This will be a feast or famine tournament, with more famine than feast in terms of daily five-bass limits. When the 75-angler field is cut to the top 35 after two days, it will take just over 9 pounds per day to make the cut, if Winyah Bay fishes like it did the last time the Elite Series was here in 2016.
That’s why it’s so difficult to make the decision about taking the long run to the Cooper River. You can stick around much closer to the Georgetown launch area with a goal of 10 pounds a day and probably record a decent finish. It’s the equivalent of laying up to the green in golf and playing for a par, rather than trying to hit the green by clearing a water hazard and playing for a birdie. There’s double-bogey risk in the birdie approach.
“The big variable is south of here about a hundred miles,” said Shane Lineberger, referring to the Cooper River. “What I’ve seen over there (in practice), it’s not worth it for me to go over there. Over there there’s definitely bigger fish. Over here it’s a lot safer play.
“Like I’ve said many times, this (Elite Series season) is a marathon, not a sprint. I think staying close and getting points in this event is more important than trying to win. You have to keep your eyes on the prize, which everybody knows is qualifying for the (Bassmaster) Classic.”