After an incredible practice, David Dudley thought it would take a whopping 17 pounds a day to get a top 50 and a big check at Lake Chickamauga, the site of the final FLW Tour qualifier, even going so far as to call it “Falconesque”. While the fishing on the TVA impoundment was good, just about everybody thought Dudley was crazy.

Jacob Wheeler was one of those people. After hearing Dudley’s prediction, he offered a friendly wager. If it took 17 pounds or more, Dudley got to pick one lure out of Wheeler’s entire tackle selection. If it took less, Wheeler got to swipe something from Dudley. No lures were off limits, including rare Japanese tackle, homemade stuff, etc.

As it turned out, Dudley was wrong. Instead of 17 pounds per day, it took just over 14 as Jay Yelas grabbed the last big check with 28-2.

So what did Wheeler take? A custom prop bait, a lure that Dudley claims he should’ve beat Wheeler with at last year’s Cup. While the bait enticed numerous strikes, Dudley’s hook-up ratio left plenty to be desired. Dudley claimed he was almost happy to get rid of it because of the bad memories it brought back.

Wheeler had Dudley sign it and it reads: “David Dudley FWC 2012 Should Have.”

The two will go at it again at the Red River in August for the 2013 Forrest Wood Cup – on the water and perhaps off it again as well.