By BassFan Staff

Despite of all his accolades as a professional fisherman, Andy Morgan has just a single tour-level win on his ledger. He badly wants to nail down victory No. 2 tomorrow at the same venue where his previous triumph occurred 8 years ago.

Morgan, the top-ranked angler in the world and two-time defending FLW Tour Angler of the Year (AOY), caught a 10-09 sack on Saturday to retain his lead at Beaver Lake with a 3-day total of 39-02. The bag was almost 5 pounds lighter than the one he caught on day 2, but it cost him only 2 ounces of his advantage.

Matt Arey, who won at Beaver last year, moved up one place to 2nd with a 10-07 sack that pushed his total to 37-09. Stetson Blaylock jumped two places to 3rd after an 11-02 haul gave him a 37-03 aggregate.

John Cox made the biggest upward move of the day as he catapulted from 13th to 4th with a day-best 12-13 stringer for a 37-00 total. It's his second straight final-day appearance – the previous one, at Lewis Smith Lake, ended early when he and his marshal were thrown from an FLW supplied boat when it spun out as they were traveling at about 50 mph.

Cody Meyer, who dueled Morgan neck-and-neck for the 2014 AOY title, completed the Top 5 with an 11-10 bag for a 36-07 total.

Here are the totals for the 10 anglers who'll compete on the final day, with red numbers in parentheses indicating the weight by which they trail Morgan:

1. Andy Morgan: 39-02
2. Matt Arey: 37-09 (1-09)
3. Stetson Blaylock: 37-03 (1-15)
4. John Cox: 37-00 (2-02)
5. Cody Meyer: 36-07 (2-11)
6. Vic Vatalaro: 35-06 (3-12)
7. Bryan Thrift: 35-01 (4-01)
8. Tracy Adams: 34-09 (4-09)
9. Peter Thliveros: 34-08 (4-10)
10. Mike Surman: 34-05 (4-13)

Seventeen of the Top 20 managed to catch limits despite bluebird conditions and wind in excess of 20 mph on a lake that's often tough under any conditions. Some of those five-fish bags, consisted only of dime-a-dozen, 12- to 13-inch spotted bass.

Cox, Vatalaro (who improved from 12th to 6th on day 3 with an 11-03 bag) and Surman (18th to 10th, 11-00) were the newcomers to the Top 10. Moving out were Darrel Robertson (2nd to 11th, 6-06), Larry Nixon (7th to 15th, 7-14) and Scott Canterbury (8th to 14th, 8-02).



FLW
Photo: FLW

Matt Arey gained one place in the standings with a 10-07 bag on day 3.

Some clouds are in the final-day forecast for the Rogers, Ark. area, at least for the morning hours, and some are thinking they might jumpstart the bite. The wind is expected to be fairly stiff again, coming from the east/northeast at 13 mph.

With less than 5 pounds of separation throughout the Top 10, all have chance to claim victory on day 4. The prevailing opinion, though, is that Morgan is likely to catch at least 12 pounds and that it might take a bag in the mid-teens to knock him off his perch.

Morgan Hangs On

> Day 3: 5, 10-09 (15, 39-02)

Morgan said that staying atop the leaderboard on day 3 was no easy task for him.

"Today was extraordinarily tough,” he said. “I caught my first fish around 9:30 a.m., then my second around noon. I caught my third keeper just 5 minutes later, and then in the last 30 minutes of the day I caught my last two. Just like yesterday, I only caught five fish all day long and it was a grind.”

He exhausted his supply of bed-fish over the first 2 days. Now he's junk-fishing – something he does as well as anybody in the game.

“I’ve used a hodge-podge of baits all week. I’ve caught them on a Zoom finesse worm, on a spinnerbait, on a Zoom Z-Craw and on a War Eagle jig. I caught a couple of fish this week on a buzzbait,, too, but nothing that I weighed in.

"The key for me has just been to cover enough water and make enough casts that by the end of the day I’ve gotten five."

With so many competitors still in the hunt, he's certain he'll need more than 10 1/2 pounds on day 4 to keep everyone at bay.

“Tomorrow, anybody in this Top 10 can legitimately win this tournament. You’re going to have to have one big bite to win this thing – if somebody can catch a 4- or 5-pounder, that’s going to be golden.

“I like having the lead because that means that someone can beat me by just a little bit tomorrow and I can still win. It’s been a long time since I won one of these (FLW Tour events). I’ve had a lot of 2nd-place finishes, but I really, really want to get a W.”

2nd: Break-Off Hurt Arey

> Day 2: 5, 10-07 (15, 37-09)

Arey came in with a couple of pounds less than he would have had his best bite of the day not eluded him.

"I'd executed well all week, and today I didn't and I paid for that," he said. "I broke off a 3 1/2- to 4-pound largemouth that I shouldn't have. It was on a bed, but I couldn't see it.

"I was throwing a swimbait and it came off the bed and ate it. I hadn't checked my line and I'd been throwing it under and over cables. It was just stupid. I was using 20-pound P-Line fluorocarbon and it shouldn't break, but it did because I was careless."

That fish would've replaced one of a trip of 1 3/4-pound spotted bass he took to the scale. The biggest fish he weighed was a 2 1/2-pound largemouth.

"I can catch a lot of those spots, but they're not what I need to win unless I've got like three big largemouths and I need a couple to fill out a limit. Otherwise, I'm not going to mess with them tomorrow. I plan to fish a lot of new water.

"What I'm excited about is the bite's tough and literally anybody can win. If you can catch a 3- or 3 1/2-pounder and fill a limit of largemouths, that could carry you the distance."

FLW
Photo: FLW

Stetson Blaylock has moved up the leaderboard each and and now sits less than 2 pounds out of the lead.

3rd: Blaylock Inching Upward

> Day 3: 5, 11-02 (15, 37-03)

Blaylock has made moderate gains in the standings each day after opening the event in 9th and will start the final day less than 2 pounds out of the lead. He considers himself a bit lucky to be where he is.

"It's exciting to be in that position with 1 day to go, but the fishing hasn't been as good for me as the weights I've brought in," he said. "I've been fortunate that I've run into a couple of really good bed-fish each day and they've helped me a lot."

He went through seven keepers on day 3, the biggest of which weighed 3 1/2 pounds. He lost one that was close to 3, and he estimated that cost him a pound and a half.

"The positive out of that deal is I could go out tomorrow and get that fish and I'd get the full benefit of whatever it weighs. I think 13 pounds is the number I'll need – that should give me a real strong chance. Andy's going to be good for at least another 10 pounds, and that's if he doesn't get a good bite."

He said he wasted too much time looking for spawners on day 3 and didn't complete his limit until a half-hour prior to check-in.

"Tomorrow I need to get my head right early, get where the fish are and get them while the getting's good. If I can get my confidence going quick, who knows what can happen?

4th: Cox Exploited Points

> Day 3: 5, 12-13 (15, 37-00)

Cox spent the first 2 days focused on fish that were on nests, but bailed on that program on day 3.

"I started running some points," he said. "It seems like there were some fish moving during the latter part of the day – swimming into the creeks. I'm pretty sure they're fish that had already made beds, but were kicked off by the weather and are just starting to go back."

He boated only five keepers, including one that was pushing 4 pounds. He caught them on an MHX NB873 rod that he built in his hotel room the previous week while competing in the Alabama River Bassmaster Southern Open.

He threw a finesse worm on a 1/4-ounce weight.

FLW
Photo: FLW

John Cox advanced to the final day for the second straight event.

"I haven't had a really big day yet and I'm just hoping I can hook up with more than one of those good ones tomorrow. If it wasn't Morgan leading, I think 13 pounds might get it done, but with him, he's not going to catch many 10-pound bags. He's probably going to be around 12 to 14, so I wouldn't be comfortable unless I caught 16.

"I've been around good ones – my non-boater on day 1 caught one that was almost 6 pounds, which I think is the biggest fish of the whole tournament, and I worked on three on beds the first day that were between 5 and 6. They seemed like they were almost ready to bite, and then I came back the next day and they were gone. Maybe they'll pop back up."

11th: Robertson's Fish Gone

> Day 3: 5, 6-06 (15, 34-04)

Robertson had been using a jig to catch quality pre-spawn fish off rocky bluffs in 12 to 15 feet of water. That program was entirely unproductive on day 3.

"I don't live far from here (in Jay, Okla.) and I came over for 4 days (to pre-practice), and this was the first day I've been here when it wasn't cold and cloudy or rainy. It's the first time I'd fished in sunshine and I think those fish might've left the rocks and gone to the bank."

He stayed on the hard stuff for the first several hours of the day, then went and caught five small spotted bass before returning to the rocks. His second visit wasn't any more fruitful than the first.

He missed the 10-cut by just a single ounce.

"I probably should've spent more time (on the spots) and caught a couple that were a little bigger. My plan was to cull my smallest one with a 4-pound largemouth, but it didn't happen.

"There's no shame in finishing 11th here, though; these guys are pretty tough."

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 20 anglers, 17 limits, 2 fours, 1 three.

> Luke Clausen ended up 22nd, just 2 ounces out of the cut to the Top 20. He caught lots of fish, but had a difficult time connecting with any quality. To read his competition recap, click here.

Weather Forecast

> Sun., April 26 – A.M. Clouds/P.M. Sun - 70°/49°
- Wind: From the ENE at 13 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 13-2 (5) -- 15-7 (5) -- 10-9 (5) -- 39-2 (15)

2. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 14-14 (5) -- 12-4 (5) -- 10-7 (5) -- 37-9 (15)

3. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, Ar -- 13-8 (5) -- 12-9 (5) -- 11-2 (5) -- 37-3 (15)

4. John Cox -- Debary, Fl -- 12-4 (5) -- 11-15 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 37-0 (15)

5. Cody Meyer -- Auburn, Ca -- 14-7 (5) -- 10-6 (5) -- 11-10 (5) -- 36-7 (15)

6. Vic Vatalaro -- Kent, Oh -- 13-7 (5) -- 10-12 (5) -- 11-3 (5) -- 35-6 (15)

7. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, NC -- 15-9 (5) -- 10-11 (5) -- 8-13 (5) -- 35-1 (15)

8. Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, NC -- 13-3 (5) -- 12-7 (5) -- 8-15 (5) -- 34-9 (15)

9. Peter Thliveros -- Saint Augustine, Fl -- 12-0 (5) -- 12-12 (5) -- 9-12 (5) -- 34-8 (15)

10. Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 13-2 (5) -- 10-3 (5) -- 11-0 (5) -- 34-5 (15)

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

11. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 14-5 (5) -- 13-9 (5) -- 6-6 (5) -- 34-4 (15) -- $12,000

12. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 13-5 (5) -- 10-5 (5) -- 10-7 (5) -- 34-1 (15) -- $12,000

13. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 13-10 (5) -- 10-8 (5) -- 9-8 (5) -- 33-10 (15) -- $12,500

14. Scott Canterbury -- Springville, Al -- 14-14 (5) -- 10-2 (5) -- 8-2 (5) -- 33-2 (15) -- $12,000

15. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 11-15 (5) -- 13-4 (5) -- 7-14 (5) -- 33-1 (15) -- $12,500

16. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 12-4 (5) -- 11-6 (5) -- 8-5 (5) -- 31-15 (15) -- $12,000

17. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 13-1 (5) -- 9-12 (5) -- 8-9 (4) -- 31-6 (14) -- $12,000

18. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 10-7 (5) -- 13-2 (5) -- 7-12 (4) -- 31-5 (14) -- $12,000

19. Darrell Davis -- Dover, Fl -- 14-6 (5) -- 10-2 (5) -- 6-7 (3) -- 30-15 (13) -- $12,000

20. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Ca -- 10-1 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 7-8 (5) -- 30-6 (15) -- $12,000