Welcher is pocket-hopping

Kyle Welcher has a limit in the boat but hopes to cull everything he has before the day is over. His fifth keeper was the 2-pounder shown here, which gives him about 8 pounds. He’s mainly biding his time until the sun gets higher in the sky. Welcher has been moving into main lake coves and hopping pockets, throwing a swimbait on the shady side of the pockets.