Clark Wendlandt is back on top of the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, based on the Day 1 results from Lake Fork. The 54-year-old, Cedar Park, Texas, pro had been in the lead since Lake St. Clair in August. But he dropped to third after finishing 81st at Lake Chickamauga on October 19.
Remember, all points are earned based on the final standings in these four-day events. But Wendlandt took a major step in the right direction Thursday with his 18th-place total of 16-11. That gave him a 9-point lead over David Mullins, the leader coming into Lake Fork, who placed 43rd Thursday with 10-6. Austin Felix finished 42nd and is now 13 points out of first. Patrick Walters is fourth, 22 points back, after placing second on Day 1 at Lake Fork.
There are lots of moving parts in this equation, but some of this will settle if Mullins and Felix miss the top 40 cut after Friday’s weigh-in. Their points will become final at that point.
In the Rookie of the Year race, Kyle Welcher closed the gap between him and leader Austin Felix by finishing 37th Thursday. Based on the Day 1 standings, Welcher now trails Felix by 21 points.