Versatile Cox having a huge day

If you equate the name John Cox with aluminum boats, shallow water and largemouth bass, you would not be wrong.

Just don’t try to pigeonhole the accomplished Florida pro, who took the unofficial lead in the YETI Bassmaster Elite on Lake St. Clair with the day’s first reported 20-pound bag.

Reports indicate that Cox has spent most of his morning near the mouth of the St. Clair River, but at this writing, we have no verified details on how he’s fishing. While smallmouth bass dominate the St. Clair game, this lake also holds largemouth.

It’ll be interesting to find out what species make up his bag, but one thing’s for sure: John Cox possesses the versatility to catch fish just about anywhere.

Qualifying through the 2019 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens, the first-year Elite won the Eastern Open event on Lake Chickamauga, took second at the Central Open on Smith Lake and placed 11th at the Central Open on Florida’s Harris Chain.

Last year, Cox finished second in the Central Opens and fourth in the Eastern Opens.

Cox brings a ton of credibility from his years as an FLW pro, during which he amassed seven wins, including the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup on Wheeler Lake and a 2019 Pro Series victory on Lake Chickamauga.

One thing Cox may have going for him is seclusion. He’s known for taking his XPress aluminum boat into areas unfriendly to fiberglass hulls. We’ll have to see whether or not that strategy plays in this event, but you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on this versatile angler.