Cobb's Consistency Moves Him To The Top

By John Johnson
BassFan Senior Editor

The randomness of the bite at Lake Guntersville this week has placed a premium on consistency. Brandon Cobb has been the very definition of that term this far.

Cobb brought 17 pounds to the scale on day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite Series event and backed it up with 17-11 on day 2 for a 34-11 total that moved him to the top of the leaderboard. A two-time winner on the tour in 2018, he'll take a 1-13 lead into the second half of the derby.

"I love fall fishing and this is the way I expected it to be," he said. "I've been fortunate to catch a couple of big ones each day."

Wes Logan, who spent 2 years on the FLW Tour before transferring to the Elite Series this season, climbed 19 places to 2nd with a day-best 18-10 haul for a 32-14 aggregate. Reigning Angler of the Year Scott Canterbury, who has vast experience on the lake boxed 15-10 and climbed from 8th to 3rd with 31-10.

Day-1 leader Kyle Welcher slipped to 4th with 31-09 after a 12-04 haul that was 7 pounds lighter than what he weighed the previous day. Seth Feider also has 31-09 in the wake of a 15-09 stringer.

The bottom half of the Top 10 is comprised of Drew Cook with 31-07 (17-07 on day 2), Luke Palmer with 31-06 (15-11), Stetson Blaylock with 31-03 (17-03), Frank Talley with 30-08 916-05) and Brandon Card with 30-06 (15-07).

John Cox, who was 4th after day 1 with 17-03 on four keepers, managed just a single 2-pounder and dropped to 53rd. Clark Wendlandt and Takumi Ito, who occupy the Top 2 places in the Angler of the Year race, both made the cut after sitting outside the mark on day 1. Wendlandt is 35th (23-14) and Ito is 40th (21-08).

Cobb said he's mixing things up out of necessity.

"I'm just junk-fishing – I've caught a few flipping, a few on a jig and this morning I caught quite a few on a buzzbait. There's just so much pressure right now; some of the areas I've fished, people pull up within 30 or 40 yards of you. That's on the whole lake, though, not just where I'm fishing.

"It's hard to get in a flow because you're constantly around people and you can't always move where you want to. It's hard to get into a good rotation."

He weighed four fish that were in the 4-pound class and one that was barely legal on day 2.

"I lost one 4-pounder flipping – it came right up out of the mat and didn't get the hook. I'd have been right at 20 pounds with that one."

Logan, who's 54th in the points with a season-high finish of 31st at Lake Eufaula, said he got the same number of bites as on day 1. They were bigger, though, and his second bag was almost 4 1/2 pounds heavier than his first.

"I'm getting six to eight bites a day and whatever they weigh is what I end up with," he said. "Every time I set the hook today it was a fish over 3 pounds and I was lucky enough to catch a 4 1/2.

"I'm just doing the same thing as everybody else – just putting my head down and pitching around, doing what I like to do. I'm keeping one big rod in my hand.

"I've missed a few bites, but I haven't hooked and lost anything yet, knock on wood."

Canterbury said all the time he's spent on the lake over several decades has helped him thus far.

"I've been hurt really bad in the past running history hear, but it's paid off a little this week," he said. "I ran a lot of history today, places where I didn't practice, and they didn't help so I've eliminated them. I've still got a lot of stuff I can run, so we'll see how it goes.

"I ran totally different water today – I didn't repeat one place from yesterday."

He's caught fish off docks, flipping grass, on a buzzbait and a frog and even one offshore. His day-2 bag was highlighted by a 5-pounder.

"I think the cooler nights have helped the bite, but there's a lot of people fishing the same water and we're catching what's up there, so it's definitely going to get tougher."

Notable

> Day 2 stats – 85 anglers, 55 limits (6 more than day 1), 6 fours, 9 threes, 7 twos, 5 ones, 3 zeroes (2 more than day 1).

Weather Forecast

> Fri. Oct. 2 – Sunny - 68°/43°
- Wind: From the N at 6 mph

> Sat., Oct. 3 – Sunny - 72°/50°
- Wind: From the NNE at 3 mph

Day 2 Standings

1. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 10, 34-11 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 17-00 -- Day 2: 5, 17-11

2. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 10, 32-14 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 5, 18-10

3. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 10, 31-10 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 16-00 -- Day 2: 5, 15-10

4. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 10, 31-09 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 19-05 -- Day 2: 5, 12-04

5. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 10, 31-09 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 16-00 -- Day 2: 5, 15-09

6. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 10, 31-07 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 14-00 -- Day 2: 5, 17-07

7. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 10, 31-06 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 15-11 -- Day 2: 5, 15-11

8. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 10, 31-03 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 14-00 -- Day 2: 5, 17-03

9. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 10, 30-08 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 16-05

10. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 10, 30-06 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 14-15 -- Day 2: 5, 15-07

11. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 10, 30-00 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 15-13 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03

12. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 9, 29-15 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 18-08 -- Day 2: 4, 11-07

13. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 10, 29-15 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 14-12 -- Day 2: 5, 15-03

14. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 10 -- 29-08 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 14-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-02

15. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 10, 29-07 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 17-10 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13

16. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 10, 29-03 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 15-04 -- Day 2: 5, 13-15

17. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 8, 28-04 -- 84
Day 1: 3, 11-05 -- Day 2: 5, 16-15

18. Chris Johnston -- Peterborough, ON -- 10 -- 28-03 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 12-04 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15

19. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 9, 28-02 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 17-01 -- Day 2: 4, 11-01

20. Mike Huff -- Corbin, KY -- 10, 28-00 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-02

21. Hunter Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 10, 27-06 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 12-15 -- Day 2: 5, 14-07

22. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 10, 27-05 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 13-15 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06

23. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 10, 26-14 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 14-05 -- Day 2: 5, 12-09

24. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 10 -- 26-13 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 13-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14

25. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 7, 26-06 -- 76
Day 1: 2, 09-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-00

26. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 10, 26-01 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 13-09 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08

27. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 10, 25-11 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-02

28. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 9, 25-06 -- 73 -- $1,000
Day 1: 4, 14-10 -- Day 2: 5, 10-12

29. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 10, 25-04 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13

30. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 10, 25-03 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 11-15 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04

31. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 10, 24-13 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 12-11 -- Day 2: 5, 12-02

32. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 10, 24-07 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 12-06 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01

33. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 9, 24-06 -- 68
Day 1: 4, 10-14 -- Day 2: 5, 13-08

34. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 8, 23-15 -- 67
Day 1: 3, 08-09 -- Day 2: 5, 15-06

35. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 10, 23-14 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08

36. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 10, 23-08 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 11-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15

37. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 10, 23-07 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 12-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00

38. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 9, 22-10 -- 63
Day 1: 4, 08-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-10

39. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 8, 22-04 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 16-06 -- Day 2: 3, 05-14

40. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 10, 21-08 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 11-04 -- Day 2: 5, 10-04

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on day 3.

41. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 10, 21-08 -- 60 -- $7,500
Day 1: 5, 11-03 -- Day 2: 5, 10-05

42. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 9, 21-07 -- 59 -- $7,500
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 4, 09-02

43. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 9, 21-02 -- 58 -- $7,500
Day 1: 4, 10-02 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00

44. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 9, 21-00 -- 57 -- $7,500
Day 1: 4, 07-06 -- Day 2: 5, 13-10

45. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 9, 20-11 -- 56 -- $7,500
Day 1: 4, 09-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11

46. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 9, 20-08 -- 55 -- $5,000
Day 1: 4, 09-11 -- Day 2: 5, 10-13

47. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 8, 20-08 -- 54 -- $6,000
Day 1: 5, 10-13 -- Day 2: 3, 09-11

48. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 10, 20-07 -- 53 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 10-13 -- Day 2: 5, 09-10

49. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 9, 20-04 -- 52 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 08-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-14

50. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 9, 20-01 -- 51 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 09-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-01

51. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 9, 19-12 -- 50 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 08-10 -- Day 2: 5, 11-02

52. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 8, 19-09 -- 49 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 10-07 -- Day 2: 4, 09-02

53. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 5, 19-04 -- 48 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 17-03 -- Day 2: 1, 02-01

54. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 7, 19-04 -- 47 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 2, 04-11

55. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 7, 19-03 -- 46 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 09-14 -- Day 2: 4, 09-05

56. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 8, 18-14 -- 45 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 12-11 -- Day 2: 3, 06-03

57. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 7, 18-12 -- 44 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 14-06 -- Day 2: 2, 04-06

58. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 7, 18-08 -- 43 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 07-08 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00

59. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 9, 18-08 -- 42 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 08-07 -- Day 2: 5, 10-01

60. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 7, 17-15 -- 41 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 08-02 -- Day 2: 3, 09-13

61. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 8, 17-12 -- 40 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 05-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13

62. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 7, 17-11 -- 39 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 06-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11

63. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 8, 17-05 -- 38 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 09-01 -- Day 2: 4, 08-04

64. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 8, 16-12 -- 37 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 05-14 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14

64. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 8, 16-12 -- 37 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 10-14 -- Day 2: 3, 05-14

66. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 5, 16-03 -- 35 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 11-09 -- Day 2: 2, 04-10

67. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 7, 15-11 -- 34 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 04-08 -- Day 2: 5, 11-03

68. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 6, 15-02 -- 33 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 1, 02-04

69. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 6, 14-14 -- 32 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 07-15 -- Day 2: 3, 06-15

70. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 6, 14-08 -- 31 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 02-08 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00

71. Jesse Tacoronte -- Kissimmee, FL -- 5, 14-07 -- 30 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 08-07 -- Day 2: 2, 06-00

72. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 7, 14-01 -- 29 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 10-03 -- Day 2: 2, 03-14

73. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 6, 13-06 -- 28 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 01-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07

74. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 3, 12-09 -- 27 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 12-09 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

75. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 6, 12-00 -- 26 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 10-02 -- Day 2: 1, 01-14

76. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 5, 11-13 -- 25 -- $2,500
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13

77. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 5, 11-13 -- 24 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 08-10 -- Day 2: 1, 03-03

78. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 6, 11-12 -- 23 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 08-07 -- Day 2: 2, 03-05

79. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 5, 11-07 -- 22 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 04-12 -- Day 2: 3, 06-11

80. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 11-04 -- 21 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 09-01 -- Day 2: 1, 02-03

81. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 5, 10-01 -- 20 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 10-01 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

82. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 4, 09-09 -- 19 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 03-00 -- Day 2: 3, 06-09

83. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 4, 08-03 -- 18 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 03-03 -- Day 2: 2, 05-00

84. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 4, 07-14 -- 17 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 02-05 -- Day 2: 3, 05-09

85. Greg DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 1, 03-03 -- 16 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 03-03 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00