2018 FLW Tour Lake St. Clair Day 3: Dylan Hays Vaults into Lead with 72-03lbs!

Chris Johnston drops to 14^th. 

by Sean Ostruszka

FLW PRESS RELEASE

Drop shot and tube key for Hays.
(Photo: FLW)

Lake St. Clair is a massive body of water, yet it seems one stretch along the southern Canadian side is where everyone’s focus will be on Sunday.

Dylan Hays, Chad Grigsby and Brad Knight are all fishing within sight of one another, with Hays and Knight essentially sharing the same area. In first, Hays put 22 pounds, 6 ounces in the boat to get up to a total of 72-3. Slipping slightly, Grigsby is just 15 ounces back in second. Busting 25-5, Knight moved up to third and is less than 2 pounds off the lead.

“Basically, one of us is going to bring in 24 to 25 pounds tomorrow between the three of us,” says Hays. “And whoever does is going to win.”

While the tournament set the two-day FLW record for most weight weighed in, there have been only four 24-plus-pound bags. All of them have been caught by the top three. Grigsby did it day one and day two. Hays also did it day two, bringing in the heaviest bag of the event at 26-7. Today it was Knight with 25-5.

Combined, the three have brought in 213 pounds, 13 ounces of fish from the area. If that isn’t ridiculous enough, all three say they haven’t laid into their best places as hard as they can, and all three say they’ve lost some giant fish that could have pushed their weights higher.

For now, Hays holds the lead, something the second-year pro has never done at an FLW Tour event. Yet, as excited as he is, day three was his worst day of the tournament thanks to losing some really big fish.

“The area has the quality to make up for losing big fish, but if I’m to win it I’ll have to keep them all buttoned up tomorrow,” Hays says. “I wish I had today, because it would’ve been nice to have more than a 15-ounce cushion.”

Top 10 pros

1. Dylan Hays – Sheridan, Ark. – 72-3 (15)     

2. Chad Grigsby – Maple Grove, Minn. – 71-4 (15)       

3. Brad Knight – Lancing, Tenn. – 70-6 (15)      

4. Scott Dobson – Clarkston, Mich. – 68-10 (15)           

5. Bryan Thrift – Shelby, N.C. – 66-2 (15)                 

6. Todd Castledine – Nacogdoches, Texas – 65-10 (15)    

7. Ryan Chandler – Hebron, Ind. – 64-0 (15)

8. Cody Hahner – Wausau, Wis. – 63-11 (15)

9. Joey Cifuentes – Clinton, Ark. – 63-7 (15)    

10. Jeremy Lawyer – Sarcoxie, Mo. – 62-15 (15)

FLW EverStart Northern Lake Erie (Eastern portion): Pre-tournament info

By Luigi De Rose

Mike Desforges All The Way!

The FLW EverStart Northern on Lake Erie is one day away. This year it is out of Buffalo, New York and the fishing should be good. The eastern portion of Lake Erie offers two distinct fishing environments; the big lake and the upper Niagara River. Both sections offer great fishing but only the main lake offers a chance to win. The place is smallmouth heaven. If you don't fish for brown then you're going down. 

Lake Erie is a bowl shaped area with not as much structure as one would wish for. Subtleties are the key to unlocking the smallmouth game here. Suspended bass are another technique that will win. Much more technically risky than dragging bottom, colossal bass hover off bottom. Kota Kiriyama won the last Bassmater tournament the last time the Elite anglers were in Buffalo fishing this way. So it can be done.

Techniques will not vary much. Drop shotting and dragging tubes (if the bottom is clean) are really the two best methods. This time of year is not great for big spinnerbaits, jerkbaits or even spoons. Finding the best schools of fish and being able to fish them well is the key to this tournament.

Weather is a huge factor; maybe the most critical factor in this tournament. The eastern portion of Lake Erie offers no shelter from pounding wind and waves. You could duck into the River, but your chances to consistently doing well drops dramatically. 



Gaspare Costabile another top Pick.

Big players will be mostly Canadians again. The taste of blood is in everyone's mouth and they're out for more trophies. 

My pick is simple. Mike DesForges all the way. He has won many times from Buffalo and he is simply the man out there. Not sure if he is fishing, the pairing is not up yet, is Gaspare Costabile. He is a local and had several near misses on Lake Erie with American tournaments. He is another easy pick.