BASSTrakk shows Chad Pipkens in 3rd place with a consistent limit weighing 12 pounds, 8 ounces. Coincidentally, Pipkens has a productive past on Lake Chickamauga.
In the 2019 Bassmaster Eastern Open, Pipkens finished 5th in a tournament ending on Memorial Day weekend. I was there, and not surprisingly, his catch came offshore. Playing his strengths proved successful. The bass were in post-spawn, with some already on the ledges, others up shallow. That’s where John Cox won the tournament.
The fall transition is in full swing this go around, and there are bass to be caught deep, midrange and shallow. What we are seeing is anglers fishing their strengths. The likes of Caleb Sumrall, John Cox and Stetson Blaylock are fishing shallow and in heavy cover. Hank Cherry is likely doing his thing around docks, and Pipkens possibly staying out in deeper water.