Jacob Wheeler, who moved to the Chattanooga area from Indianapolis last month, wound up fourth in the Bassmaster Elite event that ended Sunday on Lake Champlain in upstate New York.
The new Harrison resident brings home the Livingston Lures Day 2 Leader Award of $500 after moving up 29 places from Friday to take an 18-ounce lead into the final day of the bass fishing tournament, which was shortened a day because of inclement weather. But on Sunday, no one in the final field of 51 anglers was able to keep up with Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., who moved up 19 spots from Saturday to win the big prize of $100,000.
Martens' daily limit of five fish weighed in at 23 pounds, 5 ounces on Sunday, giving him a tourney total of 58-12. Seth Feider of Isle, Minn., was second at 57-14, while Brandon Palaniuk of Hayden, Idaho, was third at 57-5. Wheeler's daily limit weighed 18-2 for a three-day tally of 56-10. That was just an ounce ahead of fifth-place Kelley Jaye of Dadeville, Ala., and two other Tennessee residents completed the top seven - Brandon Lester of Fayetteville totaled 55-8 and Ott DeFoe of Knoxville finished at 55-7. Wheeler's earnings from the event were $15,500.