Final Day of Classic Fish Off on Norfork

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The final day of the Team Championship Classic Fish Off on Norfork Lake started with no glitch as fogged stayed away and the cloudless sky gave way to the sun.
The final day of the Team Championship Classic Fish Off on Norfork Lake started with no glitch as fogged stayed away and the cloudless sky gave way to the sun.
With a two-hour delay and tough conditions, the anglers struggled, but the standings were tight and all six anglers had a viable chance at winning today.
With a two-hour delay and tough conditions, the anglers struggled, but the standings were tight and all six anglers had a viable chance at winning today.
The final 6 head out in hopes of garnering the final Geico Bassmaster Classic spot.
The final 6 head out in hopes of garnering the final Geico Bassmaster Classic spot.
The sun illuminates the horizon.
The sun illuminates the horizon.
The first angler I found was Ryan Butler who was in 2nd place with 3-10 after Day 1's action.
The first angler I found was Ryan Butler who was in 2nd place with 3-10 after Day 1’s action.
He was excited to have a nice breeze and the opportunity for a morning bite with his Whopper Plopper.
He was excited to have a nice breeze and the opportunity for a morning bite with his Whopper Plopper.
After a fish missed his bait, it didn't take long for his first hook up.
After a fish missed his bait, it didn’t take long for his first hook up.
Every bite has been crucial over the last two days.
Every bite has been crucial over the last two days.
He raced to the back of the boat to keep tension on this fish.
He raced to the back of the boat to keep tension on this fish.
He swings it towards the boat.
He swings it towards the boat.
It was a smallmouth!
It was a smallmouth!
And a keeper for Butler.
And a keeper for Butler.
That's number one and it happened in the first 20 minutes of the day.
That’s number one and it happened in the first 20 minutes of the day.
Just a few casts later he has one blow up on it and miss, but it came back and ate his Whopper Plopper.
Just a few casts later he has one blow up on it and miss, but it came back and ate his Whopper Plopper.
This one seemed to be a bit stronger.
This one seemed to be a bit stronger.
He gains some leverage.
He gains some leverage.
And pulls in a largemouth.
And pulls in a largemouth.
A good largemouth for keeper number two.
A good largemouth for keeper number two.
That got Butler fired up.
That got Butler fired up.
Two fish in the boat before 7:30, both being bigger than his two fish on Day 1.
Two fish in the boat before 7:30, both being bigger than his two fish on Day 1.
He was so excited he gave a two-handed fist pump
He was so excited he gave a two-handed fist pump
He pulled up on an area that he and partner Dustin Lippe did so well on in the team portion of the event.
He pulled up on an area that he and partner Dustin Lippe did so well on in the team portion of the event.
An eagle flys overhead. In fact there were two flying together in that cove.
An eagle flys overhead. In fact there were two flying together in that cove.
Day 1 leader Robert Dodson Sr. heads toward the Dam.
Day 1 leader Robert Dodson Sr. heads toward the Dam.
He races off to another spot and I bounce over to partner Dustin Lippe.
He races off to another spot and I bounce over to partner Dustin Lippe.
Lippe was throwing a Whopper Plopper as well. That was a common denominator between the 6 anglers.
Lippe was throwing a Whopper Plopper as well. That was a common denominator between the 6 anglers.
He had two fish in the box already, which is a good sign since he zeroed on Day 1.
He had two fish in the box already, which is a good sign since he zeroed on Day 1.
He took off so I went in search of Day 1 leader Robert Dodson Sr.
He took off so I went in search of Day 1 leader Robert Dodson Sr.
I found Dodson down towards the Dam in a pocket.
I found Dodson down towards the Dam in a pocket.
He was flipping a jig around docks and shoreline cover.
He was flipping a jig around docks and shoreline cover.
He didn't have a keeper yet so he was thinking and adjusting a few hours into the day.
He didn’t have a keeper yet so he was thinking and adjusting a few hours into the day.
He picks the Whopper Plopper up and gives it a few casts before opting to leave.
He picks the Whopper Plopper up and gives it a few casts before opting to leave.
He changed creeks, but kept with the dock theme.
He changed creeks, but kept with the dock theme.
He sets the hook and fights a fish.
He sets the hook and fights a fish.
But it came off under the dock. He casted at every inch of water around the dock.
But it came off under the dock. He casted at every inch of water around the dock.
He stayed warm with what I believe was coffee.
He stayed warm with what I believe was coffee.
And then he took off in search of greener pastures. He was struggling and didn't want his lead to slip away.
And then he took off in search of greener pastures. He was struggling and didn’t want his lead to slip away.
ON my way back up the lake I found Butler.
ON my way back up the lake I found Butler.
While I was driving to find him he hooked up with two fish and upped his total to 4. One fish was a heavy 2 pounder and the other was 4 pounds, 6 ounces, a game changer today.
While I was driving to find him he hooked up with two fish and upped his total to 4. One fish was a heavy 2 pounder and the other was 4 pounds, 6 ounces, a game changer today.
He hooked up with a fish on topwater.
He hooked up with a fish on topwater.
And eyeballed it to see if it was a keeper.
And eyeballed it to see if it was a keeper.
It ended up being a 14-inch fish so he had to throw it back.
It ended up being a 14-inch fish so he had to throw it back.
Butler controlled the leaderboard at noon when I left the water. He was one good keeper from locking up a 2018 Geico Bassmaster Classic berth at Lake Hartwell. But he would need to fend off the other anglers for the last three hours of the day.
Butler controlled the leaderboard at noon when I left the water. He was one good keeper from locking up a 2018 Geico Bassmaster Classic berth at Lake Hartwell. But he would need to fend off the other anglers for the last three hours of the day.