Elite

Seminole Elite social media roundup

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Captions by
Shaye Baker
The 2023 Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Lake Seminole is set to start on Thursday. But first, let’s take a look around social media to check-in on the 104 Elite Series Pros to see how their practice is going. (@johncrewsbassfish)
John Crews has found himself a new traveling companion. This feline apparently wants to become a bass cat itself, as it settles into Crews’s BassCat Boat and awaits all the puns we can muster. (@johncrewsbassfish)
It was a quick turnaround for the guys, as the Top 10 competed on Lake Okeechobee on Sunday and had to start practice on Monday some six hours north on Lake Seminole. (@brandonpalaniuk)
Though Brandon Palaniuk didn’t make the cut to fish on Championship Sunday, he hung around to be a part of the Bassmaster LIVE Mix coverage, as did several of the anglers. This led to late-night tackle prep. (@brandonpalaniuk)
Brandon Lester gives us our first look at Lake Seminole. (@brandonlesterfishing)
Chad Pipkens idles out onto the playing field for this week. The last time the Elites were here in 2014, it took 97 pounds, 10 ounces to win in just 3 1/2 days of competition. A strong storm blew through the area on Championship Sunday, postponing the takeoff. Will we see someone hit the century mark this week? (@chad_pipkens)
Steve Kennedy is one of the anglers who had to drive through the night after leading Day 3 and finishing fifth at Lake Okeechobee. (@fishingprostevekennedy)
Drew Benton is an angler that many will have their eyes on this week. An expert at sight fishing and having nearly as much time on Lake Seminole as anyone in the field, Benton could beat them all. (@drewbentonfishing)
Drew Cook loads his deck and prepares for a week of fishing on the biggest stage, while sleeping in his own bed. (@drewcookfishing)
He offers up his thoughts on how this one will play out at Bassmaster.com. (@drewcookfishing)
Stetson Blaylock is all smiles for the start of practice. With favorable conditions to see a big wave of spawners move up the next few days, these anglers are fired up and ready to go. (@stetsonblaylockfishing)
The 2022 season opener winner, John Crews, stops by to congratulate the 2023 season opener champ Tyler Rivet. (@johncrewsbassfish)
David Willams gives us a look at a mat of hyacinth floating on Lake Seminole. There’s endless cover here. From standing timber to submerged vegetation like hydrilla, coontail, peppergrass and milfoil, to lily pads, reeds and other shoreline vegetation, the possibilities abound here. (@dwfishing)
Hunter Shryock gives us a unique perspective from his onboard camera. Looking at the water clarity here, you can see that it’s a little muddy across much of Seminole at the moment. (@huntershryockfishing)
Canadian Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson seems to have brought the northern species with him. (@gussyoutdoors)
And he’s caught a few rather large baitfish as well. (@gussyoutdoors)
But Gussy has also found a bass or two. (@gussyoutdoors)
Matt Robertson is on a big bite looks like. But is this a random punching fish or did it come on a lipless crankbait? Both techniques will play here this week. (@onem_fishing)
Jason Williamson showing one off for the camera as well. (@jwillfishing)
Matty Wong with a chunky one. This bass is obviously prespawn, and these are the kind that local Drew Cook believes it will take to win here. (@matty_wong)
Elite Series Rookie Justin Hamner turns a nice fish loose. (@justinhamnerfishing)
Though the water has a brown tint to it throughout much of the fishery, there are certainly areas with decent visibility. And then there are crystal clear backwaters as well. So expect to see anglers sight fishing. (@justinhamnerfishing)
Chad Pipkens has located a solid fish. Drew Cook believes it will take nearly 16 pounds per day on Seminole to make the 50 cut and fish on Day 3. (@chad_pipkens)
We leave you with a beauty. This bass caught in practice by Derek Hudnall is so big you can’t even see his face. Lots of big fish will be caught here this week. Don’t miss a minute of the 2023 Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Lake Seminole by tuning in to Bassmaster.com. (@derek_hudnall_fishing)

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