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Palmer slams the door on Bassmaster Elite Series win at Santee Cooper Lakes

Luke Palmer of Coalgate, Okla., has won the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a four-day total of 96 pounds, 14 ounces.  

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

April 30, 2023

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — At the Championship Sunday takeoff, an ominous weather forecast told of a coming storm. By day’s end, it was clear Luke Palmer was the storm.

Turning in an absolutely crushing final-round performance, the fifth-year pro from Coalgate, Okla., posted a four-day total of 96 pounds, 14 ounces to win the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes.

Palmer started the event strong with a Day 1 limit of 21-3 that put him in 10th place and followed with a second-round bag of 23-9 that moved him up to third. After adding 26-3 on Semifinal Saturday, Palmer slammed the door on the victory with a massive limit of 25-15 on Championship Sunday.

He earned his first blue trophy and the $100,000 first-place prize, besting second-place angler Mark Menendez (82-11) by a whopping margin of 14-3.

“I’ve been waiting a long time to hear you say that,” Palmer told Bassmaster Emcee Dave Mercer after his ‘Elite Series Champion’ announcement. “I was so close to doing it last year, to finally get it done — I wanted to break 100 pounds, but I’ll take 96-14.”

Notably, Palmer’s winning margin was the sixth-largest in Bassmaster history. The victory, Palmer said, provided an important shot of confidence.

“This is special,” said Palmer, who finished fourth in the 2022 Elite on Santee Cooper. “You work your whole life and you start second guessing yourself and you wonder ‘Am I good enough to do it?’ I was good one time and one time is better than no time.”

Anchoring his final bag with a 7-5 Santee Cooper stud, Palmer was the only angler to catch a limit every day of the event. The final day would bring significant limitations, but Palmer outpaced the impediments.

After three relatively calm days, Championship Sunday dawned damp from overnight/early morning showers. The mid- to late morning period saw a mix of sun and threatening clouds, with a daunting weather system unleashing substantial rain and strong winds from about noon through the end of the fishing day.

Fortunately, Palmer got all of his work done early. According to BassTrakk’s unofficial standings, he had his weight at 10:05.

Spending all four days on Lake Marion’s southwest side, Palmer’s main technique was old school — big rod, heavy line and flipping to cypress trees. In the early going, he threw a bladed jig with a Gene Larew Long John Minnow through the eelgrass, but switching techniques late on the first day ignited his run to the top.

“It took me until 1:30 of Day 1 to realize what was happening,” Palmer said. “It had warmed up; we finally got some sun. It seems those fish were staging out in that eelgrass (during practice) to go up and spawn on those trees.

“When that sun came out and it warmed up, those fish went ahead and moved to the trees.”

Arming himself with a 7-foot-3 heavy action Falcon Amistad rod with a high-speed reel spooled with 20-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon, Palmer flipped a YUM Wooly Bug and a YUM Bad Mamma, both Texas-rigged with a 3/16- or 5/16-ounce Rougarou Tungsten weight, depending on depth.

With thousands of cypress trees spread throughout Marion, Palmer focused on the ones closest to deep water. Knowing the tournament fell at the tail end of the Santee Cooper spawn, he fished the zone most likely to host the late spawners.

Palmer said his Power-Poles allowed him to hold in perfect position, while his Humminbird MEGA Live forward-facing sonar provided a clear picture of what each tree held. Finding the particular “sweet spot” on each tree he fished was the key to triggering bites from territorial bass.

Menendez, the tenured pro from Paducah, Ky., got off to a good start with a sixth-place limit of 21-14. A Day 2 stumble left him with only four fish for 9-7 and dropped him to 34th place.

Menendez rebounded on Semifinal Saturday by weighing 27-13 — the event’s second-heaviest bag. That pushed Menendez up from 34th place to fourth. He gained two more spots with a final-round limit of 23-9.

“I knew Day 2 would come back to haunt me,” Menendez said. “Anytime you don’t fill a limit, it generally does. I’m really kicking myself because I fished right over those fish on Day 2. I wanted to make sure I made the 50 cut so I could fish Day 3 and I fished too fast.

“I got back to my area on Day 3 and I slowed down. It was just a slow process. You’d male lots of casts and all of a sudden, you’d get a bite and you were off to the races. Sometimes you’d catch a whopper, sometimes it was a double whopper.”

Menendez caught some of his bass on a Strike King 4.0 squarebill, but he did most of his work with a Texas-rigged Strike King Rage Cut-R-Worm in the junebug color. Proximity was key, as Menendez said he had to hit the base of a tree to trigger a bite.

Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., finished third with 74-9. The 2022 Santee Cooper Elite winner, he turned in daily limits that weighed 21-13, 17-12, 23-4 and 11-12.

Despite this year’s event falling considerably later in the season, Cook remained committed to the sight-fishing techniques that delivered his first Elite win. He caught his bass on a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog and the Big Bite Baits Quarantine Craw that he designed — both Texas rigged.

“I can’t complain at all,” he said. “I’ve done exactly what I’ve wanted to do in the last two events (including a seventh place at last week’s Elite at Lake Murray).

“Today, with the weather like it was, I made the decision to stay in Taw Caw Creek (where daily takeoffs occurred). I had seven bites today and caught four.”

Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program while ninth-place finisher Jacob Powroznik of North Prince George, Va., earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Menendez earned an additional $2,500 as the highest-placing entrant and Cook claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

Palmer earned the $1,000 daily bonus for catching the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day with his 7-5, while David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala., earned Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the week — an honor that pays $2,000 — with the 8-5 he caught on Day 1.

Matt Robertson of Kuttawa, Ky., won the $2,000 VMC Monster Bag of the Week with his 28-1 limit from Thursday’s opening round.

Veteran pro Clifford Pirch of Payson, Ariz., won the $1,000 BassTrakk contingency award for the most accurate weight reporting.

After three events, Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 387 points. Cook is in second with 369 points, followed by Tyler Rivet of Raceland, La., with 349,  Carl Jocumsen of Queensland, Australia, with 335 and Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., with 333.

Bryant Smith of Roseville, Calif., leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 300 points.

2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 4/27-4/30
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County  SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK            20  96-14  104 $101,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-03     Day 2: 5   23-09     Day 3: 5   26-03     Day 4: 5   25-15
2.  Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY             19  82-11  103  $35,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-14     Day 2: 4   09-07     Day 3: 5   27-13     Day 4: 5   23-09
3.  Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               19  74-09  102  $30,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-13     Day 2: 5   17-12     Day 3: 5   23-04     Day 4: 4   11-12
4.  Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC           18  74-07  101  $27,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   24-15     Day 3: 5   21-08     Day 4: 3   07-00
5.  Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            17  68-15  100  $20,000.00
Day 1: 4   21-14     Day 2: 5   14-05     Day 3: 5   21-11     Day 4: 3   11-01
6.  Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           16  67-02   99  $20,000.00
Day 1: 5   25-10     Day 2: 5   15-15     Day 3: 4   15-08     Day 4: 2   10-01
7.  Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA           15  60-13   98  $18,000.00
Day 1: 5   26-15     Day 2: 3   09-10     Day 3: 4   18-00     Day 4: 3   06-04
8.  Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              15  58-09   97  $17,000.00
Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   22-03     Day 3: 3   12-01     Day 4: 2   06-07
9.  Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA 15  55-10   96  $16,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   20-12     Day 3: 5   16-14     Day 4: 0   00-00
10. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY             12  54-04   95  $17,000.00
Day 1: 5   28-01     Day 2: 5   21-13     Day 3: 2   04-06     Day 4: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   David Gaston             Sylacauga, AL       08-05      $1,000.00
2   Brandon Cobb             Greenwood, SC       07-11      $1,000.00
3   Paul Mueller             Naugatuck, CT       07-10      $1,000.00
4   Luke Palmer              Coalgate, OK        07-05      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
David Gaston             Sylacauga, AL       08-05      $2,000.00
VMC MONSTER BAG
Matt Robertson           Kuttawa, KY         28-01      $2,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        72       450      1465-12
2        54       413      1295-04
3        27       203       646-13
4         2        27       102-01
----------------------------------
155      1093      3509-14

by AnglersChannel

Palmer powers into lead at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Santee Cooper Lakes

Luke Palmer of Coalgate, Okla., is leading after Day 3 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a three-day total of 70 pounds, 15 ounces.  

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

April 29, 2023

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Building on the momentum he established through a Friday adjustment, Luke Palmer stepped on the gas to sack up a Semifinal Saturday limit of 26 pounds, 3 ounces. He took over the lead at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a three-day total of 70-15.

A fifth-year Elite from Coalgate, Okla., Palmer holds a lead of 3-8 over South Carolina’s Brandon Cobb (67-7) heading into Championship Sunday with a $100,000 first-place prize on the line.

“It has been a week; things have finally gone right,” said Palmer, who finished fourth at last year’s Elite at Santee Cooper. “I’ve never led one. It dang sure feels good, I’m not gonna lie about that.”

Palmer placed 10th during Thursday’s opening round with 21-3 and then moved into third with a Friday limit of 23-9.

Friday’s round saw Palmer abandon a bladed jig in favor of flipping a Texas-rigged YUM Wooly Bug with a 3/16- to 5/16-ounce weight. On Saturday, he did most of his work with that bait, along with a YUM Bad Mamma on the same rig.

“Even when you’re struggling, it’s one flip away here,” Palmer said. “I’ve gotten to put those Falcon Rods to work. I’ve gotten to do it my way and I’ve gotten to enjoy it.”

Fishing the southwest side of Lake Marion, Palmer was mainly looking for spawning bass around cypress trees skirted with eelgrass. Gaps between a tree and grass were the most consistent, but Day 2 showed him the need for specificity.

“You gotta find the sweet spot,” he said. “When you find that sweet spot, it’s over. My biggest one this morning, I spent 25 minutes on her. I finally figured out the spot and the angle and once I did, it took me five minutes to catch her.”

Palmer said Sunday’s game plan could find him running new water, with the idea that the fish he caught Saturday were spawners.

“The trees I’m fishing are kind of sporadic,” he said. “I caught one of my fish today off a tree I’ve never fished in my life, and I’ve fished here for four years. I think I need to move around more tomorrow and come across new pairs (of spawning fish). I didn’t move around enough today.”

After two days of mostly dimmer skies and breezy conditions, Day 3 brought a sunny, calm complexion that seemed to favor Palmer’s plan. Despite the ideal setup, Palmer said a slow period prompted him to throw a jerkbait and a drop shot with a YUM Finesse Worm.

“I caught three or four fish (on those baits), so that was crucial for me — one of them was a big one,” Palmer said. “I had a big one come up on the jerkbait and if I could have caught her, it would have been (a big help). Hopefully, that fish is there tomorrow.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s forecast for thunderstorms and strong winds, Palmer believes his positioning could protect him. Nevertheless, he’s prepared to make a key adjustment to overcome any weather interference.

“We’ll see how it’s going to pan out tomorrow with the wind that’s forecast,” Palmer said. “I might just throw a heavier weight so I can crack ‘em harder.”

Cobb remained in second place after adding 21-8 to his previous two bags that went 21-0 and 24-15.

Having earned Top 10 finishes in the previous three Elite Series events — including a third place at the season opener on Lake Okeechobee — and placing 20th at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota, Cobb is riding an unparalleled wave of momentum.

“This is my 10th year of professional fishing and I’ve never had a start like this,” he said. “Everything is going right and when you get on a streak, you have to keep riding it. I’m enjoying every minute.”

Cobb is committed to throwing a wacky-rigged green pumpkin Zoom Fluke Stick around cypress trees. Same as Day 2, he said he only got eight bites, but he’s obviously around the right quality.

“Every day, I think I’m out of fish and then I end up getting two or three big bites,” Cobb said. “I get to go again tomorrow, so hopefully there are at least five big bites to catch because it’s going to take a big bag to win.”

Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., who won last year’s event, is third with 62-13. He’s had daily weights of 21-13, 17-12 and 23-4. Anchoring his Day 3 bag with a 7-pounder, Cook has spent most of his time sight fishing — the same way he won in 2022.

When Bassmaster Emcee Dave Mercer asked Cook if he believed the general consensus that the Santee Cooper sight-fishing game was virtually done, Cook’s response was emphatic.

“It ain’t over until I say it’s over!” Cook quipped. “There are five left out there — I know, but they’re few and far between.

“I did a whole lot of trolling today and don’t have a whole lot to go to tomorrow. I was fortunate enough to find a 5- and a 7-pounder today. I love this place.”

Cook, the 2019 Bassmaster Rookie of the Year, caught his bass by flipping a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog and the Big Bite Baits Quarantine Craw that he designed.

Paul Mueller of Naugatuck, Conn., earned the $1,000 daily bonus for catching the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day with his 7-10. David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala., leads the race for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the week — an honor that pays $2,000 — with the 8-5 he caught on Day 1.

Matt Robertson of Kuttawa, Ky., had his toughest day of the week with only two bass that weighed 4-6, falling from first place to ninth. But he still leads the race for VMC Monster Bag of the Week with his 28-1 limit from Thursday’s opening round.

Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 389 points. Cook is in second with 369 points, followed by Tyler Rivet of Raceland, La., with 349,  Carl Jocumsen of Queensland, Australia, with 335 and Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., with 333.

Gaston leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 299 points.

The Top 10 remaining anglers will take off at 7 a.m. ET Sunday from John C. Land III Sport Fishing Facility. The weigh-in will be held at the facility at 3 p.m. FS1 will broadcast live with the tournament leaders from 8-11 a.m. Live coverage will transition to Bassmaster.com afterward.

2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 4/27-4/30
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 15 70-15 104
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 23-09 Day 3: 5 26-03
2. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 15 67-07 103 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 24-15 Day 3: 5 21-08
3. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 15 62-13 102
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 17-12 Day 3: 5 23-04
4. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 14 59-02 101
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 4 09-07 Day 3: 5 27-13
5. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 14 57-14 100
Day 1: 4 21-14 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 5 21-11
6. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 14 57-01 99 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-10 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 4 15-08
7. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 55-10 98
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 20-12 Day 3: 5 16-14
8. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 12 54-09 97
Day 1: 5 26-15 Day 2: 3 09-10 Day 3: 4 18-00
9. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 12 54-04 96
Day 1: 5 28-01 Day 2: 5 21-13 Day 3: 2 04-06
10. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 13 52-02 95
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 22-03 Day 3: 3 12-01
11. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 15 52-00 94 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 18-13 Day 3: 5 19-02
12. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 14 51-11 93 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-15 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 4 15-02
13. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 14 51-01 92 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 09-06 Day 2: 5 22-05 Day 3: 5 19-06
14. Darold Gleason Many, LA 15 49-15 91 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 15-02
15. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 14 49-08 90 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 20-05 Day 3: 4 15-02
16. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 13 48-13 89 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 3 15-10 Day 3: 5 14-06
17. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 15 48-12 88 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 19-00 Day 3: 5 09-05
18. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 15 47-07 87 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 16-00
19. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 15 47-06 86 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 20-09 Day 3: 5 17-04
20. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Aichi JAPAN 15 45-14 85 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 5 11-02
21. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 13 45-06 84 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 3 14-08
22. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 14 45-05 83 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 4 14-07 Day 3: 5 13-03
23. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 14 45-02 82 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 4 09-13
24. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 14 45-02 81 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 4 15-03 Day 3: 5 14-07
25. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 15 45-01 80 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 09-12 Day 3: 5 17-03
26. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 15 45-01 79 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 10-05
27. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 12 45-00 78 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 23-05 Day 3: 2 05-08
28. John Cox DeBary, FL 15 45-00 77 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 14-09
29. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 13 44-15 76 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 22-07 Day 3: 3 10-15
30. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 14 44-15 75 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 17-10 Day 3: 4 11-12
31. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 15 44-10 74 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 20-14 Day 3: 5 10-12
32. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 15 44-09 73 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 5 15-03
33. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 15 44-03 72 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 16-09 Day 3: 5 15-15
34. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 15 43-14 71 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 15-03
35. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 15 43-08 70 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 13-03
36. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 13 43-07 69 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 3 13-02
37. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 15 43-02 68 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 15-03
38. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 13 42-09 67 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 3 06-04
39. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 15 42-07 66 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 11-02 Day 3: 5 12-04
40. Seth Feider New Market, MN 14 42-07 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 4 14-06 Day 3: 5 13-10
41. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 13 42-03 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 4 12-09 Day 3: 4 06-10
42. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, Ontario CANADA 14 41-11 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 4 10-13
43. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 12 40-06 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 4 14-11 Day 3: 3 07-11
44. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 12 39-08 61 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 12-04 Day 2: 5 19-11 Day 3: 3 07-09
45. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 12 38-06 60 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 2 03-08
46. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 13 36-07 59 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 3 04-09
47. Cole Sands Calhoun, TN 13 35-07 58 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 3 06-07
48. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 8 35-00 57 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-13 Day 2: 2 07-07 Day 3: 1 02-12
49. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 12 33-08 56 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 16-09 Day 3: 2 04-13
50. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 9 32-12 55 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 18-01 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 08-05 $1,000.00
2 Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 07-11 $1,000.00
3 Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 07-10 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 72 450 1465-12
2 54 413 1295-04
3 27 203 646-13
----------------------------------
153 1066 3407-13

by AnglersChannel

Robertson extends lead at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Santee Cooper Lakes

Matt Robertson of Kuttawa, Ky., is leading after Day 2 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a two-day total of 49 pounds, 14 ounces.  

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

April 28, 2023

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Matt Robertson was crystal clear about his goals. He’s fishing for big bites and he’s in it to win it.

Sticking to his guns, the third-year Elite from Kuttawa, Ky., powered through a dry spell Friday and retained his lead at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a five-bass limit that weighed 21 pounds, 13 ounces. His leading two-day total is 49-14.

Robertson set the opening mark Thursday with the current VMC Monster Bag of the Week — a 28-1 limit.

“I feel pretty good about it,” said Robertson, who holds nearly a 4-pound lead over South Carolina pro Brandon Cobb (45-15). “I’m just going out there and fishing how I like to fish.

“I had a bad four hours on the boat today, but I don’t think I said a cuss word all day.”

Prior to his midday dry spell, Robertson kicked off his day by mirroring the game plan that anchored his opening-round effort — hitting the shad spawn in Lake Marion with a giant swimbait.

“You have options for a shad spawn, but we’re on a lake with big fish so we’re fishing for big fish this week. We’re going to try and win this thing,” Robertson said. “Yesterday, I spent about an hour and a half on the shad spawn. Today, I only spent about an hour on it.

“If I had more places to run, I’d like to spend more time on (the shad spawn), but I just don’t have that many places where the fish are shallow. There are a lot of shad spawning, but there’s not a lot of fish around them.”

After the morning pattern tapered off, Robertson ran to Lake Moultrie where he targeted a large eelgrass flat with a topwater bait. Using a fast retrieve to trigger bites, Robertson tried to pinpoint the more productive areas.

“The wind direction was a little different today, so I don’t know if (the wind) caused the dry spell,” Robertson said. “I’m learning more about the area. Some of it is the density of cover. But where I’ve been catching my big ones the last couple of days, the grass is not that dense — it’s more isolated.

“I think I’m going to have to concentrate on that more dense grass tomorrow.”

After placing 11th on Day 1 with 21 pounds, Cobb put himself within striking distance with a second-round limit of 24-15. Anchoring his Day 2 bag with a 7-11 Santee Cooper tank, Cobb said he enjoyed a special day where everything seemed to go right.

“Here’s an example of how good things have been going the last two days: That big one bit a bait that was hung on a tree,” he said. “I was popping my line to try and free my bait and the fish sucked it off the tree and I caught it.

“I’m not catching very many fish. I caught seven today and seven yesterday. It does not look tough with 21 and (nearly 25) pounds, but it’s hard to catch a limit. They’re just really, really big ones.”

Keeping with what produced on Day 1, Cobb caught his bass on a wacky-rigged Zoom Fluke Stick. Two late-day culls helped greatly.

Luke Palmer of Coalgate, Okla., who is in third with 44-12, bolstered his Day 1 limit of 21-3 with another limit that went 23-9.

Palmer attributed his success to a mental shift.

“I quit being dumb,” he grinned. “I finally went and did what I like to do. I picked up the big rod with 20-pound line and started swinging. I caught them exactly how I caught them last year. I’m using Falcon Rods and Sunline fluorocarbon, and I’m cracking them as hard as I can.

“I thought the eelgrass was going to work with the ChatterBait. I caught some big ones doing that in practice, but I haven’t been able to get it going in the tournament. When the sun comes out, those fish go to the trees.”

Finishing fourth in the 2022 Elite at Santee Cooper, Palmer caught his bass by flipping a Texas-rigged YUM Wooly Bug with a 3/16- to 5/16-ounce weight near cypress trees. He’s looking for specific scenarios that welcome the late spawners that are still pulling up.

“It has to have grass and they have to have that void between (tree and grass) just like it was last year,” Palmer said. “If there’s a void, it’s game over.

“They’re all spawners. There’s two to four fish on each tree.”

Cobb’s 7-11 largemouth earned him a $1,000 bonus as the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the day. But David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala., still holds the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the week with the 8-5 he caught on Day 1.

Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 389 points. Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., is in second with 366 points, followed by Carl Jocumsen of Queensland, Australia, with 364, Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., with 360 and Tyler Rivet of Raceland, La., with 337.

Gaston leads the Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 300 points.

The Top 50 remaining anglers will take off at 7 a.m. Saturday from John C. Land III Sport Fishing Facility. The weigh-in will be held back at the facility at 3 p.m., with only the Top 10 anglers advancing to Championship Sunday with a chance to win the $100,000 first-place prize. FS1 will broadcast live with the tournament leaders on Saturday from 8-11 a.m. Live coverage will transition to Bassmaster.com afterward.

2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 4/27-4/30
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County  SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY             10  49-14  104
Day 1: 5   28-01     Day 2: 5   21-13
2.  Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC           10  45-15  103   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   24-15
3.  Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK            10  44-12  102
Day 1: 5   21-03     Day 2: 5   23-09
4.  Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           10  41-09  101
Day 1: 5   25-10     Day 2: 5   15-15
5.  Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              10  40-01  100
Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   22-03
6.  Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               10  39-09   99
Day 1: 5   21-13     Day 2: 5   17-12
7.  Drew Benton            Panama City, FL         10  39-08   98
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   23-05
8.  Joshua Stracner        Vandiver, AL            10  39-07   97
Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   19-00
9.  Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA 10  38-12   96
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   20-12
10. Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA            8  36-09   95
Day 1: 5   26-15     Day 2: 3   09-10
11. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL           10  36-09   94   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-15     Day 2: 5   15-10
12. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX          10  36-05   93
Day 1: 5   20-11     Day 2: 5   15-10
13. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             9  36-03   92
Day 1: 4   21-14     Day 2: 5   14-05
14. Kyle Welcher           Opelika, AL              9  35-09   91
Day 1: 5   23-00     Day 2: 4   12-09
15. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10  35-05   90
Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 5   15-04
16. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland AUSTRALIA    10  34-14   89
Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   15-04
17. Darold Gleason         Many, LA                10  34-13   88
Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   13-05
18. Masayuki Matsushita    Tokoname-Aichi JAPAN    10  34-12   87
Day 1: 5   19-06     Day 2: 5   15-06
19. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          10  34-12   86
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   17-00
20. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX              8  34-07   85
Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 3   15-10
21. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              10  34-06   84
Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   20-05
22. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK           10  34-00   83
Day 1: 5   11-09     Day 2: 5   22-07
23. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10  33-14   82
Day 1: 5   13-00     Day 2: 5   20-14
24. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL           10  33-03   81
Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 5   17-10
25. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD               10  32-14   80
Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   18-13
26. Taku Ito               Chiba JAPAN           9  32-12   79
Day 1: 4   18-01     Day 2: 5   14-11
27. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI            9  32-11   78
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 4   14-11
28. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI        7  32-04   77
Day 1: 5   24-13     Day 2: 2   07-07
29. Gary Clouse            Winchester, TN           9  32-02   76
Day 1: 5   17-11     Day 2: 4   14-07
30. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX               9  31-15   75
Day 1: 4   12-04     Day 2: 5   19-11
31. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC             10  31-14   74
Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 5   17-03
32. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           9  31-11   73
Day 1: 4   09-06     Day 2: 5   22-05
33. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL           10  31-07   72
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   13-11
34. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              9  31-05   71
Day 1: 5   21-14     Day 2: 4   09-07
35. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY             10  30-14   70
Day 1: 5   18-10     Day 2: 5   12-04
36. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, Ontario CANADA  10  30-14   69
Day 1: 5   14-15     Day 2: 5   15-15
37. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               9  30-11   68
Day 1: 5   15-08     Day 2: 4   15-03
38. John Cox               DeBary, FL              10  30-07   67
Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   10-15
39. Jay Przekurat          Stevens Point, WI       10  30-05   66
Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   14-00
40. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI               10  30-05   65
Day 1: 5   15-01     Day 2: 5   15-04
41. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL            10  30-03   64
Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 5   11-02
42. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           10  30-02   63
Day 1: 5   09-09     Day 2: 5   20-09
43. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC              10  29-06   62
Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 5   17-01
44. Cole Sands             Calhoun, TN             10  29-00   61
Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   11-03
45. Seth Feider            New Market, MN           9  28-13   60
Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 4   14-06
46. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA              10  28-11   59
Day 1: 5   12-02     Day 2: 5   16-09
47. Michael Iaconelli      Pittsgrove, NJ          10  28-11   58
Day 1: 5   15-08     Day 2: 5   13-03
48. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ           10  28-04   57
Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   16-09
49. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA            10  27-15   56
Day 1: 5   11-08     Day 2: 5   16-07
50. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             10  27-14   55
Day 1: 5   18-02     Day 2: 5   09-12
51. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN             9  27-13   54   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   13-02     Day 2: 4   14-11
52. Larry Nixon            Bee Branch, AR           7  27-09   53   $2,500.00
Day 1: 2   12-13     Day 2: 5   14-12
53. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN        7  27-03   52   $2,500.00
Day 1: 2   06-04     Day 2: 5   20-15
54. Josh Douglas           Isle, MN                 9  26-01   51   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 4   08-05
55. Frank Talley           Temple, TX              10  26-01   50   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   10-11     Day 2: 5   15-06
56. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           9  25-10   49   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 4   12-12
57. Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL            9  25-03   48   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   17-03     Day 2: 4   08-00
58. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR             10  25-03   47   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 5   12-14
59. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                 9  25-00   46   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 4   09-14
60. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                8  25-00   45   $2,500.00
Day 1: 4   12-00     Day 2: 4   13-00
61. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA            8  24-14   44   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 3   09-09
62. Keith Poche            Cecil, AL               10  24-11   43   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 5   12-06
63. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          7  24-07   42   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 2   05-10
64. Derek Hudnall          Zachary, LA              8  24-00   41   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 3   07-08
65. Cory Johnston          Cavan CANADA             9  23-12   40   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   12-03     Day 2: 4   11-09
66. David Williams         Newton, NC              10  23-07   39   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   11-12
67. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             8  22-15   38   $2,500.00
Day 1: 3   07-01     Day 2: 5   15-14
68. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA             7  22-07   37   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 2   08-06
69. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL           7  21-15   36   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 2   06-05
70. Skylar Hamilton        Jefferson, TN            7  21-12   35   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   15-01     Day 2: 2   06-11
71. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX             6  21-07   34   $2,500.00
Day 1: 3   06-02     Day 2: 3   15-05
72. Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN           8  21-07   33   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   13-09     Day 2: 3   07-14
73. Todd Auten             Lake Wylie, SC           4  21-06   32   $2,500.00
Day 1: 3   14-07     Day 2: 1   06-15
74. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             8  21-05   31   $2,500.00
Day 1: 4   08-14     Day 2: 4   12-07
75. Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC           9  20-14   30   $2,500.00
Day 1: 4   08-07     Day 2: 5   12-07
76. Bryan New              Saluda, SC               6  20-11   29   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   17-10     Day 2: 1   03-01
77. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC            6  20-09   28   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   17-00     Day 2: 1   03-09
78. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          6  20-07   27
Day 1: 2   06-01     Day 2: 4   14-06
79. Chad Pipkens           DeWitt, MI               6  20-04   26
Day 1: 5   17-03     Day 2: 1   03-01
80. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         9  20-04   25
Day 1: 4   08-04     Day 2: 5   12-00
81. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         9  20-02   24
Day 1: 5   13-13     Day 2: 4   06-05
82. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC               10  19-14   23
Day 1: 5   10-01     Day 2: 5   09-13
83. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             9  19-12   22
Day 1: 5   13-05     Day 2: 4   06-07
84. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  8  19-10   21
Day 1: 4   11-09     Day 2: 4   08-01
85. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX              9  19-08   20
Day 1: 5   10-11     Day 2: 4   08-13
86. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         8  18-03   19
Day 1: 3   07-09     Day 2: 5   10-10
87. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA             5  17-14   18
Day 1: 2   07-03     Day 2: 3   10-11
88. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH             8  17-13   17
Day 1: 3   05-08     Day 2: 5   12-05
89. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT           7  17-04   16
Day 1: 5   13-02     Day 2: 2   04-02
90. Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI             6  17-03   15
Day 1: 3   08-02     Day 2: 3   09-01
91. Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN          7  16-14   14
Day 1: 4   10-09     Day 2: 3   06-05
92. KJ Queen               Conover, NC              5  15-15   13
Day 1: 2   08-02     Day 2: 3   07-13
93. Mike Huff              London, KY               7  15-11   12
Day 1: 4   09-12     Day 2: 3   05-15
94. John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK              6  14-10   11
Day 1: 5   11-01     Day 2: 1   03-09
95. Jake Whitaker          Hendersonville, NC       6  14-03   10
Day 1: 1   03-01     Day 2: 5   11-02
96. Bradley Hallman        Edmond, OK               5  14-02    9
Day 1: 3   07-13     Day 2: 2   06-05
97. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         4  13-00    8
Day 1: 3   09-02     Day 2: 1   03-14
98. Kenta Kimura           Osaka JAPAN              5  12-15    7
Day 1: 2   07-00     Day 2: 3   05-15
99. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                  3  12-08    6
Day 1: 2   06-00     Day 2: 1   06-08
100. Kyoya Fujita           Minamitsuru, Yamanashi   3  11-10    5
Day 1: 3   11-10     Day 2: 0   00-00
101. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  10-10    4
Day 1: 2   04-15     Day 2: 3   05-11
102. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           3  08-14    3
Day 1: 1   02-12     Day 2: 2   06-02
103. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA               4  06-14    2
Day 1: 1   01-02     Day 2: 3   05-12
104. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            2  04-00    1
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   04-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   David Gaston             Sylacauga, AL       08-05      $1,000.00
2   Brandon Cobb             Greenwood, SC       07-11      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        72       450      1465-12
2        54       413      1295-04
----------------------------------
126       863      2761-00

by AnglersChannel

Robertson’s postspawn focus delivers opening-round lead at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Santee Cooper Lakes

Matt Robertson of Kuttawa, Ky., is leading after Day 1 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with 28 pounds, 1 ounce.  

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

April 27, 2023

Robertson’s postspawn focus delivers opening-round lead at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Santee Cooper Lakes

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Capitalizing on an early start, Matt Robertson of Kuttawa, Ky., caught a five-bass limit of 28 pounds, 1 ounce to lead Day 1 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes.

Coming off a Top 30 finish at last week’s Elite Series event at Lake Murray, Robertson heads into Friday’s second round leading rookie Bryant Smith of California by just over a pound.

Noting that he's fishing the way he likes to fish, Robertson said he focused mostly on postspawn bass. He spent time in Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie and caught bass in two different areas.

“I’m running a shad spawn early and then later in the morning, I’m going fishing for postspawners,” Robertson said. “I was done by about 10:30 or 11.”

Understandably guarded with his details, Robertson said he believes he dialed in a specific pattern that gave him the opening-round advantage. While he declined to elaborate, Robertson said his choice of habitat played a key role in his success.

“I think I’m doing something a little different from everybody, and hopefully it will hold up,” he said.

Robertson used three different baits to amass his big bag. Despite his dominant day, he said his leading limit was surprising.

“I had a bad practice,” he said. “I got a few bites in an area but I didn’t know I was going to catch what I caught today.

“I don’t know what I’m doing here,” he said. “I didn’t catch ‘em here the last time (the 2022 Elite at Santee Cooper), so I just went out there and approached it totally different from what I did last time.”

After a calm Day 1, Friday’s forecast calls for windier conditions and possible showers. Robertson said he’s unconcerned.

“I don’t care; I have something for (all conditions),” he said. “I like catching big bass, and I hope we can go out there and do it again tomorrow.”

Hailing from Roseville, Calif., Smith is in second place with 26-15. He spent his day in Lake Marion targeting cypress trees. With countless options, he was able to figure out a replicable pattern that allowed him to pick out three trees with the greatest potential.

“I think the positioning of the trees is important, but we’ll find out tomorrow,” Smith said. “There’s something about the trees that I’m looking for that’s kind of the same deal.

“I’m not really going down big lines of trees; I’m trying to pick out the right trees.”

Smith said a single finesse bait proved reliable Thursday, but he’s not sure if he can back up his Day 1 effort with another solid limit on Friday. Even if his pattern holds, he’s dealing with a lot of fishing pressure in his area, and that’s a notorious bite killer.

“I could get in a bad rotation, so I may have to fish fresh water tomorrow,” Smith said. “I don’t think what I’m fishing is going to reload that well. I just have to keep my head down and keep grinding and hopefully, I can run into five bites tomorrow.”

Smith made a big move by boating a 6-pounder around 3:10 Thursday afternoon.

“That got me going in the right direction,” Smith said. “I just got in a good rotation, pulled up on the right tree and (that fish) was there.”

Paul Mueller of Naugatuck, Conn., is in third place with 25-10. Starting the day with a game plan that included both lakes, he ended up spending all of his time in Lake Moultrie.

“I had a couple of areas where I thought I could get bit and the fish moved,” said Mueller, who holds two career Elite Series wins. “I just moved around, fished new water and I was fortunate to get the three good bites that I got off of new water — places I hadn’t practiced.

“This lake is so big, you can’t just run around. The problem is, I had bites in areas that are so spread out, you have to commit and do one thing and hopefully, it’s the right thing for the weather.”

Stating that he caught his fish on one moving bait and two finesse rigs, Mueller pointed out that he’s seen fish in prespawn, spawn and postspawn modes. This, he said, has created a challenging scenario that he believes will become even more difficult with Friday’s weather.

“I’ve got my work cut out for me tomorrow,” Mueller said. “I’m not sure what that’s going to do, but we’ll take it one bite at a time. At least I got off to a good start.”

David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala., earned the $1,000 daily bonus for catching the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day with his 8-5 largemouth.

Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 380 points. Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., is in second with 369 points, followed by Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., with 364, Carl Jocumsen of Queensland, Australia, with 364 and John Cox of DeBary, Fla., with 335.

Smith leads the Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 305 points.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at John C. Land III Sport Fishing Facility. The weigh-in will be held back at the facility at 3 p.m., with only the Top 50 anglers advancing to Semifinal Saturday. Bassmaster LIVE coverage starts at 8 a.m. on Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 4/27-4/30
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County  SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY              5  28-01  104
Day 1: 5   28-01
2.  Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA            5  26-15  103
Day 1: 5   26-15
3.  Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            5  25-10  102
Day 1: 5   25-10
4.  Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI        5  24-13  101
Day 1: 5   24-13
5.  Kyle Welcher           Opelika, AL              5  23-00  100
Day 1: 5   23-00
6.  Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  21-14   99
Day 1: 5   21-14
7.  Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             4  21-14   98
Day 1: 4   21-14
8.  Drew Cook              Cairo, GA                5  21-13   97
Day 1: 5   21-13
9.  Darold Gleason         Many, LA                 5  21-08   96
Day 1: 5   21-08
10. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK             5  21-03   95
Day 1: 5   21-03
11. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC            5  21-00   94
Day 1: 5   21-00
12. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL            5  20-15   93   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-15
13. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX           5  20-11   92
Day 1: 5   20-11
14. Joshua Stracner        Vandiver, AL             5  20-07   91
Day 1: 5   20-07
15. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA  5  20-01   90
Day 1: 5   20-01
16. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland AUSTRALIA     5  19-10   89
Day 1: 5   19-10
17. John Cox               DeBary, FL               5  19-08   88
Day 1: 5   19-08
18. Masayuki Matsushita    Tokoname-Aichi JAPAN     5  19-06   87
Day 1: 5   19-06
19. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL             5  19-01   86
Day 1: 5   19-01
20. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX              5  18-13   85
Day 1: 5   18-13
20. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          5  18-13   85
Day 1: 5   18-13
22. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY              5  18-10   83
Day 1: 5   18-10
23. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              5  18-02   82
Day 1: 5   18-02
24. Taku Ito               Chiba JAPAN              4  18-01   81
Day 1: 4   18-01
25. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI            5  18-00   80
Day 1: 5   18-00
25. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA  5  18-00   80
Day 1: 5   18-00
27. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               5  17-14   78
Day 1: 5   17-14
28. Cole Sands             Calhoun, TN              5  17-13   77
Day 1: 5   17-13
29. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL            5  17-12   76
Day 1: 5   17-12
29. Josh Douglas           Isle, MN                 5  17-12   76
Day 1: 5   17-12
29. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  17-12   76
Day 1: 5   17-12
32. Gary Clouse            Winchester, TN           5  17-11   73
Day 1: 5   17-11
33. Bryan New              Saluda, SC               5  17-10   72
Day 1: 5   17-10
34. Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL            5  17-03   71
Day 1: 5   17-03
34. Chad Pipkens           DeWitt, MI               5  17-03   71
Day 1: 5   17-03
36. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC            5  17-00   69
Day 1: 5   17-00
37. Derek Hudnall          Zachary, LA              5  16-08   68
Day 1: 5   16-08
38. Jay Przekurat          Stevens Point, WI        5  16-05   67
Day 1: 5   16-05
39. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL          5  16-03   66
Day 1: 5   16-03
40. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL           5  15-10   65
Day 1: 5   15-10
41. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL            5  15-09   64
Day 1: 5   15-09
42. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               5  15-08   63
Day 1: 5   15-08
42. Michael Iaconelli      Pittsgrove, NJ           5  15-08   63
Day 1: 5   15-08
44. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA            5  15-05   61
Day 1: 5   15-05
45. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                 5  15-02   60
Day 1: 5   15-02
46. Skylar Hamilton        Jefferson, TN            5  15-01   59
Day 1: 5   15-01
46. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI                5  15-01   59
Day 1: 5   15-01
48. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, Ontario CANADA   5  14-15   57
Day 1: 5   14-15
49. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC              5  14-11   56
Day 1: 5   14-11
50. Seth Feider            New Market, MN           5  14-07   55
Day 1: 5   14-07
51. Todd Auten             Lake Wylie, SC           3  14-07   54
Day 1: 3   14-07
52. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA             5  14-01   53
Day 1: 5   14-01
52. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               5  14-01   53
Day 1: 5   14-01
52. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD                5  14-01   53
Day 1: 5   14-01
55. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         5  13-13   50
Day 1: 5   13-13
56. Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN           5  13-09   49
Day 1: 5   13-09
57. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             5  13-05   48
Day 1: 5   13-05
58. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN             5  13-02   47
Day 1: 5   13-02
58. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT           5  13-02   47
Day 1: 5   13-02
60. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN  5  13-00   45
Day 1: 5   13-00
61. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           5  12-14   44
Day 1: 5   12-14
62. Larry Nixon            Bee Branch, AR           2  12-13   43
Day 1: 2   12-13
63. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC               5  12-05   42
Day 1: 5   12-05
63. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR              5  12-05   42
Day 1: 5   12-05
63. Keith Poche            Cecil, AL                5  12-05   42
Day 1: 5   12-05
66. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX               4  12-04   39
Day 1: 4   12-04
67. Cory Johnston          Cavan CANADA             5  12-03   38
Day 1: 5   12-03
68. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA               5  12-02   37
Day 1: 5   12-02
69. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                4  12-00   36
Day 1: 4   12-00
70. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ            5  11-11   35
Day 1: 5   11-11
70. David Williams         Newton, NC               5  11-11   35
Day 1: 5   11-11
72. Kyoya Fujita           Minamitsuru, Yamanashi   3  11-10   33
Day 1: 3   11-10
73. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK            5  11-09   32
Day 1: 5   11-09
74. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  4  11-09   31
Day 1: 4   11-09
75. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA             5  11-08   30
Day 1: 5   11-08
76. John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK              5  11-01   29
Day 1: 5   11-01
77. Frank Talley           Temple, TX               5  10-11   28
Day 1: 5   10-11
77. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX              5  10-11   28
Day 1: 5   10-11
79. Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN          4  10-09   26
Day 1: 4   10-09
80. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC                5  10-01   25
Day 1: 5   10-01
81. Mike Huff              London, KY               4  09-12   24
Day 1: 4   09-12
82. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL            5  09-09   23
Day 1: 5   09-09
83. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           4  09-06   22
Day 1: 4   09-06
84. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         3  09-02   21
Day 1: 3   09-02
85. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             4  08-14   20
Day 1: 4   08-14
86. Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC           4  08-07   19
Day 1: 4   08-07
87. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         4  08-04   18
Day 1: 4   08-04
88. Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI             3  08-02   17
Day 1: 3   08-02
89. KJ Queen               Conover, NC              2  08-02   16
Day 1: 2   08-02
90. Bradley Hallman        Edmond, OK               3  07-13   15
Day 1: 3   07-13
91. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         3  07-09   14
Day 1: 3   07-09
92. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA             2  07-03   13
Day 1: 2   07-03
93. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             3  07-01   12
Day 1: 3   07-01
94. Kenta Kimura           Osaka JAPAN              2  07-00   11
Day 1: 2   07-00
95. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN        2  06-04   10
Day 1: 2   06-04
96. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX             3  06-02    9
Day 1: 3   06-02
97. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          2  06-01    8
Day 1: 2   06-01
98. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                  2  06-00    7
Day 1: 2   06-00
99. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH             3  05-08    6
Day 1: 3   05-08
100. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            2  04-15    5
Day 1: 2   04-15
101. Jake Whitaker          Hendersonville, NC       1  03-01    4
Day 1: 1   03-01
102. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           1  02-12    3
Day 1: 1   02-12
103. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA               1  01-02    2
Day 1: 1   01-02
104. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   David Gaston             Sylacauga, AL       08-05      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        72       450      1465-12
----------------------------------
72       450      1465-12

by AnglersChannel

Benton battles back to win action-packed Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Murray

Drew Benton of Panama City, Fla., has won the Marathon Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray with a four-day total of 87 pounds.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

April 23, 2023

Benton battles back to win action-packed Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Murray

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The night leading up to Championship Sunday at the Marathon Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray, Drew Benton was angry. He could hardly sleep.

After claiming the Day 2 lead with back-to-back bags over 23 pounds, Benton barely made the cut for the final day after catching just 14 pounds on Semifinal Saturday.

He felt like he had cost himself a potential win. But in his restlessness, Benton had a revelation.

“I woke up four times last night just mad,” he said. “I woke up and I looked at the weights and I was about 5 pounds back. Someone weighed in 26 pounds this week. That was my goal weight, 25 or 26.”

Benton accomplished that goal Sunday, landing a five-bass limit that weighed 26 pounds, 7 ounces coming from behind to win with a four-day total of 87-0. He earned his second career blue trophy and a $100,000 first-place prize.

“I started to — not doubt myself — but wonder if it was ever going to happen again,” said Benton, who earned his first Elite Series victory five years ago on Lake Travis in Texas. “I finished second in an Elite; finished second in an Open I should have won. Am I snakebit? Can I close the deal anymore? So, this feels great.”

Benton’s strategy this week revolved around sight fishing for spawning bass. After seeing 30 pounds of bass on bed the first day of practice, he caught bags of 23-0 and 23-9 the first two days of the tournament.

His primary area not far from takeoff had water temperatures that maxed out around 70 degrees, several degrees cooler than the rest of the lake. That set up perfectly for him to target largemouth with a Texas-rigged watermelon red/green pumpkin laminate Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog rigged with a 5/16-ounce Elite Tungsten sinker and a 4/0 Owner Wide Gap worm hook.

He pitched that bait to beds with a 7-foot-3 extra heavy Phenix Rods MBX and an unnamed baitcaster spooled with 20-pound Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon.

“It was the same general area, but I would rotate through new pockets and new creeks,” he explained. “New ones were trickling in I feel like, but I didn’t want to burn up the same water. It is a mental thing for me. I needed to be in a new place looking.”

Wind, rain and clouds entered the area on Day 3, and Benton found it difficult to see any bass on bed in areas he had already picked through the previous day.

On Championship Sunday, with the skies cleared and the winds calmed, Benton started on several sections of riprap bank that Mississippi pro Brock Mosely had described to him before the end of Saturday’s weigh-in. Shad were spawning on these sections, but the key was shade. If the bank had a shade line, Benton could crank a squarebill and catch quality bass.

“I was running from place to place and every time I would hit a place, I would come back and catch one more out of the shade,” he said. “I wasn’t catching a bunch. I had a milk run and I culled up to like 22 pounds or so.”

He started with an olive shad-colored Bagley Pro Sunny B squarebill, but when he hooked a keeper in the side of the face, he switched to a Strike King KVD 1.5 squarebill with a green back and clearer body.

He said one of those crankbait fish he had hooked in the top of the head — but still managed to coax into the boat — reminded him of one of his Lake Travis bass.

“I thought, ‘If I can get this fish in, it might happen.’ And it did,” he said.

At about 11, the shade began to slide away from the bank and Benton decided to go back to sight fishing, but in a different pocket than where he caught his bags in the first two days. It paid off in a big way, with a 6-pounder biting a Big Bite Baits Cliff Hanger worm rigged on a drop shot and a 5-pounder taking the Fighting Frog.

The 5-pounder revealed itself when it followed a topwater bait out of the shade.

“I wouldn’t have seen it if it hadn’t followed my topwater out,” he said.

Hunter Shryock finished second with a four-day total of 85-7. The Ohio native turned Tennessean was in contention the entire tournament, starting off in fourth place after Day 1 with 22-9 before landing in second on Day 2 with 23-5 and third on Saturday with 18-5.

“I didn’t have a whole lot and I evolved during the tournament,” Shryock said. “I gave myself a shot and Drew won the event. I am good with that. I caught everything today and did exactly what I wanted to do. I executed every fish catch.”

After sight fishing most of Day 1, Shryock pivoted and started fishing shallow points he felt the blueback herring were using to spawn. Those points had riprap and rock, and about midmorning, the shade lines got closer to the bank and that was usually when the bass started to feed on the herring. He caught most of his bass on the final day around docks.

A white Berkley Choppo and a green pumpkin Berkley The General rigged wacky style were his best two baits, along with a jig with a Berkley Creature Hawg trailer.

His final-day bag wouldn’t have been possible without some crafty rod maneuvering and good fortune. Shryock’s biggest bass of the day, a 6-14 that earned him Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, wrapped his line under a dock. To get it out, he had to lay on his belly on the front deck of his boat with his backside pinned against his graph, unwrap his line by putting his rod under the dock and around a post before snapping a couple of vines to get the bass moving toward the boat. Once freed, the largemouth came calmly into Shryock’s outstretched hand.

“I didn’t realize how big the fish actually was,” he said. “I saw her flash and the hole she went through was not very big. She was only in about a foot of water. There were rocks and the post and she was below the crossbeam and out. I feel like I kept my cool pretty well in that situation.

“If I had to do that 100 times over, I couldn’t do it again. When I caught that one, I thought we were only two bites away from winning this thing.”

From there, it was another grind of a day, as he filled his limit around noon and then upgraded with a 3-pounder just before 2 p.m. But he would fall just short of his first Elite Series title.

Benton took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program while Florida's John Cox earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, South Carolina's Patrick Walters earned an additional $2,500 as the highest-placing entrant and Georgia pro Drew Cook claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

With his final-day catch of 26-7, Benton also won the VMC Monster Bag of the Tournament award and earned a $2,000 bonus.

Matt Arey won $2,000 for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament with the 7-11 largemouth he caught on Day 3; however, South Carolina angler Brandon Cobb's 8-12 at Lake Okeechobee is still leading the field for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Year honors.

Along with his eighth-place performance, veteran pro Bernie Schultz of Florida won the $1,000 BassTrakk contingency award for the most accurate weight reporting.

With his Top 10 this week, Cobb took the lead in the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 286 points. Tyler Rivet from Raceland, La., is second with 281 points, followed by Australia’s Carl Jocumsen with 275, Alabamian Kyle Welcher with 269 and Cook with 267.

Alabama pro Will Davis Jr. and Japanese standout Kyoya Fujita are tied for the Bassmaster Rookie of the Year lead with 231 points, followed by Alabama’s David Gaston with 206.

2023 Marathon Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray 4/20-4/23
Lake Murray, Columbia SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 20 87-00 104 $102,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 5 23-09 Day 3: 5 14-00 Day 4: 5 26-07
2. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 20 85-07 103 $36,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-09 Day 2: 5 23-05 Day 3: 5 18-05 Day 4: 5 21-04
3. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 20 83-14 102 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-06 Day 2: 5 22-06 Day 3: 5 20-12 Day 4: 5 18-06
4. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 20 83-09 101 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-11 Day 2: 5 20-09 Day 3: 5 19-04 Day 4: 5 21-01
5. John Cox DeBary, FL 20 81-13 100 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 21-02 Day 3: 5 21-09 Day 4: 5 20-05
6. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 20 81-13 99 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 20-07 Day 3: 5 19-11 Day 4: 5 21-02
7. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 20 81-07 98 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 26-01 Day 4: 5 20-04
8. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 20 80-09 97 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 26-01 Day 4: 5 19-14
9. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 20 80-01 96 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 24-04 Day 3: 5 17-01 Day 4: 5 19-06
10. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 20 78-10 95 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 24-09 Day 3: 5 21-12 Day 4: 5 17-02
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 06-14 $1,000.00
2 Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 06-14 $1,000.00
3 Matt Arey Shelby, NC 07-11 $1,000.00
4 Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 06-14 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Matt Arey Shelby, NC 07-11 $2,000.00
VMC MONSTER BAG
Drew Benton Panama City, FL 26-07 $2,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 97 506 1710-05
2 100 507 1679-02
3 48 248 882-04
4 10 50 205-03
----------------------------------
255 1311 4476-14

by AnglersChannel