Elite

Hudnall’s hectic afternoon

Head out with Derek Hudnall as he battles a tough afternoon on Day 3 of the 2022 Simms Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork!

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Photography by
Andy Crawford
We caught up with Louisiana pro Derek Hudnall just before noon, after he had moved way into the back of a creek. He already had sacked 16-8 in another area, but this dirt-shallow part of Lake Fork is where he’s been culling up every day.
Hudnall told me yesterday that he found the area during practice. “It’s full of big fish,” he said. “They are feeding on big gizzard shad.” Hudnall said he had culled up to 20-13 since arriving in the back of the creek.
The central feature around which the bass are feeding is an inches deep area. “They are in packs,” he said. “When they feed, I can see them, and when they are wolf packing they’re big fish.” He said he had caught about 20 bass between 9 and 11:30 a.m., but he needed to cull a 3-pounder.
Minutes after we picked our way back to Hudnall, the angler hooked up with a nice fish off the shallow flat.
And then the worst happened: The bass wrapped up on a stob.
Hudnall hurried to try and disentangle the bass before it broke off.
The effort was in vain, as the 4-pounder broke off before Hudnall could grab it. “I almost had it,” he said.
After taking a breath, Hudnall tied on another vibrating jib to get back to work.
He often poled down to keep the boat under control in the stump field, allowing him to fan cast.
A few casts later, another 4-pounder choked on the vibrating jig and the fight was on.
Hudnall watched as the bass found a stick-up and raced directly for it.
For the second time in less than 5 minutes, Hudnall’s line snapped.
His grimace revealed the emotions of the moment.
It took a ew more minutes to shake off the loss, but Hudnall soon was back at work.
Hudnall had a small cheering section on a nearby dock.
Working an open section of water away from the key spot, Hudnall hooked up again.
Unfortunately, this bass wouldn’t help his cause.
When we left, he was still casting, working his way back to the key spot in hopes of ambushing another wolf pack of big bass.

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