Cox hopes to “paint” a successful picture

A splash of yellow stood out from the eye-catching red/white Berkley wrapped Crestliner that carried John Cox to an incredible Day-3 limit of 31-15. Strapped to his front deck was, of all things, a 12-foot telescoping extension pole — the thing you use to paint high walls and ceilings.

Lacking a traditional push pole, Cox will improvise and use this sturdy shaft to quietly nudge his boat here and there, as he sneaks into bed fishing range.

Cox returned to the backwater area off the Rodman Reservoir canal that produced his Day-3 mega bag. On Saturday, he said he saw multiple huge bass in the area. If he can get five of them to go, he could be unstoppable.