Jacob Wheeler and Casey Ashley are tied for second place in the Toyota Angler of the Year standings, 40 points behind leader Brandon Palaniuk. Most of the Elite Series anglers will tell you they’re not thinking about points but concentrating solely on catching the biggest bag they can each day. Wheeler is different.
“It’s 100 percent on my mind,” he said Wednesday. “I practiced for that. It will take 19 pounds a day to make the 12 cut. Right now, I can’t do anything that would knock me out of the (Bassmaster) Classic, so if you’ve got to gamble a bit on a chance to win AOY, you do it. You don’t know when you’ll be in a position like this again.
“It’s in Palaniuk’s hands. But if he slips up and I make the 12 cut, all the sudden it’s a new ballgame.”
Wheeler has been in a similar position at Lake St. Clair. In 2014 there was a Northern Open here when Wheeler was trying to qualify for the Elite Series. He needed a top 12 performance to do so, and he finished 91st.
“This place got me once,” Wheeler said. “I’m hoping the second time is the charm.”