By BassFan Staff

What had been a foregone conclusion since Thursday afternoon became a reality today as David Dudley wrapped up his third career FLW Tour Angler of the Year (AOY) title. He also remained at the top of the tournament standings at Lake Champlain by catching a 15-09 sack that pushed his 3-day total to 58-08.



Jacob Powroznik, who needed Dudley to fall all the way to 20th place today to keep his AOY hopes alive (he was the last man standing), boxed 17-09 to move up one spot to 2nd with 56-06. Andy Morgan, who spent the first 2 days fishing down at Ticonderoga, stayed in the northern end today and caught a day-best 20-02 to vault seven places to 3rd with a 55-15 total.

Joe Thompson, easily the least well-known of the anglers in the Top 5, dropped two positions to 4th after a 16-07 bag left him with a 55-09 aggregate. Steady veteran Ron Shuffield climbed eight places to 5th with a 19-03 stringer for a 54-04 total.

Here are the cumulative numbers for the anglers who'll return to the water tomorrow, with deficit margins from the leader indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. David Dudley: 58-08
2. Jacob Powroznik: 56-06 (2-02)
3. Andy Morgan: 55-15 (2-09)
4. Joe Thompson: 55-09 (2-15)
5. Ron Shuffield: 54-04 (4-04)
6. Blake Nick: 54-02 (4-06)
7. Dave Wolak: 53-09 (4-15)
8. Scott Canterbury: 52-02 (6-06)
9. Roland Martin: 51-15 (6-09)
10. John Voyles: 51-11 (6-13)

Spencer Shuffield would've joined his father in the Top 10 today if not for a mechanical issue that prevented him from making it to check-in, and thus rendered him with zero weight for today. His father said Spencer, who started the day in 5th place, estimated that he had 17 or 18 pounds when he suffered the breakdown, which was reported as a broken jackplate (the part that attaches the motor to the rear of the boat).

"It's one of those unfortunate things," Ron Shuffield said. "But if you're around this game long enough, mechanical failures are going to happen."

For the second time in 3 days, the heaviest bag of the day came from the northern part of the lake (Dudley took control of the event with 24-00 on day 1). Nonetheless, more than half of the remaining competitors will make the 140-mile round trip to Ticonderoga for the 4th straight day tomorrow, and they'll likely be forced to contend with a north wind of at least moderate intensity on their way back.



FLW/David Brown
Photo: FLW/David Brown

Dudley was able to eliminate some water today and will spend the final day focused on his most productive areas.

Besides the elder Shuffield, other newcomers to the Top 10 were Wolak (who climbed from 18th to 7th with 19-03 today), Canterbury (20th to 8th, 17-14) and Voyles (14th to 10th, 16-14). Slipping out were George Cochran (6th to 14th, 14-03), Koby Kreiger (7th to 13th, 14-10), Cody Bird (8th to 15th, 14-04) and Christopher Brasher (10th to 18th, 13-11).

Tomorrow's forecast for the Plattsburgh, N.Y. area predicts isolated thunderstorms, a high temperature of 81 degrees (a considerable cool-down from today) and a north wind to 9 mph.

Dudley not Overwhelmed

> Day 3: 5, 15-09 (15, 58-08)

Dudley, the No. 1 angler in the BassFan World Rankings, had a somewhat subdued reaction to wrapping up his latest AOY crown.

"It feels good – anytime I win something, I feel good about it," he said. "I don't know about it being a relief because I don't ever worry about it. It's not like I'm speechless or anything, but it feels great."

For more on his latest accolade, click here.

His bags have gotten considerably lighter each day (he was off nearly 3 1/2 pounds today compared to day 2), and that has him a bit concerned for the final day as he pursues his second victory of 2012.

"I'm not overly confident. I feel like if I win, it'll be because of my cushion. The only thing I can say is after today, I know where to spend a lot more of my time.

"The bite's not a timing thing like at Kentucky Lake, but I've been bouncing around to several places doing different things. I know what I need to concentrate on for tomorrow."

He caught about 3 dozen keepers today, the best of which was a 4 1/2-pounder. He said he made his final cull at about 11:30.

"It was promising to see Andy weigh that 20-pound bag – I know it's still possible."

2nd: Powroznik's Hopes High

> Day 2: 5, 17-09 (15, 56-06)

Powroznik would love to notch his first tour-level victory by stealing this one away from his good pal and fellow Virginia resident Dudley on day 4.

"Anybody in the Top 10 still has a shot," he said. "Me and Dudley are real good friends, and the way he talked today, he doesn't know what he's going to catch tomorrow."

FLW/David Brown
Photo: FLW/David Brown

Powroznik's total would be closer to Dudley's if he hadn't lost a 5-pounder today.

He's been getting down to Ti in about 45 minutes each day and described the journey as "really not all that bad." He fishes a vein of rocks in the grass first thing in the morning, and then throws a variety of baits (a frog, a bladed jig, a crankbait, etc.) for the rest of the day.

He boated about 20 keepers today, including a 5-pounder. He also lost one of that same size.

"It was the second one I had on and it came up and jumped. I figured I had it because the plug was entirely (out of sight), then it opened its mouth and the crankbait came flying out at me.

"The one good thing is that I shook it off and maybe it'll bite again tomorrow."

3rd: Morgan Undecided

> Day 3: 5, 20-02 (15, 55-15)

Morgan's decision to stay up north paid off handsomely today. Somewhat surprisingly, he said he might reverse it for the final day.

"I am a little concerned about whether I should go back down (to Ti) now that I'm in contention to win," he said. "I'm kind of fighting that deal and I'll wait to see what the wind's doing in the morning.

"Both areas have potential. Up here you get a lot longer to fish and it's a lot less stressful day. Down there, when you know you have such a long run back, you end up crapping out early and leaving them biting."

He made the call today because he thought the wind might blow harder than it actually did and because a 70-boat local tournament launched out of Ti. "I just wasn't all that comfortable going down there."

He spent 1 day of practice in the north and exploited what he found today. He got less than 10 keeper bites, but his bag contained two 5-pounders.

"It was a nice surprise. I bounced around and fished some old, familiar waters and stuff that had produced for me in the past.

"The bites were scattered throughout the day – there were no big flurries. For some of the better ones, I had to really slow down and grind it out."

4th: Tougher Day for Thompson

> Day 3: 5, 16-07 (15, 55-09)

Thompson's sack dropped off by 4 pounds from day 2.

"It was very tough today – the bite was very subtle," he said. "It might've been from the bluebird skies, plus there were a lot of local anglers and party-boaters down there."

FLW/David Brown
Photo: FLW/David Brown

Andy Morgan was the only angler to surpass the 20-pound mark on day 3.

A 5-pounder was the best of his 25 keepers. He's employing a combination of tactics that include flipping and throwing a bladed jig.

"It's going to be a game-time decision, but there's a good chance I'll be covering some new water tomorrow. I found some new stuff and the fish (in the areas he's been occupying) are getting pretty beat up."

5th: Shuffield Slowed Down

> Day 3: 5, 19-03 (10, 54-04)

Shuffield, who celebrated his 56th birthday here, has made his third consecutive Top 10. He's not really looking forward to one last run to Ti, but is happy to have a shot at the win.

"As I get older, those kind of things get harder and harder," he said. "But I'm committed regardless, even if there's (6-foot waves). I didn't practice up here, and on 1 day of practice down there I could've had 24-plus.

"I know they're there, but they haven't bit real well. It's gotten a little better for me each day, though. I'm kind of fishing on the fly and I slowed way down to get some of those bigger ones to bite, and that's why I moved up a little bit."

A pair of 4 3/4-pounders were the best of the 20 keepers he caught today. His primary bait is a Yamamoto Senko, and he's also throwing a 3/4-ounce jig on grass clumps that he said his Typhoon sunglasses are playing a critical role in helping him locate.

"I think I'll need a minimum of 21 pounds to really have a shot tomorrow. It's a matter of stumbling onto them at the right time – it can happen real quick, but it's hard to find the active fish that are wanting to bite."

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 20 anglers, 19 limits, 1 zero.

Weather Forecast

> Sun., July 1 – Isolated T-Storms - 81°/59°
- Wind: From the N at 9 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 24-00 (5) -- 18-15 (5) -- 15-09 (5) -- 58-08

2. Jacob Powroznik -- Prince George, Va -- 20-12 (5) -- 18-01 (5) -- 17-09 (5) -- 56-06

3. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 18-11 (5) -- 17-02 (5) -- 20-02 (5) -- 55-15

4. Joseph Thompson -- Landenberg, Pa -- 18-09 (5) -- 20-09 (5) -- 16-07 (5) -- 55-09

5. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, Ar -- 16-12 (5) -- 18-05 (5) -- 19-03 (5) -- 54-04

6. Blake Nick -- Adger, Al -- 19-10 (5) -- 17-03 (5) -- 17-05 (5) -- 54-02

7. David Wolak -- Wake Forest, Nc -- 18-02 (5) -- 16-04 (5) -- 19-03 (5) -- 53-09

8. Scott Canterbury -- Springville, Al -- 18-12 (5) -- 15-08 (5) -- 17-14 (5) -- 52-02

9. Roland Martin -- Naples, Fl -- 15-05 (5) -- 20-10 (5) -- 16-00 (5) -- 51-15

10. John Voyles -- Petersburg, In -- 17-10 (5) -- 17-03 (5) -- 16-14 (5) -- 51-11

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on day 4.

11. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, Ok -- 16-01 (5) -- 18-06 (5) -- 17-00 (5) -- 51-07 -- $10,226

12. Barry Wilson -- Birmingham, Al -- 17-01 (5) -- 17-04 (5) -- 16-14 (5) -- 51-03 -- $10,226

13. Koby Kreiger -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 19-02 (5) -- 17-06 (5) -- 14-10 (5) -- 51-02 -- $10,226

14. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 20-12 (5) -- 15-13 (5) -- 14-03 (5) -- 50-12 -- $10,226

15. Cody Bird -- Granbury, Tx -- 18-05 (5) -- 18-00 (5) -- 14-04 (5) -- 50-09 -- $10,226

16. Craig Dowling -- Nashville, Tn -- 16-15 (5) -- 18-08 (5) -- 15-02 (5) -- 50-09 -- $9,806

17. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, Az -- 15-14 (5) -- 18-13 (5) -- 15-13 (5) -- 50-08 -- $9,806

18. Christopher Brasher -- Spring, Tx -- 16-05 (5) -- 19-08 (5) -- 13-11 (5) -- 49-08 -- $9,806

19. Ray Scheide -- Dover, Ar -- 14-13 (5) -- 19-15 (5) -- 9-06 (5) -- 44-02 -- $9,806

20. Spencer Shuffield -- Bismarck, Ar -- 19-00 (5) -- 17-13 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 36-13 -- $9,806