Chad Pipkens started his day with a 6 1/2-pound bass. And he’s understandably excited about that. But it in no way compares to the season-saving big bass he caught on Day 2 at Lake Chickamauga last month. Pipkens’ season was on the brink of failure to qualify for the Classic. He had one 2-pounder as his check-in time approached. Then he caught a 7-pound, 11-ounce bass.
“Never give up!” Pipkens shouted that day. “That fish may have saved my season. Now I’ve got a chance to make the Classic.”
Pipkens caught only 13 of a possible 20 keepers while advancing to Day 4 at Chickamauga, where he finished 7th. It was another example of the importance of one big bass in a tough tournament. That clutch performance moved him up the AOY standings from 51st before Chickamauga to 42nd afterward. Pipkens finished 13th yesterday, which bumped him up to 34th in the unofficial AOY standings, well within the 40th-place Classic cut.
So, yes, that 7-11 at Chickamauga gave Pipkens a chance to save his season, and he’s taking advantage of it.