Windy and wet was the order of the day on Okeechobee as anglers fought the weather, the fish and each other during the first Costa FLW Series tournament of 2016.

Jason Lambert of Pickwick Dam, Tenn. captured the lead with one day of competition left to go. Consistency has been the formula for success. Lambert brought-in another mid-teens bag today to run his total weight to 32 pounds-even.

In many past FLW events 32 pounds would be considered just a good single-day weight on the ‘Big O’. This year it’s enough to put Lambert more than a pound ahead of Florida standout and Tour veteran Glenn Browne.

It took 26-11to make the cut, a position held by local stick Justin Morgan. Morgan needed his local knowledge as he did not get to practice (he was on the waiting list until Tuesday). Add to that the fact that his trolling motor batteries died at 10:30 AM on Day 1 and he should be stoked just to have a crack at this thing going into the last day.

Heck, even Morgan – in 10^th place – is only an Okeechobee kicker fish away from the top of the leaderboard.

The top 10 pros will compete in tomorrow’s finale. The rest of the field has been eliminated. Here is the Top 10:

1        JASON LAMBERT         PICKWICK DAM, TN    16 – 9 (5)     15 – 7 (5)     32 – 0 (10)             32 – 0 (10)  

2        GLENN BROWNE         OCALA, FL          16 – 4 (5)     14 – 11 (5)   30 – 15 (10)                30 – 15 (10)          

3        BRYAN HONNERLAW           MOORE HAVEN, FL     16 – 2 (5)     13 – 12 (5)        29 – 14 (10)                     29 – 14 (10)          

4        STEVE BOOGIE BROWN       ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL   13 – 12 (5)     15 – 11 (5)   29 – 7 (10)             29 – 7 (10)  

5        JOSEPH KREMER          OSTEEN, FL         17 – 3 (5)     10 – 14 (5)   28 – 1 (10)                  28 – 1 (10)  

6        PAT FISHER        COLBERT, GA     11 – 6 (5)     16 – 2 (5)     27 – 8 (10)             27 – 8 (10)  

7        PETER CHERKAS          DES MOINES, IA           20 – 0 (5)     7 – 2 (5)           27 – 2 (10)             27 – 2 (10)  

8        JIMMY BREWER           MARSHALL, TX 9 – 4 (5)       17 – 9 (5)     26 – 13 (10)                26 – 13 (10)          

9        COLE BAILEY     THAMESFORD, ON      5 – 11 (3)     21 – 0 (5)     26 – 11 (8)                  26 – 11 (8)  

10      JUSTIN MORGAN         OKEECHOBEE, FL        18 – 4 (5)     8 – 7 (2)           26 – 11 (7)             26 – 11 (7)

Here are the top co-anglers who will also fish tomorrow:

1                  ADAM TRIESCHMANN                   WELLINGTON, FL                  5 – 11 (3)               18 – 9 (5)               24 – 4 (8)                         24 – 4 (8)              

2                  MARK HOWARD                    MESQUITE, TX             12 – 14 (5)               10 – 7 (5)               23 – 5 (10)                       23 – 5 (10)            

3                  NIK KAYLER                 APOPKA, FL                  7 – 6 (5)                 11 – 10 (5)             19 – 0 (10)                       19 – 0 (10)            

4                  MICHAEL BLACK                   TOLEDO, IL                   14 – 3 (5)               4 – 5 (3)                 18 – 8 (8)                         18 – 8 (8)              

5                  DEAN HARCOURT                 SEBASTIAN, FL            14 – 0 (5)               4 – 2 (4)                 18 – 2 (9)                         18 – 2 (9)              

6                  SCOTT DOBSON           CLARKSTON, MI          2 – 4 (1)                 15 – 11 (5)             17 – 15 (6)                       17 – 15 (6)            

7                  STEVEN CHRISTIE                 GRAY COURT, SC                  8 – 2 (5)            9 – 11 (5)               17 – 13 (10)                     17 – 13 (10)          

8                  JOSEPH SOLENSKI                 WEST PALM BEACH, FL                 9 – 6 (5)                 8 – 0 (5)                 17 – 6 (10)                       17 – 6 (10)            

9                  TY SOLIS             ALBANY, GA                10 – 2 (5)               6 – 12 (3)          16 – 14 (8)                       16 – 14 (8)            

10                BILLY CHARLAND                CHULUOTA, FL            6 – 8 (5)                    10 – 2 (5)               16 – 10 (10)                     16 – 10 (10)          

Weather will change yet again for Saturday’s final fishing round. Conditions should include clam winds and a bit cloud cover but almost no chance of rain.   

Of course, there will be a variety of lures in play as some guys cast and wind over shallow grass with everything from speed worms to Gambler Big EZ swimbaits, but flipping is always a top tactic on the big lake as well.

Regardless of technique, this tournament may well be won by the angler who executes the best. Most guys have spoken of lost opportunities. When the weather is off, these Florida bass bite very lightly. Mental focus will be a huge factor.