Ehrler Erupts! Slams 14-14 And Leads With 1 Day Left

Brent Ehrler, who earlier this year was the No. 1 ranked angler in the world, stunned the Gwinnett Center crowd and the rest of the Forrest Wood Cup field when he caught 14-14 from a beat-up, worn-out, rec-traffic-ridden Lake Lanier.

Ehrler, a former Cup champion (2006), won two FLW Tour events this year en

route to his 5th-place finish in the FLW Tour Angler of the Year (AOY) race. Both those Tour wins were on clear-water fisheries – Table Rock and Ouachita. The California pro is simply deadly on deep, clear fisheries, and he showed that today.

What's so puzzling is how Ehrler was able to intercept that type of quality on day 3 of the event. Locals Tom Mann, Jr. and Jason Meninger couldn't do it – they both missed the cut. But one local did make it – Troy Morrow. More on that in a minute. Now, back to Ehrler.

Ehrler has been one of the hottest pros in the sport over the previous two seasons, and is currently ranked 4th in the world. In a sport dominated by larger-than-life BASS pros like Kevin VanDam and Skeet Reese, Ehrler has quietly gone about his business with his California smile. And his stunner today was classic Ehrler – just when nobody thinks it's possible, he strikes.

He's now in position to become the first pro ever to win two Forrest Wood Cups.

He's fishing deep brush and his 8-ounce lead isn't huge, but it's an important cushion. And he likely must catch a limit tomorrow to have any hope at winning – no guarantee, considering he got very few keeper bites today.

Plus, he's got Cody Meyer and Larry Nixon to contend with – two anglers who are every bit as good with a worm as Ehrler.

Meyer weighed his lightest bag so far today – 11-05 – and relinquished the lead to Ehrler. Meyer's still buoyed by his heavy weights on days 1 and 2, but will need to muster every ounce possible tomorrow.

Meyer again fished bottom today – the suspended fish he caught on day 1 are still a no-go. He barely missed a Cup win last year at Pittsburgh and has thought about that near-miss every day since. His return to the Top 6 is a clear statement that's he's another California stick to contend with at the national level.

Larry Nixon, a decorated and grizzled veteran who's got a Bassmaster Classic win and two BASS AOY titles to his credit, has long chased the Cup. He held on with 11-05 today, which was exactly what Meyer weighed. And exactly like Meyer, Nixon slipped one spot (to 3rd).

Nixon's mum on what he's doing, but he feels he needs to catch three 3-pounders tomorrow to have a shot. He had some outstanding days in practice, but so far his fish have yet to reposition to where they were in practice, and he's largely had to hunt and peck deeper than he's wanted to.

Day-1 leader Kevin Hawk rallied with 11-02 today – a pound better than what he weighed yesterday – and improved one spot to 4th. Hawk's fishing deep too, but needs to connect with size as he faces a 3-pound deficit.

Hawk's the everyman's hero. He temporarily moved to Lanier last fall after he qualified, froze his tail off all winter in a rented pool house, and spent every minute he could learning the lake in order to fulfill his lifelong quest of becoming a tour pro.

The 5th-place spot belongs to another relative unknown. Ron Hobbs, Jr. weighed 11-00 today and moved up two spots to make the cut. He's working a shallow-water pattern in the backs of creeks, but had a run-in with a landowner today that kept him off some of his best water. Hobbs managed to hang around, but he'll need some jumbo bites tomorrow in order to have a shot.

And the final angler in the cut is BFL All-American champ and local Troy Morrow. While Mann and Meninger received the bulk of the pre-tournament hype, Morrow flew in under the radar. He's fishing deep and plans to turn pro next season.

Here's a look at the Top 6.

1. Brent Ehrler: 39-03
2. Cody Meyer: 38-11
3. Larry Nixon: 37-07
4. Kevin Hawk: 36-01
5. Ron Hobbs, Jr.: 35-03
6. Troy Morrow: 35-01

Mann was first out the cut in 7th, while Meninger nosedived with 7-05 and fell five spots to finish 9th. Both were emotional as they weighed in – barely able to speak amidst the disappointment.

Mann never got a big bite on day 1 and that was his undoing. Meninger said he came unbuttoned a little today under the pressure, but just as critical, he fished 5-pound line all week and it finally stung him today with lost fish. Meninger did have the fish on to advance, including two in the final hour, but couldn't convert.

Along with Meninger, Jason Christie was the only other angler to fall out of the cut today. Christie's a shallow-water guy who forced himself to fish deep this week, and said he takes away the satisfaction that he became a better, more rounded angler at this event.

Tomorrow's forecast is for bluebird skies, 95-degree air temps and a 5 mph east wind.

Ehrler Excited, Nervous

> Day 3: 5, 14-14 (15, 39-03)

Sometimes Ehrler seems cool under pressure. But it was clear that his adrenaline was pumping at today's weigh-in.

"What I'm most nervous about is the number of bites I'm going to get tomorrow and knowing there's the potential there (to win), but also knowing that it could not work, as well," he said.

"I actually kind of struggled today," he added. "It looks easy when you have five, but it took me all day. I was real fortunate to get around a couple of good fish. I know where there are some big ones left. Based on what I found I could see catching some real big fish tomorrow. I may not catch five, but I know where there are some big ones."

He considers a 4-pound bite to be "possible," and a limit to be "possible," but he also seems convinced it's "just as possible" he could catch one or two.

"I'm fishing deep and catching all spots," he noted. "I found a mix in a few areas and caught a few largemouths. My pattern is more spot (area) fishing. I'm just fishing stops. I'm just kind of going around and making as many stops as I can to try to get a few bigger fish. I'm only catching a few fish. It's not like I'm catching a lot. I found them in select areas and I'm having to rotate through them."

When asked what it would feel like to be the first two-time Cup champion, he said: "It would be amazing. No one's done it twice. Believe me, I want to be the first. I want that more than anything."

2nd: Meyer Rallied Late

> Day 3: 5, 11-05 (15, 38-11)

Cody Meyer could feel his Top 6 berth slipping away out there, but he stuck with it and made a huge last-minute rally to stay right in the thick of it.

"I'm super-excited, but I'm just happy to have five," he said. "It was the same thing as yesterday – I had to fish bottom, and specific brushpiles. Today I didn't see any suspended fish that I thought I could catch. I had two bass at 1:30, and luckily in the last half-hour I caught three. Two were 3-pounders. For a while I didn't think I was going to have five.

"I really fished pretty calm and pretty good, surprisingly," he added. "I just had that attitude of, 'If it's your time, it's your time.' You can't really control it. I was very fortunate to catch five today."

He's well aware of who's ahead of him – "I have to fish against him all the time back home," Meyer said of Ehrler. But ultimately it's in Meyer's hands. He can't count on Ehrler to slip up.

"I have one island I plan to start on, then I'll just kind of run the same milk run," Meyer noted about tomorrow. "I know there are really big ones there. It's just a matter of getting them to bite. I feel like if I get five of the right ones to bite, I can win. If not, I still made the Top 6.

"It would mean everything to me to win," he added. "It's what I've worked my whole life for. It's what everyone dreams of. It would be amazing. Last year I had a shot and I'm just happy to have another opportunity. And who knows, maybe I can pull it off."

3rd: Nixon Working Five Areas Hard

> Day 3: 5, 11-05 (15, 37-07)

"I probably got a little too far behind today," Nixon said. "But you never know. This is bass fishing. If I get me a couple of the right bites tomorrow, I can still win. But I don't like being 2 pounds behind. I need a couple of good ones. I have a lot of good fish in my area. If I can just get five of those, with some good solid 3-pounders, I can win."

He had his best practice days on Saturday and Sunday, when boat traffic was most intense. That didn't repeat itself today, though. The boats were there, but his fish still haven't moved back up to where they were in practice.

"I don't know why those fish won't come back up," Nixon said. "It's like they moved out and they're staying out. I keep going back and trying that brush, but they never go and get in it. Now I have to search around way out, and it's really hard to pinpoint the fish. My co-angler got the same amount of bites as I did today. That tells you how slow I was fishing."

He added that he's fishing about 15 places, but he's fishing five of them "really, really slow." They're areas he has confidence in and where he sees activity.

He had this message specifically for his fans: "I'm going to do all I can to win tomorrow. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be."

4th: Hawk Slowed Down

> Day 3: 5, 11-02 (15, 36-01)

Hawk's fortunes may have dwindled, but he's still circling. He was the day-1 leader, then slipped to 5th yesterday, but won a spot back today. He trails Ehrler by a little more than 3 pounds.

"It feels awesome to make the cut," Hawk said. "It's really a special feeling. It makes all the decisions I've made and all the work I put in feel worth it.

"Today started out real well. I caught a 4-pounder right off the bat, and I thought that would set the tone for the day. But I struggled and only caught five keepers all day. It was just a long grind. Today I ran probably 40 to 45 spots. I slowed down a little from yesterday, when I spun out a little and fished too fast I think. I fished slower today and I feel it paid off for me."

What scares him is that his spots aren't replenishing. So he heads into tomorrow with an "anything can happen" attitude. Fish might show up on past areas, or he might have to run all new water.

"I'll go out and try to catch a limit and see what happens," he said. "I haven't yet decided where I'll start. I'll sit down tonight and look at a lake map and get an idea."

He's still fishing deep.

5th: Hobbs Got Chased Off

> Day 3: 5, 11-00 (15, 35-03)

In The Natural, Roy Hobbs was an unknown who came into pro baseball and became a fan hero.

Ron Hobbs, Jr. came to this year's Forrest Wood Cup as an unknown. With the right bites tomorrow, he could become a hero too.

He trails Ehrler by exactly 4 pounds. That deficit might have been 3 1/2 if not for a fish-care penalty today.

"This feels great," Hobbs said. "I'm super-excited because I'm going to be riding in a chopper." (Tomorrow's Top 6 get flown back to weigh-in). I wonder if they'll let me hang out the door."

He noted that his bite today was "a lot different." He only caught five keepers, but he also got forced off one of his prime spots.

"I had a guy in the best pocket I had," he said. "It was in the back of a creek. I caught a 4 1/2-pound spot back there an hour earlier, and a 3-pound largemouth the day before. Whenever I rested it, more fish moved in. He was sitting on his dock winging a Fluke across the creek. I asked him if I could fish through. He said, "Hell no – there's plenty of lake out there.'

"I said, 'Well, I thought I'd ask, maybe we could share it.' Then he got all mean with me – cussing and he wanted to fight me. I made two flips and got the heck out of there. I tried to be nice. I don't know what to do tomorrow. I think maybe I should take a bullet-proof vest with me."

Hobbs has fished shallow all week and he's throwing a 6" Zoom Magnum Shaky worm.

"I'm fishing stained water in the backs of creeks. All the bait's in there because of all the stain. When they have those thunderstorms, it stains up more, and I think that's when the big spots move in. There's lots of largemouths back there too. If you get a fish, it's usually a pretty good one."

6th: Morrow Realistic About Chances

> Day 3: 5, 12-11 (15, 35-01)

Morrow, who lives near Lake Hartwell on the eastern edge of Georgia, lost a 4-pounder this morning, which hurt.

His program involves dropshotting brush on hard bottoms. He scouted the brush and surrounding bottoms with an underwater Marcum camera during practice, he said.

"I'm the unknown," he added, in reference to the amount of press Mann and Meninger received. "I came from the BFLs, and I guess normally they don't expect the lesser guys to step up. But being this close to home, this is my open door – the one I need to step through and make it happen. To tell you the truth, it's probably better I wasn't a top pick.

"Of course I want to win," he added. "But I'm in 6th. Brent smoked them today. He's way out there. And this was my goal – a Top 6, and to go out and fish and have fun. So all the pressure's off tomorrow. I'll just go out and do what I do. Hopefully maybe they'll stumble and I'll move way up. Anything can happen. It's fishing."

He plans to fish the Tour next year, so he already recognizes that a Cup Top 6 is "big" for his career.

"I think now I'll go ahead and jump in with the big boys and see what happens. It looks really good for me next year. The second stop on the Majors is Hartwell, which is 5 minutes from my house."

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 30 anglers, 12 limits, 5 fours, 4 threes, 6 twos, 3 ones, no zeroes.

> Mann (7th) on missing the cut: "I had that little old slip the first day when I never got a good bite. I can't explain it. It just wasn't meant to be. I fished my heart out."

> Meninger (9th): "I wanted to win this thing. I lost four today – two in the last hour. I struggled all day. I was fishing suspended fish – casting a dropshot Jackall Crosstail Shad and letting it pendulum back to the boat."

> Jay Yelas finished 21st. In his BassFan Big Stick report, he talks briefly about what he should have done this week, and also weighs in on the Walmart news. To read his report, click here.

Day 3 Standings

1. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, Ca -- 5, 12-09 -- 5, 11-12 -- 5, 14-14 -- 15, 39-03

2. Cody Meyer -- Grass Valley, Ca -- 5, 14-03 -- 5, 13-03 -- 5, 11-05 -- 15, 38-11

3. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 5, 12-10 -- 5, 13-08 -- 5, 11-05 -- 15, 37-07

4. Kevin Hawk -- Ramona, Ca -- 5, 14-12 -- 5, 10-03 -- 5, 11-02 -- 15, 36-01

5. Ronald Hobbs, Jr. -- Orting, Wa -- 5, 10-14 -- 5, 13-05 -- 5, 11-00 -- 15, 35-03

6. Troy Morrow -- Toccoa, Ga -- 5, 10-14 -- 5, 11-08 -- 5, 12-11 -- 15, 35-01

The following anglers didn't make the cut and won't be fishing tomorrow:

7. Tom Mann Jr -- Buford, Ga -- 5, 9-06 -- 5, 12-13 -- 5, 12-07 -- 15, 34-10 -- $40,000

8. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, Ok -- 5, 14-08 -- 5, 10-09 -- 4, 8-00 -- 14, 33-01 -- $35,000

9. Jason Meninger -- Gainesville, Ga -- 5, 13-03 -- 5, 11-14 -- 3, 7-05 -- 13, 32-06 -- $30,000

10. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, Nc -- 5, 9-11 -- 5, 12-09 -- 5, 9-08 -- 15, 31-12 -- $25,000

11. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 5, 11-14 -- 5, 10-11 -- 4, 8-12 -- 14, 31-05 -- $20,000

12. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 5, 10-03 -- 3, 9-07 -- 5, 10-07 -- 13, 30-01 -- $20,000

13. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, Sc -- 3, 7-13 -- 5, 7-13 -- 5, 13-15 -- 13, 29-09 -- $20,000

14. Thanh Le -- Lake Havasu City, Az -- 5, 10-11 -- 4, 7-09 -- 5, 11-04 -- 14, 29-08 -- $20,000

15. Brian Travis -- Conover, Nc -- 5, 13-02 -- 5, 9-04 -- 4, 6-10 -- 14, 29-00 -- $20,000

16. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 5, 9-07 -- 5, 11-12 -- 4, 7-05 -- 14, 28-08 -- $15,000

17. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, Ar -- 5, 9-01 -- 5, 13-00 -- 2, 5-12 -- 12, 27-13 -- $15,000

18. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, Az -- 3, 4-09 -- 5, 10-07 -- 5, 10-09 -- 13, 25-09 -- $15,000

19. Randall Tharp -- Gardendale, Al -- 3, 8-08 -- 5, 11-12 -- 2, 3-12 -- 10, 24-00 -- $15,000

20. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 4, 7-03 -- 4, 8-09 -- 4, 7-12 -- 12, 23-08 -- $15,000

21. Jay Yelas -- Corvallis, Or -- 5, 8-11 -- 4, 8-00 -- 3, 6-06 -- 12, 23-01 -- $12,500

22. Jt Kenney -- Palm Bay, Fl -- 5, 14-06 -- 1, 2-15 -- 2, 5-02 -- 8, 22-07 -- $12,500

23. Keith Monson -- Burgin, Ky -- 5, 8-10 -- 5, 9-07 -- 1, 2-13 -- 11, 20-14 -- $12,500

24. Rusty Salewske -- Alpine, Ca -- 5, 11-08 -- 3, 4-13 -- 2, 4-02 -- 10, 20-07 -- $12,500

25. John Devere -- Berea, Ky -- 4, 5-15 -- 5, 9-02 -- 3, 5-00 -- 12, 20-01 -- $12,500

26. Justin Lucas -- Montevallo, Al -- 3, 5-15 -- 5, 8-15 -- 3, 5-03 -- 11, 20-01 -- $12,500

27. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 4, 7-13 -- 4, 7-13 -- 2, 3-07 -- 10, 19-01 -- $12,500

28. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Al -- 4, 6-06 -- 5, 8-05 -- 1, 3-08 -- 10, 18-03 -- $12,500

29. Jacob Powroznik -- Prince George, Va -- 5, 10-06 -- 4, 4-11 -- 2, 2-13 -- 11, 17-14 -- $12,500

30. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 4, 8-14 -- 3, 6-01 -- 1, 2-04 -- 8, 17-03 -- $12,500