Pro angler Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 14 pounds, 8 ounces to extend his lead on day three of the Walmart FLW Tour at the Potomac River presented by Ranger Boats. The tournament now heads into the fourth and final day of competition and the field is cut to the final 10 in the four-day event, hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, that featured 142 of the best bass-fishing anglers in the world casting for the top cash award of up to $125,000.
Wendlandt’s three-day cumulative weight of 47-2 extended his lead to 3 pounds, 12 ounces over second-place angler Adrian Avena of Vineland, New Jersey, who has a three-day weight of 15 bass totaling 43-6.
“Today I focused on two key areas that I’ve been hitting all week,” said Wendlandt, who is seeking his first win on the Walmart FLW Tour since 2001. “I’m keeping things fairly simple and just trying to grind it out as much as I can.
“I arrived at my first area and caught three keepers before 10 a.m.,” continued Wendlandt. “That’s when I began to experience engine trouble. It wasn’t long before I was stuck out there.”
Wendlandt planned to use his trolling motor to scrape together whatever he could for the day and get an early tow in back to the marina. However, fellow competitor Shinichi Fukae, who was fishing at a nearby location, in a tremendous showing of sportsmanship offered to let Wendlandt use his boat for the remainder of the day – a decision that would guarantee Fukae a zero for the day and a 20th-place finish.
“It’s probably one of the greatest acts of sportsmanship I’ve seen in my time bass fishing,” Wendlandt said. “We’re all out here competing for a lot of money so for him to do that really shows his true character.
“After switching boats I was able to move around in my areas more freely and ended up catching four more bass,” said Wendlandt.
Wendlandt said he caught eight keepers in less than two feet of water over the course of the day using two primary baits.
“I’m really not sure how I’m going to fish tomorrow,” said Wendlandt. “It’s going to be interesting because of the amount of rain we’re getting. All I know is that I’ll be returning to my main areas.”
The top 10 pros advancing to the final day of competition on the Potomac River are:
1st: Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas, 15 bass, 47-2
2nd: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 15 bass, 43-6
3rd: Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md., 15 bass, 42-1
4th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 42-0
5th: Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 15 bass, 40-14
6th: Darrel Robertson, Jay, Okla., 15 bass, 40-8
7th: John Voyles, Petersburg, Ind., 15 bass, 39-7
8th: Larry Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark., 15 bass, 39-6
9th: Randy Haynes, Counce, Tenn., 15 bass, 39-3
10th: Jim Moynagh, Carver, Minn., 15 bass, 39-2
Finishing in 11th through 20th are:
11th: Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas, 15 bass, 38-2, $11,269
12th: Scott Wiley, Bay Minette, Ala., 15 bass, 37-11, $11,269
13th: Rusty Trancygier, Hahira, Ga., 14 bass, 37-5, $11,269
14th: Ishama Monroe, Hughson, Calif., 15 bass, 36-12, $11,269
15th: Barry Wilson, Birmingham, Ala., 15 bass, 35-9, $11,269
16th: Scott Canterbury, Springville, Ala., 14 bass, 34-9, $11,269
17th: Blake Nick, Adger, Ala., 13 bass, 34-2, $11,269
18th: Jason Lambert, Pickwick Dam, Tenn., 13 bass, 32-14, $11,269
19th: Michael Wooley, Collierville, Tenn., 13 bass, 31-1, $11,269
20th: Shinichi Fukae, Palestine, Texas, 10 bass, 26-1, $11,269
A complete list of results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
