2012 Forrest L. Wood Cup: Bucking the System!

Wheeler gets pasted by Yelas during Day 2 of the Cup
(Photos: FLW)

By Luigi De Rose

This year the FLW Cup is being held at the spotted bass capital of the world, Lake Lanier in Georgia. Spotted bass love the deep, fresh water during the humid summer. This translates to anglers hunting for deep brush piles teaming with bass. To catch them takes small worms or jigs. The western technique of doodling became entrenched with eastern anglers on this lake. Now, drop shotting is king. All predictions indicate that the winner will have a few deep water areas that will produce solid, consistent limits of spotted bass. Well, that might not be true.

Jacob Wheeler, who has lead both day 1 and 2 of this Cup is fishing shallow. Surprisingly, second place angler, Jay Yelas is also fishing shallow largemouths. One angler is a fluke, having the top two anglers doing the same thing is a winning strategy. It seems that as of Day 2, only Scott Martin is fishing exclusively for spotted bass.

Wheeler in the wood. 

This strategy of bucking the local school of thought is reminisce of Tommy Biffle's quest for the Bass Master Classic. On south east impoundments known for off-shore crankbaiting, Tommy had several Classic Championships slip through his fingers. As the pack cranked the bottom, Tommy pointed his boat far up river and flipped and pitched his Lunker Lure jig to wood. Actually, Jay Yelas won the 2002 Classic on Lay Lake fishing shore line cover as his rivals fished transitional summer time patterns.

Will history repeat itself? Will Wheeler and Yelas wash out like Biffle did when water levels ruined his best areas? Or, will bucking the system pay off? Wait and see.

2012 FLW CUP: Wheeler Still Leading Cup!

Illinois’ Krekovich Paces Co-Anglers
FLW Press Release

10.Aug.2012

Overcast skies and wind greeted anglers on the second day of competition. After weighing a massive 21 pounds, 15 ounces on the opening day of competition, Fatheadz pro Jacob Wheeler of Indianapolis, Ind., retained his lead after Day 2 by weighing a five-bass limit for 11 pounds, 12 ounces. Wheeler’s two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 33 pounds, 11 ounces gives him a 3-pound, 3-ounce lead heading into the third day of the tournament.

“I just never got that big bite,” said Wheeler, who won the Bass Fishing League All-American in 2011. “It was a struggle this morning to catch what I caught. I pulled into the area that I really thought was a good area where I caught three big ones yesterday and didn’t catch any good ones there today.”

Wheeler said he had only three fish at 1 p.m. He started to scramble, and managed to eke out seven keepers during the day.

2012 FLW CUP: Young Pro Take Lead with Largemouth

Hensley grabs top spot in Co-angler Division

09.Aug.2012

(FLW Outdoors Press Release)

DULUTH, Ga. – Forty-six of the best professional bass anglers from all over the world began their four-day battle for a top cash award of $500,000 at the Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart, the world championship of bass fishing, on Lake Lanier on Thursday.

Surprise Largemouth take big lead on day 1.
(Photo: David Hunter Jones FLW)

Fatheadz pro Jacob Wheeler of Indianapolis, Ind., weighed a five-bass limit for 21 pounds, 15 ounces to take the early lead in the tournament. Wheeler now holds an impressive 5-pound, 6-ounce lead over Straight Talk pro Scott Canterbury of Springville, Ala., who caught five bass weighing 16-9.

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Northern Open's Detroit River: Brian Metry's Battle Plan!

Brian Metry, of Michigan, was in firm control of the Bassmaster Northern Open on day 1 and 2. He brought outstanding limits of smallmouth and seemed likely to march on to a victory. Unfortunately, his boat failed him and day 3 was a mad scramble to secure another boat and then a winning limit. 

By the end of the tournament, Jason Christie, of Oklahoma, worked hard and earned the win. Muddled under the surprise victory of FLW touring pro Christie was the dominant pattern Metry ran to land over 62 pounds for 15 smallmouth bass. 

Brian needed the whole family to show off his giants.
(Photo: David Hunter Jones BASS)

Here is his own words on his pattern for the BASSMASTER Open on the Detroit river .

Denali Rod Fans

Denali Newsletter August 2012   Hey Denali Fans, hopefully the summer is going well and you are all catching a lot of fish. As you can tell, we have decided to bring back the monthly newsletter after a couple of hectic months and hopefully it's now here to stay. This month, you'll see news about the Denali anglers in the Forrest Wood Cup, The Denali High School Club winning the World Finals, and a new feature called "Denali Dream Destinations" where we ask a pro-staffer for their dream fishing vacation each month.

CSFL EASTERN TOUR: Farlow and Skreet Win Bay of Qunite

BAY OF QUINTE,   BUSTER ALYEA PARK, TRENTON – AUGUST 4, 2012

IBASSIN in Japan: Sneak a look at the local tackle store!

Here is a semi-illegal video I took of a local tackle store here in Wakayama, Japan. I'm not sure if I was allowed to video but I did. They have so many nice baits. Have a look at the video and see for yourself. I'll be doing a return trip. I have been to a few other stores, one super big one but it was packed due to a sale and I didn't want to get the boot for pulling out the camera.