Hoernke hunting down first FLW Series win

Texas pro retains lead after toughest day yet

JASPER, Ala. – Lewis Smith Lake tightened up on Wal-Mart FLW Series anglers today, doling out the toughest day yet to competitors.

After an 80-minute fog delay this morning, Smith Lake looked like a crystal-blue swimming pool this afternoon when blue skies and negligible wind graced the Jasper area.

Only a scant five pro limits crossed the stage at this afternoon’s weigh-in. Some leaders disappeared from the top 10, while other pros who did well on day one resurfaced near the top.

After three days of competition, shallow-running crankbaits and jigs are starting to shine through as key lures in the event.

Still leading is Sean Hoernke of Magnolia, Texas. Hoernke mustered just two bass today, but they kept him on top of the leaderboard with a three-day total of 27 pounds, 12 ounces.

“I know it sounds cliché, but I’m trying to fish the moment and fish the weather,” Hoernke said. “Yesterday I was fishing runouts – the little drains that dump muddy water out into the lake. The stained water attracts the little minnows and baitfish, and the bass ambush them there.”

To fool the bass, Hoernke relied on a shallow-running Lucky Craft BDS 1 and a buzzbait.

“But today that bite died,” Hoernke added. “It’s amazing how fast this lake clears up. All those muddy runouts were running clear again and I knew it was over. So I had to start searching for something new.”

Fritts rebounds to second

After a short hiatus from the top 10 on day two, David Fritts of Lexington, N.C., bounded back into second place today with the day’s biggest stringer weighing 13 pounds, 14 ounces.

Today, Fritts went back to what he does best: cranking.

“It’s taken me a long time to figure out the exact bait and color for this lake, but I think I’ve got it dialed in now,” Fritts said. “I’ve won a lot of money with this particular bait under these exact conditions – rising, cool water.”

Although Fritts did not want to reveal exactly how deep he was cranking, the biggest hint he did give was to say that the fish are not on the bottom. 

Yamamoto back to third

Gary Yamamoto of Mineola, Texas, also rebounded back into the top 10 today with four bass weighing 9 pounds, 9 ounces. He is now in third place with a three-day total of 26 pounds, 3 ounces.

For the last two days, all Yamamoto has wanted is sunshine. He got it today and made some hay while it was shining.

“I caught three this morning and one at about noon,” he said. “But what surprised me was that the fish did not bite better this afternoon. I really thought the afternoon bite would turn on with that sun.”

Yamamoto reported catching his fish on a hula grub in 17 to 30 feet of water.

With sun in the forecast again tomorrow, Yamamoto is excited about his chances of doing better on the final day.

Shelton posts comeback limit 

Jeff Shelton of nearby Cullman, Ala., put his local knowledge to work to catch five bass for 13 pounds and jump into fourth place with a three-day total of 23 pounds, 13 ounces.

Shelton fished brush piles in 20 feet of water with a 3/8-ounce homemade jig in green-pumpkin color.

Shelton knows Smith Lake well and has caught 18-pound limits of spotted bass from its waters before.

“With the right bites, I’m capable of catching 15 pounds here this time of year,” he said. “The weather hasn’t really cooperated with my style of fishing the last two days, but it’s getting better. I’m thrilled to make a top-10 on my home lake, and I’m really excited about tomorrow.” 

Swindle makes his move

Another Lewis Smith local who made a big move today was the ever-colorful Gerald Swindle of Warrior, Ala.

Swindle, who also captured the tournament’s biggest bass on day two that weighed 4 pounds, 15 ounces, sacked five fish for 11 pounds, 14 ounces today. He is now in fifth place with a three-day total of 23 pounds, 7 ounces.

Most of Swindle’s day-three windfall came on four consecutive casts to the same dock.

“I’ve been cranking a Lucky Craft BDS 4 around foam floats on floating docks,” Swindle said. “And today, I hit the right dock at the right time. I made four casts to the same side of a dock and caught four keepers in row. Then I went back later and culled one from that same dock.”

Rest of the best

Other pros making the top-10 cut for tomorrow’s final round in the Smith Lake FLW Series include:

6th: Rusty Salewske of Alpine, Calif., 22-4
7th: Jim Moynagh of Carver, Minn., 21-9
8th: Matt Herren of Trussville, Ala., 20-1
9th: Keith Monson of Burgin, Ky., 20-0
10th: Craig Powers of Rockwood, Tenn., 19-12