Paul Mueller has had an uncharacteristically poor season on the Elite Series. He was ranked 81st in the Angler of the Year standings after at 86th place finish at Lake Fork two weeks ago. His best finish this season was 43rd at the Sabine River. The 37-year-old Naugatuck, Conn., pro’s track record includes two Elite Series wins – at the St. Johns River in 2020 and Lake Lanier in 2019 – plus two second-place finishes of note – last year on the St. Lawrence River, when he and eventual winner Chris Johnston came close to topping 100 pounds of smallmouth bass, and in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic.
Mueller is fishing true to form at Neely Henry. He took the unofficial lead on BassTrakk today when he culled up to 14-4 on the day just before 1 o’clock. It’s tight at the top of the standings. But no matter how it shakes out today, Mueller is encouraged. And, if the wind blows, he thinks he’ll have an even better day tomorrow, based on what he’s found today.