Elite

Dock Talk at St. Lawrence River

Posted on
Photography by
Andy Crawford
Captions by
Craig Lamb
It’s the final episode of Dock Talk 2023 at the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River. Official practice was cut short to two days, following a weather postponement last week at Lake Champlain. 
Will this make three Elite events in a row where forward-facing sonar savvy anglers will dominate the Top 10? Will the tournament be won in Lake Ontario? Will the St. Lawrence River be a player this time?  For the last time, we report and you decide if the answers are truth or dock talk. 
About 2 o’ clock we caught up with Darold Gleason, whose wife Randi and shotgun partner Rowdy launched the Louisiana pro at French Creek Marina, near downtown Clayton. 
“I’ve been to the lake and it was getting bumpy and to save time, I had Randi pick me up down there and now I’m going to go out on the river.”
I’m trying to prepare for tomorrow’s forecast; trying to find something that I can get to. If I can’t get into the lake then I want a backup plan for getting bites,” Gleason said. 
Julia Kennedy came next to pick up her husband for a trip to the service yard. “I’ve been to the lake and the river but found nothing good, given we only had two days to figure it out,” Steve said. 
“I say that and still could have had 20 pounds each day, but that’s not near good enough to make a cut. Last year it took over 21 pounds, actually more, to make it. There’s nowhere else we go where 20 pounds is not sufficient to keep you in the game; it’s really amazing. 
“I’m on the Classic bubble. I fished shallow and it’s not productive this year. It’s just isolated. It’s the fewest I’ve ever seen, even looking at them. I don’t know the lake at all.”
“The place to be is definitely the lake,” Bryan New said. “Those smallmouth on average are just heavier and more stout for the environment in which they live.
“On the river you basically have to just set up a drift and repeat. Those smallmouth are stationary; they hold down current behind a rockpile or other current break. 
“They just aren’t as easy to catch, or heavy enough on average to keep you in the game.”
Rick Clunn arrived at French Creek Marina, ironically where he won a 1992 Invitational, with a front deck void of drop shots, Ned rigs and the like. 
“This was the first time I’ve fished in the river, shallow,” said the four-time Bassmaster Classic champion. 
“Back when I won that Invitational (in September), the smallmouth in the lake averaged about two pounds, the reason being that was long before the round goby.” For the record, Clunn’s daily average weight was about 14 pounds. 
“The lake is fishing really well, no surprise there and I haven’t spent any time in the river,” Austin Feilx said. 
The cut weight is going to depend on the wind and how it sets up on certain areas.
“I think the wildcard will be the wind, and whether or not I want to run out to the lake. I don’t have much else to go for,” said Pat Schlapper.
“I think the river is going to play a lot more this year. 
“For weights I don’t think it will be like last year, at least overall. When you get on bodies of water this size it makes it hard to make a 40, 50-mile run, but it’s part of the game.”
“The river actually could be more or a player this year, if a guy sets up on the right places,” said Matt Robertson. 
“It all depends on how the wind is on the lake, and whether or not you can stay on the key areas.”

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