ANDERSON, S.C. — For three days, the field has been waiting for Brandon Cobb to stumble.
It hasn’t happened yet — and now, they’re almost out of time.
Cobb caught five bass today that weighed 18 pounds, 5 ounces and held on to the lead for the third straight day in the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Hartwell. His three-day total of 55-6 gives him more than a 5-pound cushion over his closest competitors going into Championship Sunday and a chance at a rare wire-to-wire victory in an Elite Series event.
South Carolina’s Brandon Cobb leads going into Championship Sunday of the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Hartwell with a three-day total of 55 pounds, 6 ounces.
“I don’t know how many fish I went through today that weighed from about 2-4 to 2-11,” said Cobb, whose thumbs were red and raw from handling bass today. “I caught so many fish, but I just couldn’t find any big ones in the area I had been fishing.
“That’s why I finally decided to change areas.”
Cobb went to an area that he said was “new for this tournament, but certainly not new” to him as a bass angler on Lake Hartwell. He grew up fishing the lake and was actually a member of the bass fishing team for Clemson University, which is positioned on the banks of Hartwell.
Once he changed locations, he quickly caught his biggest fish of the day — a largemouth in the 5-pound range.
“I actually caught two pretty good ones out of that area,” Cobb said. “So, I might just change things up and spend all day in there tomorrow or at least go there a little earlier.”
Coming into the week, Cobb was afraid his history on the lake would serve as a detriment because a string of unusually cold nights and a steadily falling lake level has had the fish behaving strangely.
But he survived Thursday’s first round with a catch of 19-9 and maintained the lead with 17-8 Friday. Now, he believes the conditions are normalizing on Hartwell — and he thinks that could play into his hands as he tries to become the first wire-to-wire winner on the Elite Series since 2016.
“In practice, the fish weren’t doing anything like they would normally do this time of year,” Cobb said. “So, I was really worried that my history here would hurt me — or at least not help me very much.
“But as the week has gone on, the fish have started acting exactly like they’re supposed to. Since they didn’t do it all week in practice, a lot of people aren’t ready for it — but I feel like I am.”
If Cobb is to complete the start-to-finish win, he’ll have to hold off a logjam of anglers with weights in the 49-pound range. Micah Frazier (49-12), Stetson Blaylock (49-10), Drew Cook (49-7) and Bill Lowen (49-1) are all within relatively easy striking distance of Cobb if he finally stumbles.
Blaylock, a third-year Elite Series pro from Benton, Ark., was the biggest mover Saturday, bringing in five bass that weighed 19-3 to rise from 10th place into third. His catch was anchored by a 5-15 largemouth that gave him the lead in the race for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award.
“I thought that biggest fish would weigh better than 6 pounds when I was fishing for it,” Blaylock said. “But that’s been the story all week — they all look bigger in the water than they do when you catch them.
“I’ve spent a lot of time on fish this week that I thought were 3-pounders and they didn’t even help me. I can’t understand how they can be so long, but then be so skinny.”
Since warm conditions have settled into the region, Blaylock said big things are possible Sunday.
“I feel like the areas that I’m fishing should be running out and I should be disappointed,” he said. “But in the back of my mind, I keep thinking that they’re showing up.
“So I’m just gonna let it unfold, and hopefully they’ll keep showing up some more.”
The Top 10 remaining pros will fish on Championship Sunday with takeoff scheduled for 7 a.m. ET from Green Pond Landing and Event Center. The weigh-in will be held back at the same site at 3:15 p.m., with the winning pro earning a $100,000 first-place prize.
A special expo will also be held Sunday at Green Pond Landing with demo rides of a Nitro, Skeeter and Triton boats, prizes from Toyota and Academy Sports + Outdoors, fun activities at the Berkley/Abu Garcia Experience trailer and more.
Sunday is also B.A.S.S. Member Appreciation Day. Fans who show their B.A.S.S. member cards at the B.A.S.S. Merchandise booth will receive a free Bassmaster hat.
Sunday will also feature the Elite LIVE Watch Party from noon-2 p.m. Fans can watch Bassmaster LIVE and hang out with special guests and possibly have a chance to be on the show.
2019 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2019 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Talon, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Abu Garcia, Berkley
2019 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Carhartt, Lowrance, Mossy Oak Fishing, T-H Marine, Academy Sports + Outdoors
2019 Bassmaster Elite at Lake Hartwell Host Sponsor: Visit Anderson
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 510,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, BassPro.com Bassmaster Open Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
2019 Bassmaster Elite at Lake Hartwell 4/4-4/7
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 15 55-06 100
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 18-05
2. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 15 49-12 99
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 18-03 Day 3: 5 14-00
3. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 15 49-10 98
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 19-03
4. Drew Cook Midway, FL 15 49-07 97
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 20-06 Day 3: 5 14-13
5. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 15 49-01 96
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 18-03 Day 3: 5 14-14
6. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 15 47-08 95
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 13-06 Day 3: 5 19-08
7. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 15 46-06 94
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 16-03 Day 3: 5 16-04
8. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 15 46-03 93
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 14-11
9. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 15 45-14 92
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 16-01
10. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 15 45-10 91
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 15-09 Day 3: 5 17-00
11. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 15 45-06 90 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 5 14-12
12. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 15 44-06 89 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 16-02
13. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 15 44-05 88 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 13-04
14. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 15 44-03 87 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 14-00
15. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 15 44-01 86 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 17-03
16. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 15 43-14 85 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 5 12-10
17. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 15 43-13 84 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 15-06
18. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 15 43-11 83 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 16-01
19. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 15 43-07 82 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 5 13-04
20. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 15 43-00 81 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 11-09 Day 3: 5 16-14
21. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 15 42-14 80 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 15-00 Day 3: 5 12-07
22. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 15 42-11 79 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 5 14-07
23. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 15 42-11 78 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 10-05 Day 3: 5 15-13
24. Seth Feider New Market, MN 15 42-09 77 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 12-14
25. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 15 41-12 76 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 5 15-10
26. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 15 41-11 75 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 14-15
27. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 15 41-04 74 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 10-13 Day 3: 5 14-09
28. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 15 41-02 73 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 5 12-15
29. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 15 40-13 72 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 10-01
30. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 15 40-00 71 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 13-08
31. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 15 38-13 70 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 5 10-13
32. Randy Pierson Oakdale, CA 15 38-04 69 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 11-13
33. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 15 37-15 68 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 13-06 Day 3: 5 12-04
34. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 15 37-08 67 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 11-10 Day 3: 5 11-02
35. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 15 35-08 66 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 11-05 Day 3: 5 08-13
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 72 367 970-13
2 69 359 893-04
3 35 175 506-03
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176 901 2370-04
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