bassmaster classic

Classic practice: Juggling shallow and deep

Follow the Classic competitors as they test both shallow and deep bites on the final day of practice at the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota!

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Photography by
Chase Sansom
Photography by
Kyle Jessie
Follow the Classic competitors as they test both shallow and deep bites on the final day of practice at the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota!
The first person we find is Gerald Swindle.
He is cranking some shallower rocks.
He hooks up with a small largemouth.
Riding along with Swindle is Bassmaster LIVE host Ronnie Moore.
Swindle hooks up shortly after the first fish. “This is a chunk munk,” he said.
“That’s what you call meat,” Swindle said.
Next, we moved further down lake to the Fort Loudoun dam. There were a crop of anglers fishing next to the dam.
Both Chris and Cory Johnston were fishing close by as well.
Scott Martin was also in the area.
“Here is you an action shot,” Martin said as he hooked his bait to the carpet and set the hook. At this point, the anglers and myself needed something to change the mood with all the nasty weather.
Kenta Kimura working a deeper rocky point.
He moves in closer before working down the rip rap you can see in the background.
Fort Loudoun has a plentiful amount of boat docks scattered down the river. Some still in the water and some out of the water due to the lake level being five foot under full pool.
Although the water temperatures are in still in the low 50’s, it is encouraging to see the trees trying to bloom.
Anglers have the choice of deeper rocky banks or…
… shallower rocky banks. Which one will prevail? We will have to wait to see on Friday.
Lee Livesay started his morning by roaming across a shallow point.
After working his way around the back side of the point, Livesay hooks up with a small keeper.
Close by was Brandon Lester, who is one of the favorites to win the 2023 Bassmaster Classic. The Tennessee pro thoroughly worked over a boat dock before heading down a stretch of bank.
Oklahoma’s Luke Palmer was also nearby, bouncing from point to point in hopes of finding a group of fish.
Palmer hooks up with a solid keeper after working down a stretch of steep bank.
After a short move, he hooks up again. This time it’s a short smallmouth.
Desptie being a nonkeeper, this fish had been feeding up.

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