2016 FLW CUP Wheeler Lake Day 1: Cox Leads with 16-11lbs!

Canadians: Chris Johnston 25th, Jeff Gustafson 32nd, Cory Johnston 49th

by Rob Newell

FLW PRESS RELEASE

Cox being a river rat pays off with big limit as most struggle.
(Photo: FLW)

When it comes to bass fishing in the Southeast, August is a very mysterious month. Quality bass that were so plentiful in the spring and early summer seem to vanish during the dog days of summer with its simmering heat.

Similarly, when it comes to fishing the Tennessee River chain of lakes flowing through north Alabama, Wheeler Lake tends to be the most perplexing. It lacks the lush grass of Guntersville and the defined contours of Pickwick. That’s what makes the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart at Wheeler such an intriguing event.

On a scorching day one of competition, several pros were able to decipher the mystery and put together big bags, but only one was able to step ahead of the pack. John Cox of DeBary, Fla., leads day one with 16 pounds, 11 ounces and has nearly a 2-pound advantage going into day two.

Those who follow the Walmart FLW Tour are likely familiar with Cox’s overall fishing strategy: Use an aluminum boat to get into the hardest places to reach and fish for shallow-dwelling bass that escape the fishing pressure of other more easily accessible areas. Cox has made his strategy pay off with two other FLW Tour wins, including the second stop of the 2016 regular season at Lake Hartwell. Cox is at it again this week on Wheeler, grinding the “tin” as far up a creek as he can get to access untapped water.

TOP TEN BELOW

The 2016 FLW Cup Starts Today!

For the first time in FLW CUP history, there are three Canadians fishing. Good luck to Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson, Chris Johnston and Cory Johnston. The heat, lack of grass and limited current will all make fishing more difficult but the pros will catch them regardless. Get all the news and daily standings here.

2016 BASS Elite Wheeler Lake Day 1: John Crews Grabs Lead with 20 Pounds!

Crews rockets into lead.

By Bryan Brasher

BASS PRESS RELEASE

By nature, fishermen can be storytellers, and the top-shelf professional anglers that make up the Bassmaster Elite Series are no exception. Before the tournament began, the vast majority of the 108-angler field claimed the three official practice days were very unproductive — if not downright difficult.

It's standard procedure for tournament anglers to hold their cards close to their chest, especially during the days leading up to official competition. However, practice was certainly difficult for some at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake.

John Crews grabs lead as most struggle. (Photo: BASS)

Reality or a well-played bluff, all but eight anglers weighed five-fish limits of bass during the first round of competition on Wheeler. In all seriousness, effectively and consistently catching bass immediately following the spawn can be a difficult prospect as the fish are in need of recuperation. And, that is exactly what the anglers are faced with in in northwestern Alabama.

Bassmaster Elite Dixie Duel Wheeler Lake Day 4: Walker's Wild Win!

By Deb Johnson

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Jun 19, 2011

DECATUR, Ala. — Most David Walker fans automatically assume he’s won a major tournament in his career, and now they are correct. 

A win and a Classic spot; David Walker couldn't be happier!
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Amassing a Wheeler Lake catch of 63 pounds, 10 ounces the Sevierville, Tenn., pro took possession Sunday of the Bassmaster Elite Series Dixie Duel trophy, his first win in a premier circuit.

“I’ve fished a lot of them, and I hadn’t won one,” said Walker, 46, an experienced pro who made a name for himself on the FLW circuit before joining the Elite Series for the 2011 season. “I always felt like I was good enough to do it, and I feel like I’ve paid my dues. And why not a win?

“That was my slogan for the whole week: ‘Why not me?’ And here I am, talking about a win — I might be a little rusty on that topic,” he quipped.

Walker won $100,000 and a 2012 Bassmaster Classic berth, his primary goal in becoming an Elite pro. Because he also earned enough Toyota Tundra Bassmaster of the Year points for a ticket to the 2012 world championship, Walker reached his goal of returning to the Classic not once, but twice in one season.

 

Bassmaster Elite Dixie Duel Wheeler Lake Day 3: Bradley Roy Rolls to the Top

By Deb Johnson
BASS PRESS RELEASE

Jun 18, 2011



Roy shooting for a win.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

 DECATUR, Ala. — Bradley Roy of Lancaster, Ky., injected new life into his sagging season Saturday at the Bassmaster Elite Series season finale by bringing in 17 pounds, 10 ounces, and jumping four places into the lead with 50-5 over three days.
Roy’s big charge this week on Alabama’s Wheeler Lake started with a quiet 13th place on the first day. He made more noise on the second day by hitting fifth place. Saturday, Roy got everyone’s attention by whisking the lead from David Walker of Sevierville, Tenn., who fell to second place with 48-10, but still just 1-11 behind Roy.
“I feel like I’ve turned a bad season into a good one in one day. I’m determined, I need to win this,” said the 20-year-old Roy, the pro who made a quick name for himself in 2009 as the youngest pro to ever qualify for the Elite Series. He was just 18 at the time. He went on to become the 2010 Bassmaster Rookie of the Year.

Bassmaster Elite Dixie Duel Wheeler Lake Day 3 Mid Day Report

By Luigi De Rose

According to the stats on www.bassmaster.com it looks like fishing has been a bit slow. Saturday is a strange day on lakes that have water generation. Electricity demands from industry decrease so water movement through the turbines decreases. For anglers wishing for the current to jump start the bass activity, they might be out of luck. How many hours can you wait on a good spot waiting for it to turn on? Many leave with the hope of better fishing only to miss the peak activity on the place they just left. 

Tournament fishing is a game of decisions and this one is a dicey game.
Here are the unofficial stats from bass at 10am.

 

Place	Angler	Fish	Day Three	Total
1	Kevin VanDam	5	17-00	48-02
2	Ott Defoe	5	12-13	45-10
3	David Walker	3	7-03	42-06
4	Greg Hackney	4	7-04	41-09
5	Kelly Jordon	5	12-13	39-10
6	Timmy Horton	3	6-12	37-11
7	Skeet Reese	2	4-00	37-02
8	Randy Howell	5	9-14	35-13
9	Russ Lane	5	9-02	35-11
10	Keith Combs	4	8-08	34-06
11	Bradley Roy	2	1-06	34-01
12	Brent Chapman	5	9-06	34-00
13	Casey Ashley	5	9-11	33-13
14	Travis Manson	4	5-11	33-00
15

Bassmaster Elite Dixie Duel Wheeler Lake day 1 and 2 recap

What's going on!?
By Luigi De Rose

Sorry for the delay but here is a photo essay on the Wheeler Lake Tournament. Wheeler Lake is the last official stop on the 2011 Bassmaster Tour Season. Many anglers are killing themselves to finish high enough in the points to qualify for the Classic. Others have no chance and are just trying to cut a good cheque. Also, there is the very important Angler of the Year (AOY) race in full swing.

So, lets try and figure out what is going on. Wheeler is a TVA lake in Alabama and has current flow created by electrical power generation. Bass mood is effected and affected by the current. The weather is hot and bass should be in a summer time pattern but don't count on it; it has been a weak spring.

Many expect the cranking anglers to win and they might. Summer means off-shore cranking, big worms, a few jigs and even a spoon tossed in. This means KVD should be at the top of the standings but he isn't in the Top 5 but who cares when it seems that he'll win another AOY.

Thursday, which was Day 1 saw Ott DeFoe take the lead and on Friday, David Walker is sitting atop the leader board. Both are considered new to BASS but both are very seasoned anglers with a lot of talent. Each one wants to fish the Classic and it looks like they will finish well.  

This photo essay is courtesy of BASS photographers: Rob Russow, Seigo Saito, James Overstreet and Darrel Jacobson

Tim Horton and Kevn Wirth are sharing an off-shore spot. Sharing is the key work.

Horton battles a good one as Russ Lane watches.