Wheeler is “hodge-podging”

Jacob Wheeler said he had 18 rods out yesterday – 14 on the front deck and 4 more in the back.

“I’m hodge-podging,” said Wheeler, who started the day in 6th place with 17-4 and already has 11-8 today. “I’m fishing a lot of different things – deep, shallow and in-between. I’m not committed to one pattern or one lure. That’s how you fish this lake because there’s literally so many bass. You really have an opportunity to do whatever you want.

“I caught the five fish I weighed-in on five different lures. I don’t think I used all 18 rods, but I bet I used at least 14 of them.”

Wheeler agreed with the notion that there will be lots of ups-and-downs in the standings today, saying, “There will probably be multiple 20-pound bags weighed-in during this tournament, but no one will catch two of them.

“It’s just so hard to get those 6- to 8-pound bites. There’s a lot of them in here, but it’s just so hard to get those big ones to bite.”