Dewayne Wilson, a resident of nearby La Follette, Tenn. and the owner of Dixie Custom Rods, caught a 21-12 sack Thursday to take a 1-pound advantage over FLW Tour standouts Brent Ehrler and Shin Fukae in the first Bassmaster Northern Open of 2014 at Douglas Lake.
“It worked out early for me, but after about 10 o’clock I couldn’t get bit,” Wilson said. “Luckily, we caught them early.”
Competing in only his second Bassmaster event, the 47-year-old Wilson frequently fishes Douglas and knows several deep spots that hold fish this time of year. While practicing last week with his team-tournament partner, Wilson caught fish deep in several spots. “We had a lot of places that had fish, but it seems like they are drying up,” he said.
He had his limit by about 7 a.m. and then culled at least three keepers while fishing three areas. “There were a lot of fish in the one spot and in the other two spots there were only a few fish, but they were bigger,” he said.
He had the places to himself early, but other anglers moved into his area by midmorning, and the bite stopped for him. “It got so bad I just let them have it,” he said.
With the fishing pressure he encountered today, Wilson is unsure what to expect Friday.
“I might have 6 pounds, or I might have 20 again."
Here's a look at the initial Top 12:
1. Dewayne Wildon: 21-12
2. (tie) Brent Ehrler: 20-12
2. (tie) Shin Fukae: 20-12
4. Todd Schmitz: 20-10
5. Derrick Snavely: 20-06
6. JT Kenney: 20-01
7. Ott DeFoe: 19-03
8. Seth Feider: 19-01
9. Jeff Cloud: 18-03
10. Gary Clouse: 17-15
11. Brandon Coulter: 17-12
12. Jacob Wheeler: 17-04
