Just 1 Angler Within 10 Pounds
Reese Catches 21-13 To Take Full Command At Smith Mt.

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito Skeet Reese used a swimbait to construct a day-3 bag that was the second-biggest of the tournament.

The No. 1 angler in the BassFan World Rankings is threatening to put together one of the most dominant seasons ever. He caught a 21-13 bag today – best of the day by nearly 5 1/2 pounds – that gave him a 3-day total of 58-03. He has a 6-05 lead and has all but assured himself of a third straight Top-5 finish to begin the campaign.

Two-day leader Jason Williamson sacked a respectable 15-03 for a 51-14 2nd-place total, but he now finds himself trailing by nearly the weight of the biggest fish caught in the tournament. He likely needs a final-day stumble by Reese to have a shot at his second career victory.

Bobby Lane weighed his lightest bag of the event (13-02), but moved up two places to 3rd with 48-02. On the flip side, he was less than 2 pounds out of the lead when the day started, but now trails by more than 10.

Matt Reed caught 13-13 today and climbed two spots to 4th with 47-11. Dean Rojas rounded out the Top 5 as he gained five places with a 15-07 sack for a 47-00 total.

Here are the Top 12 who'll fish the final day (red numbers in parentheses indicate deficit margin from leader):

1. Skeet Reese: 58-03
2. Jason Williamson: 51-14 (6-05)
3. Bobby Lane: 48-02 (10-01)
4. Matt Reed: 47-11 (10-08)
5. Dean Rojas: 47-00 (11-03)
6. Edwin Evers: 46-15 (11-04)
7. Terry Scroggins: 46-07 (11-12)
8. Greg Hackney: 46-01 (12-02)
9. Aaron Martens: 45-05 (12-14)
10. Gerald Swindle: 45-02 (13-01)
11. Marty Robinson: 44-15 (13-04)
12. Ish Monroe: 44-13 (13-06)

Sight-fishing was still a big factor today despite winds that blew to 30 mph and a depleted number of spawners, but it wasn't how Reese compiled his massive sack. He mentioned on stage that he ended up culling all of the bed-fish he caught this morning, and they were replaced by bigger specimens enticed by a swimbait.

There were only two changes in the Top 12 today – Greg Hackney climbed from 18th to 8th with a 16-07 bag (second-best of the day) and Ish Monroe improved from 20th to 12th with 15-04. Two-circuit pros Monroe and 6th-place Edwin Evers will have an abbreviated practice for the Fort Loudoun-Tellico FLW Tour, which gets under way Wednesday.

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito Reese is on track for his third straight Top-5 finish to open the season.

Reese Takes Advantage

Reese's bag was the second-biggest of the tournament, exceeded only by Williamson's 22-09 haul on day 1. He'll likely be almost impossible to catch tomorrow, considering that there are still enough 2-pounders on the beds for a sight-fisherman of his acumen to put together a 10-pound limit without much difficulty.

If he had to resort to that, Williamson would need more than he caught today to overtake him and anybody else would need a stringer like the one Reese caught today. And as he proved at the California Delta and Clear Lake last month, he's not prone to giving up ground on the final day.

He threw the swimbait around docks, points and rocky areas and made at least 50 stops on the day, with a large contingent of spectator boats in tow throughout. His sack was topped by a 5 1/2-pounder.

“Things lined up perfectly for the swimbait today with the windy, overcast conditions,” he said. “With this level of competition, you have to take advantage of the moment and when you have a chance for the big bag, go for it. It paid off today.”

If it pays off again tomorrow, the 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion and 2007 AOY will cruise to the second regular-season Elite Series win of his career. If not, he'll do some more sight-fishing.

“Everything is based on the weather. If I have to go look for 2-pounders, I will. There's still plenty of fish around – not as many as bed fish, but there's enough here to scrounge out 10 to 12 pounds.”

2nd: Williamson in Bind

The bag Williamson caught today was solid under the circumstances. He's confident he can produce a similar weight tomorrow, but is resigned to the fact that it likely won't push him back up to the top slot.

"Skeet's probably going to have to mess up for me to have a chance," he said. "I'll go out and mix it up (sight-fishing and conventional fishing) and catch all I can. Maybe he'll stumble a little bit if the wind doesn't blow as hard."

He looked at all five fish he brought to the scale today. One was a 5 1/2-pounder that he found the previous afternoon.

"She wasn't ready yesterday, but I was able to catch her at about 11:00 today. It didn't take but probably 15 to 20 minutes and she came in pretty easy.

"I weighed three that I knew were there (before the day started) and two that I found today. So far I've fished really clean and I'm fortunate to be where I am."

Photo: ESPN Outdoors Jason Williamson is now the only angler within 10 pounds of Reese's total.

"I'm still trying to fine-tune that. I'll sight-fish some more in the morning, but the only way I have a chance of catching Skeet is throwing a swimbait. This is a good swimbait lake, but just not an easy one to figure out."

3rd: Mixture for Lane

Lane weighed two sight-fish and two that he caught conventionally. He said his bag would've been bigger had he not missed a couple of cruisers he tangled with.

"I missed a couple of opportunities there," he said. "I had another 2 3/4-pounder that was hooked on the outside of the mouth and I had to let it go."

He spent much of the day throwing a Berkley Heavy Weight Fat Sinkworm on spinning gear.

"It sinks a little faster than a Senko and other baits like that and I think it was making them react," he said. "They were suspended in the shady areas under trees. The only problem was I looked at a hundred trees and only found two with fish in them."

His bag included two smallmouths and one of the quality fish he lost was a 3 1/2-pound bronzeback. He ended up with three 3-pounders and a couple of 2s.

"I'll go out and throw a swimbait for an hour or so tomorrow and then pick up the Sinkworm. I've still got 15 or 20 on beds, but they're not very big and I want to make a move.

"But no matter what happens, any day on Smith Mountain Lake is fun. It's beautiful and there's fish everywhere. It's just a great atmosphere."

4th: Reed still Scrounging

Reed continued to sight-fish, which is what he's done throughout the tournament. Each day he's found enough new ones to keep himself near the top of the standings.

"I've basically been out of fish since the first day, but I keep scrounging around," he said. "I don't have any big ones left that I know I can catch.

"There's a couple that I haven't been able to catch that I'd like to shoot before I leave here," he joked.

He might look for other spawners tomorrow or he may switch gears altogether.

"I'm contemplating that. If I tried something totally different I could fall pretty hard, but then again I can't fall any farther than 12th place. It's tough to decide whether to go for a big sack or do the best you can with what you have.

"If I had to say right now, I'd say that I'm going to sight-fish for part of the day, anyway."

It took him a substantial portion of the day to complete his limit and he culled several times thereafter.

"It was kind of one of those things where I hated to catch them because they weren't much bigger than what I had, but I needed every ounce I could get to make sure I made the Top 12."

5th: Rojas stays Steady

Rojas has been remarkably consistent – all three of his bags have been within a pound of each other.

"I knew I could probably catch them like that at the first of the week, but it's not going to be enough, I'm afraid," he said. "I'll just try to finish as high as I can behind Skeet and get as many points as I can to try to get into (the postseason)."

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito Matt Reed has found new bed-fish every day and they've kept him in the Top 12 throughout the event.

"Unless something happens and they just leave, I've got about 10 or 11 located that I'm pretty sure I can get to bite tomorrow. What they'll weigh I don't know, but it should be over 14 pounds.

"If I can get a limit, then maybe I'll tie on a swimbait."

Oakley is a new sponsor for him this year and he said the glasses have really helped him this week.

"I'm so happy to be part of that program and the product is just incredible. I know it sounds like a shameless plug, but it's the truth."

19th: Crews didn't Look Enough

Hometown favorite Crews' 19-02 bag was the best of day 3, but he came in 7 1/2 pounds lighter today.

"With all the wind I just kept fishing (instead of sight-fishing)," he said. "I threw the whole tackle box at them – a spinnerbait, a jerkbait, a swimbait, a floating worm, you name it.

"I kept catching 2-pounders that didn't help me. I probably should have been looking for more bed-fish. I did look a fair amount, but I probably could've covered about twice as much water."

He wasn't wholly satisfied with his performance on his home lake.

"I feel fair about it. You can't be too upset with a Top 20, but at the same time you want to show out in front of the home crowd, and this is a lake I do have a lot of confidence on and that I love fishing.

"I consider myself a pretty decent sight-fisherman and I should've committed myself a little more to it."

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 47 anglers, 44 limits, 1 four, 1 three, 1 one.

> Reed hasn't been running around much – today was the first time he'd bought gas since he's been at Smith Mountain. "And that includes practice and the tournament," he said.

> Evers has weighed nothing but sight-fish, but that might change tomorrow. "I tried to throw a swimbait a bunch today, but it looks like I don't have the right one," he said. "Tomorrow I'll try swimbaits, crankbaits – anything I think I can do to try to get a bite."

Weather Forecast

Here's the weather forecast for the final day of the tournament.

> Sun., April 18 - Sunny - 65°/40°
- Wind: From the NW at 12 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 15, 58-03 -- 305
Day 1: 5, 17-09 -- Day 2: 5, 18-13 -- Day 3: 5, 21-13

2. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 15, 51-14 -- 305
Day 1: 5, 22-09 -- Day 2: 5, 14-02 -- Day 3: 5, 15-03

3. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, FL -- 15, 48-02 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 21-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-09 -- Day 3: 5, 13-02

4. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 15, 47-11 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 17-03 -- Day 2: 5, 16-11 -- Day 3: 5, 13-13

5. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 15, 47-00 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 16-07 -- Day 2: 5, 15-02 -- Day 3: 5, 15-07

6. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 15, 46-15 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-15 -- Day 3: 5, 15-03

7. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 15, 46-07 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 19-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05 -- Day 3: 5, 11-05

8. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 15, 46-01 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 15-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13 -- Day 3: 5, 16-07

9. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 15, 45-05 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 18-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08 -- Day 3: 5, 11-07

10. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 15, 45-02 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 15-08 -- Day 2: 5, 17-02 -- Day 3: 5, 12-08

11. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 15, 44-15 -- 257
Day 1: 5, 19-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15 -- Day 3: 5, 09-14

12. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 15, 44-13 -- 254
Day 1: 5, 16-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01 -- Day 3: 5, 15-04

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not be fishing tomorrow.

13. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, MO -- 15, 44-12 -- 251 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-01 -- Day 2: 5, 14-02 -- Day 3: 5, 14-09

14. Alton Jones -- Waco, TX -- 15, 44-12 -- 248 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-00 -- Day 3: 5, 13-14

15. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 15, 44-03 -- 245 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-15 -- Day 3: 5, 15-05

16. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, NC -- 15, 43-13 -- 243 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08 -- Day 3: 5, 15-08

17. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 15, 43-10 -- 241 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-10 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13 -- Day 3: 5, 14-03

18. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 15, 43-07 -- 239 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-05 -- Day 2: 5, 15-03 -- Day 3: 5, 11-15

19. John Crews -- Salem, VA -- 15, 43-00 -- 237 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 5, 19-02 -- Day 3: 5, 11-09

20. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 15, 42-00 -- 235 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-04 -- Day 3: 5, 12-01

21. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, TX -- 15, 41-15 -- 233 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06 -- Day 3: 5, 14-10

22. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 15, 41-10 -- 231 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-12 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03 -- Day 3: 5, 12-11

23. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 15, 41-05 -- 229 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-10 -- Day 3: 5, 11-02

24. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 15, 41-02 -- 227 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-10 -- Day 2: 5, 11-12 -- Day 3: 5, 14-12

25. Terry Butcher -- Talala, OK -- 15, 40-13 -- 225 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-11 -- Day 2: 5, 14-04 -- Day 3: 5, 10-14

26. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 15, 40-11 -- 223 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-08 -- Day 3: 5, 12-12

27. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 15, 39-15 -- 221 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00 -- Day 3: 5, 12-04

28. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 15, 39-13 -- 219 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-02 -- Day 3: 5, 10-10

29. Keith Poche -- Troy, AL -- 15, 39-11 -- 217 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14 -- Day 3: 5, 11-10

30. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 15, 39-09 -- 215 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-09 -- Day 2: 5, 14-10 -- Day 3: 5, 11-06

31. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 15, 39-08 -- 213 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05 -- Day 3: 5, 12-05

32. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 15, 39-02 -- 211 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06 -- Day 3: 5, 12-02

33. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 15, 38-13 -- 209 $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-07 -- Day 2: 5, 15-12 -- Day 3: 5, 10-10

34. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 15, 38-02 -- 207 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-04 -- Day 3: 5, 11-07

35. Morizo Shimizu -- Osaka JAPAN -- 15, 37-15 -- 205 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06 -- Day 3: 5, 11-11

36. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, AL -- 15, 37-13 -- 203 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-06 -- Day 3: 5, 09-14

37. Mark Tyler -- Vian, OK -- 15, 37-13 -- 201 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-03 -- Day 2: 5, 13-00 -- Day 3: 5, 08-10

38. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 15, 37-11 -- 199 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03 -- Day 3: 5, 10-12

39. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, TX -- 15, 37-06 -- 197 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-09 -- Day 3: 5, 11-02

40. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, OK -- 15, 37-03 -- 195 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-12 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13 -- Day 3: 5, 10-10

41. Clark Reehm -- Russellville, AR -- 15, 36-08 -- 193 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-11 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01 -- Day 3: 5, 09-12

42. Byron Haseotes -- Centerville, MA -- 13, 36-06 -- 191 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-04 -- Day 2: 5, 15-02 -- Day 3: 3, 08-00

43. Derek Remitz -- Grant, AL -- 15, 36-05 -- 189 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-09 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06 -- Day 3: 5, 08-06

44. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, NC -- 14, 36-04 -- 187 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-01 -- Day 2: 5, 11-08 -- Day 3: 4, 06-11

45. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 15, 36-03 -- 185 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-11 -- Day 3: 5, 08-14

46. Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, AR -- 15, 35-11 -- 183 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14 -- Day 3: 5, 09-06

47. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 11, 29-08 -- 181 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 14-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-05 -- Day 3: 1, 01-09