Elite

Slow start for Queen

See KJ Queen start slow but ultimately prevail early on Day 2 of the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Lake Oahe.

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Photography by
Andy Crawford
North Carolina’s KJ Queen went into the second day of the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Lake Ohae siting in sixth place, just over 2 1/2 pounds out of the lead. He made a 42-mile run downriver, where we caught up with him.
Lake Oahe already was chopped up from stiff northwestern winds. Running the lake will be an issue for anglers as they head back to weigh-in, since the wind is predicted to shift more northerly. That would mean much of the lake would have little lee protection.
Elite rookie Jonathan Kelley was working water abot 50 yards away, eyes glued to his forward-facing sonar.
Queen made several trips to the tackle compartment.
The wind-induced waves made balance a challenge, as boats were bucked up and down.
Queen alternated between hard-plastic and soft-plastic lures as he worked to get his first bite of the morning.
Kelley finally gave up and moved on, crashing through the waves.
At 8:36, an hour after arriving at his starting spot, a smallmouth finally slurped up Queen’s offering.
The fish challeged Queen’s line, refusing to give up easily. “These fish are so strong,” the angler said.
Finally, however, the bass was in hand …
… but it was a good one. Queen entered the bass as a 3 1/2-pounder into BASSTrakk.
Queen didn’t waste time: He quickly checked his lure …
… and got the bait back in the water.
As Queen came around a point that ofrered a little protection for the wind, the angler had to deal with the full brunt of the high waves.
Eventually, Queen pulled the plug on his first spot with only a single fish in the livewell but plenty of time to work.

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