Scott Rook unhappily recalled some key fish that came off the hook after showing themselves Saturday. He wasn't making excuses, but simply explaining the details after Saturday's weigh-in.
Rook's words provide some insight into his method for success this week at Oneida. "I'm mostly drop shotting," he said. "On 95 percent of the fish I've caught, I never felt them bite. It's almost like they're reacting to the splash [of the lure hitting the water] and following the bait down. I don't feel them hit, they're just there.
"And I don't think I've had a bite after I start reeling. I might as well just pick up and make another cast."
Rook noted that in Saturday's high winds, it was even more difficult to feel a bite. He's using spinning rods and light line, so his set-up is about as sensitive as possible. But there's still a significant margin for error when you can't initially tell when to set the hook. Obviously those difficulties haven't kept Rook from achieving success this week, when he's trying desperately for a Bassmaster Classic berth.