Cook’s Championship Sunday

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After a tough Day 1, Drew Cook rallied back with a couple of strong days to make it to Championship Sunday of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.
After a tough Day 1, Drew Cook rallied back with a couple of strong days to make it to Championship Sunday of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.
Cook joined Austin Felix, Patrick Walters and John Crews in Rodman Reservoir on Day 4.
Cook joined Austin Felix, Patrick Walters and John Crews in Rodman Reservoir on Day 4.
Cook mentioned to reporters after Day 2, that having a day off between practice and Day 1 of the tournament hurt his pattern. He wasn’t able to “put the fish to bed”. In other words, what he found wasn’t there by the start of the event.
Cook mentioned to reporters after Day 2, that having a day off between practice and Day 1 of the tournament hurt his pattern. He wasn’t able to “put the fish to bed”. In other words, what he found wasn’t there by the start of the event.
Rodman is full of wood and other vegetation. Cook was targeting a shallow flat where fish were spawning, and even chasing bait. Early on Day 4, Cook was surprised to see a good bit of schooling activity.
Rodman is full of wood and other vegetation. Cook was targeting a shallow flat where fish were spawning, and even chasing bait. Early on Day 4, Cook was surprised to see a good bit of schooling activity.
Shortly after firing a lipless crankbait across the flat, he hooked up with a solid keeper.
Shortly after firing a lipless crankbait across the flat, he hooked up with a solid keeper.
Keeper No. 2 is in the boat.
Keeper No. 2 is in the boat.
Cook had no problem getting bites. Getting the fish that were roaming the flat to bite seemed to be no issue.
Cook had no problem getting bites. Getting the fish that were roaming the flat to bite seemed to be no issue.
Cook is one of the best sight fishermen in the game, but the low light conditions early on Day 4 made it difficult to see the beds. Likely a big reason why he opted to cover water with a lipless crankbait early.
Cook is one of the best sight fishermen in the game, but the low light conditions early on Day 4 made it difficult to see the beds. Likely a big reason why he opted to cover water with a lipless crankbait early.
“I don’t know why they’re schooling like this today,” said Cook.
“I don’t know why they’re schooling like this today,” said Cook.
Cook hooks up with a small keeper.
Cook hooks up with a small keeper.
It didn’t take Cook long to hook up with No. 5.
It didn’t take Cook long to hook up with No. 5.
Keeper No. 5.
Keeper No. 5.
Cook makes a solid cull by culling this fish with a 14-ounce keeper.
Cook makes a solid cull by culling this fish with a 14-ounce keeper.
A couple casts after picking up a swim jig, Cook hooks up with a big one.
A couple casts after picking up a swim jig, Cook hooks up with a big one.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
“I told you they’d eat a swim jig today,” Cook said to cameraman Seth Doman.
“I told you they’d eat a swim jig today,” Cook said to cameraman Seth Doman.
Great cull for Cook.
Great cull for Cook.
Once the sun started to peak out from the clouds, Cook began to cruise down the bank, looking for bedding fish.
Once the sun started to peak out from the clouds, Cook began to cruise down the bank, looking for bedding fish.
Cook worked on a bedding fish that he estimated to be over six pounds, but had no luck getting her to react.
Cook worked on a bedding fish that he estimated to be over six pounds, but had no luck getting her to react.
While cruising down the bank, Cook hooks up with another solid keeper.
While cruising down the bank, Cook hooks up with another solid keeper.
After thoroughly working the flat, Cook makes a run down the lake.
After thoroughly working the flat, Cook makes a run down the lake.
At this point, the sun is almost completely out, so Cook puts the trolling motor on high and heads down the bank in hopes of spotting a big bedding fish.
At this point, the sun is almost completely out, so Cook puts the trolling motor on high and heads down the bank in hopes of spotting a big bedding fish.
After working on a bed fish for a little over five minutes, Cook boats another solid keeper.
After working on a bed fish for a little over five minutes, Cook boats another solid keeper.
“I can’t believe that is the only fish on bed down this entire stretch,” he said after boating the fish.
“I can’t believe that is the only fish on bed down this entire stretch,” he said after boating the fish.