Birmingham, AL - The state of Alabama has been good to Jay Yelas. In 2002, the Texas pro captured the Bassmaster Classic crown with a wire-to-wire performance on Lay Lake. But the morning of August 5th, 2006 is different. This is the FLW Championship on Lake Logan Martin and it is the final round, a one day shootout for $500,000. Yelas has performed at the top of his game during the week of match play, putting together limits over 13 pounds each day. Will his success continue on the final day and will 13 pounds be enough to become part of a unique club, winning the Bassmaster Classic and the FLW Championship? The BASS ZONE followed Jay on his quest for history.
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Unlike other events, the FLWC start of the day is not at first light. Yelas and the eleven other pros arrived at the Pell City ramp via police escort with the sun peaking through the trees. Jay seemed very calm and confident. “If it happens, it happens,” said Yelas. “I’m ready to go fishing.” |
As the National Anthem concluded the curious onlookers began to cover the cove, waiting for the dozen to blastoff and chase the bass that will bring riches. As the takeoff began, the pros had to maneuver through the fans on the water like an obstacle course. Yelas told us that he was not running that far from the launch site. Let the game begin.
Yelas began his quest at a dock that produced for him all week. “One of the keys this week for me was docks on main lake points that had deep water close by,” said Yelas. “Some of the docks are just loaded with fish.” Well, just as we were getting our camera ready, skip, skip, skip, BAM! Yelas connected on his first skip under his first dock. With over 20 spectator boats watching, Yelas boated his first keeper, a three pounder. “Wow, that’s the way to get started,” said the Texas pro.
The characteristics of Yelas’ first dock stop were textbook, just like he said. The dock was a shallow, main lake dock that had 15 feet of water close by. For those that are not familiar with Lake Logan Martin, most of the docks are wooden pier docks, not floating docks. |
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There are numerous targets to flip and skip a bait around the docks. Yelas performed this flawlessly, picking apart every pier that could be holding a bass.
Yelas was flipping and skipping a Berkley Finesse worm on a baitcast reel and a spinning rod and reel. On Friday, Yelas told us, “Fishing docks is really demanding. It takes a lot of focus and precise execution to fish these types of docks on Logan Martin.” True to Yelas’ words, he was working hard. It was amazing to watch Yelas skip the finesse worm under the dock with precision. Yelas started out on the front side of the dock but, he worked his way around to the right side, then to the back side where he connected with keeper number two. The Yelas fans screamed with excitement for the two pound bass. A Yelas pose for the crowd and it was back to business. Two fish, five pounds.
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Ok, let’s be honest, dock fishing is not very exciting to watch, but with so much going on and the pressure of a half-million dollars on the line, could a proven winner perform under the conditions? In Yelas’ case, absolutely. As he made his way back to the side of the dock that produced the three-pounder, connection number three. This time, the bass had a plan for Mr. Yelas. No boat ride to Birmingham without a fight. The bass’ strategy was to get wrapped around one of the dock piers. Yelas foiled the bass’ plan and played his own game waiting patiently for keeper number three to surrender. Yelas never let any slack get in his line and netted the fish after a twenty second fight. Three fish, seven pounds. |
Now to the left side of the bass filled dock. The left side contained a small pier walkway that Yelas picked apart. A skip with the spinning rod and reel, keeper number four was in the net. Yelas had fished his first area for almost 45 minutes and bagged four keepers then, shutdown. The bite disappeared. Time to move……a short move for Yelas, about 50 yards to the next dock.
Stop number two, same game, different dock with different results. No takers after working the dock for about thirty minutes. On the move again to stop number three.
Well, guess what, another main lake dock. Skip, flip, skip, flip, no takers except for an eight inch spotted bass that must have been really hungry in the 89 degree water. Yelas gave area number three a chance, staying on that dock for about 50 minutes, but no cooperation. On the move again.
| Stop number four was only about five minutes from the launch site. In case you have not figured it out, yes, it was another dock. The interesting layout of this dock was a long narrow pier that was behind the dock. Yelas actually had to go to his knees to skip the bait to the target area. Two skips later, a huge splash erupted from underneath the pier. Yelas was on a mad scramble to land this keeper. |
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This fish was big. The fish was wrapped in a pier just for a split second then made burst to the top of the water. Yelas maneuvered the fish to the back of the boat and scrambled for the net. With one swoop, the bass was dominated and going for a ride. The spectators went crazy and Yelas was pumped. Yelas bagged a limit weighing around twelve pounds with plenty of time remaining.
Twelve pounds may not be enough, but it was a great start to the one day shootout for $500,000! |
