Cayuga Lake continued its torrid pace on Day 3. It took 53 pounds, 9 ounces to make the Top 12 cut. That’s the second-highest Top 12 cut-weight this season, behind only Toledo Bend’s 54-7.
There has, however, been a gradual shrinkage over three days in the average size of the bass weighed-in and the big bass each day. A 6-pounder is a game-changer here. This far north, a bass that size is a relatively old fish, so their scarcity is understandable.
There has been a considerable drop in the number of 20-pound bags from Day 1. Brett Hite had the only one yesterday. That’s why several of the finalists mentioned 20 pounds as the goal today.
The following is a comparison of the weigh-in totals from the first three days of the Busch Beer Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake:
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Anglers/limits 107/106 107/105 50/50
Total fish weighed-in 529 531 250
Total weight 1,738-0 1,661-7 752-4
Avg. bass weighed 3.28 pounds 3.13 pounds 3.01 pounds
Big bass 6-3 5-14 5-4 (tie – 2)
Big bag 23-6 21-7 20-6
20-plus-pound bags 12 3 1