> Day 4: 5, 14-15 (20, 61-14) Photo by: Seigo Saito - Jones made the long-distance run to Pool 9 for the fourth straight day and hammered the same spot he’d fished on days 1-3. He caught another 40 keepers, a mix of smallmouth and largemouth, off the rocky patch in the middle of the river and it carried him to his best finish of the season.

More importantly, he locked himself into the Bassmaster Classic, meaning he can approach next week’s AOY event with a more relaxed mindset.

“I accomplished all the goals I set for myself this week,” he said. “Number 1, I wanted to finish strong and have momentum to carry into next year and the Classic. Number 2 was to make the Classic and not have any pressure at the AOY. That’s a great luxury. The pressure’s off and I can go try to only find giants and try to win there.”

Still, he said it stung a little falling short of what would’ve been his second full-field Elite Series win.

“I’m really happy for Ott,” he said. “Coming within a couple pounds of winning and not winning, it’s hard, but when you’re taking more risks going through locks and being in the situation I was in, I was really pleased with it.” Read more