Member Login

GROVE, Okla. — Don't tell Scott Campbell he is fishing on the co-angler side of this week's CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Grand Lake. Because he surely isn't fishing like he is.

With a two-day total of 20 pounds even, Campbell has almost a 3-pound lead on the rest of the field. And he is on a mission to prove something.

"I really want to go out and win this thing tomorrow," he said. "I've put myself in a good position and now I have to stay consistent and execute."

Jeff Tolle of Jenks, Okla., is still within striking distance and in the second place spot with 17 pounds, 3 ounces. In third place is Tom Frink from Simi Valley, Calif., with 16 pounds, 12 ounces and is looking to win his second boat of the year. Scott Darragh from Dallas remained in the top five and is in the fourth place position with 16 pounds, 11 ounces. Chiseling out the top five is Chris Koester out of Winston-Salem, N.C., with a respectable 16 pounds, 5 ounces.

Campbell, the Springfield, Mo., native, claims that he is finesse fishing with soft plastics in mostly shallow water. This is unusual because the majority of the bigger fish that the pros are catching are sitting in the deep. A good back-boater is constantly working opposite the pro and adapting to situations.

"I've figured out that the fish are doing the same thing that they did on Table Rock and Eufala during the last month. I'm applying that pattern here and have actually caused both of the pros I've fished with to switch what they were doing and go with what I was doing."

Campbell may be in a class ahead of the rest of the field as he fishes in the Northern and Southern Bassmaster tours as a pro. He is still enjoying his time with the Elite anglers and says there is much to learn from them.

"These guys are awesome and you can learn so much. They are not only excellent fisherman but really good and genuine people as well."

Campbell also nabbed the Purolator Big Bass of the day that weighed in at 6 pounds, 6 ounces and will earn him an additional $500.

The top-50 co-angler entrants will be randomly matched with the top 50 Elite anglers, and will compete on Saturday for over $115,000 in merchandise and cash, with $45,000 going to the winner in a Triton Boat and Mercury Motor package. The weigh-in excitement begins at 4 p.m. ET at the North Beach Development on East Road 270 in Grove, Okla.