Classic champs on Lake Russell

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The two teams arrive early on Tuesday morning as they prepare for a day of fishing on Lake Russell. The teams consisted of Elite Series anglers Davy Hite and Casey Ashley and the other being long-time friends and high school football coaches Lee Sawyer and Wayne Botts.
The two teams arrive early on Tuesday morning as they prepare for a day of fishing on Lake Russell. The teams consisted of Elite Series anglers Davy Hite and Casey Ashley and the other being long-time friends and high school football coaches Lee Sawyer and Wayne Botts.
We start the morning on Lake Russell with the former Classic champion Davy Hite and current champion Casey Ashley. We arrive moments after they do, but they quickly put two fish in the boat to start their morning.
We start the morning on Lake Russell with the former Classic champion Davy Hite and current champion Casey Ashley. We arrive moments after they do, but they quickly put two fish in the boat to start their morning.
After two quick keepers they decide to switch areas in hopes of putting a quick limit together.
After two quick keepers they decide to switch areas in hopes of putting a quick limit together.
Soon after arriving at their second spot, Hite hooks up.
Soon after arriving at their second spot, Hite hooks up.
Number three for the duo, but none of them are very big. Lake Russell has an abundance of spotted bass, but the giant spots are hard to come by.
Number three for the duo, but none of them are very big. Lake Russell has an abundance of spotted bass, but the giant spots are hard to come by.
Soon after the third keeper, they are on the move again.
Soon after the third keeper, they are on the move again.
Davy Hite takes control of the trolling motor as he looks for a reaction bite shallow. Ashley opts for a slower approach to target a possible largemouth.
Davy Hite takes control of the trolling motor as he looks for a reaction bite shallow. Ashley opts for a slower approach to target a possible largemouth.
Hite hooks up with another Lake Russell spotted bass. It’s small, but it’s number four. “A Russell special,” said the Elite Series anglers.
Hite hooks up with another Lake Russell spotted bass. It’s small, but it’s number four. “A Russell special,” said the Elite Series anglers.
The format of this tournament is one that these two anglers aren’t accustomed to, but it is a welcomed change of pace. Although they wanted to win like normal competition days, I could tell that it was a much more relaxed environment especially because they knew they would have to weed through small fish.
The format of this tournament is one that these two anglers aren’t accustomed to, but it is a welcomed change of pace. Although they wanted to win like normal competition days, I could tell that it was a much more relaxed environment especially because they knew they would have to weed through small fish.
Hite can only grin as the two anglers joke throughout the morning.
Hite can only grin as the two anglers joke throughout the morning.
This area, like much of the country, has been pounded with rain lately and it has turned the very clear Russell into a muddy mess in certain areas of the lake.
This area, like much of the country, has been pounded with rain lately and it has turned the very clear Russell into a muddy mess in certain areas of the lake.
They didn’t have any luck in the back of the muddy creek so they decide to leave and look for clearer waters. Ashley and Hite said they have never seen Russell this muddy before and the lake is around three feet higher than full.
They didn’t have any luck in the back of the muddy creek so they decide to leave and look for clearer waters. Ashley and Hite said they have never seen Russell this muddy before and the lake is around three feet higher than full.
Hite hooks up at their next spot, but like the others, this one also feels small. Every fish helps build towards a limit and brings them closer to bragging rights.
Hite hooks up at their next spot, but like the others, this one also feels small. Every fish helps build towards a limit and brings them closer to bragging rights.
This spotted bass put up a fight even after Hite had wrangled it into the boat. That’s a five fish limit for Hite and Ashley.
This spotted bass put up a fight even after Hite had wrangled it into the boat. That’s a five fish limit for Hite and Ashley.
They see some birds circling a little farther in their creek so they head to check it out. Like most lakes, birds signify some sort of bait presence. Hite hooks up quickly again!
They see some birds circling a little farther in their creek so they head to check it out. Like most lakes, birds signify some sort of bait presence. Hite hooks up quickly again!
This time he fooled a spotted bass with a bucktail jig or as some call it a hair jig. For the small size of these fish, Ashley and Hite seem to be having a good time fishing and spending a day on the water together.
This time he fooled a spotted bass with a bucktail jig or as some call it a hair jig. For the small size of these fish, Ashley and Hite seem to be having a good time fishing and spending a day on the water together.
Those birds hang around the area and so do the anglers.
Those birds hang around the area and so do the anglers.
Ashley takes his turn with the action and calls his shot with a shakey head.
Ashley takes his turn with the action and calls his shot with a shakey head.
After the day was done Ashley jokingly said that Lake Russell was the shakey head capital of the world.
After the day was done Ashley jokingly said that Lake Russell was the shakey head capital of the world.
They decide to move on as they already have their limit and they are looking to upgrade.
They decide to move on as they already have their limit and they are looking to upgrade.
Ashley lives just down the road from Russell while Hite lives closer to Lake Murray, which is about an hour or so from Russell.
Ashley lives just down the road from Russell while Hite lives closer to Lake Murray, which is about an hour or so from Russell.
Hite heaves a cast and gets a good spray from his reel. The clouds hung around for a good portion of the morning, but the projected rain in the area had passed earlier in the morning just before sunrise.
Hite heaves a cast and gets a good spray from his reel. The clouds hung around for a good portion of the morning, but the projected rain in the area had passed earlier in the morning just before sunrise.
You can tell how muddy this creek is and how the clearer water mixes with the stained influx from the rain.
You can tell how muddy this creek is and how the clearer water mixes with the stained influx from the rain.
I’ve never seen so many smiles exchanged between anglers throughout the day. Ashley and Hite were excited about this friendly competition, but also about the opportunity to fish on such a beautiful day this late in the year.
I’ve never seen so many smiles exchanged between anglers throughout the day. Ashley and Hite were excited about this friendly competition, but also about the opportunity to fish on such a beautiful day this late in the year.
Ashley casts out a “blade runner,” which he used months ago to win the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell.
Ashley casts out a “blade runner,” which he used months ago to win the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell.
We leave Hite and Ashley and find the team of Sawyer and Botts.
We leave Hite and Ashley and find the team of Sawyer and Botts.
When asked how their morning was going they said, “You wouldn’t believe that we only have one small fish.”
When asked how their morning was going they said, “You wouldn’t believe that we only have one small fish.”
They packed up shop soon after we arrived and they were headed to try and put some fish in the boat quickly. For Botts and Sawyer to only have one fish in the boat at 10 a.m. was very surprising given their reputation for doing well in the region.
They packed up shop soon after we arrived and they were headed to try and put some fish in the boat quickly. For Botts and Sawyer to only have one fish in the boat at 10 a.m. was very surprising given their reputation for doing well in the region.
They head out and we follow. Botts (driver seat) laughed as he said “We are a bunch of dummies to challenge two Classic champs to a tournament, they are probably catching them good.”
They head out and we follow. Botts (driver seat) laughed as he said “We are a bunch of dummies to challenge two Classic champs to a tournament, they are probably catching them good.”
At their next stop Botts starts out throwing a blade runner in clear water.
At their next stop Botts starts out throwing a blade runner in clear water.
Lee Sawyer throws a jig and crawls it on the bottom very slowly.
Lee Sawyer throws a jig and crawls it on the bottom very slowly.
Botts, who is also an assistant football coach at Abbeville High School, switches up to a shakey head and hooks up.
Botts, who is also an assistant football coach at Abbeville High School, switches up to a shakey head and hooks up.
It’s a very small keeper, but at the moment it doubles the fish in the boat and it gets them one step closer to a limit.
It’s a very small keeper, but at the moment it doubles the fish in the boat and it gets them one step closer to a limit.
Botts hooks up again just a few casts later.
Botts hooks up again just a few casts later.
It’s another keeper in the boat for Botts/Sawyer and they begin laughing and talking more than they previously were. It’s very interesting to see how hardcore tournament anglers handle a lighter atmosphere tournament.
It’s another keeper in the boat for Botts/Sawyer and they begin laughing and talking more than they previously were. It’s very interesting to see how hardcore tournament anglers handle a lighter atmosphere tournament.
Botts sees some spotted bass suspended under the trolling motor so he tries enticing a bite with a drop shot, but to no avail.
Botts sees some spotted bass suspended under the trolling motor so he tries enticing a bite with a drop shot, but to no avail.
They head out and make a long run in hopes of boating some more fish and possibly beating their long-time friends. We head back to the ramp at noon and let the final three hours play out as they may.
They head out and make a long run in hopes of boating some more fish and possibly beating their long-time friends. We head back to the ramp at noon and let the final three hours play out as they may.
It’s 3 p.m. and both boats idle through the no wake zone to the dock.
It’s 3 p.m. and both boats idle through the no wake zone to the dock.
Family, friends and coaches come to check out the weigh-in and it’s now when I realize how much these anglers talked up this tournament. Who knew there would be a crowd for a two-boat tournament on a Tuesday.
Family, friends and coaches come to check out the weigh-in and it’s now when I realize how much these anglers talked up this tournament. Who knew there would be a crowd for a two-boat tournament on a Tuesday.
Casey Ashley finishes bagging up their five fish limit.
Casey Ashley finishes bagging up their five fish limit.
Lee Sawyer and Wayne Botts weigh a five fish limit for 9.84 pounds. They don’t think it is enough although it was a tough day with ever-changing conditions.
Lee Sawyer and Wayne Botts weigh a five fish limit for 9.84 pounds. They don’t think it is enough although it was a tough day with ever-changing conditions.
Davy Hite and Casey Ashley weigh five fish for 8.42 pounds and they fall short. Sawyer and Botts take the first annual title!
Davy Hite and Casey Ashley weigh five fish for 8.42 pounds and they fall short. Sawyer and Botts take the first annual title!
Hite can only shake his head, but he takes the time to sign an autograph for a local Abbeville High School angler.
Hite can only shake his head, but he takes the time to sign an autograph for a local Abbeville High School angler.
At the end of the day the trash talking didn’t cease and plans have already been made to do this every year. The long time friends connected by high school football and bass fishing remain true to their character in both victory and defeat.
At the end of the day the trash talking didn’t cease and plans have already been made to do this every year. The long time friends connected by high school football and bass fishing remain true to their character in both victory and defeat.