By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff

DECATUR, Ala. — For each of the first two days of the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Wheeler Lake, Florida pro Cliff Prince secured heavy limits within the opening hours of competition. On Saturday, he enjoyed his best morning yet.

By taking the lead for heaviest bag of the tournament on Day 3 with a 26-pound, 2-ounce limit of largemouth, Prince increased his lead at Wheeler with a three-day total of 65-13. He now holds a 12-2 advantage over second-place Ray Hanselman Jr. (53-11) heading into Sunday's final round.

“We are going to go catch five tomorrow and let the chips fall where they may,” said Prince, a three-time qualifier for the Bassmaster Classic. “It is everybody’s dream to beat these guys. This is the toughest crowd I’ve ever fished against and to beat them, you’ve done something.”

Not only did Prince catch the biggest bag caught this week aon Saturday, he anchored that bag with a 7-9 largemouth, tying Greg Hackney for the big bass of the tournament.

Prince has been close to victory before, notably finishing 3rd at Lake Okeechobee in 2017 and notching several top finishes on the St. Johns River where he calls home. With a substantial lead heading into the final day at Wheeler, Prince knows simply catching a limit will be crucial in achieving a victory.

Most of his weight so far has been caught off one hard spot near the takeoff at Ingalls Park. That hard spot is surrounded by grass, and Prince has had to work his baits through that grass to get to it.

For the most part, Prince has kept his depthfinders turned off. During the afternoon hours of Day 3, however, he powered them on just long enough to see a plethora of baitfish in his area, including gizzard shad.

“I don’t know if it's shell or if it's rock, but it's hard and they're relating to it for whatever reason,” he said. “You can’t look down at the (Garmin) Perspective mode and not see a school of bait. That tells me why they are there.”

Prince’s special spot, which yielded bags of 19-4 and 20-7 the first two days, continued to produce early and often on Day 3. Despite losing a couple of bigger bass in the flurry, he landed a limit weighing around 18 pounds by 6:30 a.m. using a moving bait as well as a Texas-rigged Bass Assassin stickbait.

“I told myself if I catch 15, I’m still going to be in contention,” Prince said. “At about that time, I figured I had 17 or 18 pounds. I was pretty much done, but the locals were coming in and I decided to circle around. I got a different angle on the spot. Then I caught a giant.”

He said the beast was a gift, considering it came after he had almost decided to let the spot rest.

“I casted up to the juice and I got four bites in one cast,” he explained. “The one that finally ate it was that 7-plus. When I set the hook, I knew it was a good one, but it didn’t really pull that hard. Then when I got it up by the side of the boat, it was a giant.

“It was pretty much torture not to throw back up there when I caught that one.”

While all of his bites have come in the morning hours, mostly because he has stopped fishing, Prince is confident his bite will last all day if needed. It comes in waves, he said, and he’s seen bass school every afternoon as he's trolling around.

“I feel like there are more left there and if they do what they have been doing, we’ll be good,” Prince said. “They came up schooling a little after 1 p.m. today. And when I found them (in practice), it was after 1. If you notice on BassTrakk, I’ll catch three and then have a lull.

“So I feel like if I leave them alone for a while and then go back to the juice, I can catch a fish or two. I feel like I can catch five.”

Hanselman brought in the second-biggest bag of the day — a 20-7 sack anchored by a 6-8 largemouth — increasing his three-day total to 53-11 and jumping him into 2nd place. It's the two-time Classic qualifier’s seventh Top 10 in Bassmaster competition.

Hailing from Del Rio, Texas, Hanselman has taken advantage of two patterns this week. On Day 1, he started by fishing stretches of eelgrass with milfoil and little patches of hydrilla mixed in before stumbling upon a shellbed in 5 feet of water that was loaded with bass. There are also isolated stumps close to the shellbed that Hanselman has caught fish around.

“I think the gizzard shad are up there spawning and that's what's holding the bass there,” he explained. “A couple of those bass have puked up 8-inch gizzard shad. There is definitely something going on down there.”

After switching from treble-hook baits to a 6th Sense Flock hair jig and a Texas-rigged 6th Sense Boosa ribbon-tail worm Saturday morning, Hanselman stopped missing bites and began landing quality bass. He worked his way to 20 pounds, landing his biggest bass around 7:30 a.m.

John Cox remains in third place with a three-day total of 52-9. The DeBary, Fla., pro landed 17-12 on Day 3 to complement his first two limits of 22-2 and 12-11. Most of the week, Cox has picked apart milfoil mats with a Berkley Swamp Lord in a backwater pond. After falling a couple inches on Day 2, the water rose just enough on Day 3 to make the frog bite more effective. Some of the gizzard shad Cox saw on Day 1 also returned.

“I think it came up about 2 inches. It was just enough to loosen the mats up a little bit. Yesterday they were really packed. Today, I knew as soon as I got to the ramp I felt good. My mood changed from, ‘Okay, let's get as many points as I can,’ to, ‘I’m going to make my first Top 10 of the year.’”

The Top 10 remaining pros will launch from Ingalls Harbor at 6 a.m. CT Sunday and return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The winner will earn the $100,000 top prize.



Day 3 Standings

1. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 15, 65-13 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 19-04 -- Day 2: 5, 20-07 -- Day 3: 5, 26-02

2. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 15, 53-11 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 15-08 -- Day 2: 5, 17-12 -- Day 3: 5, 20-07

3. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 15, 52-09 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 22-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-11 -- Day 3: 5, 17-12

4. John Garrett -- Union City, TN -- 15, 51-10 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 19-07 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06 -- Day 3: 5, 17-13

5. Alex Redwine -- Blue Ash, OH -- 15, 49-06 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 5, 19-08 -- Day 3: 5, 16-03

6. Wesley Gore -- Clanton, AL -- 15, 49-04 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 17-09 -- Day 2: 5, 15-02 -- Day 3: 5, 16-09

7. Alex Wetherell -- Middletown, CT -- 15, 49-02 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 16-03 -- Day 2: 5, 15-07 -- Day 3: 5, 17-08

8. Jay Przekurat -- Plover, WI -- 15, 48-05 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 18-01 -- Day 3: 5, 16-12

9. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 15, 47-05 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 16-11 -- Day 2: 5, 20-08 -- Day 3: 5, 10-02

10. Logan Parks -- Auburn, AL -- 15, 46-15 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 13-02 -- Day 2: 5, 16-05 -- Day 3: 5, 17-08

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not advance to Day 4.

11. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 15, 45-05 -- 93 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05 -- Day 3: 5, 15-10

12. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 15, 45-00 -- 92 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-04 -- Day 2: 5, 13-12 -- Day 3: 5, 16-00

13. Matty Wong -- Honolulu, HI -- 15, 43-02 -- 91 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-06 -- Day 2: 5, 10-09 -- Day 3: 5, 13-03

14. Jacob Foutz -- Charleston, TN -- 15, 42-10 -- 90 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 5, 14-05 -- Day 3: 5, 14-01

15. KJ Queen -- Catawba, NC -- 15, 42-09 -- 89 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-15 -- Day 2: 5, 15-11 -- Day 3: 5, 12-15

16. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 15, 42-03 -- 88 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 5, 14-13 -- Day 3: 5, 15-01

17. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 15, 42-01 -- 87 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-02 -- Day 3: 5, 13-03

18. Patrick Walters -- Eutawville, SC -- 15, 42-01 -- 86 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-00 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14 -- Day 3: 5, 15-03

19. Cole Sands -- Calhoun , TN -- 15, 41-09 -- 85 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03 -- Day 3: 5, 11-04

20. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 15, 41-06 -- 84 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-02 -- Day 2: 5, 16-06 -- Day 3: 5, 06-14

21. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 15, 41-03 -- 83 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-03 -- Day 3: 5, 10-02

22. Trey McKinney -- Carbondale, IL -- 15, 41-03 -- 82 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-09 -- Day 3: 5, 13-12

23. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 15, 40-12 -- 81 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-03 -- Day 3: 5, 12-11

24. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 15, 40-05 -- 80 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-12 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12 -- Day 3: 5, 10-13

25. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 15, 40-04 -- 79 -- $11,000
Day 1: 5, 18-05 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15 -- Day 3: 5, 10-00

26. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 15, 40-02 -- 78 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-01 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13 -- Day 3: 5, 10-04

27. Kyle Welcher -- Valley, AL -- 15, 39-15 -- 77 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-05 -- Day 3: 5, 13-04

28. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 15, 39-10 -- 76 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-00 -- Day 2: 5, 09-12 -- Day 3: 5, 11-14

29. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 15, 39-10 -- 75 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-09 -- Day 3: 5, 11-10

30. Justin Atkins -- Florence, AL -- 15, 39-07 -- 74 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-00 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14 -- Day 3: 5, 10-09

31. JT Thompkins -- Myrtle Beach, SC -- 14, 39-05 -- 73 -- $10,000
Day 1: 4, 11-03 -- Day 2: 5, 13-14 -- Day 3: 5, 14-04

32. Cooper Gallant -- Bowmanville, ON -- 15, 39-03 -- 72 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-09 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05 -- Day 3: 5, 11-05

33. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 15, 38-13 -- 71 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13 -- Day 3: 5, 10-07

34. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 15, 38-10 -- 70 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-01 -- Day 2: 5, 16-11 -- Day 3: 5, 09-14

35. Pat Schlapper -- Eleva, WI -- 15, 37-15 -- 69 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-00 -- Day 2: 5, 13-14 -- Day 3: 5, 13-01

36. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 15, 37-11 -- 68 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 5, 15-09 -- Day 3: 5, 09-13

37. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 15, 37-11 -- 67 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-05 -- Day 2: 5, 12-10 -- Day 3: 5, 10-12

38. Frank Talley -- Belton, TX -- 15, 37-08 -- 66 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-13 -- Day 3: 5, 10-13

39. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 15, 36-15 -- 65 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 09-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-04 -- Day 3: 5, 11-14

40. Bob Downey -- Detroit Lakes, MN -- 15, 35-14 -- 64 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 08-03 -- Day 2: 5, 16-00 -- Day 3: 5, 11-11

41. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 15, 35-11 -- 63 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-08 -- Day 2: 5, 15-10 -- Day 3: 5, 08-09

42. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 35-08 -- 62 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12 -- Day 3: 5, 10-12

43. Cody Huff -- Ava, MO -- 15, 35-06 -- 61 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-11 -- Day 3: 5, 08-15

44. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 15, 34-02 -- 60 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-14 -- Day 2: 5, 13-02 -- Day 3: 5, 09-02

45. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA -- 14, 34-00 -- 59 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-10 -- Day 2: 5, 15-07 -- Day 3: 4, 05-15

46. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 15, 33-13 -- 58 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 5, 14-04 -- Day 3: 5, 09-02

47. Tyler Williams -- Belgrade, ME -- 14, 33-05 -- 57 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03 -- Day 3: 4, 07-06

48. Will Davis Jr -- Sylacauga, AL -- 15, 33-02 -- 56 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00 -- Day 3: 5, 06-14

49. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 15, 31-07 -- 55 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-10 -- Day 2: 5, 09-08 -- Day 3: 5, 07-05

50. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 13, 28-02 -- 54 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-10 -- Day 2: 5, 07-10 -- Day 3: 3, 03-14