OXFORD, Ala. (Major League Fishing) — Dustin Connell and Jacob Wheeler proved once again why they’re one of the most formidable duos in professional bass fishing, cruising to a wire-to-wire victory Wednesday on Lake Wedowee in the opening Elimination Round of the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches.
Competing on the Tallapoosa River impoundment for the first time, Connell and Wheeler combined to catch 42 scorable bass weighing 64 pounds, 8 ounces – easily the day’s best total – and advanced Team O’Reilly Auto Parts directly to the Knockout Round.
“It really came down to adjusting,” Wheeler said. “We fished different head sizes with that VMC Tungsten Jighead – anywhere from a 1/8-ounce with a 1/0 hook up to 3/4 ounce – depending on the depth and wind. That flexibility was a huge key.”
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‘Everything clicked’ for Connell and Wheeler
Connell, who lives just over an hour from Oxford and has built much of his career success on Alabama waters, said this was his first time ever fishing Wedowee.
“I’d never been here before, but it felt like home,” Connell said. “It’s a typical Alabama lake – clear water, spotted bass, deep structure – so it didn’t take long to get comfortable. I caught all my fish on the CrushCity Mooch Minnow, mostly the 3 1/2-inch and 2 1/2-inch sizes. This time of year, they’re keyed on small shad, and that bait matched them perfectly.”
The duo’s 64-pound haul easily outdistanced the field, with Wheeler also landing the day’s largest fish, a 2-pound, 15-ounce spotted bass.
“It was one of those days where everything clicked,” Wheeler said. “The fish were grouped up, we made the right adjustments, and Dustin did what he always does in Alabama – he caught ’em.”
Roy, Vinson dialed in the right depth
Bradley Roy and Greg Vinson of Team Fishing Clash secured the second qualifying spot with 27 scorable bass totaling 38 pounds, 13 ounces. Using Vinson’s Tallapoosa River experience and Lowrance ActiveTarget forward-facing sonar, the pair tracked spotted bass throughout the day to end the day comfortably above the cut line.
“Greg’s local knowledge was huge,” Roy said. “We mixed in some largemouth, but those spotted bass kept us in it.”
“We finally dialed in the right depth zone on ActiveTarget, and it just clicked,” Vinson added. “It feels good to move on here in my home state.”
Team Star Brite’s Mark Davis and Marshall Hughes mounted a late rally offshore with a Carolina rig and drop-shot, but it was too little, too late, and the duo finished third with 32-14. Team BUBBA’s Ott DeFoe and Andy Montgomery started strong on shallow buzzbait and spinnerbait patterns before the bite faded, ending the day with 27-4.
Bradley Roy and Greg Vinson of Team Fishing Clash secured the second qualifying spot in the Knockout Rounds with 27 scorable bass totaling 38 pounds, 13 ounces.
What’s next at the Patriot Cup
Four new teams will take to the water on Thursday for the second Elimination Match. Once again, only the top two tandems will advance to the Knockout Round.
Watch all the action through Oct. 27 on the RFD-TV Now livestream from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET at watchrfdtv.com. RFD-TV will also air the final period of each day live from 1-4 p.m.
STREAM LIVE - PATRIOT CUP, DAY 2
