High Weyer act

California native Charlie Weyer extends lead over competition heading into Saturday’s FLW Series finals on Columbia River

TRI-CITIES, Wash. – Today, Charlie Weyer could do no wrong. Clinging to a precarious 2-pound lead heading into Friday’s competition, the California native did everything in his power – and then some – to ensure that come Saturday, he and nobody else would be hoisting the first-place trophy on the Columbia River.

In fact, by the time Friday’s weigh-in had concluded, Weyer had increased his lead to a full 5 pounds – a staggering development given how tightly packed the leaderboard had been all week.

“I’m in a zone that I haven’t been in for three years,” said Weyer, who recorded a whopping three-day total of 43 pounds, 9 ounces. “I want to get something to eat and go back out there right now. It’s just unbelievable.”

As it turns out, unbelievable was an apt description of today’s events for the front runner. For starters, Weyer decided to continue making his long run (approximately 50 miles one way) to his primary honeyhole that he’d discovered earlier in the week. But what he hadn’t counted on was a backlog of barge traffic that would force him – as well as a few other anglers atop the leaderboard – to delay his trip downriver.

“We didn’t even get to fish until 10:30 or 11,” said Weyer. “And in total, I only had about two hours of fishing time.”

However, like any good angler, Weyer made the most of a bad situation.

“On my first cast, I missed a fish. But on my second cast, I landed a 4-pounder,” he said.

From that point forward, it was game on.

“It was weird. I’d pull up to a spot and just know where the fish were going to be at all times,” he said. “Any place I pulled up to, I caught fish. I think I stopped at four different spots and caught good fish at each one of them. It was mind boggling. I wound up catching a limit in about an hour and a half. I was definitely in a zone.”

Weyer said that he is continuing to target smallmouth bass on an old gravel bed that used to be part of a previously abandoned railroad trestle.

“It’s amazing how those fish are stacked up in there,” he said. “And they are good-sized fish. Some of these bass are spitting out 3- and 4-inch perch. It was such a rush to catch them.”

Weyer said that he is specifically targeting smallmouth bass by fan-casting a Carolina-rigged lizard and a tube bait in a green-pumpkin color.

“And I should have had even more than I did,” he said. “I lost a nice 4-pounder late in the day. Otherwise, I would have had a 7-pound lead.”

However, while Weyer is now the odds-on favorite to capture the title, he knows that the fickle nature of the Columbia River can easily snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

“If the wind blows tomorrow – and early reports said the wind could blow between 20 and 25 mph – I could have some real problems,” he said. “It’s going to be a long run. And I could be in for a really rough ride. But at this point, I have to go. If I want to win this tournament, I’m going to have to go.”

Meyer retains hold on second place

Coming into the Columbia River event, Clayton Meyer of San Diego had hoped to eek out a top-50 finish. However, by the end of today’s weigh-in, Meyer had shifted his goals fairly significantly, instead hoping to remain as close to Weyer as possible for a shot at a tournament title.

Meyer ultimately recorded a three-day catch of 38 pounds, 9 ounces. And while he’d hoped to be a little bit closer to Weyer heading into the final day, he said that he had no complaints about being in sole possession of second place.

“I’m really happy heading into the finals in second place,” he said. “I’m pretty sure I can catch a good limit tomorrow. I feel great right now.”

However, like Weyer, Meyer, too, was caught up in the barge traffic – as both competitors are fishing in the same general area.

“I had about an hour delay, and I almost turned around and came back,” he said. “But I’m glad that I didn’t. As soon as I got to my spot, I caught three fish right in a row – boom, boom, boom. I’m ready for another day of fishing.”

Meyer said he targeted smallmouth bass on main break points and ridge lines in about 8 to 14 feet of water using a combination of Carolina rigs, tube baits and worms.

But like Weyer, Meyer said he has plenty of concerns over weather, wind and barge traffic heading into the final day of competition.

“These long runs are really taking their toll on all of us,” he said. “Tomorrow, we might only have three hours to fish. The wind could make a big difference.”

Hickey climbs from fifth to third

What a difference a tournament makes. During the last FLW Series event on Clear Lake this past April, Jason Hickey had more bad luck than anybody usually sees during an entire year of fishing.

“I fell out of my boat, broke my finger and threw up all over my boat – all in one tournament,” he said.

And that wasn’t even the worst of it.

“I had mechanical problems and had to fish the whole event on just a trolling motor,” he said.

Needless to say, Hickey’s finish was hardly what he’d hoped for. However, fast forward a few months later to the Columbia River event, and Hickey’s fortunes have now changed dramatically. Suddenly Hickey – after three stellar days of fishing – finds himself in the running for a tournament title.

“I’m very pleased. I’m swinging for the fences now,” said Hickey, who turned in a three-day sack weighing 37 pounds, 5 ounces.

However, that doesn’t mean that his journey along the Columbia River has been easy.

“I still haven’t had a perfect day yet. I’m throwing lipless crankbaits, and I’m still having trouble getting all of my fish in the boat,” he said. “Today, we lost about an hour and a half of fishing because of barge traffic in the locks. And I only had about two and a half hours of fishing time total. And once I find my fish, I can’t go back to that same area again. I don’t know if it’s because they keep moving or I keep spooking them.”

Hickey said he is fishing a distinct pattern and chasing around roaming schools of smallmouths.

“The fish are running in wolf packs,” he said. “They’re not on any particular structure. Every day the fish are changing. They’re constantly on the move, and they seem to want a different bait each day. I’ve been modifying my baits every day as well. My guess is that I’ve already gone through about 25 different crankbaits.”

Hickey’s main hope now is that his yeoman-like effort isn’t thwarted by the wind during the finals.

“It could get real windy tomorrow, and if that’s the case, a lot of our water could be unfishable,” he said. “When the wind picks up, there’s not only a danger of not getting (to our spots) but a danger of not getting back in time. But if the wind will let me get to my area tomorrow, I’m going to have to go. I don’t have a choice.”

Bennett lands in fourth place

Michael Bennett of Roseville, Calif., used a three-day catch of 36 pounds, 2 ounces to head into tomorrow’s finals in fourth place.

“Believe it or not, I could have had my biggest bag (of the tournament), but I lost some fish. And that kind of hurt,” he said. “But I’m ready to go fishing tomorrow.”

Bennett also claimed a $428 check for winning the day-three Snicker’s Big Bass award after landing a 4-pound smallmouth.

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top 10 pros who survived today’s cut on the Columbia River:

5th: Kelly Vineyard of Bend, Ore., 35-4

6th: Ken Wick of Star, Idaho, 35-1

6th: Neil Russell of Nampa, Idaho, 35-1

6th: Andre Moore of Alabaster, Ala., 35-1

9th: Mitch Ratchford of Kennewick, Wash., 34-11

10th: Leon Knight of Tehachapi, Calif., 33-11

The final day of FLW Series competition on the Columbia River begins Saturday at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time at Columbia Point Marina, located at 660 Columbia Point Drive in Richland, Wash.