Quick Bites: Wal-Mart Open, Day 3
Wendlandt’s lake brings back his mojo, there’s a lot of love in the room and the answer is blowing in the wind
Wal-Mart FLW Tour
Wal-Mart Open
Beaver Lake, Rogers, Ark.
Pro finals day one, co-angler finals, Friday
Mr. Beaver Lake shines again … This exchange occurred immediately following Friday’s weigh-in during the 2004 Wal-Mart Open. A two-time Beaver Lake victor on the FLW Tour, Clark Wendlandt of Cedar Park, Texas, was signing autographs from inside his trailered Kellogg’s boat when a fan asked, “What is it about this lake?” The man who has earned the moniker Mr. Beaver Lake – proving his dominance here again this year by qualifying for the finals – replied, “I don’t know. It’s just my lake.” But that confidence was more subdued a short two days ago. Wendlandt started off the 2004 FLW Tour season with a couple of respectable finishes at the first two events – 32nd and 37th – but stumbled at Old Hickory Lake in early March, coming in 81st. “I’ve been putting a lot of pressure on myself lately,” he said. “I’m just so competitive.” So his return to his favorite lake on tour was to mark Wendlandt’s return to the upper echelon. Wendlandt said he attacked Beaver Lake on day one in an effort to regain his confidence. Though he managed a decent weight of 9 pounds, 6 ounces Wednesday, he had only caught three of a possible five keeper bass. Wendlandt said he had to regroup Wednesday night. So the master “made peace” with his recent level of performance and self-
prescribed “a little bit of an attitude adjustment.” The adjustment obviously was the correct one as Wendlandt now sits comfortably in second place going into the final day of the Wal-Mart Open. Ironically, he said it’s almost more sentiment that drives his success on Beaver Lake than its characteristics. “You know what? It’s not even really my style of lake. But it’s similar to a lake I fished growing up in Texas. I just have a comfort level here.”
Whole lotta love … The standing-room-only crowd packing the weigh-in tent outside the Rogers Wal-Mart store was a clear indication of how Arkansans feel about professional bass anglers: they love `em. The audience was audibly effusive when a top-10 pro would hoist a large bass during weigh-in or when an angler rattled off a joke about his day on the lake. But it was also evident that the top 10 pros at Beaver Lake regard one another about as highly. Even when they jested with one another on stage, it was apparent the jeering was blithe in spirit. Jason Abram of Chuckey, Tenn., who landed only two fish for a weight of 2-9, said regarding Wendlandt’s sizable lead, “I thought I’d give him a head start just to make it interesting for tomorrow.” Current leader Tom Monsoor of La Crosse, Wis., said winning would be nice, but he was just glad to be in the top 10 with such a great group of anglers. Sixth-place pro Craig Powers of Rockwood, Tenn., said, “Look around at 
these boys. It’s a pretty stout group of guys.”
Doldrums conundrum … Several pros and co-anglers, the latter group of which finished competition today, said the lack of wind over the last couple of days had sapped some of Beaver’s bit potential that was shown during breezier practice days. Though warmer temperatures in the latter part of the week have helped fishing conditions, several pros said they hope the wind will whistle a little harder Saturday.
Quick numbers
20,927,000: The Japanese Yen equivalent of 200,000 U.S. dollars, which is the first-place award for the top pro at the Wal-Mart Open. When “FLW Outdoors” TV co-host Charlie Evans told third-place finalist Shinichi Fukae that a win on Saturday would translate into “a lot of Yen,” the Japanese bass phenom queried back, through a translator, “How much in Japanese Yen?”
80: Percent of pro finalists catching a five-bass limit Friday.
30: Percent of co-angler finalists catching a five-bass limit Friday.
100: Percent of Wal-Mart Open tournament bass released alive through day three.