SOMERSET, Ky. (April 8, 2017) – Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, padded his lead Saturday at the FLW Tournament at Lake Cumberland after bringing a five-bass limit totaling 14 pounds, 10 ounces to the weigh-in stage. Wendlandt’s three-day cumulative total of 15 bass weighing 50 pounds even is enough for him to hold the No. 1 seed heading into championship Sunday when the final 10 pros will cast for a top cash award of up to $125,000.
“It was a struggle out there today, I only caught six keepers,” said Wendlandt, a 17-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier who has amassed more than $2 million in earnings in FLW competition. “I’m targeting smallmouth and had a good day in terms of the amount I caught, but there were a lot of short fish in the 17-inch range. Catching those big ones over 18 inches is hard right now.
“I think I have the best chance to win targeting smallmouth,” continued Wendlandt. “The fish I’m on are mostly prespawn. A few may be spawning, and sight-fishing may play a role tomorrow but it hasn’t for me yet. I think I saw one on a bed today, but it left. If I see one tomorrow, I’ll go after it.”
Wendlandt’s limit Saturday was made up of multiple species – four smallmouth and one largemouth bass.
“I have two main patterns and I’m rotating between two different baits,” said Wendlandt. “I’m mostly in creeks, but I’ve got a few main-river places I’m hitting as well. I probably moved 15 to 20 times today.”
Wendlandt said he plans on spending his final day on the water fishing like he has the entire event – loose.
“When you plan your day out too much it stifles any creativity and intuition you may have out there,” said Wendlandt. “This lake is big, and I don’t know where I’m pulling up to. I’m just going to fish and when I think it’s time to move, I’ll move. I think there’s something to be said of anglers who have the ability to adjust no matter what their original plan was.”
The top 10 pros advancing to the final day of competition on Lake Cumberland are:
1st: Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas, 15 bass, 50-0
2nd: Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 15 bass, 46-5
3rd: Barry Wilson, Birmingham, Ala., 15 bass, 45-4
4th: Terry Bolton, Paducah, Ky., 15 bass, 44-15
5th: Casey Scanlon, Lenexa, Kan., 15 bass, 44-11
6th: Scott Canterbury, Springville, Ala., 15 bass, 43-7
7th: Cody Meyer, Auburn, Calif., 15 bass, 43-6
8th: Chris McCall, Palmer, Texas, 15 bass, 43-4
9th: Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, 15 bass, 42-14
10th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 15 bass, 42-6
Finishing in 11th through 20th are:
11th: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., 14 bass, 41-8, $12,000
12th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 15 bass, 41-5, $12,000
13th: Cody Bird, Granbury, Texas, 12 bass, 39-8, $12,000
14th: Shinichi Fukae, Palestine, Texas, 14 bass, 38-10, $12,000
15th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 38-10, $12,000
16th: Bill Day, Frankfort, Ky., 14 bass, 38-6, $12,000
17th: Shane LeHew, Catawba, N.C., 15 bass, 37-12, $12,000
18th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie Mo., 12 bass, 37-5, $12,000
19th: Gary Yamamoto, Palestine, Texas, 15 bass, 36-14, $12,000
20th: Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 12 bass, 33-7, $12,000
Overall there were 89 bass weighing 219 pounds, 11 ounces, caught by the 20 pros Saturday. The catch included 14 five-bass limits.