Jacob Wheeler just made his third stop as he moves his way south on the main lake, and he immediately set the hook. When he did, his rod broke in three pieces. That didn't keep Wheeler from landing the fish, which helped him some, but didn't look anywhere near big enough to be a rod-snapper. He may have simply worn out that rod this week.
Wheeler has been throwing a swimbait since he moved out of the Hiwassee River.
"I think they're in here pretty good," Wheeler said, after he felt a couple of thumps on the first cast. And they are. Wheeler missed one on his second cast. On his third cast, he caught another good one – a 4-pounder that gives him 19 pounds now.