Potomac River Day 3 Coverage
Less than an hour left to fish
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2:00 p.m.: 45 minutes until check-in time, and Wendlandt looks to be in control
Clark Wendlandt is hard at work putting together what he hopes will be his fourth career Walmart FLW Tour win and his first since 2001. Wendlandt's marshal estimates that the Texas pro has 13 to 14 pounds in the livewell, but what an up-and-down day he has experienced. Wendlandt's boat broke down this morning, but before he could be towed in, Wendlandt was benefitted from the charity of Shin Fukae. Fukae traded boats with Wendlandt so the tournament leader could continue to fish. Fukae then received a tow back to the ramp in Wendlandt's boat.
The top 10 is going to end up incredibly close. And just ounces will be the difference in making it or going home. The top 20 have to check in at 2:45. You can see them weigh their fish at 4 p.m. ET on FLW Live at FLWFishing.com. We'll also be crowning an Angler of the Year.
1:00 p.m.: Wendlandt and Avena charge ahead
Clark Wendlandt might have experienced some misfortune this morning, but he's back on track now. He filled his limit and has 13 to 14 pounds in the livewell.
Behind him, Adrian Avena is making a charge. He culled up to 12 1/2 pounds. Those are your unofficial leaders, as the last report we had on Bryan Schmitt is that he still didn't have a limit.
Scott Martin is on fire today too. He has 13 and change, which will get him into the top 10 cut.
11:10 a.m.: Scott Martin is in the zone
It isn't official yet, but Scott Martin is about to become the 2015 Walmart FLW Tour Angler of the Year. He just landed a 4-pound kicker that pushed his limit up to about 13 pounds. Now, he's not only going to finish above the 19th-place spot that he needed to reach to win AOY, but he's in contention to win this tournament.
We'll make it official at 4 p.m. ET at the day-three weigh-in. Check it out on FLW Live.
Adrian Avena is also in contention again. He has a shade over 11 pounds. Jim Moynagh has 10-plus following a flurry that produced five keeper bites in a window of about 20 minutes. John Voyles and Larry Nixon have also caught quite a few keepers. Nixon has about 11, while Voyles is at 9 pounds.
Bryan Schmitt has about 8 pounds, and Andy Morgan has reached double-digits. You can expect some shake-ups at weigh-in today.
10:20 a.m.: Shin saves Wendlandt's day
It's not often that a professional angler would sacrifice his entire day of fishing to give another competitor a chance to beat him, but that's more or less what Shin Fukae just did for Clark Wendlandt this morning. Wendlandt is having mechanical issues and hasn't been able to run. He was still fishing, but he was already planning to be towed back in early. Fukae happened by, and after he heard of Wendlandt's plight, offered to swap boats with the Texas pro so he can get back on track. They're swapping tackle right now.
Fukae, who has no fish in the livewell and is in 16th place, might have just saved Wendlandt's bacon – and his chances of winning his fourth Tour title. Wendlandt is in first place.
What a classy act by Fukae. Maybe Wendlandt will take him out to dinner tonight to thank him!
9:30 a.m.: Nixon and Voyles have limits; Wendlandt with boat troubles
Tournament leader Clark Wendlandt is having mechanical issues. He might have to be towed in, which is really going to cut into his fishing time. That would leave the door open for someone to snatch away his lead.
John Voyles and Larry Nixon are the first two pros to land limits. Neither has all that much weight though.
ChatterBaits, swimbaits and other swimming lures are popular this morning as the topwater bite isn't happening in the rain.
It looks like there's a brief break in the precipition coming soon. That'll be a nice change for our media crew, though the rain is forecast to pick up again by weigh-in so it won't be much of a break.
8:30 a.m.: Slow and steady action for the field, Martin sewing up AOY
Just about all of the top 20 pros are catching fish, and they're all about the same size. No kickers have been landed yet.
John Voyles is the first one to have a limit – about 8 pounds. Interestingly, the limit includes four smallmouths. How cool is that?
Scott Martin is starting strong as well. He has three keepers for about 8 pounds and is close to sewing up the AOY title.
It's actually raining harder now. The main river is a really rough too. Today, Mother Nature is going to test the anglers all day long.
7:30 a.m.: It's raining, it's pouring …
Day three of the Walmart FLW Tour event presented by Ranger Boats on the Potomac River is certainly not a great day for angler creature comfort. A steady, soaking rain fell all through the takeoff ceremony and is still falling, plus there's enough wind to stir up a rough chop on the main river. It's a bad day for shooting photos, but that doesn't mean the fishing won't be good. The wind is a little concerning though. It's blowing upriver and could hold up the outgoing tide long enough that the best windows of activity will be delayed.
For now, stay tuned to the live OTW feed because this top 20 is packed with some of the best anglers in the history of the Tour, and we'll crown an AOY champion today.