Elite

Dock Talk at Pasquotank River

Will making the long run be worth it? What's the winning weight? Find out the answers in Dock Talk.

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Photography by
Andy Crawford
Captions by
Craig Lamb
Welcome to Dock Talk from downtown Elizabeth City, N.C., where we last held a pro-level tournament here in June of 1981. 
The B.A.S.S. North Carolina Invitational was won on a relatively new (outside the West) technique called flipping. Not much has changed on that front, as the tournament waters are chock-full of wood, vegetation and manmade structure. What has changed is the vastness of the tournament waters for the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River. That all begs the following questions: Will risking long runs be worth the travel time? Preliminary reports predict big overall weights, anchored by big bass. What will be the winning weight? Will the rivers produce? We ask those questions, and you get to decide if it’s truth or just dock talk. 
Cory Johnson
“Making a long run would be worth it except for the forecasted wind factor,” Johnson said. “I don’t think we’ll be able to get out of the Pasquotank River for two days. 
“I think it will fish extremely small. It would be a whole different ball game without the wind.
“We’re not going to be able to get where we want to go. I think for the first two days it’ll be a shootout in the Pasquotank.”
Tucker Smith
“I think making a long run would be worth it, for sure,” Smith said. “There is a ton of fishable water here and everyone is really spread out, so I think there will be a lot of fish caught. 
“But the 14-inch minimum size will be tough to catch. Catching five keepers will be tough. 
“I do think there is somebody who will have a juice hole, but you’ll also sacrifice the running time to get there and back.”
Paul Marks
“I don’t know if making a long run will be worth it, but I’m about to find out,” Marks said. 
“I’m leaving here, driving up to the northern boundary (Norfolk, Va.) and seeing what I can find. In here (Pasquotank River) it’s going to be tough, because the wind is going to blow on the second day. 
“I think a lot of people are going to be trapped in here. I’m going to try and find something a bit different farther away that I can get to. Main thing will be maneuvering through the wind. If I can find a way to do that, then I’m going for it.”
Jamie Hartman
“Making the run out of here (Pasquotank) will be worth it if you can do it,” Hartman said. “I have a lot better spots elsewhere, but I don’t know if we’ll be able to make it to where we want to go.
“We have a straight east wind today, which is just as bad as a southeastern wind that is blowing right across the sound.
 “So as you enter the mouth into the sound it will be bad; just getting out of here will be a challenge. I think it could fish small because half of the field is in here right now.”
Jeff Gustafson
And the winning weight is? “I say 80 pounds.” 
“I’m planning to make a run but that’s also why I’m launching in here to see if I can catch one in here,” Gustafson said. 
“I fished in here and caught a few small ones, but it doesn’t seem like as much fishable water in this river. Everyone has been fishing in here, so it’s been heavily pressured. It’s like fishing on the Great Lakes; it’s a lot bigger than it looks on the map. I plan to make a run if I can.”
Greg DiPalma
“Making the long run will be worth it. There are only a few areas where the bigger bass are located,” said DiPlama.
“With that scenario are one of two variables in play. First, getting there at all. Second, having the spot to yourself or having to share it. 
“I think there will be a lot of guys that will make the run, and it will be won on a long run. If you can get there.”
Chad Pipkens
“Making a long run is the only option that I have. I also couldn’t catch them in here (Pasquotank),” Pipkens said. 
“Here is the only difference. Back home (Michigan) we make long runs from St. Clair way into Lake Erie. There, I’m familiar with wind direction as it relates to where or how far I can go.  
“Here I don’t have any idea how to plan for it, given the wind direction. Without the knowledge you could waste the day having to run slow. Wind direction plays a big role.”
Jordan Lee
“Winning weight is? “Probably 20 pounds a day,” Lee said. 
“The biggest X factor here is the wind. Within the first 20 miles the fishing isn’t that great. I think you must go more like 50, 60 miles to get into the better areas. 
“Can it be done? It’s yet to be seen based on wind direction and speed.”
Robert Gee
“I’m sure whoever has found them on a long run will go for it,” Gee said.
“I’m going to stay close and maximize my fishing time. 
“I have enough bites in here to make me think that I can sustain it for the tournament.”
Jacob Foutz
And the winning weight is? “I’m going to say it will be between 85 and 92 pounds. This place is good, has a lot of quality fish in it.
“The locals always do well in that range, so I think it’s doable here.”

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