FLW FORREST WOOD CUP

Wheeler angling toward reel stardom

Ramie Colson of Cadiz, Ky., took over fi rst place in the FLW Forrest Wood Cup after weighing in five bass at 17 pounds, 4 ounces during Friday’s second round. Colson has a two-day total of 28-4.
Ramie Colson of Cadiz, Ky., took over fi rst place in the FLW Forrest Wood Cup after weighing in five bass at 17 pounds, 4 ounces during Friday’s second round. Colson has a two-day total of 28-4.

HOT SPRINGS -- Jacob Wheeler, the 2012 Forrest Wood Cup champion, stayed in position to be the tournament's first two-time winner by making the cut Friday to fish the third round today on Lake Ouachita.

Wheeler, of Indianapolis, finished the second round in third place by catching five bass weighing 10 pounds, 15 ounces to boost his two-day weight to 27-1. Ahead of him were Brad Knight of Cadiz, Ky., in second place (5/14-0, 28-4) and Ramie Colson, Jr. in first place (5/17-4, 31-1).

The top 20 pro anglers with the heaviest combined two-day totals will fish in the third round today, starting at 5 a.m., at Brady Mountain Resort and Marina. The top 10 anglers with the heaviest combined three-day weights will fish Sunday in the championship round. The winner will receive $500,000.

Also making the cut were Larry Nixon of Bee Branch and Stetson Blaylock of Benton. Nixon caught five bass weighing 12-2 for a two-day total of 21-7 is 12th. He was assessed a 4-ounce penalty for weighing in a dead bass. Blaylock caught five bass weighing 9-7 for a two-day total of 20-0 in 16th.

Sunny Hawk of Salt Lake City, Utah, won the co-angler championship and $50,000 Friday by catching three bass that weighed 6-5 for a two-day total of 19-11.

For the pros, Colson dominated the second round with a blockbuster day that included a 5-pound, 4-ounce largemouth that he caught at about 2:30 p.m. However, that fish was a blessing that he said he can't count on duplicating.

"If I hadn't had that fish I'd still be in the top 20, but that's a key fish," Colson said. "As far as catching the same kind of stringer again, I don't see that happening."

Colson said if he can catch 12-13 pounds a day for the next two days, he has an excellent chance of winning.

Knight has been consistent, but he said he's caught all of his fish in one spot. If that spot continues to produce, he said he'll be fine, but that spot also has potential upside.

"I feel good about it," Knight said. "I'm fishing the way I feel really comfortable. I made the right moves. You hope the bites you get are big ones instead of little ones, but that's something you can't control."

Lacking a fallback plan is advantageous, Knight said, because he's not tempted to be flighty.

"You would think it would be really tough with $500,000 on the line, but I have nowhere else to go," Knight said. "My mind's not spinning out on do I need to leave and run here and run there. That's home for me, so if it happens, that's where it's going to go down."

Wheeler was around the fish to put himself within ounces of Colson, but he lost a 4-pounder that hurt. Ron Wong, a Memphis-based journalist, saw Wheeler lose that fish and another in the 3-pound range.

"If I'd have caught those fish, I'd be as fine as frog hair now," Wheeler said. "I made the right decisions. I got the bites. I just didn't capitalize."

Wheeler was stationed in water that was about 70 feet deep casting a Storm Top Walker over 40-foot-deep water. There was no apparent cover nearby, but suspended fish came up to hit the bait on the surface.

"When they go down, I've got to figure out how to catch those fish," he said.

Nixon said after Thursday's first round he was going to quit bothering with big fish and fish the way he likes. He delivered and finished the second round in 12th place.

Six of the top 10 anglers finished the second round with less weight than they caught the first day. Nixon's weight increased his weight by 2-13. If that trend continues, he has an excellent chance to finish the third round high in the top 10.

"It feels good to make a rally, especially after yesterday [Thursday]," Nixon said. "Yesterday was a struggle. I didn't have one until after 11:30, and I made a pretty good recovery to catch a limit after that. So I'm hanging in there."

Blaylock said he came to Lake Ouachita to win, but his areas haven't produced the quality of fish he needs. Now he said his goal is to finish as high in the top 10 as he can.

"To make the top 20 after the struggle I've had the last two days is super exciting," Blaylock said. "I don't have it figured out, but to be able to beat enough guys to make it in gives me enough confidence and enough drive to go out there again.

"I really want make that top 10 and be there on Sunday."

Sports on 08/22/2015

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