Mark Zona has left Brent Chapman's boat, replaced by Chapman's marshal. Chapman just asked us if we would do something to turn on these bass. He was joking, of course, but almost every successful angler over the last two days has mentioned how sporadic the bite has been this week at Toledo Bend.
With the help of good electronics, you don't have to wonder if the fish have moved. You can see these big schools lighting up your sonar screen. That gives you the confidence to stay in one place.
Greg Hackney, who enters the day in 10th place with 34-10, talked yesterday about the long lulls in between flurries he described as both "wild" and "crazy."
When one bass decides to bite, the whole school gets fired up. When that happens, you're going to catch fish. Even when one comes off the hook, another one will immediately grab the bait.
"It's like they're trying to take the bait out of the other fish's mouth," Hackney said.
No one seems to have a handle on how to initiate that frenzy. You just have to stay on top of them and wait. Chapman has thrown a few different lures today. He's got a five-bass limit that weighs about 15 pounds. So he's in perfect position to upgrade to another 20-pound day when the bass decide to cooperate.