FLORENCE, Ala. – As day three of the Wal-Mart FLW Series BP Eastern event began Friday morning, 40 of the 179 boats nudged their bows into the Lake Wilson lock to go fish waters other than Pickwick Lake.

Some, like National Guard pro Jonathan Newton, are running all the way through Wilson and then locking up again into to Wheeler. The cost? About four to five hours of fishing time, leaving just three to four hours to catch a limit.

“I’m going up there again,” Newton said with conviction. “I know that a 20-pound stringer can happen in a matter of minutes up there. I’ve done it before, and I know it’s possible. That kind of stringer could put me right back in this thing.”

Newton, who is currently in 92nd place, caught a solid 11 pounds, 3 ounces on Wheeler on day one, but failed to bring in a keeper yesterday.

And he was not the only one to get his day-two feelings hurt on Wheeler yesterday.

Folgers pro Anthony Gagliardi caught 14 pounds on day one from Wheeler, but just three bass for 7 pounds, 7 ounces yesterday.

Ranger pro Mike Wurm also only netted about half the weight he caught on day one from Wheeler on day two.

“The fish just didn’t bite very well up there yesterday,” Newton said. “The wind muddied up some of the water. But I know how Wheeler is; it’s on one day, off the next and back on again. So I’m still pretty excited about going back up there.”

Tournament leader Mark Rose, who has favored Wheeler in the past as well, will be sticking with his Pickwick plan today. He now enjoys a 6-pound, 2-ounce lead.

“I think my stuff may have peaked yesterday,” Rose said before takeoff this morning. “From here on out, I’m going to have to dig in and hold on. What’s been key for me the last couple days is getting about a 10- or 11-pound limit early. That lets me relax and focus on fishing slow like I need to be fishing. Mentally, I just have to keep myself from panicking if I don’t get a quick limit this morning.”

Friday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:54 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 60 degrees

Expected high temperature: 75 degrees

Water temperature: 75 degrees

Forecasted winds: N at 5 to 10 mph

Day’s outlook: clear and sunny

The day-three weigh-in of the FLW Series Eastern event on Lake Pickwick begins Friday at 3 p.m. at McFarland Park located on James M. Spain Drive in Florence, Ala.