By MLF Communications Staff


Rookie Andrew Loberg of Rocklin, California, caught a five-bass limit Tuesday weighing 22 pounds, 10 ounces to lead the final 10 anglers and advance to the final day of competition of the MLF Pro Circuit event at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida. Loberg leads the reigning Pro Circuit Angler of the Year (AOY), Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee, by 8 ounces.

After starting the day in 31st place, Neal, the winner of the season opener at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, weighed in the largest limit of the event – five bass totaling 27-11 – to vault up the leaderboard into second place. Oklahoma's Jeff Reynolds also catapulted up the leaderboard with 27-04 to end the day in third after starting in 44th place. Tampa, Florida rookie Christian Greico, who led the tournament after Day 2, fell to 8th with a limit weighing 11-04.

The final 10 anglers are now set, and competition will resume Wednesday morning, where weights are zeroed, and the angler who catches the heaviest stringer will earn the top prize of up to $135,000.

“I’m stoked to be fishing Day 4,” Loberg said. “This is the first time I’ve ever made the final day of a four-day event. Usually, it’s always been three days for me. So I’m really excited for tomorrow. The weights are zeroed, everyone is even, and I’m just going to have to go out and fish my hardest and get everything I can get.”

Loberg spent Tuesday fishing in Lake Eustis, targeting postspawn fish in the grass.

“The fishing here really reminds me of Clear Lake, which is my home lake in California,” Loberg said. “There is lots of shallow grass, the tules, and dirty-ish water. I really like targeting postspawn fish and they love going to the grass after they spawn. I found a few areas and I’ve really just capitalized on those and milked them each day. And that has helped, because I’ve learned more and more each day about the spots and what is going on.

“The bites are coming in little spurts,” Loberg continued. “The morning bite each day has been my best deal, especially for the bigger bites. As the day goes on, it’s harder to get multiple bites – it’s kind of one here, one there. But the weather is changing so much, and I fished a lot of different baits today. You kind of almost have to practice in your areas to see how they are going to bite with the changing conditions.”

With just one day of competition left, Loberg is excited about his chances.

“I feel like I’ve learned where the sweet spots are, and if I can figure out a few other baits it could be a good day. I know I’m going to be throwing a big swimbait tomorrow – it’s definitely going to take more than 20 pounds to win, so I really need to capitalize on them in the morning. I’ve put a lot of pressure on that area over the last two days, we’ll see how it holds up.”

The final 10 anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET Wednesday from the Ski Beach at the Venetian Gardens, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive in Leesburg. Wednesday’s Championship weigh-in will also be held at the Ski Beach at 3:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to attend the morning takeoff and afternoon weigh-in, and also follow the live on-the-water action online on MLF NOW! beginning at 8 a.m. ET at MajorLeagueFishing.com.



Day 3 Standings

1. Andrew Loberg -- 19-09 (5) -- 15-08 (5) -- 22-10 (5) -- 57-11 (15)

2. Michael Neal -- 13-15 (5) -- 15-09 (5) -- 27-11 (5) -- 57-03 (15)

3. Jeff Reynolds -- 13-05 (5) -- 14-12 (5) -- 27-04 (5) -- 55-05 (15)

4. Grant Galloway -- 23-09 (5) -- 10-01 (5) -- 18-13 (5) -- 52-07 (15)

5. Shonn Goodwin -- 13-14 (5) -- 20-10 (5) -- 16-14 (5) -- 51-06 (15)

6. Mark Rose -- 13-00 (5) -- 16-10 (5) -- 20-04 (5) -- 49-14 (15)

7. Corey Neece -- 21-01 (5) -- 10-13 (5) -- 17-13 (5) -- 49-11 (15)

8. Christian Greico -- 15-11 (5) -- 22-05 (5) -- 11-04 (5) -- 49-04 (15)

9. Grae Buck -- 13-14 (5) -- 14-06 (5) -- 20-00 (5) -- 48-04 (15)

10. Jason Reyes -- 18-07 (5) -- 17-03 (5) -- 12-08 (5) -- 48-02 (15)

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on day 4.

11. Clark Reehm -- 18-02 (5) -- 12-03 (5) -- 17-08 (5) -- 47-13 (15) -- $11,000

12. Aaron Britt -- 17-01 (5) -- 17-02 (5) -- 13-09 (5) -- 47-12 (15) -- $11,000

13. Justin Lucas -- 8-11 (5) -- 21-10 (5) -- 17-03 (5) -- 47-08 (15) -- $11,000

14. Chase Serafin -- 20-00 (5) -- 12-09 (5) -- 14-14 (5) -- 47-07 (15) -- $11,000

15. Kurt Mitchell -- 18-04 (5) -- 12-11 (5) -- 16-05 (5) -- 47-04 (15) -- $11,000

16. Lance Crawford -- 12-06 (5) -- 17-03 (5) -- 17-08 (5) -- 47-01 (15) -- $11,000

17. Miles Howe -- 15-02 (5) -- 17-11 (5) -- 14-01 (5) -- 46-14 (15) -- $11,000

18. Todd Walters -- 14-02 (5) -- 16-05 (5) -- 16-00 (5) -- 46-07 (15) -- $11,000

19. Michael Matthee -- 8-12 (5) -- 22-06 (5) -- 14-14 (5) -- 46-00 (15) -- $11,000

20. Jimmy Neece Jr -- 15-15 (5) -- 13-07 (5) -- 16-08 (5) -- 45-14 (15) -- $11,000

21. Mitch Crane -- 15-06 (5) -- 16-05 (5) -- 13-08 (5) -- 45-03 (15) -- $10,500

22. Dicky Newberry -- 17-11 (5) -- 14-15 (5) -- 12-08 (5) -- 45-02 (15) -- $10,500

23. Casey Scanlon -- 13-07 (5) -- 17-09 (5) -- 14-00 (5) -- 45-00 (15) -- $10,500

24. Spencer Shuffield -- 14-04 (5) -- 14-00 (5) -- 16-10 (5) -- 44-14 (15) -- $10,500

25. Skeet Reese -- 16-01 (5) -- 18-01 (5) -- 10-10 (5) -- 44-12 (15) -- $10,500

26. Kerry Milner -- 22-13 (5) -- 13-06 (5) -- 8-05 (5) -- 44-08 (15) -- $10,500

27. Wesley Strader -- 14-13 (5) -- 15-14 (5) -- 13-11 (5) -- 44-06 (15) -- $10,500

28. Keith Carson -- 18-05 (5) -- 17-01 (5) -- 8-15 (5) -- 44-05 (15) -- $10,500

29. Cole Floyd -- 16-03 (5) -- 12-11 (5) -- 15-07 (5) -- 44-05 (15) -- $10,500

30. Rusty Salewske -- 13-11 (5) -- 16-14 (5) -- 13-09 (5) -- 44-02 (15) -- $10,500

31. Derrick Snavely -- 16-03 (5) -- 14-02 (5) -- 13-11 (5) -- 44-00 (15) -- $10,000

32. Ramie Colson Jr -- 14-05 (5) -- 15-02 (5) -- 14-08 (5) -- 43-15 (15) -- $10,000

33. Bill McDonald -- 17-09 (5) -- 11-13 (4) -- 14-07 (5) -- 43-13 (14) -- $10,000

34. Justin Cooper -- 18-15 (5) -- 9-14 (5) -- 14-11 (5) -- 43-08 (15) -- $10,000

35. Jacopo Gallelli -- 16-08 (5) -- 11-09 (5) -- 15-05 (5) -- 43-06 (15) -- $10,000

36. Matt Becker -- 17-02 (5) -- 12-12 (5) -- 13-02 (5) -- 43-00 (15) -- $10,000

37. Steve York -- 10-13 (5) -- 16-09 (5) -- 15-03 (5) -- 42-09 (15) -- $10,000

38. Jacob Wall -- 15-14 (5) -- 17-01 (5) -- 9-08 (5) -- 42-07 (15) -- $10,000

39. Brad Knight -- 12-13 (5) -- 15-03 (5) -- 14-07 (5) -- 42-07 (15) -- $10,000

40. Mike McClelland -- 13-13 (5) -- 15-10 (5) -- 12-14 (5) -- 42-05 (15) -- $10,000

41. Colby Miller -- 17-05 (5) -- 15-12 (5) -- 8-14 (5) -- 41-15 (15) -- $10,000

42. Laramy Strickland -- 12-12 (5) -- 18-10 (5) -- 10-09 (5) -- 41-15 (15) -- $10,000

43. Tommy Dickerson -- 16-13 (5) -- 11-06 (5) -- 12-15 (5) -- 41-02 (15) -- $10,000

44. Jon Canada -- 14-02 (5) -- 15-11 (5) -- 9-12 (5) -- 39-09 (15) -- $10,000

45. Randy Howell -- 13-15 (5) -- 13-10 (5) -- 12-00 (5) -- 39-09 (15) -- $10,000

46. Dakota Ebare -- 14-01 (5) -- 13-12 (5) -- 11-09 (4) -- 39-06 (14) -- $10,000

47. Jimmy Reese -- 10-09 (5) -- 16-15 (5) -- 10-07 (5) -- 37-15 (15) -- $10,000

48. Tom Monsoor -- 16-13 (5) -- 12-05 (5) -- 6-12 (5) -- 35-14 (15) -- $10,000

49. Phillip Dutra -- 11-08 (4) -- 16-02 (5) -- 8-04 (5) -- 35-14 (14) -- $10,000

50. Stuart Arthur -- 15-06 (5) -- 12-14 (5) -- 7-05 (5) -- 35-09 (15) -- $10,000