PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Spending two weeks bass fishing on the best smallmouth fisheries around seems like a dream vacation for the average angler. For the Bassmaster Elite Series pros this week it’s a different scenario.
They are now in their second consecutive week of competition. At this level are no second chances to rebound from an off day. Mentally staying on top of the game with every cast is a must.
Knowing how to recognize the signs of what to do and when is a must. Miss the sign and an opportunity to get ahead vanishes without any clues. Still in the game, and capitalizing on the clues, are the top 51 anglers fishing on Championship Sunday.
Here are the clues and decisions made by some of those anglers fishing the Bassmaster Elite at Champlain presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels.
Finding a comfort zone
Jacob Wheeler leads the tournament behind the strength of advice shared years ago by a trusted friend and expert smallmouth angler.
“Never beg smallmouth to bite,” said Wheeler. “Always keep running until you find the fish.”
The message clicked with Wheeler as he began to recognize the nomadic behavior of smallmouth. On Lake Champlain he kept moving. He eventually found the fish and dialed into a pattern.
Wheeler prides himself, and rightfully so, on the uncanny ability to capitalize on offshore smallmouth holding on isolated objects. Rocks come to mind. So do angles.
Angles, as in lining up a lure to specifically cross a particular rock. It makes sense when you understand the object-oriented nature of smallmouth.
“It also comes down to understanding how smallmouth set up on a piece of cover, understanding the depth zone where to begin looking for the fish.”
With his mind dialed into the comfort zone of the fish he set to work on Lake Champlain, making a huge jump in the standings on Day 2.
“It’s all about finding the comfort zone of the fish and then replicating that in a pattern,” he said.
Pre-practice matters
Brandon Lester traveled from middle Tennessee to pre-practice both fisheries on the back-to-back schedule. He did that during the six-week off period prior to the northern swing of the current season.
“Normally I don’t do it, but I looked at the points needed to qualify for the Classic and decided to spend time up here,” he said. “It made a huge difference.”
Lester finished 32nd last week on the St. Lawrence River. After Day 2 he is in third place with 37 pounds, 8 ounces, or about 1 pound behind Wheeler.
“The lesson learned is that pre-practicing, or scouting a strange lake ahead of time, is worth the time,” he said.
Prior knowledge
Matt Lee has one prior trip to Lake Champlain, the 2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open. A 28th-place finish helped jumpstart his success this week. Going into Championship Sunday he is one of three anglers tied with 37-7, or about a pound out of the lead.
Lee revisited old GPS waypoints and a pattern was born.
“I knew from prior experience that targeting smallmouth offshore would be the most reliable pattern here during summer,” he said. “If you can get out there and find the fish a spot will replenish itself.”
The lake, and pattern, is that good. Catch a smallmouth off a boulder today and come tomorrow another fish will take it’s place tomorrow.
“I’m targeting a specific depth in deep water, and every boulder you find in that zone has a smallmouth,” he said. “It’s just insane.”
Starting point
Jordan Lee recognized early on the smallmouth are biting very early in the morning this week on Lake Champlain. The payoff is a spot in the top 10 with 37-5.
“The big decision is knowing where to start the day,” he said. “Being on spot, at the right time, is critical.”
He added, “I knew where to start and am making sure to be on my best areas for the early bite.”
Paying attention to the fish
Brandon Palaniuk noticed the smallmouth he caught during practice were recovering from the spawn. The fish were smaller in size and generally lethargic.
That tipped him off to a pattern.
“Understanding the smallmouth wouldn’t be as aggressive enabled me to adjust my lure and presentation,” he said.
Palaniuk chose slower moving baits and specifically a Storm Arashi Spinbait of his design. The bait is designed to trigger strikes from lethargic fish.
Being observant is pushing Palaniuk farther ahead in his lead of the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race.