Elite

Santee Cooper: Social media roundup

Posted on
Captions by
Shaye Baker
Alabama
Practice is winding down for the 2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes. It’s a quick turn around this week as Hank Cherry and the rest of the Elite Series field shoot over to Lakes Marion and Moultrie from last week’s event on Lake Murray.
One last congrats to Drew Benton and his gang on the win last week.
But now it’s time to redo tackle and prepare for Santee.
The anglers that didn’t make the Championship Sunday cut on Murray had the opportunity to at least peek at Santee from the shore before practice officially began on Monday.
David Williams and the rest of the campers settle in for the week.
Drew Cook is on the water at the crack of dawn.
He finished 7th on Murray, and won the Elite here on Santee last season. He’s raring and ready to go.
Alex Redwine is grateful for what he gets to do for a living.
Here are a few more obligatory sunrise shots from the other Elite anglers. Derek Hudnall’s is up first.
Mark Menendez with a shot from shore.
Luke Palmer ready to roll.
Jason Christie with a beautiful view from the office.
One more for the road.
Now it’s time to put it into high gear, as Carl Jocumsen puts his Falcon Boat on plane.
Jocumsen had a good showing here last year, finishing 33rd. He’s looking for an even stronger finish this week, sitting in 3rd in the Progressive Angler of the Year points race.
Bill Lowen launches his boat, a threat to win here, as this shallow water flipper will have plenty of targets to pitch to.
Santee Cooper Lakes can get pretty mean in the wind, but Chad Pipkens shows us the water was as smooth as glass at times during practice.
Lee Livesay gets his practice underway.
There are reportedly a few bass still left on bed here this week. Luke Palmer and the rest of the field are on the lookout.
Matt Robertson said the best thing he’s found so far is this hunka hunka burning love.
Brock Mosley found something that no one is looking for.
Paul Mueller did too, a gator.
There are so many gators in this fishery that Bryan New is having to look around them on his Garmin.
Chris Zaldain found something else entirely, a massive catfish bite.
Not sure what Matt Arey found.
The bite has been tough per reports. But John Soukup did find a bass, sort of.
David Gaston is concerned about the size he’s on as well.
But make no mistake, there are some grown ones swimming in Santee Cooper Lakes, as is evidenced here by Clark Wendlandt.
Derek Hudnall has the biggest one we’ve seen so far. Two anglers broke into the Bassmaster Century Club here last year. Here’s to hoping someone does it again this week. The 2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes starts tomorrow.

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