On the water with Wheeler

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Jacob Wheeler brought 17-9 to the scales on Day 2 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open on Oneida Lake and vaulted from 12th to 2nd and only trailed Wil Hardy going into the final day. Follow along as Wheeler looks to chase Hardy down on the final day on Oneida.
Jacob Wheeler brought 17-9 to the scales on Day 2 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open on Oneida Lake and vaulted from 12th to 2nd and only trailed Wil Hardy going into the final day. Follow along as Wheeler looks to chase Hardy down on the final day on Oneida.
Day 2 featured an east wind that churned up Oneida Lake, but on the final day the wind changed directions and doubled in speed.
Day 2 featured an east wind that churned up Oneida Lake, but on the final day the wind changed directions and doubled in speed.
Wheeler had his face in the wind for most of the day and I could tell from the start that the wind could affect how anglers positioned on their spots.
Wheeler had his face in the wind for most of the day and I could tell from the start that the wind could affect how anglers positioned on their spots.
Wheeler started off with a dropshot as he looked to duplicate his previous two days.
Wheeler started off with a dropshot as he looked to duplicate his previous two days.
He started on a spot that himself and Adrian Avena did very well on this week. Avena missed the Top 12 cut by just ounces so the spot was solely Wheeler's on the final day.
He started on a spot that himself and Adrian Avena did very well on this week. Avena missed the Top 12 cut by just ounces so the spot was solely Wheeler’s on the final day.
His partner for the day was co-angler Ronald Flamisch who started his day in 6th, just 1-4 behind.
His partner for the day was co-angler Ronald Flamisch who started his day in 6th, just 1-4 behind.
Flamisch went to the side of the boat to land his first bite of the day.
Flamisch went to the side of the boat to land his first bite of the day.
He broke the ice for the day.
He broke the ice for the day.
The wind was whipping on Championship Saturday and it had the flaps standing straight out on Oneida.
The wind was whipping on Championship Saturday and it had the flaps standing straight out on Oneida.
Flamisch hooked up again from the back of the boat.
Flamisch hooked up again from the back of the boat.
But it was a small fish that he eventually threw back.
But it was a small fish that he eventually threw back.
The clouds rolled through during the morning, but the sun broke through as the wind picked up.
The clouds rolled through during the morning, but the sun broke through as the wind picked up.
After Flamisch broke the ice, Wheeler looked to get on point.
After Flamisch broke the ice, Wheeler looked to get on point.
He hooked up soon after.
He hooked up soon after.
The feisty smallmouth went to the back of the boat and he took it around the outboard and back up front.
The feisty smallmouth went to the back of the boat and he took it around the outboard and back up front.
Wheeler was waiting for the fight to finish and was tired of fighting fish for what seemed like an eternity.
Wheeler was waiting for the fight to finish and was tired of fighting fish for what seemed like an eternity.
Once he sat in the seat it was game over as he made quick work of the brief battle at the boat.
Once he sat in the seat it was game over as he made quick work of the brief battle at the boat.
That was Wheeler's first fish of the day.
That was Wheeler’s first fish of the day.
Flamisch kept the flurry going as he hooked up quickly as well.
Flamisch kept the flurry going as he hooked up quickly as well.
It was a small fish for Flamisch, but a bite nonetheless.
It was a small fish for Flamisch, but a bite nonetheless.
Wheeler followed suit.
Wheeler followed suit.
He swung his keeper as well. That's two for Wheeler.
He swung his keeper as well. That’s two for Wheeler.
On his next cast he hooked up again.
On his next cast he hooked up again.
He sits in the driver seat as he gets ready to land the fish.
He sits in the driver seat as he gets ready to land the fish.
Then this fish kept fighting so Wheeler hopped back up to the front and continued the fight.
Then this fish kept fighting so Wheeler hopped back up to the front and continued the fight.
He takes a seat again and grabs the smallmouth.
He takes a seat again and grabs the smallmouth.
Keeper number three for Wheeler. This was his biggest of the three thus far.
Keeper number three for Wheeler. This was his biggest of the three thus far.
He stared at his electronics to make sure he was near the sweet spot.
He stared at his electronics to make sure he was near the sweet spot.
He stopped and took a moment to retie.
He stopped and took a moment to retie.
He occasionally picked up a carolina rig and would heave it to his desired location.
He occasionally picked up a carolina rig and would heave it to his desired location.
Flambisch hooked up quickly and the fish surfaced fast.
Flambisch hooked up quickly and the fish surfaced fast.
Then he swung it aboard.
Then he swung it aboard.
After drifting down the ridge because of the strong winds so Wheeler started up his boat and headed back up the ridge.
After drifting down the ridge because of the strong winds so Wheeler started up his boat and headed back up the ridge.
After moving back to the spot he hooked up and quickly boated the keeper.
After moving back to the spot he hooked up and quickly boated the keeper.
Wheeler picked up his drop shot and slung it to the spot hoping for another bite.
Wheeler picked up his drop shot and slung it to the spot hoping for another bite.
The bite came and he proceeded to fight number five to the boat.
The bite came and he proceeded to fight number five to the boat.
He swings in his fifth keeper of the day.
He swings in his fifth keeper of the day.
He heads to put it in the livewell.
He heads to put it in the livewell.
Flamisch hooked up again, this time it looked bigger.
Flamisch hooked up again, this time it looked bigger.
That's a good one for Flamisch.
That’s a good one for Flamisch.
After caching a small fish, Wheeler hooked up again. He began to battle the fish in the wind and waves on Oneida.
After caching a small fish, Wheeler hooked up again. He began to battle the fish in the wind and waves on Oneida.
This one seemed to be the best of the morning...
This one seemed to be the best of the morning…
It came off and Wheeler could on shake his head...
It came off and Wheeler could on shake his head…
So he changed up and retied his dropshot.
So he changed up and retied his dropshot.
He rebounded with another hookup as he fought this one carefully to the side of the boat.
He rebounded with another hookup as he fought this one carefully to the side of the boat.
Wheeler grabs his best fish of the morning and hoists it from the water and into the boat.
Wheeler grabs his best fish of the morning and hoists it from the water and into the boat.
That will help his limit for sure as he heads to cull.
That will help his limit for sure as he heads to cull.
The wind continued to blow from the west and the north west and Oneida was covered in white capping waves.
The wind continued to blow from the west and the north west and Oneida was covered in white capping waves.