Clark Reehm of Huntington, TX shows off one of his bigger culls of the day: Photo Courtesy of FLW Outdoors

 

Slow and Steady wins the race…..

Or in the case of FLW Tour Pro Clark Reehm, a top 10 at the least, a top 5 if he plays his cards right.

“Of all the guys fishing tomorrow, I probably have the most confidence in being able to catch 13 pounds.”

Reehm of Huntington, TX has been one of the more consistent anglers during the competition days of the FLW Tour Opener on Lake Okeechobee this week in Florida.

Lets Recap:

Day 1: 13-9 for a three way tie of 29^th

Day 2: 13-12 to move up into 13^th place and make the top 20 cut.

Day 3: 12-11 for a total of 40.00 pounds even to fish Championship Sunday in 10^th.

“Of all the guys fishing tomorrow, I probably have the most confidence in being able to catch 13 pounds. But if I catch a big one, look out, it could get ugly.” Reehm tells us after the day 3 weigh-in. “I’m doing something a lot different than the rest of the field and its paying off.” “I’m not catching the little pound and half rats that most people have been weighing in this week, I haven’t weighed one under 2-3/4 pounds but I’ve also not weighed in one over 3-1/2 to 4 pounds either.” When asked if he was due a big fish Reehm was quick to tell us this was his secondary spot. “My Primary stuff got wrecked from all the wind this week. I made one pass through there on day 1 and abandoned it for this spot where I have weighed all my fish. I might make a pass through there tomorrow as a last ditch effort for a bigger bite, but not until I have my 13 pounds from the Pipe hole.”

“All fish want to do 11 months out of the year is eat.”

The Pipe hole Reehm is referring to, is a discharge pipe Reehm found in practice. “Growing up I got to know former Tour Level Pro David Wharton really well before he passed away in 2009.” “Something David taught me, and something I teach in my Elite Angler Academy, is all fish want to do 11 months out of the year is eat.” Reehm took that heart this week and went looking for the “watering-holes.”

“I went out in practice looking for those primary feeding areas. You know the African watering holes, everything comes there to eat and drink. Lions, cheetahs, gazelles, everything comes there to eat, or in some cases be eaten and that’s what I found with this discharge pipe.” “When the water is running these fish sit in the blowout hole and then move up to the rim to feed. I’m throwing a Megabass jerkbait across that rim on 17lb line and ripping the snot out of it. When they hit, they thump the crap out it. Problem is it could be a 2-1/2 pound bass or it could be a grinnel.”   

Reehm says the high water this week on Okeechobee has made the area very accessible but still not very well known. “My Marshall today sent the camera boat driver a waypoint of where we were, 2 hours later he showed up. Said he has lived here all of his life and has never seen this place.”

When asked if the bite was consistent Reehm was quick to point out, “When you catch one off the rim, you’ve caught every fish that is up at that time. You have to back off a little and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes and then throw up there again. When you make that next cast its almost automatic, those fish are there to eat.”  â€œI’ll start with the jerk bait and then follow it up with a speed craw which I am swimming across the rim.”

The weather for day 4 is still calling for windy condistion, 20-25mph worth. Reehm says other than the ride to get to his spot, the wind doesn’t effect him at all. “I’m in 10^th place going in to tomorrow and every spot is $1,000 more dollars. I’ve got no where to go but up and that’s what I plan to do. I will go get my 13 pounds and then when they shut the pipe off at 12:30, like they have been doing the last couple of days, I will move out and try some other stuff looking for that kicker.” We asked Clark what he thought he needed to make a run at the top 5 and he told us, “If I catch 15 pounds tomorrow I will be a player for a top 5 spot. I feel confident I can catch 13 (pounds) tomorrow pretty easily.

To learn more about Clark and his Elite Angler Academy, Click the link here. Make sure and follow Clark on Social Media and follow along Sunday, the final day of the FLW Tour Opener on Lake Okeechobee on FLWOutdoors.com