Wong and Frazier’s Friday on St. Johns

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Micah Frazier made the run to Salt Springs this morning sitting in fourth place, with a Day 1 weight of 20-4. He was facing a nearly 8-pound deficit, and he was hoping for another 20-plus-pound day to make up some ground.
Micah Frazier made the run to Salt Springs this morning sitting in fourth place, with a Day 1 weight of 20-4. He was facing a nearly 8-pound deficit, and he was hoping for another 20-plus-pound day to make up some ground.
Frazier worked the banks just a tad farther into Salt Springs from where Bob Downey, who was second after the first day of competition, was fishing.
Frazier worked the banks just a tad farther into Salt Springs from where Bob Downey, who was second after the first day of competition, was fishing.
Frazier was focusing on the shallows when we caught up with him.
Frazier was focusing on the shallows when we caught up with him.
He didn’t have a fish in the boat when we reached him about noon, testifying to the much tougher day.
He didn’t have a fish in the boat when we reached him about noon, testifying to the much tougher day.
Frazier made several moves, but all were within a quarter mile stretch of Salt Springs.
Frazier made several moves, but all were within a quarter mile stretch of Salt Springs.
Frazier made several moves, but all were within a quarter mile stretch of Salt Springs.
Frazier made several moves, but all were within a quarter mile stretch of Salt Springs.
Frazier had an assortment of rods on the deck, and rotated through several. Unfortunately, the bass seemed to have lockjaw.
Frazier had an assortment of rods on the deck, and rotated through several. Unfortunately, the bass seemed to have lockjaw.
We caught up with Elite Series rookie Matty Wong, who started today in sixth place with a Day 1 weight of 19-14, about half a mile farther into Salt Springs. He had one small bass in the boat, but he said it was much tougher today.
We caught up with Elite Series rookie Matty Wong, who started today in sixth place with a Day 1 weight of 19-14, about half a mile farther into Salt Springs. He had one small bass in the boat, but he said it was much tougher today.
His deck was filled with rods.
His deck was filled with rods.
Spectators came and went, watching and photographing Wong as he worked down the bank.
Spectators came and went, watching and photographing Wong as he worked down the bank.
Wong was focused on the bank, counting on bass moving up as the warmer day increased water temps. “The water temperature is 67 degrees,” he said. “I think what they were doing is staging out all the old tilapia bad yesterday, and now they’re moving up.”
Wong was focused on the bank, counting on bass moving up as the warmer day increased water temps. “The water temperature is 67 degrees,” he said. “I think what they were doing is staging out all the old tilapia bad yesterday, and now they’re moving up.”
He would lower his Power-Poles whenever he saw a particularly good-looking spot.
He would lower his Power-Poles whenever he saw a particularly good-looking spot.
He made a change to a wacky rig to see if a slower presentation would produce.
He made a change to a wacky rig to see if a slower presentation would produce.
Wong dragged the plastic lure from the edge of the reeds.
Wong dragged the plastic lure from the edge of the reeds.
Wong dragged the plastic lure from the edge of the reeds.
Wong dragged the plastic lure from the edge of the reeds.
That was just the ticket for the second bite of the day.
That was just the ticket for the second bite of the day.
The bass was pretty uncooperative, forcing Wong to carefully play the fish on the light line and spinning rod.
The bass was pretty uncooperative, forcing Wong to carefully play the fish on the light line and spinning rod.
Wong finally lipped the bass from the back deck.
Wong finally lipped the bass from the back deck.
You can see the excitement on his face as the young angler pulled in a chunky bass that really helped his cause.
You can see the excitement on his face as the young angler pulled in a chunky bass that really helped his cause.
He showed off the bass to the live camera, and talked about having a positive attitude. “That’s the thing: You never give up,” Wong said. “You have to keep a positive attitude because it can happen anytime.”
He showed off the bass to the live camera, and talked about having a positive attitude. “That’s the thing: You never give up,” Wong said. “You have to keep a positive attitude because it can happen anytime.”
The bass put a smile on Wong’s face, especially when he put it on the scale to learn it was a 5 1/2-pounder.
The bass put a smile on Wong’s face, especially when he put it on the scale to learn it was a 5 1/2-pounder.