On Cayuga with Davis

Take to the water with Mark Davis as he fishes the second day of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite on Cayuga Lake.

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Mark Davis started his day like many of the anglers: getting bit.
Mark Davis started his day like many of the anglers: getting bit.
Unfortunately, most of those bites were from toothy critters like this pickerel or their cousins the pike.
Unfortunately, most of those bites were from toothy critters like this pickerel or their cousins the pike.
He also had company nearby. That’s not a reflection. It’s Brian Snowden (left) and Matt Reed (right).
He also had company nearby. That’s not a reflection. It’s Brian Snowden (left) and Matt Reed (right).
The sun was also a little brighter. This is the scene to the east of Snowden and Reed taken seconds after the last photo.
The sun was also a little brighter. This is the scene to the east of Snowden and Reed taken seconds after the last photo.
Davis gets his first keeper early.
Davis gets his first keeper early.
And almost at the same time, Brian Snowden catches his first keeper.
And almost at the same time, Brian Snowden catches his first keeper.
Snowden’s fish was much larger.
Snowden’s fish was much larger.
Davis would focus on a key spot in the area.
Davis would focus on a key spot in the area.
In the background, Bernie Schultz caught a toothy critter.
In the background, Bernie Schultz caught a toothy critter.
Like Day 1, boats raced from area to area.
Like Day 1, boats raced from area to area.
And in every direction.
And in every direction.
Like other parts of the lake, some places near Davis saw a lot of traffic.
Like other parts of the lake, some places near Davis saw a lot of traffic.
Despite the traffic, Davis would still hook up.
Despite the traffic, Davis would still hook up.
This would be his second keeper of the day.
This would be his second keeper of the day.
And would quickly hit the well.
And would quickly hit the well.
Moments later, he would be hooked up again.
Moments later, he would be hooked up again.
This fish took him to the deck, jumping nearby.
This fish took him to the deck, jumping nearby.
And tail-walking in front of him...
And tail-walking in front of him…
...jumping into the side of the boat.
…jumping into the side of the boat.
Before Davis could get his hands on it.
Before Davis could get his hands on it.
And like the day before, the bites came fairly quick.
And like the day before, the bites came fairly quick.
This one splashing to the side of the boat...
This one splashing to the side of the boat…
...before being flipped in.
…before being flipped in.
And in no time, Davis would fill his limit.
And in no time, Davis would fill his limit.
All of the fish were healthy, but lacking the size needed.
All of the fish were healthy, but lacking the size needed.
A few hundred yards away, Schultz hooks up with largemouth.
A few hundred yards away, Schultz hooks up with largemouth.
This one wallows across the surface...
This one wallows across the surface…
...before Schultz could get boatside.
…before Schultz could get boatside.
The hefty fish gets a checking out from the Marshal.
The hefty fish gets a checking out from the Marshal.
Davis would occasionally cast a crankbait.
Davis would occasionally cast a crankbait.
And he and Schultz would get fairly close at times.
And he and Schultz would get fairly close at times.
Visiting about the action.
Visiting about the action.
On one of those passes, Schultz hooks up with a giant.
On one of those passes, Schultz hooks up with a giant.
It would take him to the driver’s seat.
It would take him to the driver’s seat.
And turn into a big pike.
And turn into a big pike.
Schultz holds it up for a photo, while his Marshal captures the action.
Schultz holds it up for a photo, while his Marshal captures the action.
Davis continued to cast through the area.
Davis continued to cast through the area.
Occasionally hooking up.
Occasionally hooking up.
And reeling in a pickerel.
And reeling in a pickerel.
Davis would continue to cast.
Davis would continue to cast.
In the far background, one of the big grass beds was filled with anglers.
In the far background, one of the big grass beds was filled with anglers.
And he would continue hooking up.
And he would continue hooking up.
This one would be the right kind of fish.
This one would be the right kind of fish.
That would allow him to cull.
That would allow him to cull.
But the pickerel were more steady than anything.
But the pickerel were more steady than anything.
At one point, a couple drifts nearby, passing behind Matt Reed,
At one point, a couple drifts nearby, passing behind Matt Reed,
before idling in front of Davis.
before idling in front of Davis.
The disturbance didn’t bother the pickerel bite.
The disturbance didn’t bother the pickerel bite.
They seemed to bite everything.
They seemed to bite everything.
And occasionally a bass would show up.
And occasionally a bass would show up.
Davis would work the area thoroughly, before moving about 12 miles away.
Davis would work the area thoroughly, before moving about 12 miles away.
Bluff walls and docks were more prevalent in this area.
Bluff walls and docks were more prevalent in this area.
The deeper water is also home of lake trout like this one a local is holding up in the middle of the lake.
The deeper water is also home of lake trout like this one a local is holding up in the middle of the lake.
Davis would skip and pitch docks, while his Marshal and David Hunter Jones of Bassmaster.com watches the action.
Davis would skip and pitch docks, while his Marshal and David Hunter Jones of Bassmaster.com watches the action.
He would stick with the docks for most of the afternoon.
He would stick with the docks for most of the afternoon.