Two years ago, Jacob Foutz made a widely distributed YouTube video titled “What the pros don’t tell you about the fishing industry.”
In some corners it was hailed as a necessary revelation. Elsewhere, it was considered old news. And some careful observers of the industry considered it a cry for help or perhaps even a professional suicide note.
And now the Tennessee pro leads a Bassmaster Elite Series event on the Arkansas River, on the verge of a six-figure check and the biggest accomplishment of his career. It just shows how fine the line is in this sport between a career being all over and just getting started.
Indeed, the distance between success and failure is miniscule. Today Carl Jocumsen (22nd, 22-14) damaged his lower unit and managed to get a replacement boat from Easton Fothergill (61st, 25-14). Others got stuck on mud flats or sand bars and got pulled off. But poor Randy Howell, with a chance for his first Elite Top 10 in a year, and second since 2016, spun a hub and couldn’t get back to weigh-in on time. As a result, Cole Sands (10th, 46-14) will live to fish another day.
The ball bounces in weird directions.
The fine lines are in some cases breakable, but if you put enough of them together they can create a formidable barrier. Right now, Foutz is trying to beat back both super-rookie Fisher Anaya (2nd, 51-1) and home state favorite Jason Christie (3rd, 50-10). Normally leads of 6-9 and 7-0, respectively, would seem huge, but today they feel razor thin.
Here’s what I saw, heard and thought on Day 3 from Muskogee as the wind howled relentlessly and the fishery tightened up for most of the remaining field:
Just a Bit Outside – Because Howell was unable to weigh his fish, Sands snuck into 10th place with 46-14, an average of 15-10 per day. In his case, that was not three equal bags, but two 17s sandwiching an 11. Three anglers missed the cut by a pound or less, including yesterday’s hero, Seth Feider, who fell 3 ounces short.
Packed Like Sardines – The five anglers in fifth through ninth place all have 48 at the front of their cumulative three-day weights – they range from 48-2 to 48-12.
Don’t Look Back – Christie stumbled today, producing 14-4 on the heels of two bags over 18 pounds. His area isn’t necessarily played out, but he may have seen the best of it. What should scare Foutz and the rest of the Top 10, however, is that he has more areas and specific spots to fish. He said that his favorite way to fish here is to run and gun – a specific log here, a trusted reed head there. The wind has prevented him from doing that. “I’ve been handcuffed in basically one spot the whole time,” he said. If he had to have one spot to choose from, it was apparently a good one, but if the weather allows him to expand out from there, he could be in position to earn his second consecutive Elite win.
Oklahoma State Motto — “Labor omnia vincit” = “Labor conquers all things”
Teeners – Nine of 10 anglers in the Top 10 had teen-class bags today, with Caleb Hudson (8th, 48-3) being the lone exception. The top six have all had 13 or more each day, as has Pat Schlapper in ninth. Foutz, Cory Johnston (5th, 48-12) and Trey McKinney (6th, 48-9) are the only three who’ve had 15 or more each day.
Brandon Palaniuk (23rd, 42-5) – “When you come out of the locks it’s like an old-school shotgun start. It’s pure chaos and I enjoy it.”
Best So Far – Foutz has been on the Elite roster since 2022 and to date his best finishes are a pair of thirds – at Chickamauga in 2022 and the St. Johns in 2024. He’s in prime position to reset that personal standard.
Stetson Blaylock (18th, 44-3) – “It feels good to beat the river curse from the last tournament.” He finished an uncharacteristic 82nd at the Tenn-Tom.
Lead Dog – The Day 3 leader won at Lake Martin (Fisher Anaya) and again at the Tennessee-Tombigbee (Christie). At the season-opener on Guntersville, Hank Cherry (16th, 45-0) came from sixth place after Day 3 to claim the win.
Carl Jocumsen on the Changing Weather – “These fish don’t care. It’s Oklahoma. They’re used to it.”
Foutz in Oklahoma – He was 101st in the 2018 Central Open in Muskogee and 79th last year at the Tenkiller Elite. If you picked him for your Fantasy Fishing team, my hat is off to you.
Twenties – For the third straight day, we saw at least one 20-pound bag. This time it was Foutz with 20-3. Seth Feider, who had 21-3 yesterday for the biggest bag so far, is the only one who topped the 20-pound mark who did not make the Top 10.
Jason Christie – “There is a big bag out there to be had. Somebody just has to make the right stops.”
Big Fish Appeal – Cole Sands landed a 6-13 largemouth today, which so far stands as the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament. He hasn’t yet won that award in his short Elite Series career. “I thought I had it once at Lay Lake,” he said. “But then Jason Christie caught like a 9-pounder.” He caught the fish in an old school style, “punching bushes” with heavy line and a big weight and said that when he set the hook “it felt like I hit a brick wall.” He was so excited, especially after he thought it had escaped, that he boat-flipped the big girl.
Born in Arizona, Moved to Babylonia – Every time I see Cole Sands wearing his new lucky hat, all I can think of is Steve Martin’s arrow hat turned sideways.
Survival of the Fittest — We’re at the point in the season where many anglers who’ve struggled need to start thinking about whether they’ll requalify to fish next year. Nine of the 10 anglers at the bottom of the AOY standings heading into Muskogee failed to make the cut to Saturday. Gerald Swindle, who entered in 98th, was the lone outlier. He finished 47th after weighing three bass for 4-12 today.
Cody Meyer (37th, 39-4) – “After fishing that Bassmaster Classic, I never want to miss one.”
Limitology – Through two days of competition, there were 195 out of a possible 200 limits. Today, with the field reduced to those who’d had the most success so far, the remaining 50 anglers produced 44 limits. It would have been 45 but for Howell’s inability to get back to the ramp in a timely fashion.
Bryan New (42nd, 36-1) – “I think we’re going to name our team ‘AOY and the Other Guy.’” He will be paired with Chris Johnston in the upcoming Tuesday Night Live tournament.
Most Famous Person from Eva, Alabama (Until Now) – Poet Edsel Ford
Ups and Downs – Foutz’s weight has gone up every day, while the three anglers immediately behind him in the standings have gone down every day. He and Sands were the only members of the top 10 who had their best day today, while five members of the Top 10 had their worst weight today.
Gerald Swindle on the unrelenting wind – “When it was shaking that camper last night it wasn’t in a romantic way.”
Not Seen at Weigh-In – Gus Frerotte, Mookie Blaylock
Grapes of Wrath — “It don’t take no nerve to do somepin when there ain’t nothin’ else you can do.”
Of course Christie got the greatest cheers onstage, and Foutz offered a sorry-not-sorry response to Mercer’s questioning about that fact: “Unfortunately I’m going to have to do everything I can to disappoint you all.”
He may play it safe. He may take a gamble.
The one thing that pro anglers really don’t tell you, Foutz is finding out, is how to seal the deal on Day 4. He’ll have to accomplish that on his own.
