 on the water with Bishop

Gene Bishop took the lead on Day 2 with a massive 26-pound bag. We went out on the water with Bishop and he didn't slow down on Day 3. Follow along as Bishop tries to slam the door on the 2015 Bass Pro Shops Central Open #1 presented by Allstate.

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Gene Bishop took the lead on Day 2 with a massive 26-pound bag. We went out on the water with Bishop and he didn't slow down on Day 3. Follow along as Bishop tries to slam the door on the 2015 Bass Pro Shops Central Open #1 presented by Allstate.
Gene Bishop took the lead on Day 2 with a massive 26-pound bag. We went out on the water with Bishop and he didn’t slow down on Day 3. Follow along as Bishop tries to slam the door on the 2015 Bass Pro Shops Central Open #1 presented by Allstate.
Bishop has employed a Texas-rigged lizard to do most of his damage here on Ross Barnett.
Bishop has employed a Texas-rigged lizard to do most of his damage here on Ross Barnett.
Bishop fires his lizard out...
Bishop fires his lizard out…
... into a pad stem field.
… into a pad stem field.
Bishop doesn't get in a hurry. Just sits back and let's the fish come to him.
Bishop doesn’t get in a hurry. Just sits back and let’s the fish come to him.
Bishop says he doesn't like to fish in a crowd, but knew he would have to here this week if he wanted to catch a fish. Elite Series angler Stephen Browning works in the distance.
Bishop says he doesn’t like to fish in a crowd, but knew he would have to here this week if he wanted to catch a fish. Elite Series angler Stephen Browning works in the distance.
Bishop doesn't seemed phased by Browning, then again 26 pounds will give anyone a confidence boost when going up against the full-time pros.
Bishop doesn’t seemed phased by Browning, then again 26 pounds will give anyone a confidence boost when going up against the full-time pros.
Bassmaster Classic Champ Luke Clausen is also in this area. Clausen brought 22 pounds to the scales yesterday...
Bassmaster Classic Champ Luke Clausen is also in this area. Clausen brought 22 pounds to the scales yesterday…
Bishop still appears calm and steady.
Bishop still appears calm and steady.
Even the presents of spectators doesn't seem to do much to Bishop's demeanor.
Even the presents of spectators doesn’t seem to do much to Bishop’s demeanor.
The number of spectators is growing.
The number of spectators is growing.
Bishop just continues on, letting the wind push him through the quarter-mile stretch of pad stems.
Bishop just continues on, letting the wind push him through the quarter-mile stretch of pad stems.
The birds are enjoying this warmer weather that they flew south to find.
The birds are enjoying this warmer weather that they flew south to find.
Bishop looks out at fellow Mississippians who came out to see him fish.
Bishop looks out at fellow Mississippians who came out to see him fish.
In the distance, Bishop hooks up.
In the distance, Bishop hooks up.
This looks to be a good one.
This looks to be a good one.
Bishop's co-angler, Gary Sullivan, grabs the fish.
Bishop’s co-angler, Gary Sullivan, grabs the fish.
Bishop unhooks a solid fish.
Bishop unhooks a solid fish.
Time to cull.
Time to cull.
Bishop is keying in on a little something different today. Like most of the anglers, his 26-pound bag came from the pad stems. But today, fish have pushed up even shallower and are staging on little clumps of reeds...
Bishop is keying in on a little something different today. Like most of the anglers, his 26-pound bag came from the pad stems. But today, fish have pushed up even shallower and are staging on little clumps of reeds…
Bishop fires his lizard past the reed clumps and then slowly reels it in...
Bishop fires his lizard past the reed clumps and then slowly reels it in…
Presto! When the lizard reaches the reeds, Bishop hooks up.
Presto! When the lizard reaches the reeds, Bishop hooks up.
Another strong one.
Another strong one.
...
…
...
…
...
…
Get in here.
Get in here.
...
…
Another solid fish for Bishop...
Another solid fish for Bishop…
... but it's not big enough to cull and goes directly back into the lake.
… but it’s not big enough to cull and goes directly back into the lake.
Gary Sullivan hooks up in the back of the boat...
Gary Sullivan hooks up in the back of the boat…
Bishop grabs the fish and hands it off.
Bishop grabs the fish and hands it off.
Back at it.
Back at it.
Sullivan hooks up again.
Sullivan hooks up again.
...
…
Another keeper for Sullivan.
Another keeper for Sullivan.
Another look at the reed clumps that Bishop is targeting.
Another look at the reed clumps that Bishop is targeting.
Chris Jones meanders through. He's another top contender who has been fishing in this area.
Chris Jones meanders through. He’s another top contender who has been fishing in this area.
Time to make a move.
Time to make a move.
Bishop liked the looks of this one...
Bishop liked the looks of this one…
... and went in. Unfortunately no takers this time.
… and went in. Unfortunately no takers this time.
Fish on.
Fish on.
This one has a good bend in the rod.
This one has a good bend in the rod.
In the boat.
In the boat.
...
…
...
…
...
…
Yeah!
Yeah!
Bishop unhooks the fish and flings his lizard out of the boat.
Bishop unhooks the fish and flings his lizard out of the boat.
Time to cull again.
Time to cull again.
The reeds giveth and Bishop taketh. Then a smaller fish is returned to the reeds and the circle is complete.
The reeds giveth and Bishop taketh. Then a smaller fish is returned to the reeds and the circle is complete.
Things are heating up as Bishop opts for the short sleeves.
Things are heating up as Bishop opts for the short sleeves.
Bishop eyes another clump of reeds.
Bishop eyes another clump of reeds.
This one received 8 casts before Bishop was satisfied that a fish wasn't present.
This one received 8 casts before Bishop was satisfied that a fish wasn’t present.
On to the next one.
On to the next one.
Sullivan hooks up again.
Sullivan hooks up again.
...
…
Another small keeper.
Another small keeper.
Bishop reels his lizard slow and steady...
Bishop reels his lizard slow and steady…
And one smokes it.
And one smokes it.
...
…
...
…
Bishop brings the fish over the rail.
Bishop brings the fish over the rail.
...
…
...
…
The fish flops...
The fish flops…
... and the hook pops out of its mouth...
… and the hook pops out of its mouth…
... the fish heads for open water...
… the fish heads for open water…
... and Bishop falls in an attempt to stop the fish from going back in the lake.
… and Bishop falls in an attempt to stop the fish from going back in the lake.
The fish flops into the bottom of the boat instead as Bishop finds himself flat on his back.
The fish flops into the bottom of the boat instead as Bishop finds himself flat on his back.
No harm, no foul as Bishop recovers.
No harm, no foul as Bishop recovers.
Another good one goes towards the well.
Another good one goes towards the well.
The culled fish are getting bigger.
The culled fish are getting bigger.
Another hookset for Bishop.
Another hookset for Bishop.
This is a grown one.
This is a grown one.
Bishop fights the fish in...
Bishop fights the fish in…
Sullivan goes for the grab...
Sullivan goes for the grab…
Is this good or bad body language??
Is this good or bad body language??
It's good!
It’s good!
'Did you see that?'
‘Did you see that?’
Bishop goes in for the hand off.
Bishop goes in for the hand off.
Got her.
Got her.
Bishop knows these are the kind he needs.
Bishop knows these are the kind he needs.
All smiles for Bishop who is fast approaching 20 pounds.
All smiles for Bishop who is fast approaching 20 pounds.
Bishop culls another solid Ross Barnett bass.
Bishop culls another solid Ross Barnett bass.
These pad stems held fish yesterday that have now pushed even shallower to the bank where Bishop is catching them today.
These pad stems held fish yesterday that have now pushed even shallower to the bank where Bishop is catching them today.
Time to make another move.
Time to make another move.
Bishop's boat is sufficiently broke in. If things keep going his way, he'll be the proud new owner of a Triton 19TrX rigged with a Mercury 200 Pro XS.
Bishop’s boat is sufficiently broke in. If things keep going his way, he’ll be the proud new owner of a Triton 19TrX rigged with a Mercury 200 Pro XS.
The fan club is glad they stuck around to see Bishop catch his fish.
The fan club is glad they stuck around to see Bishop catch his fish.
Bishop makes a move.
Bishop makes a move.
Bishop fires away in pursuit of a monster stating,
Bishop fires away in pursuit of a monster stating, “I need to get rid of a 4-pounder.”
We leave you with the last remaining lily pad in a sea of pad stems with one thing to ponder, who will be the last man standing on Ross Barnett?
We leave you with the last remaining lily pad in a sea of pad stems with one thing to ponder, who will be the last man standing on Ross Barnett?