Elite

Hackney’s solid Day 3 start

Follow along with Greg Hackney as he brings ’em in on Day 3 of the 2023 Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Lake Seminole!

Posted on
Photography by
Andy Crawford
Louisiana’s Greg Hackney headed out for Semifinal Saturday of the 2023 Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite Series in third place, and he ran straight to the Chattahoochee River.
He pulled off plane in a pocket off the main channel, and began working his way deeper into the thick vegetation of the flat.
A few minutes later, Clark Wendlandt arrived.
Wendlandt stayed on the edge of the grass flat …
… while Hackney moved deep into a small area of matted mixed vegetation.
Floating mats of grass ringed his primary area.
After seeing somehing he liked, Hackney switched rods …
… and quickly hooked up on his first bass.
He boat-flipped the 4-pounder into the boat and added it to his livewell.
Hackney kept his eyes out for bedding bass as he moved through the small area of the flat.
After poling down to work a bed, he was soon hooked up again.
Not quite the same size …
… but the keeper bass warranted a little celebration with cameraman Jake Latendresse.
Hackney re-rigged often to ensure his lure was perfect.
Another bass fell for his soft-plastic lure.
A 3-pounder and a smile for the camera.
Hackney was soon set up on another bed.
A swing and a miss.
It appeared Hackney would use a topwater lure to locate probable beds and then move in to pitch soft plastics.
Hackney went into stealth mode after seeing a particular bed.
It worked, and the bass was soon struggling with the pro.
Hackney’s first cull of the day added a pound or so to his stringer.
He went right back to work as a BASS Live drone captured footage.
He set the hook deep in the salad.
A 3 1/2-pounder was swung over the gunnel.
Hackney culled up again.

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