Courtesy of Bassmaster.com

Washington's Don Hogue leads the overall competition in the three-day BASS Federation Nation National Championship being held on Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes, but Louisiana's Samuel Anthony is still in the running for a Bassmaster Classic slot. All Ant

TAVARES, Fla. - Louisiana amateur angler Samuel Anthony is one day away from earning a coveted spot at the 2010 Bassmaster Classic. Anthony has a 4-pound lead over his nearest competitor for the Central Division win during the event being held on Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes.

In the overall competition, Washingtong's Don Hogue was consistent enough to barely edge out Randy Phillips of Oxford, Mass., by just 7 ounces for the Day 2 lead. Hogue took the lead on the strength of Thursday’s 13-pound, 11-ounce limit building his two-day total to 24-9. Hogue says the bite has been slow but persistence paid off Thursday.

“It’s a matter of making thousands of casts and hoping for a big bite,” said Hogue, who is one of 55 anglers competing here this week. “You just have to keep that bait wet.”

If Hogue holds his position, he will take home an invitation to the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series and a Skeeter/Yamaha boat rig valued at $63,250 and one of the six Bassmaster Classic berths up for grabs.

The Classic is scheduled for Feb. 19-21 on Alabama's Lay Lake.

Along with the competition for the winner of the event, each of six division winners will punch their ticket to the 2010 Classic.

Joining Anthony in divisional leads are Hogue (Western), Phillips (Eastern), Jeff Freeman (Mid-Atlantic), Brent Long (Southern) and Randy Wieczorek (Northern).

Competition wraps up tomorrow. Living, streaming video of the weigh-in, along with a live leaderboard, is available at www.bassmaster.com.