Wilson sets pace on Douglas Lake
DANDRIDGE, Tenn. — Dewayne Wilson put his custom-built rods to the ultimate test by catching a heavyweight limit and taking over the lead in the Bass Pro Shops Northern Open at Douglas Lake.
The owner of Dixie Custom Rods set the pace in the pro division with a 21-pound, 12-ounce limit of Douglas Lake largemouth. “It worked out early for me but after about 10 o’clock I couldn’t get bit,” Wilson said. “Luckily we caught them early.”
Competing in only his second Bassmaster event, the 47-year-old Wilson frequently fishes Douglas and knows several deep spots that hold fish this time of year. While practicing last week with his buddy tournament partner, Wilson caught fish deep in several spots. “We had a lot of places that had fish but it seems like they are drying up,” he said.
The La Follette, Tenn., angler caught his limit by about 7 a.m. and then culled out three or four keepers while fishing three spots. “There were a lot of fish in the one spot and in the other two spots there were only a few fish but they were bigger,” he said.
