By MLF Communications Staff
Fresh off the first MLF Pro Circuit victory of his career last month at Lake Guntersville, ro Nick LeBrun certainly has momentum on his side. After starting Saturday in 10th place, the Bossier City, La., pro brought a five-bass limit to the stage weighing 16 pounds, 6 ounces to vault to the top of the leaderboard and lead the final 10 anglers who now advance to the final day of the event on the James River in Richmond, Va.
Pennsylvania’s Grae Buck, who led the event for the first two days of competition, struggled on Saturday and only managed to scratch up an 8-14 limit. Buck narrowly missed the final-day cut, finishing in 11th place and earning $11,000.
The 10 anglers advancing to the final day are:
1st: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 15 bass, 47-11
2nd: Braxton Setzer, Wetumpka, Ala., 15 bass, 46-14
3rd: Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., 15 bass, 46-09
4th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 15 bass, 46-07
5th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 46-03
6th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 46-01
7th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 15 bass, 45-14
8th: Robby Lefere, Jackson, Mich., 15 bass, 45-13
9th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 15 bass, 45-10
10th: Cole Hewett, Orange Park, Fla., 15 bass, 45-09
Competition will resume Sunday morning with the Championship Round. Weights are zeroed, and the angler who catches the heaviest five bass will take home the top prize of up to $135,000
“Today started off great,” said LeBrun, who entered this event ranked No. 24 in the Angler of the Year race. “I made the 45-minute run down to the Chickahominy and there wasn’t anyone near my spot. I got in there, got set up, Power-Poled down, made one cast with a crankbait and caught a 2 1/2- and a 3 1/2-pounder at the same time – each fish had one of the Hayabusa TBL930 hooks – and that was a really good way to start the day.
“I’ve never caught two fish on one cast in a tournament before,” LeBrun continued. “Normally when that happens, they’re little peanuts, but those were two good fish so that was very cool.”
LeBrun said that his main area that he has been catching fish in is a current seam, throwing a V&M Chopstick. He thinks it is replenishing each day.
“It seems to be a hang-up spot,” LeBrun said. “I really don’t know where they’re coming from, but I think it is replenishing and when you get there at daylight, they’re fresh. But I haven’t hit it past 10:30 (a.m.) each day. I’ve only been hitting it once or twice, and then I’ve been getting off it and trying to conserve. I’m excited to get back out there tomorrow,because I can sit there and not worry about being conservative and catch every fish that is there. I haven’t caught a 4-pounder there, yet, but there are definitely some 3-pounders there and we’re going to give it all we’ve got.”
With LeBrun’s victory last month he now has the opportunity to add his name to a small list of anglers who have won back-to-back events. Mark Rose and Brett Hite are the only two pros who have ever won back-to-back pro-level events in MLF history.
“To go back-to-back would be mind-blowing,” LeBrun said. “I can’t even imagine. I think the weights might go down just a little bit, but if a guy can catch 16 to 17 pounds tomorrow, he’ll have a real good shot at it. This is such a fun place to fish, and it’s an honor to just make the Top 10 with this group of guys on this tour. Tomorrow we’re going to go out and catch every single one that we can, and I’m excited to see what happens.”
The final 10 anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. ET from the Osborne Landing, located at 9530 Osborne Turnpike in Richmond. Sunday’s Championship weigh-in will also be held at the landing beginning at 2:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to attend the morning take off and championship weigh-in, and also follow the live on-the-water action online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. ET at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF NOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on Day 4 from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET. MLF NOW! is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Day 3 Stats
1. Nick LeBrun -- 15-11 (5) -- 15-10 (5) -- 16-06 (5) -- 47-11 (15)
2. Braxton Setzer -- 14-07 (5) -- 14-14 (5) -- 17-09 (5) -- 46-14 (15)
3. Mitch Crane -- 13-02 (5) -- 16-12 (5) -- 16-11 (5) -- 46-09 (15)
4. Martin Villa -- 12-07 (5) -- 18-11 (5) -- 15-05 (5) -- 46-07 (15)
5. John Cox -- 11-11 (5) -- 17-12 (5) -- 16-12 (5) -- 46-03 (15)
6. Michael Neal -- 14-07 (5) -- 18-09 (5) -- 13-01 (5) -- 46-01 (15)
7. Dakota Ebare -- 20-15 (5) -- 12-08 (5) -- 12-07 (5) -- 45-14 (15)
8. Robby Lefere -- 16-08 (5) -- 12-02 (5) -- 17-03 (5) -- 45-13 (15)
9. Cole Floyd -- 18-06 (5) -- 12-11 (5) -- 14-09 (5) -- 45-10 (15)
10. Cole Hewett -- 12-06 (5) -- 20-05 (5) -- 12-14 (5) -- 45-09 (15)
The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on Day 4
11. Grae Buck -- 21-03 (5) -- 15-02 (5) -- 8-14 (5) -- 45-03 (15) -- $11,000
12. Jeff Reynolds -- 15-09 (5) -- 15-15 (5) -- 13-08 (5) -- 45-00 (15) -- $11,000
13. Justin Lucas -- 12-01 (5) -- 16-02 (5) -- 16-06 (5) -- 44-09 (15) -- $11,000
14. Jacopo Gallelli -- 15-12 (5) -- 18-09 (5) -- 10-00 (5) -- 44-05 (15) -- $11,000
15. Chad Warren -- 19-03 (5) -- 8-14 (5) -- 16-00 (5) -- 44-01 (15) -- $11,000
16. Kyle Weisenburger -- 14-06 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 16-08 (5) -- 43-11 (15) -- $11,000
17. Cody Pike -- 12-05 (5) -- 17-08 (5) -- 12-10 (5) -- 42-07 (15) -- $11,000
18. Barron Adams -- 18-00 (5) -- 12-00 (5) -- 12-05 (5) -- 42-05 (15) -- $11,000
19. Clabion Johns -- 13-11 (5) -- 14-05 (5) -- 13-12 (5) -- 41-12 (15) -- $11,000
20. Tyler Woolcott -- 19-02 (5) -- 13-01 (5) -- 9-06 (5) -- 41-09 (15) -- $11,000
21. Brian Latimer -- 12-14 (5) -- 16-00 (5) -- 12-06 (5) -- 41-04 (15) -- $10,500
22. Tom Monsoor -- 18-03 (5) -- 14-12 (5) -- 8-00 (5) -- 40-15 (15) -- $10,500
23. Alex Davis -- 12-03 (5) -- 14-01 (5) -- 14-10 (5) -- 40-14 (15) -- $10,500
24. Phillip Dutra -- 17-12 (5) -- 9-00 (5) -- 13-12 (5) -- 40-08 (15) -- $10,500
25. Josh Butler -- 18-06 (5) -- 12-02 (5) -- 9-14 (5) -- 40-06 (15) -- $10,500
26. Chad Grigsby -- 15-02 (5) -- 13-10 (5) -- 11-07 (5) -- 40-03 (15) -- $10,500
27. Josh Bragg -- 16-11 (5) -- 13-08 (5) -- 9-14 (5) -- 40-01 (15) -- $10,500
28. Evan Barnes -- 14-07 (5) -- 13-11 (5) -- 11-15 (5) -- 40-01 (15) -- $10,500
29. Wesley Strader -- 12-02 (5) -- 14-03 (5) -- 13-12 (5) -- 40-01 (15) -- $10,500
30. Stephen Albertson -- 17-14 (5) -- 13-07 (5) -- 8-11 (5) -- 40-00 (15) -- $10,500
31. Jacob Wall -- 16-08 (5) -- 13-09 (5) -- 9-08 (5) -- 39-09 (15) -- $10,000
32. Tyler Stewart -- 17-03 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 9-08 (5) -- 39-08 (15) -- $10,000
33. Brett Hite -- 14-01 (5) -- 15-00 (5) -- 10-07 (5) -- 39-08 (15) -- $10,000
34. Jason Lieblong -- 18-13 (5) -- 9-05 (5) -- 10-15 (5) -- 39-01 (15) -- $10,000
35. Tai Au -- 15-12 (5) -- 11-05 (5) -- 11-14 (5) -- 38-15 (15) -- $10,000
36. Jason Reyes -- 17-06 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 8-11 (5) -- 38-14 (15) -- $10,000
37. Joey Cifuentes -- 15-01 (5) -- 11-10 (5) -- 12-03 (5) -- 38-14 (15) -- $10,000
38. Chris Lane -- 11-11 (5) -- 15-13 (5) -- 11-04 (5) -- 38-12 (15) -- $10,000
39. Chris Groh -- 20-07 (5) -- 8-06 (5) -- 9-06 (5) -- 38-03 (15) -- $10,000
40. Kyle Hall -- 15-12 (5) -- 12-15 (5) -- 8-12 (5) -- 37-07 (15) -- $10,000
41. Justin Cooper -- 14-08 (5) -- 12-05 (5) -- 10-08 (5) -- 37-05 (15) -- $10,000
42. Jason Vance -- 14-08 (5) -- 15-02 (5) -- 7-10 (5) -- 37-04 (15) -- $10,000
43. Grant Galloway -- 14-06 (5) -- 12-11 (5) -- 9-11 (5) -- 36-12 (15) -- $10,000
44. David Walker -- 14-14 (5) -- 12-07 (5) -- 8-13 (5) -- 36-02 (15) -- $10,000
45. Miles Howe -- 17-12 (5) -- 10-07 (5) -- 7-14 (5) -- 36-01 (15) -- $10,000
46. Cal Lane -- 10-02 (5) -- 18-11 (5) -- 5-15 (2) -- 34-12 (12) -- $10,000
47. J Todd Tucker -- 13-07 (5) -- 13-04 (5) -- 7-14 (5) -- 34-09 (15) -- $10,000
48. Richard Lowitzki -- 11-07 (5) -- 17-04 (5) -- 5-07 (3) -- 34-02 (13) -- $10,000
49. Jim Moynagh -- 16-00 (5) -- 11-01 (5) -- 6-02 (5) -- 33-03 (15) -- $10,000
50. Cole Harris -- 17-15 (5) -- 10-06 (5) -- 4-11 (2) -- 33-00 (12) -- $10,000
