Day 2 with Chad Pipkens

See how Chad Pipkens fared during Day 2 of the Huk Performance Fishing Bassmaster Elite at Chesapeake Bay.

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We started Day 2 of the Bassmaster Elite on the Chesapeake with Chad Pipkens. B.A.S.S. photographer James Overstreet drifts through the mist on his way to Jacob Powroznik.
We started Day 2 of the Bassmaster Elite on the Chesapeake with Chad Pipkens. B.A.S.S. photographer James Overstreet drifts through the mist on his way to Jacob Powroznik.
Chad set up on docks and walls along the bank.
Chad set up on docks and walls along the bank.
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He was using a combination of spinning rods with various baits on them.
He was using a combination of spinning rods with various baits on them.
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Pipkens kept a close eye on his electronics to stay on some of the submerged structure that he was also targeting.
Pipkens kept a close eye on his electronics to stay on some of the submerged structure that he was also targeting.
Chad would continuously spot hop, checking the tide as he went.
Chad would continuously spot hop, checking the tide as he went.
We arrived at another one of Pipkens fishing spots and he started throwing a small crankbait…
We arrived at another one of Pipkens fishing spots and he started throwing a small crankbait…
…then switched right back to the spinning rod.
…then switched right back to the spinning rod.
Around the corner Fletcher Shryock is flipping his way towards us.
Around the corner Fletcher Shryock is flipping his way towards us.
Chad snags the bottom and has to re-tie.
Chad snags the bottom and has to re-tie.
On the other side of the wall from Chad, John Crews fished his way by.
On the other side of the wall from Chad, John Crews fished his way by.
Fletcher re-ties as well.
Fletcher re-ties as well.
Chad finishes rigging his bait.
Chad finishes rigging his bait.
Then changes locations.
Then changes locations.
He starts fishing down another line of docks…
He starts fishing down another line of docks…
…constantly switching rods.
…constantly switching rods.
Chad throws towards a spot he thinks the fish are holding on.
Chad throws towards a spot he thinks the fish are holding on.
He looks down to check his 360 unit…
He looks down to check his 360 unit…
…and there’s a fish!
…and there’s a fish!
Chad brings the fish away from the dock supports.
Chad brings the fish away from the dock supports.
The fish jumps out of the water furiously.
The fish jumps out of the water furiously.
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Pipkens takes the fish to the bottom deck of the boat.
Pipkens takes the fish to the bottom deck of the boat.
He bends down and reaches for the fish as it shakes its head on the surface.
He bends down and reaches for the fish as it shakes its head on the surface.
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Scooping the fish around the belly, Chad brings the fish out of the water.
Scooping the fish around the belly, Chad brings the fish out of the water.
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He unhooks his catch and shows it to the camera.
He unhooks his catch and shows it to the camera.
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Chad fishes a few more minutes on that dock and then moves to a new spot where he picks up the small crank bait again.
Chad fishes a few more minutes on that dock and then moves to a new spot where he picks up the small crank bait again.
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He catches a mini striper.
He catches a mini striper.
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Pipkens goes back into slow motion with his spinning rod.
Pipkens goes back into slow motion with his spinning rod.
A few docks down from Chad is Jeff Kriet tying on a new bait.
A few docks down from Chad is Jeff Kriet tying on a new bait.
He jokes that he had already caught 18 pounds and was now onto his “big fish spots.”
He jokes that he had already caught 18 pounds and was now onto his “big fish spots.”
Around the end of another set of docks Brent Ehrler makes a few casts.
Around the end of another set of docks Brent Ehrler makes a few casts.
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Pipkens makes another move and we run by Jared Lintner fishing near a marina.
Pipkens makes another move and we run by Jared Lintner fishing near a marina.
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Chad makes his way back into the boat docks and starts fishing.
Chad makes his way back into the boat docks and starts fishing.
Andy Montgomery was also in the docks.
Andy Montgomery was also in the docks.
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Chad tries to unsnag his bait.
Chad tries to unsnag his bait.
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Pipkens fishes under a small bridge to one of the floating docks.
Pipkens fishes under a small bridge to one of the floating docks.
On the other side of the marina Ken Iyobe is fishing down an old dock.
On the other side of the marina Ken Iyobe is fishing down an old dock.
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Two ospreys fly back and forth to their nest above the marina.
Two ospreys fly back and forth to their nest above the marina.
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Chris Zaldain passes by.
Chris Zaldain passes by.
Keith Combs was also in the area…
Keith Combs was also in the area…
…and so was Bill Lowen. Bill said “he only had two fish and that this place was tough!”
…and so was Bill Lowen. Bill said “he only had two fish and that this place was tough!”
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Pipkens went through several hours with no more bites, but didn’t seem to let that get in the way of how he was fishing. He stayed focused and kept making adjustments when he felt he needed to.
Pipkens went through several hours with no more bites, but didn’t seem to let that get in the way of how he was fishing. He stayed focused and kept making adjustments when he felt he needed to.
Did we mention that Chad was fishing docks and wood?
Did we mention that Chad was fishing docks and wood?
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Chad shows the camera a crab trap in the water…
Chad shows the camera a crab trap in the water…
Then he had to unhook his bait from said trap.
Then he had to unhook his bait from said trap.
We relocate to another set of docks and Chad begins fishing again.
We relocate to another set of docks and Chad begins fishing again.
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He skips his bait under a long dock slip…
He skips his bait under a long dock slip…
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He sets the hook and connects with his second fish of the day!
He sets the hook and connects with his second fish of the day!
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He quickly lands the fish…
He quickly lands the fish…
…and unhooks the bait from its mouth.
…and unhooks the bait from its mouth.
Only 15 minutes later Chad finds a fish against a rocky shoreline.
Only 15 minutes later Chad finds a fish against a rocky shoreline.
He fights the fish for several minutes.
He fights the fish for several minutes.
The fish went through all kinds of maneuvers to shake the hook.
The fish went through all kinds of maneuvers to shake the hook.
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Chad leans down to scoop the fish, but it’s still too lively!
Chad leans down to scoop the fish, but it’s still too lively!
He makes another swing and gets his hand around the fish this time!
He makes another swing and gets his hand around the fish this time!
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He shows the fish to the camera…
He shows the fish to the camera…
…puts the fish in the live well and heads to the next spot.
…puts the fish in the live well and heads to the next spot.