Strader Strikes For 22-06 To Seize Day-3 Lead

By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor

Wesley Strader made 17 Forrest Wood Cups during his career on the FLW Tour. Over his 20-year stint with FLW, he built a reputation as one of the most consistent anglers in the pro ranks, banking more than $1.5 million in earnings and posting 17 top-10 finishes in Tour events.

While being consistent has its upside, Strader has one simple goal each time he competes: He wants to win. His only Tour victory came more than 16 years ago, at Lake Ouachita in March 2002 when it took 36-10 to win a four-day tournament.

He had that total beat after day 2 this week at Kentucky Lake. He then tacked on 22-06, the biggest stringer among the 50 competitors today, and surged up the leaderboard 10 places to take over the lead with a three-day total of 59-09.

He holds a 13-ounce edge over day-2 leader Skeet Reese, who stumbled with just four fish for 13-07 today to push his total to 58-12.

A native of east Tennessee, Strader has come close to winning on the Tennessee River before – he’s been 2nd at Lake Chickamauga twice – but to be in contention in just his third Elite Series event makes tomorrow a very important day in Strader’s mind.

“It would mean a lot (to win),” Strader said. “Being my first year over here, I guess it would solidify who I am as far as being able to compete. I want to win. I know winning isn’t everything, but you get very few chances at a win and I’d like to win this one.”

Strader’s was one of just two 20-pound bags caught today as the fishing got tougher for many competitors. Six of the anglers who started the day in the top 12 failed to record a limit and just three of them hung on to qualify for the final day.

Jason Christie kept up his consistent ways, catching 16-09 (his smallest stringer of the event) to slide up one spot to 3rd where he has 56-05. Boyd Duckett caught 17-15 to move up to 4th with 56-01 while Kelley Jaye notched his second 20-plus pound stringer (21-01) of the event to leap up 21 places to 5th with 54-14.

Here's a look at the op 12 entering the final day of competition, with deficit margin from Strader indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Wesley Strader: 59-09
2. Skeet Reese: 58-12 (0-13)
3. Jason Christie: 56-05 (3-04)
4. Boyd Duckett: 56-01 (3-08)
5. Kelley Jaye: 54-14 (4-11)
6. Brent Chapman: 54-13 (4-12)
7. Shaw Grigsby: 54-00 (5-09)
8. Fred Roumbanis: 53-13 (5-12)
9. Bobby Lane: 53-12 (5-13)
10. Mark Menendez: 52-10 (6-15)
11. Greg Hackney: 52-09 (7-00)
12. Josh Bertrand: 52-07 (7-02)

Others who made moves to earn a spot amongst the top 12 were: Brent Chapman (20th to 6th), Josh Bertrand (24th to 12th), Greg Hackney (15th to 11th) and Kentucky native Mark Menendez (14th to 10th).

The five anglers who relinquished their top-12 position after tougher days were Edwin Evers (5th to 26th), Chad Pipkens (6th to 27th), Skylar Hamilton (9th to 16th), Aaron Martens (10th to 20th) and Jordan Lee (12th to 47th).

With fish spread out across all phases of the spawn, the challenge today was deciding when to bail on one strategy in favor of the next, which was no sure thing itself. Even the leaders are uncertain of what they’ll find on Monday as several have relied on an early-morning shad spawn to lay the foundation for their daily stringers. Today, that pattern withered sooner than it had on the previous two days – likely the result of cooler temperatures Saturday night – forcing some to their secondary programs sooner than they’d hoped.

Sunshine will be in ample supply Monday with temperatures in the upper 70s and a slight breeze out of the northeast.

Strader Hopes to Hold On

> Day 3: 5, 22-06 (15, 59-09)

Strader says he’s catching his fish in a similar fashion to how he caught them when the FLW Tour visited Kentucky Lake in June 2016.

“The size is better this time,” he said.

He’s been focusing on the shad spawn in the morning, then targeting flooded water-logged bushes later on. Today, it was a challenge from the get go.

“I think the shad spawn is petered out,” he said. “It got cool last night and knocked that down. I was fortunate to get three this morning and then I went fishing after that. I’m fishing a little offshore, but it’s still connected to the bank for the first hour of the morning. The rest of the time I’m beating the bank.”

He’s confident about Monday, but saw what happened to some of the leaders today.

“When you’re in this position there’s only one other place to go if you don’t hold on,” he said. “I just need to get fortunate enough and get the bites I got today. I don’t know if it’s going to be a 4-pounder or a 2. It’s real inconsistent right now. I’ve been laying off some stuff, but I caught a couple out of it today. I don’t know if I can do it tomorrow. I’m going to play it by ear and if I see something I like, I’ll go fish it.”

2nd: Reese Still in the Mix

> Day 3: 4, 13-07 (14, 58-12)

Reese was victimized by the abbreviated shad-spawn window this morning, then couldn’t generate much action flipping bushes.

Still, he finds himself less than a pound out of the lead.

“The good news is it keeps me in position to have a shot at winning tomorrow, but I need to catch a big bag,” he said in a daily recap video posted to his Facebook page. “I need to have at least a 20-pound stringer to try to beat the rest of these guys. Overall, it was a long, painful day, but the good news is I’m still in contention, so hopefully I can figure it out.”

After his other key areas didn’t produce, he caught two out of the bushes using a Berkley Power Tube, according a B.A.S.S. press release.

“I knew the shad-spawn bite would be shorter for me today,” he said in the release. “I thought the fish might stay up a little longer in the dirtier water I was fishing, but they didn’t. I tried running my key stuff as fast as I could and as early as I could to try and capitalize on it, but I could only get two good ones.

“I couldn’t get bit again, so I just forced myself to get up there and start flipping bushes, which I hadn’t done the last two days. I got two doing it. I thought if I kept doing it, I could get five.”

3rd: Christie Thought He Was Done

> Day 3: 5, 16-09 (15, 56-05)

When folks log on to watch Jason Christie on Bassmaster Live tomorrow (cell signal permitting), he’s not sure they’re going to like what they’ll see.

“They’re going to see a guy that really doesn’t have a clue what’s going on and who is going to see what he can do to get a few bites going,” he said.

He finished today not really sure what he has left for tomorrow. He lost a big fish early on, but rebounded with a good one. A lengthy dry spell followed before he visited a spot he discovered last night while studying the lake map on his Garmin Active Captain app.

When he got in his boat this morning, the waypoint and track to the spot downloaded directly to his Garmin electronics so when it was time to call an audible, he had somewhere to go.

“It was a place I hoped nobody had been and it gave me four,” he said. “I ran around some more then went back and caught two more. I’m literally out of stuff for tomorrow so I’m just going fishing.”

When he checked in today, he was sure his tournament was going to be over. Based on the number of fish he’s caught, he said if this were a Major League Fishing event, he’d have been eliminated after the first round.

“I thought I had 15 pounds and didn’t think I’d make top 12,” he said. “To move up and have a chance to win, it feels good. My practice was not good. I had some bites, but nothing that would justify a top 12 or a chance to win. Things have changed a bit.”

4th: Big Bait Key for Duckett

> Day 3: 5, 17-15 (15, 14, 56-01)

After his flipping bite above the Interstate 40 bridge went away early on day 1, Duckett has been doing his damage on a backup pattern, heaving a jointed six-inch swimbait that bears his initials.

“I wish I’d done it all three days,” he said after making his first full-field top-12 cut since Winyah Bay in 2016. “It’s always good to be in contention. Catching keepers (tomorrow) won’t help any. I’m going to sling that bait and if I get five bites, they’ll weigh in the 20s. That’s the key.”

He’s focusing on main river channel points where pre-spawn females are suspending in 10 to 15 feet of water. Duckett said the BD Shad is designed run about 3 feet deep, but added, “they’re coming up to get it.”

He lost one in the 6-pound range early today that would’ve put him in or near the lead. He said the early morning was productive, but the balance of the day was a grind.

“Today was slick and sunny and I only caught them early and then it ended,” he said. “I had four keepers forever and didn’t catch my fifth until 2 o’clock, so if I get it done (Monday), it’ll have to happen early.”

5th: Sunny Forecast Suits Jaye Just Fine

> Day 3: 5, 21-01 (15, 54-15)

Jaye has had confidence in his jerkbait pattern all week. The only thing he needed to work in his favor was the conditions. With bright, sunny skies overhead today, he got back into contention and likes the look of Monday’s forecast.

“I feel pretty good about it,” he said. “I said all along all I needed was some sunshine and I would catch ‘em. I’m hoping to go out and get the same big bites as today. If I can capitalize, who knows what can happen.”

The clouds and rainy conditions on Saturday were not to his liking, but he caught enough to make the day-2 cut.

“On Friday, everybody caught them because I think that was the pre-frontal fish biting deal,” he said. “Yesterday, with the front here and the rain, it killed my bite. Today was sunshine and some wind and it’s really all I needed.”

He caught two big ones (a 5 and a 6 1/2) off a shad spawn this morning to lay the groundwork for his 21-pound stringer. He then jumped off another big one that would’ve potentially put him in the lead.

“I fished secondary points the rest of the day,” he added.

6th: Early Flurry Carried Chapman

> Day 3: 5, 19-05 (15, 54-13)

Chapman didn’t envision himself making marked weight gains each day after his practice session, but he’s excited about the potential on the final day after making his first top-12 cut since last year at Ross Barnett Reservoir.

“It’s been an amazing week to have such a bad practice and every day has gotten better for me,” he said.

He ran into a flurry bites right away this morning, targeting fish keying on spawning shad. He caught a limit quick and thought he could build on it, but he eventually had to transition to flipping bushes.

“Today it was really concentrated,” he said. “I made one pass down a key stretch and had six bites and I was thinking it’d get crazy, but I had only got one other bite the rest of the morning.”

His plan has been to catch a limit early, then spend the rest of the day flipping and hoping for a couple key upgrades.

“I struggled Tuesday and Wednesday, but I was able to put together a shad spawn deal and that gave me a place to start and catch a couple fish to alleviate the pressure before I went flipping,” he said.

He said the key Monday will be identifying when the shad spawn is starting to fade away.

“The last couple days when it’s been cloudy, they’d bite until 9 or 10 a.m., but today it was done at 7:30,” he said. “Knowing when to change will be the biggest deal for tomorrow. Considering the practice I had, I’m going to go have fun and do what I’ve been doing.”

27th: Confusing Day for Pipkens

> Day 3: 3, 8-09 (13, 47-03)

Pipkens had been combining a shad spawn along a couple of banks with targeting isolated rock piles that had held some big fish since practice, but today the isolated rocks didn’t produce in any measurable way. In turn, he dropped 21 places.

“I thought I was going to stroke ‘em,” he said. “I’d found about 25 isolated spots when it was calm. I threw at eight of them and got bit on seven of them. They’d be swimming off with my bait each time. I think they were pre-spawn. I thought I could catch them on those isolated pieces today.”

He had two main stretches that produced key fish repeatedly on Saturday, but after 3 1/2 passes through the waypoints today, he managed just three keepers.

“I thought it would be lights out. It was very confusing,” he said. “I tried to give myself a chance to catch 20 (pounds).”

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 50 anglers, 32 limits, 5 fours, 7 threes, 3 twos, 1 one, 2 zeroes.

> Bassmaster Classic winner Jordan Lee, who started the day in 12th, recorded a zero today after experiencing a mechanical issue and dropped to 47th. He said he had one keeper, but opted to throw it back.

Weather Forecast

> Mon., May 7 – Mix of sun and clouds - 76°/52°
- Wind: From the NNE at 5 to 10 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, TN -- 15, 59-09 -- 110
Day 1: 5, 19-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-13 -- Day 3: 5, 22-06

2. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 14, 58-12 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 23-11 -- Day 2: 5, 21-10 -- Day 3: 4, 13-07

3. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 15, 56-05 -- 108
Day 1: 5, 20-13 -- Day 2: 5, 18-15 -- Day 3: 5, 16-09

4. Boyd Duckett -- Guntersville, AL -- 14, 56-01 -- 107
Day 1: 4, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 24-00 -- Day 3: 5, 17-15

5. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 15, 54-15 -- 106
Day 1: 5, 22-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-14 -- Day 3: 5, 21-01

6. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 15, 54-13 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 5, 18-04 -- Day 3: 5, 19-05

7. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL -- 14, 54-00 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 19-12 -- Day 2: 5, 20-13 -- Day 3: 4, 13-07

8. Fred Roumbanis -- Russellville, AR -- 13, 53-13 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 17-15 -- Day 2: 5, 22-11 -- Day 3: 3, 13-03

9. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL -- 15, 53-12 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 20-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-02 -- Day 3: 5, 15-03

10. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 15, 52-10 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 16-00 -- Day 2: 5, 20-09 -- Day 3: 5, 16-01

11. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 15, 52-09 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 16-14 -- Day 2: 5, 19-09 -- Day 3: 5, 16-02

12. Josh Bertrand -- San Tan Valley, AZ -- 15, 52-07 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 20-02 -- Day 2: 5, 13-15 -- Day 3: 5, 18-06

The following anglers missed the cut and will not compete on day 4.

13. Ott DeFoe -- Blaine, TN -- 15, 52-06 -- 98 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03 -- Day 3: 5, 16-09

14. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 52-06 -- 97 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-07 -- Day 2: 5, 17-08 -- Day 3: 5, 18-07

15. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA 15 -- 52-02 -- 96 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-13 -- Day 2: 5, 17-01 -- Day 3: 5, 15-04

16. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 15, 51-15 -- 95 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-09 -- Day 2: 5, 19-08 -- Day 3: 5, 13-14

17. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 15, 51-06 -- 94 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-01 -- Day 2: 5, 14-10 -- Day 3: 5, 19-11

18. Chris Zaldain -- Laughlin, NV -- 13, 50-15 -- 93 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 24-03 -- Day 2: 3, 07-02 -- Day 3: 5, 19-10

19. Brandon Card -- Knoxville, TN -- 14, 50-12 -- 92 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-13 -- Day 2: 4, 14-06 -- Day 3: 5, 19-09

20. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 15, 50-08 -- 91 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 5, 22-07 -- Day 3: 5, 13-03

21. Fletcher Shryock -- Dennison, OH -- 15, 48-13 -- 90 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-01 -- Day 2: 5, 18-11 -- Day 3: 5, 15-01

22. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, KY -- 15, 48-12 -- 89 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-10 -- Day 2: 5, 17-05 -- Day 3: 5, 12-13

23. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 15, 48-08 -- 88 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-12 -- Day 2: 5, 17-10 -- Day 3: 5, 16-02

24. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 15, 47-14 -- 87 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-08 -- Day 2: 5, 15-10 -- Day 3: 5, 16-12

25. Jacob Wheeler -- Harrison, TN -- 15, 47-07 -- 86 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-13 -- Day 2: 5, 14-15 -- Day 3: 5, 13-11

26. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 14, 47-06 -- 85 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-06 -- Day 2: 5, 19-12 -- Day 3: 4, 08-04

27. Chad Pipkens -- Lansing, MI -- 13, 47-03 -- 84 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-15 -- Day 2: 5, 19-11 -- Day 3: 3, 08-09

28. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, SC -- 15, 46-15 -- 83 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15 -- Day 3: 5, 14-10

29. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 15, 46-08 -- 82 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-15 -- Day 2: 5, 16-06 -- Day 3: 5, 12-03

30. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 14, 46-03 -- 81 -- $10,000
Day 1: 4, 13-05 -- Day 2: 5, 20-00 -- Day 3: 5, 12-14

31. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 46-02 -- 80 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-04 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08 -- Day 3: 5, 10-06

32. Alton Jones -- Lorena, TX -- 14, 46-01 -- 79 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-09 -- Day 2: 5, 17-07 -- Day 3: 4, 10-01

33. Brandon Palaniuk -- Hayden, ID -- 15, 45-15 -- 78 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-11 -- Day 2: 5, 15-12 -- Day 3: 5, 15-08

34. Seth Feider -- Bloomington, MN -- 15, 45-12 -- 77 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-12 -- Day 2: 5, 15-07 -- Day 3: 5, 15-09

35. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 15, 44-10 -- 76 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-12 -- Day 2: 5, 18-13 -- Day 3: 5, 12-01

36. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 15, 44-05 -- 75 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 19-11 -- Day 3: 5, 10-08

37. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 15, 44-03 -- 74 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-03 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13 -- Day 3: 5, 13-03

38. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- 15, 43-12 -- 73 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-11 -- Day 3: 5, 10-07

39. Matt Lee -- Guntersville, AL -- 12, 42-11 -- 72 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-07 -- Day 2: 4, 13-12 -- Day 3: 3, 09-08

40. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 13, 42-07 -- 71 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 20-00 -- Day 3: 3, 11-00

41. Randall Tharp -- Port St. Joe, FL -- 13, 42-03 -- 70 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-09 -- Day 2: 5, 15-04 -- Day 3: 3, 08-06

42. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 14, 41-14 -- 69 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03 -- Day 3: 4, 11-07

43. Alton Jones Jr. Waco, TX -- 13, 41-07 -- 68 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-04 -- Day 2: 5, 13-10 -- Day 3: 3, 11-09

44. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, AZ -- 13, 40-02 -- 67 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 16-07 -- Day 3: 3, 10-03

45. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 12, 39-01 -- 66 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 5, 17-09 -- Day 3: 2, 04-04

46. John Murray -- Spring City, TN -- 11, 37-09 -- 65 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-06 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03 -- Day 3: 1, 03-00

47. Jordan Lee -- Grant, AL -- 10, 36-14 -- 64 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 21-03 -- Day 2: 5, 15-11 -- Day 3: 0, 00-00

48. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 12, 34-02 -- 63 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-14 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13 -- Day 3: 2, 04-07

49. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 10, 33-14 -- 62 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-06 -- Day 2: 5, 20-08 -- Day 3: 0, 00-00

50. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 12, 33-12 -- 61 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-01 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13 -- Day 3: 2, 03-14