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MONETA, Va. Balancing hot coffee, free donuts and tattered notebooks in-hand, ESPNOutdoors.com arrived at Smith Mountain Lake before dawn to grill the 50 Elite Series pros remaining for Day Three of the Blue Ridge Brawl presented by Advance Auto Parts. The three questions for the pros at Saturday's launch were: Will you fish a specific pattern or try a variety of techniques on Day Three? How will the cooling front and light rain that moved through the area affect the fishing? And what will the cut weight be to make Sunday's top 12? Casey Ashley (2nd place, 33 pounds, 1 ounce) Fishing patterns? "I'm fishing a pattern."
Weather change? "No."
Cut weight? "No idea. I thought the weights would go down [Friday], and they didn't, so I'm not even going to guess." John Murray (6th, 28-8)
Fishing patterns? "Yeah, I'm on one. I gave up all that moving and running. It's about depth, bottom contour and location now."
Weather change? "It won't change much. They'll bite sometime during the day."
Cut weight? "Thirty-nine or 40 pounds." Matthew Sphar (7th, 27-15) Fishing patterns? "Definitely a pattern for the dock fish."
Weather change? "The fishing will be better, but there'll be more boat traffic out there."
Cut weight? "Thirty-eight or 39. About the same average as the other days." Fred Roumbanis (9th, 26-15) Fishing patterns? "We've been out here for awhile now, so I'm on a bit of a pattern."
Weather change? "Could just make it better
or might make it much worse."
Cut weight? "Thirty-nine should do it." Rick Clunn (20th, 24-12) Fishing patterns? "I could lock into a pattern throwing topwater early and crankbaits later."
Weather change? "Not enough rain to change things, but what will the barometric pressure do to the fish?
That's the real question."
Cut weight? "A firm 37 pounds." Mike Iaconelli (t-24th, 24-5)
Fishing patterns? "Pattern, but I'll junk fish a little bit today."
Weather change? "Not unless the fish tell me to change."
Cut weight: "Thirty-eight pounds." Terry Scroggins (24th place, 24-5) Fishing patterns? "I have been fishing a pattern until today."
Weather change? "It should help with the morning bite."
Cut weight? "Thirty-seven pounds of fish." Russ Lane (28th place, 23-15) Fishing patterns? "I'm still just junk fishing."
Weather change? "Maybe it'll turn on the topwater bite in 2 feet of water."
Cut weight? "It's going to be 37 pounds." Ish Monroe (t-30th, 23-14)
Fishing patterns? "A lot of territory on the same pattern."
Weather change? "Should stir it up a little bit, and will help to keep the boat traffic down."
Cut weight? "Thirty-nine pounds 13-pound-a-day average." Jason Quinn (t-30th, 23-14)
Fishing patterns? "Still junk fishing but with a method to the madness."
Weather change? "It could help, if anything."
Cut weight? "For the top 12, you'll need 38 pounds." Gary Klein (33rd, 23-4)
Fishing patterns? "A bit of a pattern still."
Weather change? "No change. The fish on the beds are still on the beds."
Cut weight? "Cut weight of 39 pounds to make the finals." John Crews (39th, 22-3)
Fishing patterns? "Well, going to try something new this morning. More topwater."
Weather change? "No bearing. But some guys will use that as an excuse."
Cut weight? "Thirty-eight pounds." Editor's note: This week, ESPNOutdoors.com invited the Virginia Tech bass fishing team to join coverage of the Blue Ridge Brawl presented by Advance Auto Parts. The collegiate anglers will post a regular blog on this site and appear on Hooked Up, the live Internet show that airs at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.on Sunday in advance of the live weigh-in. Please feel free to post comments to this blog via the ESPN Conversation feature at the bottom of this and every news page on this site.
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