By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor


Jacob Wheeler didn’t let Friday’s disappointment carry over to Saturday, and now he’s hoping the momentum he regained today will lead to a historic coronation on Sunday.

The 24-year-old from Indianapolis put himself in position to become the first two-time Forrest Wood Cup champion with a 14-00 stringer that moved him back to the top of the leaderboard with 41-01 after 3 days of competition at Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Ark.

His lead is just 12 ounces over Brad Knight, who held onto 2nd with a 12-01 bag that boosted his total to 40-05.

“I was the hunter and now I’m the hunted,” Wheeler said after jumping from 3rd back to the lead. “I enjoyed where I was at because I knew I had to catch them. Some guys get too caught up in catching a couple bass that they wind up catching one or two. You have to fish to win. I’ll run around and fish some new water tomorrow and fish the conditions. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.”

If it does indeed happen, Wheeler will become one of the youngest millionaires in bass fishing. It won’t be easy, though, as the bass at Ouachita have been anything but cooperative. Just 11 of the 20 anglers today caught limits.

Ramie Colson Jr., who held the lead after catching the event’s biggest bag on day 2, came in with four fish today for 6-08 and slipped to 3rd with 37-09. Bryan Thrift made the strongest move up the standings with a day-best 14-03 that carried him six spots to 4th with 35-13. Brandon Cobb slipped one position to 5th as he caught 9-01 to give him 34-13.

Here's a look at the Top 10 entering the final day, with deficit margin from Wheeler indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Jacob Wheeler: 41-01
2. Brad Knight: 40-05 (00-12)
3. Ramie Colson Jr.: 37-09 (3-08)
4. Bryan Thrift: 35-13 (5-04)
5. Brandon Cobb: 34-13 (6-04)
6. Chris Baumgardner: 33-11 (7-06)
7. Scott Martin: 32-12 (8-05)
8. Larry Nixon: 32-10 (8-07)
9. Mark Daniels, Jr.: 32-01 (9-00)
10. Zack Birge: 31-05 (9-12)

The 10 finalists represent a good mix of newcomers to the Cup’s final day and those who are no strangers to the big stage. Knight, Colson and Cobb, along with Mark Daniels, Jr. and Zack Birge will get their first taste of the final-day hoopla while the other five finalists have been here before.

Birge caught 10-12 to move up from 13th to seize the final spot for Sunday with 31-05. Todd Auten dropped from 6th to 15th after catching just one today. David Dudley slid from 9th to 11th despite catching an 8-13 limit.

Thunderstorms bracketed the day on the water and cloudy skies were the norm in between, forcing some anglers to adjust their methods in order to trigger bites from fish that tend to scatter under overcast conditions.

Sunday’s forecast is calling for variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms and light winds from the West.

Wheeler’s Priority is Having Fun

> Day 3: 5, 14-00 (15, 41-01)

Wheeler can be considered a veteran of the final day at the Cup. This marks his fourth final-day appearance in five trips to the Cup and he intends to enjoy the experience Sunday.

“I just want to go out and have fun,” he said. “At this point, I’ve fished quite a few Forrest Wood Cups. I love this moment. This is what I live for. I love to get out there and have a lead going into the final day, even though it’s a slim lead.

“If I can catch 12 or 13 pounds, I’ll have a good shot. If I can catch 14 or 15, I might be able to win. I love what I’m doing. I’m probably the most confident with what I’m doing. I’m just excited to get out there.”

His main tactic so far has been targeting schooling fish with topwater baits and sampling nearby brush piles when the surface activity ceases.

“I know all the little nuances,” he said. “I know when to throw this and when to throw that. That’s why I catch them really good on it because I understand it. That’s the thing I understand better than anything.

“I love being able to throw a topwater. I know under what conditions they’ll bite this and under what conditions they’ll bite that. I have six or seven topwater baits on the deck that I can use if they’re schooling that I can utilize and make it happen every day.”

He knows his lead is small, but he’s not going to worry about those chasing him in the standings.

“These guys are so good,” he said. “Brad Knight’s an unbelievable fisherman. The whole Top 10 is good. Anybody could win this thing. You have Thrift back there sneaking around. He could catch a giant bag. He’s probably the one guy I didn’t want to make the Top 10. He catches them every time. Somebody’s going to catch a good bag tomorrow. It’s just about who it is and who can get that big bite.”



BassFan
Photo: BassFan

Brad Knight eases a fish around his trolling motor on Saturday morning.

2nd: Knight Still Sharing

> Day 3: 5, 12-01 (15, 40-05)

Knight, who hadn’t made a Top-10 cut in his seven years on Tour before this week, continued to share an area with Mark Daniels, who made the cut in 9th, and sensed today that the combination of fishing pressure and spectator boats in the area is starting to put a damper on things.

“Mark hasn’t done a lot of damage by catching big bags out of there, but just the traffic is crazy. I could tell a big difference today in the toll it’s starting to take,” he said. “What makes me feel really good about it is in the last 15 minutes, I culled once for ounces and caught my second-biggest one on the last cast of the day off a piece of wood that I know that he and I probably fished a combined 20 times.”

All of the fish he weighed in today were caught on a dropshot. His buzzbait pattern is starting to wane, but he’s not giving it up yet since it’s his best big-fish tool at this point.

“I know there are a lot of fish around there, but it’s all about pulling up when one’s there,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. You have to have good fortune and have something good happen to you in order to win one of these deals. All you can ask for is to be in the hunt going into the last day. I’m sitting right where I need to be at and it’s going to come down to the guy who gets that 4-pounder versus a 13-incher.”

Knight said the thought of winning the Cup brings chills to his body.

“Holding the big check and the trophy and confetti falling, that’s all for magazine covers,” he said. “To me, winning this deal means I can put my daughter through college and at 33 years old, I can go to the bank and write a check to pay my mortgage off. Your life has changed. I’ve said this before about the Cup: Winning a Tour event is a career-changer. It’s a great feather in your cap. Winning the Cup is a life-changer. You can be 70 years old and your daily life functions will be affected by what would happen tomorrow if you were to win.”

3rd: Colson Bummed

> Day 3: 4, 6-08 (14, 37-09)

Colson faces a deficit of 3 1/2 pounds on the final day and he’s pretty sure he had a fish on this afternoon that would’ve wiped that out, if not put him back in the lead.

“It was a good, decent fish, but it got off,” he said. “That’s fishing. That’s part of it. I can’t complain. The first 2 days went flawlessly and then the weather came. Those clouds don’t help what I’m doing.”

Colson is targeting shallow brush piles with a big Texas-rigged worm and under sunny conditions, he says the fish group up and hold tighter to the brush. When it’s cloudy, they scatter.

“When they do that, I have to make more casts and I run out of time to find them,” he added.

He caught five fish all day, but only four were keeper length. Still, he believes he has a shot to win.

“It’s doable on this lake,” he said about making up the 3 1/2-pound deficit. “I think they’re still there. I have nothing else to do so there’s no sense changing now.”

4th: Big Ones Show Up for Thrift

> Day 3: 5, 14-03 (15, 35-13)

Thrift has been catching a couple dozen fish per day, but nothing of significant size until today.

Anchored by a 4-pounder, Thrift’s stringer thrust him into contention and clinched a fourth straight Top-10 finish in the Cup.

“My game plan the whole time has been to secure a limit in 3 to 4 hours and leave 4 hours to fish shallow and catch big ones,” he said. “It hadn’t worked out until today as far as catching big ones.”

He’s had three straight double-digit days – he’s one of three finalists with that distinction – so he’s concerned that he’s due for a letdown.

“I’m bound to screw up at least one day,” he joked. “I’ve caught a limit each day and this is Ouachita in August.”

His morning fish have come on a Damiki DC-300 crankbait, Texas-rigged plastics and a Damiki Anchovy Shad swimbait. The Damiki Rambler walking bait and a buzzbait have accounted for his topwater fish.

BassFan
Photo: BassFan

Ramie Colson, Jr.'s day got off to a good start, but he never finished his limit.

5th: Cobb Committed to Topwater

> Day 3: 5, 9-01 (15, 34-13)

Cobb had no idea what to expect this week, especially when he decided to focus on fish relating to shallow grass.

“The way I was fishing, I didn’t have any expectations because there’s no telling,” he said. “Half of the time, I’m fishing stuff I’ve fished before and the other half I’m running new water.”

He slung a Zoom Horny Toad all day and following a slow morning, he culled twice between noon and check-in.

“I know when I’m fishing when it looks good and when I think I’m going to get a bite,” he said, “but you can’t really tell until you’re actually fishing. When it looks a certain way I can get bites. Most of it seems to be entirely too thick. When it looks right to me, that’s when I can get a bite.”

He missed several fish today that would’ve bolstered his stringer, but he doesn’t feel completely out of it yet.

“(The leaders) would have to slip and I would have to have 16 to 18 to have a chance,” he said. “It’s doable. Today should’ve been my best day out here. I missed a bunch of fish, but so did a lot of people. That’s part of fishing. It, at least, lets me know there is potential to catch them again.”

6th: Baumgardner Going Big

> Day 3: 4, 8-01 (14, 33-11)

Chris Baumgardner’s weight fell off by 4 pounds from day 2 and he attributes that to the area he’s fishing getting depleted.

“It was tough today,” he said. “I’m starting to run out of fish. I’m just going to my back-up stuff and hope to catch five big ones.

“I was fishing in the back of a river and I think I just beat it up. Those fish don’t replenish back there. I might go back in there for an hour or so tomorrow. I hope I don’t have to because I don’t think I’ll catch much back there.”

His plan B area is a shallow-water place, but “it’s probably the best way to catch a big bag,” he said. “It’s also a way to come in with zero. We’ll go out there and be a hero or a zero. I’m going for the win.”

7th: Martin Staying Positive

> Day 3: 3, 8-03 (13, 32-12)

Despite a three-fish day that damaged his chances to take a run at becoming the first two-time cup winner, Martin feels like he’s around the kind of fish it’ll take to make up his deficit.

“I was nervous all day that I wasn’t going to make (the cut),” he said. “I wasn’t sure at all what those fish weighed. I had an opportunity for probably the biggest bag of the tournament. I had another one as big as my two big ones on and I fought him to the boat. I’d get him to the surface and try to get the net under him, but he’d go back down. He did it like four or five times and finally pulled off.”

He also lost what he called a 5-pounder this afternoon, meaning he had another 8 or 9 pounds get away.

“I had a bad day today as far as getting them in the boat,” he said. “I didn’t get a lot of bites and I’m not on a big, major deal, but I’m around some quality on one spot so if things happen, I’m around them.

“It’s the Forrest Wood Cup, so I’m going to think positive. I’m not wishing bad luck on anybody. Everybody except Jacob and Brad have had a bad day. There’s a chance that the guys who haven’t had a bad could have a bad day. I had mine today. I haven’t had a banner day yet.”

FLW
Photo: FLW

Bryan Thrift posted the heaviest stringer of day 3 to move into the Top 5 entering the final day.

8th: Tougher Day for Nixon

> Day 3: 4, 11-03 (14, 32-10)

The fishing is not getting any easier for Larry Nixon as the tournament progresses. His bite count has dropped each day and he says his flipping game has basically evaporated.

“There’s nothing easy about it out there,” he said. “It’s as tough as it can get. I was lucky to catch quality today. I thought I had plenty of water, but I figured out Friday afternoon that I had no water.”

He caught three solid keepers early today on a shaky-head, but could only muster one more bite the rest of the day. He’s not sure what tomorrow will hold, but’s he thankful he gets another shot at Ouachita.

“After this downpour we had today, a lot of things might change,” he added. “I just hope my area gives me two or three good bites. I want to win the Cup and I know my time is getting short, but I’m still here playing the game and there isn’t anything better than that. I’m still in it.”

9th: Daniels Staying Put

> Day 3: 5, 8-13 (15, 32-01)

Despite facing a 9-pound deficit to Wheeler, Daniels has no intentions of conceding the area he’s been fishing to Knight. They’ve been amicably sharing water for 3 days and he sees no reason to change now.

“I’m going straight to it,” Daniels said. “There’s plenty of fish in there. Brad has a sure chance to win it, but this is why it’s called competitive fishing. This is not a buddy tournament. We’ve been back there together each day. We’ve been sharing it and working together and I’m doing it no differently. I just hope I get bigger bites than what I’ve been getting. I wish him the best of luck. I hope he does well. I don’t have anything else to go do so I’m not going to lay off of it.

“He’s been getting to the best tree and stump first every day and I’ve been letting him have that because of his position and he’s been an early draw. I don’t press him for the first 30 minutes and eventually hemoves on a little bit and then I’ll ease in there and fish it. I’m going to do the same thing tomorrow.”

Daniels said the key to the area and catching fish off the timber is simply a timing deal.

“I fished one tree in there eight times today and finally caught a fish off of it on the last go-around,” he noted. “They group up in wolf packs and go chase bait, then they settle down and start setting back up on that cover. When they do that, you can pick off one here and one there.

“I’m stoked. I squeezed in there in 9th place. I’m happy to be there. I’m just going to put my head down and fish hard and try to catch five big ones.”

10th: Birge Staying the Course

> Day 3: 5, 10-12 (15, 31-05)

In Zack Birge’s mind, there’s no sense changing strategy at this point. He thinks the way he’s fishing gives him the best opportunity to tangle with bigger fish so on Sunday, he’ll be committed once again to throwing topwater baits.

“Today, I could’ve used a couple big bites, but I’ll take what I can get,” he said. “I’m going to do the same as I did today and just hope those big fish bite.”

His big fish today were 3-plus pounders. He’s been getting seven to eight keeper bites per day, focusing each morning on wood in one of the river arms. He caught three that way today. He has another area where wood is a big factor and a big-fish area down lake that carries better potential when the sun is out.

After winning $50,000 last fall at the Rayovac Series Championship, Birge finds himself in a position to take a run at a windfall 10 times that size.

“I’ll be fishing for a chance I’ve never had in my life,” he said. It’ll rattle you.”

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 20 anglers, 12 limits, 3 fours, 1 three, 3 twos, 2 ones.

Weather Forecast

> Sun., Aug. 23 – Scattered Showers/Thunderstorms - 91°/66°
- Wind: From the WNW at 7 to 12 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Jacob Wheeler -- Indianapolis, In -- 16-2 (5) -- 10-15 (5) -- 27-1 (10) -- 14-0 (5) -- 41-1 (15)

2. Brad Knight -- Lancing, Tn -- 14-4 (5) -- 14-0 (5) -- 28-4 (10) -- 12-1 (5) -- 40-5 (15)

3. Ramie Colson Jr -- Cadiz, Ky -- 13-3 (5) -- 17-14 (5) -- 31-1 (10) -- 6-8 (4) -- 37-9 (14)

4. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, NC -- 11-4 (5) -- 10-6 (5) -- 21-10 (10) -- 14-3 (5) -- 35-13 (15)

5. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 14-10 (5) -- 11-2 (5) -- 25-12 (10) -- 9-1 (5) -- 34-13 (15)

6. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, NC -- 13-8 (5) -- 12-2 (5) -- 25-10 (10) -- 8-1 (4) -- 33-11 (14)

7. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 14-6 (5) -- 10-3 (5) -- 24-9 (10) -- 8-3 (3) -- 32-12 (13)

8. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 9-5 (5) -- 12-2 (5) -- 21-7 (10) -- 11-3 (4) -- 32-10 (14)

9. Mark Daniels Jr -- Tuskegee, Al -- 12-15 (5) -- 10-5 (5) -- 23-4 (10) -- 8-13 (5) -- 32-1 (15)

10. Zack Birge -- Blanchard, Ok -- 10-14 (5) -- 9-11 (5) -- 20-9 (10) -- 10-12 (5) -- 31-5 (15)

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

11. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 9-15 (5) -- 11-12 (5) -- 21-11 (10) -- 8-13 (5) -- 30-8 (15) -- $15,000

12. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 8-8 (5) -- 11-5 (5) -- 19-13 (10) -- 10-8 (5) -- 30-5 (15) -- $15,000

13. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, Pa -- 8-14 (5) -- 11-8 (5) -- 20-6 (10) -- 9-6 (5) -- 29-12 (15) -- $15,000

14. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, Ar -- 10-9 (5) -- 9-7 (5) -- 20-0 (10) -- 8-3 (5) -- 28-3 (15) -- $15,000

15. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 8-15 (5) -- 15-14 (4) -- 24-13 (9) -- 1-6 (1) -- 26-3 (10) -- $15,000

16. James Biggs -- Euless, Tx -- 10-1 (4) -- 9-3 (5) -- 19-4 (9) -- 5-13 (5) -- 25-1 (14) -- $15,000

17. Luke Clausen -- Spokane, Wa -- 13-1 (5) -- 8-7 (4) -- 21-8 (9) -- 3-4 (1) -- 24-12 (10) -- $15,000

18. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 10-4 (5) -- 9-13 (5) -- 20-1 (10) -- 4-11 (2) -- 24-12 (12) -- $15,000

19. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Ca -- 15-0 (5) -- 4-12 (2) -- 19-12 (7) -- 3-6 (2) -- 23-2 (9) -- $15,000

20. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 10-10 (5) -- 9-5 (4) -- 19-15 (9) -- 2-14 (2) -- 22-13 (11) -- $15,000