I’ve learned through the years that I don’t have to know everything. I know a lot of folks would say that pretty much sums up my mental acuity. The older I get, the less I make sense.
I know there may be a lot of that in these next few lines. I know it comes with the territory, the bass fishing territory, where even Rick Clunn remains hungry to know things. I just know I don’t know anything compared to him.
But these are some things I do know. I know that Bill Lowen continues to lead going into the final day of the FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River with a 5-pound, 4-ounce cushion, down from 7-13 a day ago. I know on the St. Johns that’s not a cushion, more like a napkin or a piece of silk in between him and a potential wrecking ball.
I know no lead is ever comfortable in Florida.
I also know that in the previous nine Elite events on the St. Johns, the Day 3 leader has won six out of nine times. I know that’s a 67 percent likelihood. I know the largest deficit overcome on the final day was in 2019 by the aforementioned Clunn, who actually knows everything. I know Clunn was down 9-13 and ran past Chris Johnston to win his second Elite on the St. Johns.
I know I’ve mentioned that no lead is ever comfortable in Florida. I know that 67 percent likelihood is something to hang your yoga leggings on. But I know this is still Florida. I know Bill Lowen will likely have a fitful night of sleep tonight. I know in those dreams in Lowen’s mind, John Garrett is the boogey man.
Even without Lowen in the mix, I also know that John Garrett is one scary dude. I know he busted the first “dirty 30” bag of the season. I know if we weren’t headed to Okeechobee I would say it could be the last.
I know either way Garrett’s Day 3 was pretty special. I know Garrett has thrown a wrench in the standard idea of what most of us think about Florida fishing. I know he smashed a “dirty 30” with a deep diving crankbait. I know that’s not completely unheard of. But I also know there’s not a handful of deep diving crankbaits in the average St. Johns River bass boat. I know I’m referring to all of them.
I know from almost four decades of covering this crazy sport that is likely the first “dirty 30” caught on a deep-diving crankbait during an event when a good portion of the anglers are sight fishing. I know if it’s ever happened before, it was the only “dirty 30.”
I know there was a moment in time, when several people thought “what in the hell was he thinking?”
I know Garrett is a special angler. I know he will one day be regarded as one of greats next to anglers like Bill Lowen, Jason Christie, Jordan Lee, Larry Nixon etc. I know that makes the final day in this event an amazing showdown. I know, however it works out, it will be an incredible day.
I know the word “however” is a qualifier. I know it doesn’t matter what the weights wind up being. I know this final day battle will be amazing to watch.
I know I’m sitting on the edge of my seat, and Rick-Clunn hungry to know more.
