Alan McGuckin – Special to Anglerschannel.com

 

Thursday begins a brand new season for the Bassmaster Elite Series, and few know more about the reservoir B.A.S.S. hasn’t hosted a tournament on since 1981 than David Mullins, who enters his fourth season as a pro, lives just 70 miles away, and recently won a Bassmaster Open on Douglas Lake, which is much like Cherokee’s twin sister.

Carhartt pros Matt and Jordan Lee weren’t even born the last time B.A.S.S. had a tournament on Cherokee Lake, but Mullins has befriended the youngsters, and they tend to do quite well even when nobody is mentoring them.

The three graciously offered their opinions on what to expect during this first tournament of the new season, as well as a little about what they learned in the off-season.

 What percentage of the fish weighed-in this week do you think will be smallmouth?

 Jordan Lee: 70%

David Mullins: 75%

Matt Lee: 68%

 

If you were only permitted to have 5 rods and reels during this tournament – how many of them would be spinning, versus baitcasting?

 Jordan Lee: 3 out of 5 would be spinning

David Mullins: 4 out of 5 would be spinning

Matt Lee: 3 out of 5 would be spinning

 

Name two fellow competitors that you would put on your Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing Team presented by Toyota for this event?

 Jordan Lee: David Mullins and Ott DeFoe

David Mullins: Aaron Martens and David Walker

Matt Lee: David Mullins and Ott DeFoe

 

Average weight of a 5-bass limit you think it will take to make it into the Top 12 cut on the final day:

 Jordan Lee: 13 to 14 pounds

Mullins: 14 to 15 pounds

Matt Lee: 15 pounds 12 ounces per day

 

Name the single biggest thing you learned in the off-season about fishing or life:

Jordan Lee: Never take the good times for granted, whether that’s fishing with your friends or having dinner with your family.

David Mullins: That it never got cold enough around here to make the whitetails move or the ducks migrate.

Matt Lee: Don’t get in too big of a hurry. Slow down. Enjoy life.