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BRANSON, Mo. – Impending storms were a storyline all day at the Bass Pro Tour Bad Boy Mowers Stage Seven Presented by Covercraft, and they finally became the story at 6 p.m. as Group B’s Elimination Round on Table Rock lake was cut short by a lightning-caused weather delay that lasted until 7:20 pm.

When things were deemed safe to resume, anglers had 40 minutes to make a move. Only one significant change happened during those closing moments: Bradley Roy exited the Top 20, and Michael Neal jumped above the Elimination Line and into his
As the weather became the story, it overshadowed great days from several anglers, some big movers, and a Kevin VanDam sighting at the top of SCORETRACKER®.
VanDam, Suggs Lead the Pack
The leading angler when the storm arrived was Scott Suggs with 122 pounds, 6 ounces. He backed up a solid day during the Shotgun Round with 55 pounds today.
However, in the final moments, VanDam pushed himself to a spot in the leaderboard he’s found himself in many tournaments: the top.
VanDam has had a trying season, but his 69-3 on Monday was the best of anyone in the field as he ended with 123-14.
Big Movers
Nobody made a bigger move than Andy Montgomery, who started the day in 36th and found himself in 33rd after Period 1. A 33-bass, 44-pound tally in Period 2 salvaged his tournament, and he found himself in 12th place to finish the day.
Others making moves were: Mark Davis (21st to 10th), John Murray (24th to 14th), Greg Hackney (28th to 7th), and Jesse Wiggins (23rd to 17th).
Falling out of the cut today was: Gerald Swindle (15th to 24th), Brent Chapman (16th to 25th), and Kelly Jordon (17th to 27th), and Alton Jones, Jr. (18th to 21st).
Raining on Roy’s Parade
When the weather delay was called, Bradley Roy was safe, but he slipped to 21st in the final moments.
He caught three fish for 4 pounds, 2 ounces post-weather delay but went dry in the final 30-minutes. A rally in the closing moments by Michael Neal pushed Roy out.
Jones, Jr. Falls Short
When the weather delay began, Alton Jones, Jr., was in 21st place, but agreed with the call to stop fishing due to lightning in the area.
“I was so close to the cut, but no bass or a $6,000 check is worth losing someone’s life,” he said on MLF NOW!, referencing the minimum amount he would have won had he advanced.
He had one more chance when fishing resumed but slipped one spot to 22nd.
More Weather On the Way
The weather in the Missouri Ozarks changed for the worse Monday afternoon, and similar forecasts are predicted for Tuesday’s Knockout Round. The forecast calls for a high of 86 degrees, an 80-percent chance of rain, and more afternoon thunderstorms.
Daily Winners
Elimination Round 2 daily awards were:
• The Berkley Big Bass of the day was Justin Atkins’ 4-9 largemouth.
• Andy Montgomery won the Berkley Catch Count award with 45 bass on the day. 
• VanDam’s 69-4 earned him the Phoenix Boats Daily Leader award.
Looking Ahead
Weights will be zeroed for the 40-angler Knockout Round Tuesday, making the Knockout a one-day scramble. The Top 10 anglers in the Knockout Round will advance to the Championship Round on Wednesday, June 5.
How, When, Where to Watch
Competition begins Tuesday at 12 p.m. CT, with live, official scoring available via SCORETRACKER® on MajorLeagueFishing.com and on the MLF app. The MLF NOW! live stream begins at 11:55 a.m. CT with coverage of Period 1, with Steven “Lurch” Scott and Rob Newell calling the live action. Full coverage continues at 2:30 p.m., when Chad McKee, JT Kenney, Marty Stone, and Natalie Dillon pick up the commentary and analysis until lines out at 8 p.m.
There will be no Berkley Postgame Show until Wednesday’s Championship Round.

BRANSON, Mo. – If it felt like the fishing was a little slower Saturday during the second Shotgun Round at the Bass Pro Tour Bad Boy Mowers Stage Seven Presented by Covercraft, that’s because it was. Weekend boat traffic, changing weather, and fishing pressure may have contributed to the slightly lower numbers during the. But there were two other reasons it seemed like a more sluggish day: Wheeler and Fukae.
Jacob Wheeler and Shinichi Fukae’s 100-plus-pound onslaughts on Day 1 on Table Rock Lake may have overshadowed Day 2 leader Ott DeFoe’s 53 fish for 81 pounds, 7 ounces somehow, but DeFoe’s numbers are stout.
This is still Table Rock Lake, and the field is still catching them at a rapid pace.

DeFoe Does it Again
During Stage Six, DeFoe kicked off the event with a 55-bass, 78-2 score in the Shotgun Round, and even though those totals are similar to Saturday’s, he did it in a much different fashion.

His two primary patterns from our last event are no longer a factor: the shad spawn and spawning bass.
“It’s a complete 180-degree change from last time,” DeFoe said. “Since we are not starting until noon, we aren’t able to take advantage of the shad spawn, and the bass are now in their post-spawn and summer pattern. I was catching them early for the shad spawn and then targeting spawning fish, but that is all done. The fish have moved out and are grouping up.
A different event, but similar results for DeFoe, who leads Group B heading into his Elimination Round on Monday. This is the second time that he’s lead a round, and he has also been in second place on two other occasions this season.
Ott DeFoe dominated the second and third periods to win the second Shotgun Round.

Connell Catches Up
When Period 2 came to a close, Dustin Connell was sitting in 7th place with 38-1. Right after the break, he made a bait change and started catching them. You could tell something was about to happen.

On MLF NOW! he said, “I’ve been waiting all day for the evening bite,” and things started to improve for him. His Period 3 weight was nearly more than the first two periods combined, and he ended up with 53 fish (the same as DeFoe) and a 74-8 mark for the day.
“The morning didn’t go as planned, and I think the pressure got to my deep schools, but I went to my other area and started getting them to bite later in the day,” Connell said.
He did his damage with multiple lures, but mainly targeted schools of spotted bass with a Googan Baits Drag N Drop fished on a drop-shot rig with a Favorite Fishing Rush Spinning Rod and 10-pound Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon line.
He feels confident that with a few more bass during the Elimination Round 2, he can move on to the Knockout Round.
“I have a pretty good cushion and will catch some and then hopefully get a chance to practice and find more schools,” he added.

Elimination Round Ahead
The 40 anglers who fished yesterday in Group A will roll out onto Table Rock Sunday at noon CT with changing weather. The air temperature is set to drop to a high of 86-degrees and scattered afternoon thunderstorms are predicted for the Branson, Missouri area.
Daily Winners
Shotgun Round 2 daily awards were:
• The Berkley Big Bass of the day was a 5-02 bass caught by Casey Ashley
• Both DeFoe and Connell caught 53 bass to share the Berkley Catch Count award
• DeFoe also earned the Phoenix Boats Daily Leader award with his 81-07

Looking Ahead
The field will carry their Shotgun Round weights into Elimination Rounds on Sunday and Monday. The Top 20 anglers from each of those Elimination groups will advance to a 40-angler Knockout Round on Monday, June 3 – weights will be zeroed, making the Knockout a one-day scramble. The Top 10 anglers in the Knockout Round will advance to the Championship Round on Wednesday, June 5.
How, When, Where to Watch
Competition begins Sunday at 12 p.m. CT, with live, official scoring available via SCORETRACKER® on MajorLeagueFishing.com and on the MLF app. The MLF NOW! live stream begins at 11:55 a.m. CT with coverage of Period 1, with Steven “Lurch” Scott and Rob Newell calling the live action. Full coverage continues at 2:30 p.m. when Chad McKee, JT Kenney, Marty Stone, and Natalie Dillon pick up the commentary and analysis until lines out at 8 p.m. There will be no Berkley Postgame Show until the Championship Round.