Collierville angler Michael Wooley is one step away from a wire-to-wire victory on Lake of the Ozarks.

But an old pro is slowly creeping up behind him.

Wooley caught 9 pounds, 11 ounces of bass on Friday and still leads the Stren Series Central Division bass tournament with a three-day total of 42-5.

Wes Endicott is still in second with 41-2, but world-famous Missouri pro Dion Hibdon has moved into third with 40-0.

Zack Bull of Lakeland has dropped one spot to fourth place with 39-13. He’s still within striking distance, but he needs some things to happen in front of him.

Wooley’s weights have slowly gone down over the first three days of the event, but he may just be pacing himself - seriously. Some anglers really do that during four-day tournaments.

If he’s holding something in reserve, he’d better turn it loose on Saturday. Hibdon is a veteran pro, and he’s bound to make a hard charge during the final round.

If you’re not too busy watching Georgia-Tennessee, you can see the weigh-in at 4 p.m. Saturday on flwlive.com.

Complete results will be available at flwoutdoors.com.

With hunting season fast approaching and a very busy stretch in store, there has never been a better time to take your hunting dog to the veterinarian.

Routine vaccines like rabies and distemper should always be up to date before you start traveling around the Mid-South with your dog, and at least two additional vaccines should be considered especially for hunting dogs.

According to Dr. Shannon McGee of the Collierville Animal Clinic, all hunting dogs should be vaccinated for Leptospirosis – a serious disease carried by many wild animals, including rats and raccoons.

Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria that are spread through the urine of infected animals. If your dog drinks water contaminated by these animals, it can develop liver damage and sometimes die.

The disease can also be spread to humans. That means you and your kids are at risk if you handle the infected dog.

McGee said hunting dogs should also be vaccinated for Lyme disease, a tick-borne ailment that can be a problem year-round.

Lyme disease can make your dog miserable - and if the dog carries a tick into your home, you may wind up with the disease, too.

“I’ve seen ticks crawling around in Arkansas in December,” McGee said. “Even during winter, if it gets up to 65 degrees, the ticks are going to move.”

Besides vaccinations, McGee said hunting dogs need a simple “preseason physical” before enduring the rigors of hunting season.

“I always like to check a dog’s knees and hips just to make sure everything is working right,” he said. “I like to check for any minor problems to keep them from becoming major problems when the season begins.”