2016 Walmart FLW Beaver Lake Day 3: Scott Canterbury is King of the Day!

Gustafson finished 11^th.

by Rob Newell

FLW PRESS RELEASE

After weighing in 14 pounds, 6 ounces on day three of the Walmart FLW Tour presented by Jack Link’s on Beaver Lake, Quaker State pro Scott Canterbury finds himself in a precarious position: the tournament leader. This is a bit disconcerting for Canterbury because after nine years on Tour, he has not been able to close out on a win. He has been close and has finished in just about every spot in the top 10 except first – including two runner-ups in the Forrest Wood Cup.

Scott leaps into lead as tournament goes into final day. (Photo FLW)

Canterbury has been here before – it’s unnerving, but familiar territory for him. With only a 1-pound, 4-ounce lead going into the final day, he his well aware of the problems pursuing him in the rearview mirror.

“I’ve got the best in the world behind me – Mr. Beaver Lake, Matt Arey, and the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all time) himself Andy Morgan,” Canterbury says. “Then there is Jeff Sprague who as been catching them every day. I can’t catch less than 15 pounds tomorrow and have shot at it. The lake is fishing too well right now. So all I can do is just go out there, go fishing and do the best I can.”Canterbury’s three-day total for the event is 45 pounds, 7 ounces. He has accrued most of that with a high-speed pitching technique that involves making more presentations in a day than anyone else and doing it on water that he has never fished before.

“Four of the five I weighed in today came from brand new places,” Canterbury says. “I have one spot that has produced a good fish every day. Obviously, I’ll hit that again tomorrow and maybe a couple of other little sweet spots, but other than that, I want to stay in water that is fresh to me.”

If it sounds like Canterbury is racing down the bank with no rhyme or reason, be assured there is a method to his madness. He has three flipping baits on the deck and each one is rigged, colored and weighted for specific types of banks and cover. He rotates between the three with a purpose.

“A lot of it has to do with the water color and how the banks fall off,” Canterbury says. “It may look random, but there is a rhythm to it that feels comfortable to me.

As for now, Canterbury says he plans to stick to the same program tomorrow.

“I tried to adjust some today, but it didn’t help me at all,” he adds. “I might change up and do something completely different – I’m subject to do that. But as of right now, I’m going to dance with the one who brung me, as they say.”

 Top 10 pros

1. Quaker State pro Scott Canterbury – Springville, Ala. – 45-7 (15)

2. Darrel Robertson – Jay, Okla. – 44-3 (15)

3. Keystone Light pro Jeff Sprague – Point, Texas – 44-0 (15)

4. Andy Morgan – Dayton, Tenn. – 43-15 (15)

5. Scott Martin – Clewiston, Fla. – 43-5 (15)

6. Chris Whitson – Louisville, Tenn. – 43-0 (15)

7. Quaker State pro Matt Arey – Shelby, N.C. – 42-2 (15)

8. Stetson Blaylock – Benton, Ark. – 41-4 (15)

9. JT Kenney – Palm Bay, Fla. – 41-0 (15)

10. Andrew Upshaw – Sapulpa, Okla. – 40-8 (15)