After the final day at the last two Bassmaster Classics, what could possibly surprise anyone today? In 2016, Edwin Evers bagged 29 pounds, 3 ounces on Day 3 to rise from third place to victory. In 2017, Jordan Lee sacked 27-4 on Day 3 to rocket from 15th place – yes, 15th place – to win.
And all 25 anglers competing today on Lake Hartwell know it’s set up better to produce a huge limit today than Grand Lake was in 2016 or Lake Conroe was last year. The warming trend since Thursday and the bright sunshine forecast for today have the bass moving shallow in spawning mode again, after a cold front interrupted them last week.
“This lake has a mid-20s bag for sure,” said Day 2 leader Jason Christie, the only angler to top the 20-pound mark at Lake Hartwell so far in this Classic. “That’s what scares me the most. I think somebody is going to have a big bag (Sunday).”
While Hartwell didn’t fish as well Saturday as it did Friday, there were plenty of signs that today will be the best day for bass fishing in the 2018 Classic.
“I saw three big ones on the (spawning) bed, rolling around,” said Jacob Powroznik, who is in 12th place, 9 pounds behind Christie. “So the big ones are coming. I saw some big ones schooling too, but I couldn’t get to them in time. So all that’s getting ready to happen.
“Somebody is going to bust a monster sack (today). I’m not saying it’s going to be me. But I know what’s going on, and somebody is going to catch ‘em in a big way on Sunday.”