I headed to Weber Point Park today to check out day 3 of the Trokar Duel on the Delta and it was truly a day full of excitement as the leader board really got shaken up. The previous day the clouds had come out and the rain actually helped the bite and helped propel Ike up into contention and Stephen Browning jumped to the top of the leaderboard with a second day with a 20 pound plus bags. Browning was looking really good coming into day three but the wind was blowing hard today and never got on the bite he experienced on the previous two days. Browning fell from first to fifth and other heavy hitters including Greg Hackney were there to capitalize.

Greg Hackney boats a 8.10oz. kicker and heads to the top of the leader board

Stephen Browning had two excellent days but today he only got one 13oz. fish and dropped from first to fifth but don’t count him out just yet

Skeet continued to be consistent and weighed in another 18+ pound limit which moved him up to third place, right behind him is John Crews. Each of these top four anglers has now weighed in over 50lbs in total weight and though Stephen Browning has dropped into fifth position with 46-1 don’t count him out just yet, if he can just have another day like his first two he will be right in it.

The Delta has proven to be a challenge at this event and the weather has mixed this up with a combination of wind and rain but when the remaining anglers blast off in just a few hours they should have the best conditions of the event thus far. It’s going to be a wild day on the water. Skeet drew cheers from the crowd when he asked if fans wanted to see a winner come from the West. With Hackney, Ike and Skeet in the top three positions it is going to be fight to the finish for sure.

The remaining field of pros to fish in the final day just six hours from now

BASS is coming to town and the Duel in the Delta will surely be a major event here in Northern California, only to be followed with a stop at Clear Lake next week. With all the rainfall that we have been receiving this year the Delta is muddier than usual and there is currently only 1-2 feet visibility throughout most areas and a cold snap in the area looks like it has altered the usual spawn patterns. So just how good will fishing be this year? Will it match up some of the massive weigh ins we saw three years ago? The largest largemouth ever caught during a BASS competition (14lbs. 9oz.) came out of the Delta back in 1999 by Mark Tyler and hopes are high for another spectacular big fish and total weigh in.

I think a little warmer weather is key to the event really blowing wide open and unfortuantely a predicted storm on Friday might really complicate things on day two of the tournament, but even with these conditions I think we can expect a total weight of close to 90 pounds to win this event. Which Pro has what it takes to adapt and win this event? Here are my top five picks for potential winners.

Does Skeet have what it takes to win the Duel on the Delta?

Skeet Reese: Skeet didn’t do so well in Alabama but now that were on the west coast in his own backyard he is going to come into this event strong and with a vengeance. He has finished in the top five in this event before and is going to surge either this week or next at Clear Lake.

Jared Lintner: I’ve fished with Jared and the man is an absolute beast when it comes to fishing shallow water and the Delta is also a body of water he knows well. This event and Clear Lake next week could both be excellent events for Jared and if the water warms up like it is supposed to that would only further play into his strengths.

Ish Monroe: I have to go with another one of our West Coast boys for my third pick. While it isn’t very likely with these current conditions that Ish will be throwing his frog a whole lot at this particular event when it comes to boating big fish there are few that know the Delta as well as Ish does. I think Ish has what it takes to place high up at this event and/or win it outright if he gets in the zone early.

Brent Chapman: Flipping and pitching master Brent Chapman is used to working structure and is versatile enough to be a serious contender on the Delta. Also an expert at shallow water Brent may just have what it takes to put an “X” in the win column this weekend, hope he packed enough Trokar hooks to fish plenty of plastics.

Kevin Van Dam: Finally just like covering the zeros on a roulette wheel I have to go with KVD. Why? Just because he is arguably the best angler out there right now and is hot off a classic win. You can never count KVD out and even though he won’t have the advantage of home water here on the West Coast he is among the most consistent anglers out there and has absolutely no fear of adapting quickly when conditions change.

So those are my picks, what are yours?