Lake Travis Day 3 Coverage
We’re headed to weigh-in
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Top five patterns from day two
2:35 We’re headed to weigh-in
Weigh-in starts at 4 p.m. CT and the pros are due in at 3:30 – time is running out on day three. Our reporters are getting off the water now and we’re going to close down the blog for the remainder of the day. Next time we’ll get new information on how they caught ‘em will be when it’s time to bag up at Jones Brothers Park!
Tournament Details
Folgers Morning Takeoff: 7 a.m. CT at Jones Brothers Park, 10301 Lakeside Drive, Jonestown, Texas
Weigh-in: Thursday and Friday at 3 p.m. CT at Jones Brothers Park and 4 p.m. CT Saturday and Sunday at Jones Brothers Park.
FLW Expo: 12 to 4 p.m. CT Saturday and Sunday at Jones Brothers Park
FLW Live: Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. CT to 12:30 p.m. CT
2:28 Morrow adds a fourth
Troy Morrow’s fourth keeper isn’t anything special, but it’s probably going to assure that he makes the cut. The Georgia pro currently has about 10 pounds in the boat, which should have him fishing the final day.
2:15 Patek limits
Stephen Patek finally has his limit! After a long time throwing a swimbait, he picked up his Carolina rig and caught his fifth keeper. It isn’t big, but it bumps him up a little further into second place and should easily keep him in the hunt going into the final day.
2:00 Crunch time
The pros check-in at 3:30 p.m. CT today. It’ll take a little longer than usual to get back to weigh-in considering the wind and the pleasure boaters, but however you slice it they have a bit more than an hour to fish. Mark Rose just culled up by about a half pound (it won’t change the unofficial standings), and we’ve had some other catches pretty recently. The last hour or so might be pretty interesting.
1:45 Batts culls, Morrow hammers
Clayton Batts has culled up by about a half pound. He’s now into the low teens and ought to be good to make the cut if nothing goes too crazy.
Troy Morrow is also making up some ground. Though he only has three fish, his third was a 4-pounder caught off a bed. He is close to making the cut now for sure.
1:38 Rose update
We missed this in the blog earlier, but Mark Rose filed his limit about half an hour ago with a small keeper. He now has about 11 pounds on the day.
1:35 Thrift is on the prowl again
Bryan Thrift just culled his smallest with a 4-pounder. That brings his total for today up to about 12 pounds and give him a decent edge over the competition. As he is wont to do, he pulled it in on a jig skipped under a boat dock.
Down at the lower end of the lake the wind is really picking up. We could be headed toward some good fishing in the afternoon.
1:28 Morrow and McDonald
Troy Morrow just stuck a 2-pounder for his second fish of the day. Tim McDonald has three now, each is a good one (caught on the ol’ drop-shot) and his total is about 9 pounds. As it stands, neither of them have a chance at making the cut, but fishing has been slow since morning – one big bite could do it.
1:10 A couple of catches
Bill Smith Jr. just wrangled in his thrift fish of the day, a decent 2-pounder. Casey Scanlon pulled up a keeper on a drop-shot, giving him three for about 5 pounds.
Clayton Batts just culled up with a small keeper. He’s got around 13 pounds and is unofficially in ninth, up from 17th to start the day.
12:45 Wendlandt is culling
He’s dealing in ounces, not pounds, but Clark Wendlandt is culling. He’s back to the deeper game with the C-rig and just culled one out by the slightest of margins. Looks like his move may be paying off.
12:40 Wendlandt is on the move
Clark Wendlandt has been fishing up shallow up the river for most of the late morning, but now he’s burned down into the Pedernales. So we’ll see what happens – one more big fish could really make his day.
Bradley Hallman is still fishless, but he might not be for much longer. He’s working on a 4-pounder on a bed at the moment which could be a game-changer for him.
12:30 Welcome back!
Hey folks, welcome back from the inaugural FLW Live broadcast! We’re here for you the rest of the way, or at least until sometime past 2 o’clock or so.
On the fishing side of things, Bryan Thrift may have taken over the lead. He just culled up by about half a pound and he’s got 9 pounds in the livewell, just enough to nudge himself above Stephen Patek again.
12:15 Canterbury, Thrift and Lawyer get going again
Scott Canterbury’s second fish is a little one, but it keeps. Bryan Thrift added his fifth keeper and Jeremy Lawyer’s fourth is a little squeaker, but it keeps.
12:10 Nothing doing for now
Dylan Hays has caught a few fish that didn’t cull, but other than that he’s the only one catching them at the moment. Jamie Horton missed a big one on a bed, but other than that nobody has had a keeper bite in some time. We’re due for a fish or two soon!
11:55 Lotta guys moving shallow
There are a lot of folks beginning to move shallow. From Wendlandt to Lawyer to Rose, it seems like the leaders think the shallow bite will turn on soon. Of course, Knight and Hallman haven’t caught a fish all day, and they are fishing about as shallow as can be. So, we’ll see what happens, Jamie Horton has pulled one good one off a bed already today, so maybe it’s time for some pros to go looking.
11:40 It’s very nice out
The weather is simply perfect now. Depending on where you are on Travis, there’s either a decent breeze or not much wind at all. As for the skies and the temperature, it’s clear blue and in the 70s. You could hardly build a better day for whatever you want to do.
11:25 Jamie Horton pops a spawner
Jamie Horton just pulled in a 4-pounder off a bed to break the ice. He’s a master sight-fisherman, but there haven’t been tons of fish on beds so far this week. If this warm weather moves a few more to the bank he may be in a good position to make a run at the top 10.
11:20 Hays culls again
Dylan Hays just culled up a little more. His smallest fish is now 2.5 pounds.
He’s catching them now off a rocky point in the river and says that the water is beginning to move a little. Stay tuned.
11:15 The leaders are grinding
Mark Rose and Bryan Thrift are both starting to move around more. They’re also heading to the bank to try and pick up those elusive final keepers. Rose is throwing a wacky rig around and Thrift is sticking with the trusty jig.
11:05 Gags and Wendlandt
Clark Wendlandt is changing up. He’s been throwing a Carolina rig most of the morning, but he just picked up a spinnerbait. He threw it some over his offshore area and is now running down the bank.
Meanwhile, Anthony Gagliardi is starting to do some dame. His fourth fish is a solid 2-pounder and that moves him up into the top 10.
10:58 No. 4 for Patek
Stephen Patek’s fourth keeper brings him back into the lead. He’s unofficially a hair ahead of Clark Wendlandt (who has a limit), and back about where he started the day. Like almost all the fish he’s caught this week, he put it in the boat on a Carolina rig.
Day two GoPro highlights
10:50 The fishless
Though most of the pros have scratched something together by now, Brad Knight, Jamie Horton and Bradley Hallman are each without a bass. Hopefully they catch a few soon!
10:45 Rose’s move
Mark Rose has made a pretty significant move. He ran about 15 miles up the lake and is now throwing a jig at the entrance of a marina. He just caught a short fish and is still hunting his fifth despite the hot start to the day.
10:40 Hays has moved
Dylan Hays just moved on up the river past where Knight started this morning. He’s fishing in the middle of the river and casting to some rocks marked with buoys.
10:30 Wendlandt and Patek are catching again
Clark Wendlandt has his fourth and fifth now, neither of them that big. He’s been slinging a Carolina rig offshore mostly. He was concerned that he didn’t practice offshore enough for the tournament, but he seems to be doing okay today.
Patek is up to three keepers now and one is a 3-pounder. He had a pretty long lull, but he’s moved back to where he caught a 7-pounder on day one and seems to be getting a little more dialed in on the day.
10:10 Rose makes a short move, everyone is scuffling
Mark Rose made a short move across the dam to a place in front of a UT building. He basically just switched sides.
9:45 Batts update
Clayton Batts caught his third keeper a moment ago and just lost a solid 3-pounder. Aside from losing that one, he might be on to something.
Meanwhile, there are a lot of folks moving around. Scott Canterbury has moved his way up the river, and Stephen Patek has moved on up the Pedernales and is still hunting some new fish.
Chris Brasher has two now, both just regular keepers.
9:39 Rose is back where he started
Mark Rose essentially just idled around a bit and then got back to fishing his boat ramp by the dam. So, it obviously wasn’t a big adjustment, but he probably marked a few on his graph to keep him around.
Meanwhile, Bryan Thrift has caught his third and this one is about 2-pounds. They’re getting bigger!
9:25 Thrift again, Rose is moving
Bryan Thrift’s second keeper is a small one, but it keeps.
After spending the morning fishing a swimbait on a ramp near the dam, Mark Rose is on the move again. We’ll see where he heads next.
9:15 Thrift finally catches one
Bryan Thrift has taken his time doing it, but he’s finally on the board with a small keeper.
Dylan Hays is still catching a pile of fish, but they aren’t big enough for substantial improvements. He’s still sitting right around 14 pounds.
9:10 Nothing for Knight so far, Patek is on the move
Brad Knight started farther from takeoff than any other pro, but it hasn’t paid off for him yet. Meanwhile, Stephen Patek just pulled the trolling motor to make a move – we’ll see if he can make something happen.
9:00 Lawyer, Reehm, Gussy
Jeremy Lawyer has three in the boat now. None of them are huge, but he’s at least catching keepers. Behind him, Gussy has his second and Clark Reehm has finished his limit for about 8 pounds.
Bryan Thrift is still fishless, and he’s now moved on to where he spent about half his day on day two.
8:45 Still nothing more for Patek
Stephen Patek has yet to catch another keeper since the first cast of the day. On days one and two he hammered them in the morning, so this is pretty unusual.
8:39 Hays is culling
Dylan Hays is culling now and has about 14 pounds in the boat. He’s throwing a Texas rig on a point and seems to have a pretty sweet thing going.
8:25 Hays has his fourth
Dylan Hays just boxed up another 2-pounder for his fourth keeper of the morning. He’s started about as strong as you can without catching an actual kicker.
8:22 A 7-pounder for Batts
Clayton Batts was fishless until a minute ago. Now he’s got a 7-pounder in the livewell he busted on a jig. That fish alone vaults him into the top 10.
8:19 Hays is cooking
Dylan Hays might be a rookie, but he’s fishing like a veteran this morning. After boxing up his first keeper, he followed it up with another chunk and a 3-pounder.
8:15 Suggs and Hays
Dylan Hays and Scott Suggs are both on the board with keepers. Neither one is super huge, but it’s always good to get going.
8:10 Reehm has his second
Clark Reehm’s second keeper is about the same as his first and goes about 2 pounds.
Tim McDonld is also on the board with a drop-shot 3-pounder to get his day going.
7:55 Shorts for Patek
Stephen Patek started with a keeper, but it’s notably slower for him this morning. He’s caught a pair of short fish since, but so far nothing else that will keep. Meanwhile, the pros chasing him are hammering them…
7:45 Rose hits again, Thrift is moving and grooving
Mark Rose swapped up to a jig to boat his third keeper of the day. He’s still fishing near a ramp and pretty close to Chris Brasher.
Bryan Thrift has been running around a bunch this morning with no success so far. He’s on his third spot now and he’s bound to run into some soon enough.
Meanwhile, Clark Reehm has his first fish on his first cast, a long and skinny 2-pounder.
7:40 Either these guys are really good or it’s really easy right now
Jeremy Lawyer’s second keeper is a chunky Guadalupe bass. Stephen Patek caught a keeper on his first cast of the day, but hasn’t caught anything else since.
Way up the river, Brad Knight and Dylan Hays ought to be arriving to their starting spots just about now.
7:35 More catches
Jeremy Lawyer’s first fish is a keeper, but just barely. Troy Morrow also has his first keeper, another 1-pounder. Jeff Gustafson’s first keeper is 3.5 pounds.
Also, Clark Wendlandt has caught another 4-pounder to unofficially take the lead.
7:33 Patek has arrived
Stephen Patek has been making a bit of a run to get to his starting spot. It took about 30 minutes, but he just pulled up to it and is about to make his first cast. It’s time to see how quick he can fire them up.
7:28 Wendlandt gets a biggun
They are smoking this morning! Clark Wendlandt started on a little flat and tried about every rod in his boat before getting one to go on a Carolina rig. His first is at least a 4-pounder, which is almost exactly what he predicted this morning. Fishing close to takeoff, everyone else ran by and then he eased on up to his fish.
Watching Wendlandt fishing at home could make for a really fun weekend.
7:20 Rose is making waves
Mark Rose is off to a wicked hot start. He’s started off throwing a swimbait on the end of a boat ramp and has already landed a 5-pounder and a 2-pounder. It’s very early and unofficial, but that alone probably gives him the lead.
7:15 Canterbury strikes first
Fishing behind takeoff, Scott Canterbury is the first on the board. He’s fishing a jig and his first keeper goes about a pound.
Jeremy Lawyer is fishing now as well. He's started in a marina just outside of Hurst Creek. It'll be interesting to see how he fishes today.
7:10 Several pros are starting close
A number of pros have started the day very close to the ramp this morning. Bryan Thrift went about 100 yards past takeoff before pulling out a rod. Clark Wendlandt, Casey Scanlon and Troy Morrow are also starting nearby, just past the no-wake section. Idling back through the no-wake, Scott Canterbury is actually starting in the back of Sandy Creek looking for a quick keeper to start his day.
7:00 Only the top 20 are fishing today
It’s day three of the FLW Tour presented by Quaker State on Lake Travis and just the top 20 pros are on the water. Behind Stephen Patek, the field is tightly packed and ready to move, especially with giant Texas bass lurking around any corner. In second, Bryan Thrift is looking to duplicate his first day. Behind him, Jeremy Lawyer, Clark Wendlandt, Mark Rose and Clark Reehm have all the momentum in the world. We knew Travis was likely to be very competitive, but nobody predicted that so many pros would be averaging so close to 15 pounds per day. The guy who catches 20 pounds today may well take the lead into Sunday.
Besides watching the board for a leader and the top 10, you’re going to want to watch the top five. FLW Live debuts ate 8:30 a.m. CT today and we’ll be live from the top five pros with all sorts of other content. The place to be is flwfishing.com – being a co-angler or marshal is impossible to beat, but watching the top five live might be the second best thing.
One final thing to watch today is the spread of techniques. There are basically two categories of pros in the top 10 right now: flippers and draggers. Most of the really successful folks are dragging offshore places for prespawn bass, but there is a solid contingent flipping bushes up shallow. It’s going to be very warm today and the night never really cooled off. Those conditions may combine to push a lot of bass toward the bank.
Top 20 pros
1. Stephen Patek – Garland, Texas – 34-6 (10)
2. Bryan Thrift – Shelby, N.C. – 34-2 (10)
3. Jeremy Lawyer – Sarcoxie, Mo. – 31-11 (10)
4. Clark Wendlandt – Leander, Texas – 29-10 (10)
5. Mark Rose – West Memphis, Ark. – 28-12 (10)
6. Clark Reehm – Huntington, Texas – 28-8 (9)
7. Dylan Hays – Sheridan, Ark. – 28-6 (10)
8. Brad Knight – Lancing, Tenn. – 26-15 (10)
9. Scott Suggs – Alexander, Ark. – 26-10 (10)
10. Christopher Brasher – Longview, Texas – 26-4 (10)
11. Troy Morrow – Eastanollee, Ga. – 26-3 (10)
12. Bradley Hallman – Norman, Okla. – 25-12 (8)
13. Jeff Gustafson – Keewatin, Ont. – 25-10 (10)
14. Bill Smith Jr. – Burlington, Ky. – 25-8 (9)
15. Anthony Gagliardi – Prosperity, S.C. – 25-1 (10)
16. Scott Canterbury – Springville, Ala. – 24-14 (10)
17. Clayton Batts – Macon, Ga. – 23-6 (10)
18. Jamie Horton – Centerville, Ala. – 23-3 (10)
19. Tim McDonald – Prestonburg, Ky. – 23-0 (10)
20. Casey Scanlon – Lenexa, Kan. – 22-11 (9)
Conditions
Temperature at takeoff: 60 degrees
Forecast high: 85 degrees
Sky: mostly clear
Precipitation: 10 percent chance of rain
Wind: SW at 8 mph
Tournament Details
Folgers Morning Takeoff: 7 a.m. CT at Jones Brothers Park, 10301 Lakeside Drive, Jonestown, Texas
Weigh-in: 4 p.m. CT Saturday and Sunday at Jones Brothers Park.
FLW Expo: 12 to 4 p.m. CT Saturday and Sunday at Jones Brothers Park
FLW Live: Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. CT to 12:30 p.m. CT