Cliff Crochet is leading the tournament by tapping into a newfound mental attitude. Behind him is Jesse Wiggins, riding the momentum of his B.A.S.S. win just two weeks ago. Seth Feider, another young angler, brought his video game style of Minnesota smallmouth fishing to Tennessee.
Those top three anglers know it will take everything they tapped into, beyond secret baits and tactics, to stay in contention at the Bassmaster Elite at Cherokee Lake.
Crochet, with 19 pounds, 7 ounces, last won in his home state. In October he won the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open on the Atchafalaya Basin. Known by his peers as Cajun Baby, the Louisianan is more used to fishing the shallow, brackish bayous than a deep, clear impoundment like Cherokee.
Here, there is nothing like back home. Fishing at the top level is oftentimes less about patterns and lures than mental attitude. That’s what Crochet is claiming to have in his favor here.
“The biggest deal is that I am fishing more calmer, not trying to force anything,” he said.
Crochet said those lessons learned came as his epiphany after winning the Open.
“It really taught me to slow down, fish in the moment and when doing that you can react to changes much better.”
Changes are ahead. Day 1 began with snow flurries and a temperature that barely nudged past the freezing mark by weigh-in time. Tonight will be in the low 20s with the daytime high expected to reach the mid 50s by the afternoon of Day 2. The warming trend continues on Saturday and Sunday. The fish will no doubt react to the changes.
Wiggins is riding the momentum of his win just two weeks ago at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open held on the Harris Chain in central Florida. Wiggins ignored the prevailing patterns of sight fishing in shallow water for spawning bass. Instead, he won on the most unlikely of lures and pattern. A deep diving crankbait fished in the deepest water he could find carried him to the victory stand.
With such a wide open, open-minded approach the Alabamian is certainly one to watch. With nothing to lose and plenty to prove he’s on the cusp of breaking out. Wiggins, fishing his first Elite Series event, has no fear of the fish or his peers. After Day 1, Wiggins is just 6 ounces behind leader Crochet.
Feider, another young Elite, has 18-10 for third place.
“What I’m doing is video game fishing like I do back home in Minnesota,” he said.
Translated, that means fishing very specific spots in deeper water. Smallmouth are the target and pinpoint presentations are a must.
“I saw every fish on the graph before it bit,” he added. “I also expanded my pattern and have a few more fresh areas to try on Friday.”
Feider spent a few days scouting the lake in December without much luck.
“I was actually terrified to come back, because I only caught three fish in the two days that I was here.”
Feider knows he’s up against a warming trend that could knock him out of the Top 12. Yet bringing a fresh rookie attitude can be a benefit. He knows it and so does Wiggins.
“I don’t get too worried about how it will shake out,” added Feider. “I’ll just go fishing and hope for the best.”
Feider and the other video game style of fishing players, and there are many, hope the fun lasts until at least tomorrow. That is when the field gets cut to the Top 50.
Whether or not it’s game over depends on the weather, baitfish movement and of course, a lot of luck. Here, timing is everything.