Two-title Sunday
Angler of the Year, Champlain champion to be determined this afternoon
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Sundays are for crowning champions on the Walmart FLW Tour. Typically, there is just one ceremony as the pro winner holds up a big check over his head. Today, there will be two trophy presentations as both the Lake Champlain tournament and the Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year race will conclude today.
Currently, National Guard pro Scott Martin has a 2-pound, 4-ounce over second-place angler Kyle Mabrey. Martin is a two-time FLW Tour champion, having won in 2000 on the Pascagoula River and in 2004 on Lake Champlain. The Clewiston, Fla., native said its time for No. 3.
“I’ve got an opportunity here and I really feel good about it,” he said. “If it is God’s will for me to win, than I surely can’t be beat.”
Like he has all week, Martin will run north and fish a series of off-shore rock piles and grass for largemouth bass. His two main baits are a Berkley Chigger Craw and a Lucky Craft Fat CB B.D.S. 3 crankbait in Tennessee shad color. Yesterday the field struggled mightily and he was able to capitalize. Martin doesn’t think that will be the case today.
“I need my best effort. I expect everybody else will catch them; they usually do on day four. I won’t feel comfortable until I have caught 20 pounds plus.”
In the AOY race, Clark Wendlandt has a relatively comfortable lead over Luke Clausen. He is in seventh place with 12-12 and Clausen is 10th with 7-1. For Clausen to win AOY, he has to finish three places above Wendlandt, who has a two-point lead and the tiebreaker. It has been an amazing finish and Wendlandt for one is looking forward to the conclusion.
“It will be a relief when it’s over from the standpoint that it has dragged on and on,” said Wendlandt, who could become the first FLW Tour angler to claim three AOY titles. “We both made the top 10 and we both really deserve it.”
After staying north and fishing for smallmouths yesterday, Wendlandt will return to Ticonderoga and seek largemouths today. He’s catching half his fish swimming a Berkley Hollow Belly swimbait and the other half flipping a Gambler Cricket.
“I’m going south because I’ve got to go fish where I can catch them. If there’s risk involved, so be it. Even if I don’t win I’d feel a lot better about at least trying to catch them down there.”
Clausen said he’s staying up north and fishing for smallies – hoping to reconnect with the school that propelled him to the final round. His goal weight for the day is 22 pounds. Even if he achieves that, Wendlandt will need to stumble.
Tournament notes
Today represents the fourth and final day of competition at the FLW Tour event on Lake Champlain. First place in the Pro Division will go to the angler who brings in the heaviest two-day combined stringer over Saturday and Sunday. The winning pro is guaranteed a top prize of $100,000, with a chance to win $125,000 if he is a registered owner of a Ranger boat.
The action continues at today’s weigh-in, which is scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. Central time at the Plattsburgh State Field House located at 167 Rugar St. in Plattsburgh. The free Family Fun Zone will open its doors at noon. Children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone today will receive a free rod and reel combo courtesy of WOKO-FM while supplies last. One lucky member of the audience will win a new Ranger boat during the final 4 p.m. weigh-in. Admission is free and you must be present to win.
On the Web
For those who can’t catch the weigh-in action in person, FLWOutdoors.com offers FLW Live, an online application that brings fans real-time weigh-in results, streaming video and audio.
In addition to FLW Live, FLWOutdoors.com is offering real-time updates from the water throughout each day of the Lake Champlain event. Simply click on the “On the Water Coverage” banner from any of the FLW Outdoors, Bass and FLW Tour home pages.
Sunday’s conditions
Sunrise: 5:20 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 56 degrees
Expected high temperature: 72 degrees
Water temperature: 70-75 degrees
Wind: WNW at 11 mph
Maximum humidity: 61 percent
Day’s outlook: partly cloudy