Cox Takes lead on Day Two of Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Hartwell
Mar 18th, 2016 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Mar 18th, 2016 at 12:00 AM
Florida pro John Cox, brought a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 20 pounds, 5 ounces Friday to take the lead after day two of the Walmart FLW Tour at Lake Hartwell presented by Evinrude. Cox now brings a 2-pound, 4-ounce lead into day two of the four-day tournament that features 168 of the world’s best anglers competing for a top cash award of up to $125,000.
In second place is Darrel Robertson of Jay, Oklahoma, the day one leader, who weighed in five bass totaling 14-7 Friday for a two-day cumulative total of 10 bass worth 34-13. The field is trimmed to the top 20 on Saturday, with only the top 10 anglers fishing on the final day Sunday.
“I covered a ton of water today and ran into some good fish here and there,” said Cox, a three-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier. “My three smallest stringer fish were caught sight-fishing. It was all about timing. If I saw them in a pocket earlier in the day and they weren’t ready, I’d swing back in later and get them.”
Cox said he focused on nearly 100 different pockets between Green Pond Landing and the Hartwell Dam. He said he moved fairly quickly through his areas and did his best to avoid boat traffic.
“On my second or third cast I caught a 6-pound, 11-ouncer off of a dock using a Zoom Trick Worm,” said Cox. “I usually never shake with excitement, but that one got me going.”
The Florida pro said he caught 10 keepers over the course of his day, including one fish that he weighed in on a jig.
“Tomorrow I plan to continue sight-fishing,” said Cox. “I ran to some new pockets today and marked around 10 bass that I think are worth 16 or 17 pounds. Hopefully they don’t move too far from their spots.”
The top 20 pros that made the Buck Knives Cut and will fish Saturday on Lake Hartwell are:
1st: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 10 bass, 37-1
2nd: Darrel Robertson, Jay, Okla., 10 bass, 34-13
3rd: Yamamoto Baits pro Larry Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark., 10 bass, 33-13
4th: Blake Smith, Lakeland, Fla., 10 bass, 33-6
5th: Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas, 10 bass, 33-0
6th: Lew’s pro Peter Thliveros, Saint Augustine, Fla., 10 bass, 32-2
7th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 10 bass, 31-10
8th: Jamie Horton, Centerville, Ala., 10 bass, 31-4
9th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 31-2
10th: Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 10 bass, 30-13
11th: Chris Johnston, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, 10 bass, 30-13
12th: Rusty Trancygier, Hahira, Ga., 10 bass, 30-8
13th: Cory Johnston, Cavan, Ontario, Canada, 10 bass, 30-3
14th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 10 bass, 29-11
15th: Keystone Light pro Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas, 10 bass, 29-10
16th: Jason Reyes, Huffman, Texas, 10 bass, 29-9
17th: Powell Kemp, Scotland Neck, N.C., 10 bass, 29-8
18th: Jeff Gustafson, Keewatin, Ontario, Canada, 10 bass, 29-7
19th: Tony Davis, Williston, Fla., 10 bass, 29-6
20th: Quaker State pro Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 29-6
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.