Andrew Loberg Holds Strong at Lake Tenkiller with Shallow Water Mastery
Hey everyone, let me tell you what’s going down at Lake Tenkiller—because it’s turning into a real showdown out there.
We’re right in the middle of the Lowrance Bassmaster Elite Series, and Andrew Loberg is absolutely dialed in. After Day 2, he’s still sitting at the top of the leaderboard with a two-day total of 35 pounds, 13 ounces. The guy is making shallow-water fishing look like an art form. Growing up fishing the California Delta, Loberg is no stranger to reading water that’s constantly changing, and Lake Tenkiller's fluctuating levels are playing right into his strengths.
On Day 1, he brought in a solid bag of 17-9. Then on Friday, he followed that up with 18-4, giving him just a 12-ounce lead over Texas pro Keith Combs. The competition is tight, but Loberg’s got that edge from experience and instinct.
What’s working for him? It’s a power fishing clinic—flipping baits, ChatterBaits, swim jigs, squarebills, even a buzzbait and a frog. He's focusing on areas where shad are present and reacting on the fly. He literally said he’s just rolling into spots, eyeballing what looks fishy, and making quick decisions. That’s some real-deal water reading right there.
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Even with thunderstorms and heavy rain rolling through Friday morning, the entire field still managed a five-bass limit—so this isn’t just a game of luck. Loberg, though, managed to stay a step ahead by finding productive stretches of shallow cover. One of his best bites, a solid 4-pound largemouth, came around mid-morning on a ChatterBait.
He’s got backup too. If the shallow pattern dies, Loberg says he’s marked plenty of offshore spots during practice. That’s huge, because with water levels still dropping, things could change fast going into Day 3.
Meanwhile, Keith Combs is keeping it interesting. He weighed in at 19-2 on Friday—the biggest bag of the tournament so far—and is working both shallow and offshore angles. He’s fished Tenkiller before and says the lake is set up to reward anyone willing to explore.
Bob Downey holds third place with 30 pounds, 12 ounces. He’s pieced together a mixed bag using swim jigs and flipping baits, but the rain really helped him turn things up a notch on Day 2.
Big shoutout to Bryan New, who landed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day at 5 pounds, 1 ounce. That fish currently holds the lead for the tournament’s biggest.
Only the top 50 anglers will move on after Saturday, and the top 10 will fish Championship Sunday. Coverage continues on FS1 and Bassmaster.com, so if you’re into elite bass fishing, you’ll want to stay locked in.
This tournament’s just heating up—and with weather shifts, changing water, and hungry largemouths in play, it’s anyone’s game. But right now? Andrew Loberg is the man to beat at Lake Tenkiller.
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