Val Osinski set the bar on day 1 of the Rayovac FLW Series at Lake Okeechobee with a 26-00 limit. But, it was set within reach for the majority of the record 250 boat field. The owner of Gambler Lures needed to catch a decent limit on the second day to stay in contention, but he knew it would be tough. High winds affected anglers on the second day, for better or worse, but Osinski was able to put a 19-4, 5 bass limit in the livewell to retain the lead. The bar is now set at 45-04.
Osinski ran the same area that produced his day 1 bag. His bites came throughout the day, rather than the flurry he experienced on day 1.
“The fishing was a whole lot tougher out there today,” Osinski told FLW Outdoors. “I really scrambled. I was the first boat at my main area, but between boats and wind direction it really had them discombobulated.”
Osinski switched from the Gambler Lures Why Not that he used to catch his 26-00 on day 1, to the new Gambler Lures Burner Craw. He fished the bait faster than he did the previous day, enticing more of a reaction bite. It paid off, as he was able to cull out 3 fish and catch a 7 pounder.
Lake Placid’s Brandon Medlock jumped from 74th up to 2nd place with his 26-15 bag. He trails Osinski by 6 pounds with 39-05.
“I’m flipping a Medlock Double Guard Flipping Jig in pencil reeds,” he told FLW Outdoors. “I probably culled five times and lost six big ones. I don’t know if my fish are spawning or just coming in because the water is too deep for me to see. I don’t know what I’ll have for tomorrow, but I’m going to go in there and see.”
Mark Daniels, Jr., moved up to 3rd place with a 38-11 total over two days of competition. The Living the Dream winner brought a 25-15 limit to the scales at Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort on the 2nd day, securing a spot in Saturday’s final round.
Trevor Fitzgerald finished the day in 4th place (36-14), followed by Hensley Powell (35-11), Joe Holland (35-10), Tyler Suddarth (32-13), Tim Frederick (32-12), Scott Martin (32-06), and Brandon McMillan (32-06).
Daniel Beebee maintained his lead on day 2.
Daniel Beebe maintained his lead in the Co-angler division. His monster day 1 catch of 22-05 helped him stay atop the leaderboard, as he only a 5 pound, 4 ounce bag to the scales on day 2. Beebe leads with 27-09.
Tim Fox trails Beebe with 25-25, followed by Moses Wilson (24-11), Richard Predmore (24-11), Ken Crumpler (24-02), Douglas Conklin (24-01), Cody Pinchin (23-01), Dennis Sprayberry (22-15), and Blaine Bucy (22-10).
Robert Kerber boated a 9 pound, 2 ounce lunker to earn the Big Bass award in the boater division on day 2. Steven Schoffstall boated a 9 pound, 13 ounce monster to claim the award in the Co-angler division.
The Top 10 boaters and co-anglers have earned the opportunity to compete for the title today, the final day of competition. Weigh-in will begin at 4 p.m. at the Clewiston Walmart off Sugarland Highway.
Photos: FLW Outdoors, Curtis Niedermier
