Dustin Connell pre-practiced for 2 1/2 days on Carters Lake before the Elite Series tournament at nearby Lake Chatuge last month. Based on yesterday’s practice session, Connell doesn’t think his pre-practice time was particularly well-spent.
“I think it’s fishing super tough,” he said. “I’m throwing baits now that I’m not getting bites on that I had 30 bites on a month ago. There will be some guys who don’t catch five (12-inch keepers). I don’t think the weights will be high at all. I think 12 pounds will be a really good bag.”
Scott Rook had a similar practice Monday, saying, “I’m going to tie on a bunch of different baits than what I threw today and go out and practice again tomorrow. That’s all I can do.”
In this new Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Classic Bracket format, only the top 12 anglers will advance to the one-on-one bracket competition that begins Wednesday. Seeding for the brackets will be determined by the order of finish at today’s 4:15 p.m. weigh-in.