It is difficult to win a top level professional bass tournament and is particularly challenging to do so leading wire to wire. But that is precisely what Jacob Wheeler is in a position to do Sunday.
Wheeler, the 21-year-old fishing machine from Indianapolis, Ind., grabbed the early lead in the FLW Outdoors Forrest Wood Cup championship this week on Lake Lanier with a 21 pound 15 ounce bag of bass and has held the lead. He brought a 14-7 bag to Saturday’s weigh-in, the heaviest of the day, and jumped nearly six pound ahead of Scott Canterbury, whose 13 pound 5 ounce catch Saturday – second heaviest of the day – moved him into second place.
The field has been trimmed to 10.
Wheeler appears well grounded, solid, and confident without being cocky. If Wheeler wins the Cup tomorrow he will be the youngest man to do so. Sunday will be the biggest day of his young career. As the pros like to say, anything can happen in fishing. And anything can. But were I a betting man I wouldn’t bet against Wheeler.
The Outdoor Notebook 