American National pro Shane Long of Missouri leaped into the lead with 16.78 pounds Friday for a two-day total of 29.28 going into the final day on Table Rock in the PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix.

Long had a big bass of 4.60 pounds in his limit and leads by a little more than two pounds over fellow Mizzou angler Kelly Power, who had 26.75 including a 5.12-kicker.

"I got lucky, got quality bites and put them in the boat," Long said. "I lost a big one Thursday and I think that may come back to haunt me."

The Top 10:

1. Shane Long, Missouri - 29.28
2. Kelly Power, Missouri - 26.75
3. Brian Snowden, Missouri - 26.49
4. Gary Klein, Texas - 24.80
5. Dave Lefebre, Pennsylvania - 24.73
6. Terry Butcher, Oklahoma - 24.32
7. Rick Clunn, Missouri - 24.21
8. Stacey King, Missouri - 23.70
9. Matt Reed, Texas - 23.56
10. Ronnie Wagner, Texas - 22.63

The field was cut to 24 following Friday's competition. Those pros will fish Saturday on Table Rock for $194,000 including a new Nitro Z-8 rigged with a Mercury 225 and T-H Marine Atlas Jackplate. Saturday's launch will be at Table Rock State Park Marina, with the 4:30 p.m. weigh-in to be held at The Fountain at Branson Landing.

Lucky Craft pro Takahiro Omori of Texas, Megabass pro Aaron Martens of Alabama, Gene Larew pro Tommy Biffle of Oklahoma and Nitro pro Edwin Evers of Oklahoma all made the cut. Evers led the group going into the tournament with Biffle trailing by just a hair, followed by Omori in fourth and Martens in fifth.

Evers and Biffle bombed on the first day here but rebounded Friday, with Biffle moving from 40th to 17th (19.82 pounds, total) and Evers advancing 12 positions to make the cut in the final spot by a few hundredths of an ounce. Evers has 16.88 pounds.

Omori stayed steady and is again in 11th place with 22.43 pounds, while Martens is right behind him with 22.20 pounds.