Cooper River action - Bassmaster

The action on the Cooper River during the Huk Performance Fishing Bassmaster Elite at Winyah Bay presented by GoRVing started with a long run from Georgetown and ended in a picturesque estuary similar to those found in the California Delta.

Strong winds as evidenced by this Charleston, S.C., power plant’s smoke stack created a bumpy and long ride for those anglers traveling to the Cooper River, a trip that was 109 miles from take off to the fishable water in the upper stretches.

But several anglers braved the wind and waves to make it to the area, including Aaron Martens, who finished the day in 36th place with 8-11.

Martens was followed by Skeet Reese, who was obviously happy to get to the calm waters of the Cooper River.

As more boats showed up, it was obvious that the race was still on, even close to the finish line.

Several would peel off like Britt Myers and work their way back into the marshy fishery. Myers would find them well enough to finish the day in second place with a solid sack of 16 pounds, 8 ounces.

But others like Carl Jocumsen would stay in the open, casting to unseen targets.

Jocumsen’s plan worked well enough to catch 19 pounds, 11 ounces to hold the lead after Day 1 action.

While others showed looking for a place to settle.

Many of them, like Jason Elam, eye-balling Jocumsen as they passed.

And others continued to race into the river.

Brett Pruett, one of the youngest anglers in the field, would be one of those. The rookie would catch one keeper on the day.

While one of the oldest anglers in the field, Paul Elias would burn his way into the river as well.

Elias would settle onto a river bank.

While Kota Kiriyama would move near a point.

On down the river, Elias would hook up with his first keeper.

The fish was obviously important to Elias.

He quickly swings it into the boat.

And Elias would have his first keeper of the day.

Elias, though, would only be able to add another keeper during the day finishing with two keepers.

It was a common number in the area: Kiriyama would only catch two as well.

Skeet Reese would be found working the shallow edges of a flooded rice field off the Cooper River.

Reese likely felt right at home considering the similarities to the California Delta.

It wouldn’t treat him like home, though. Reese scored a zero on the day, one of the few times he’s ever been scoreless in an Elite event.

The tough day didn’t stop him from moving and working.

Nearby, Brett Hite casts in a flooded rice field.

The “rice fields” are actually flooded flats. The last time rice was grown in them was the early 1900s. They’ve since become spawning flats in the rivers around the area.

And he was catching fish too.

This was a keeper, but it wouldn’t help Hite. He already had a limit.

The next one, though, would help him.

The fish wasn’t a giant but it was enough to throw out his smallest keeper.

At the time he had about 11 pounds in his boat.

But it didn’t last long. On his next cast he hooked up again.

This one was a sizable upgrade that produced a fist pump and a yell from Hite.

Followed by a thumbs up. It gave him 12-7 overall and placed him in 7th place after Day 1.

Nearby Andy Montgomery works a hyacinth patch. He finished the day with two fish.

While most of the anglers stayed shallow, Jocumsen stayed in the same area. The smoke stack giving an idea that the ride back would be difficult.

On down the river, Dave Lefebre hooks up.

The fish would quickly come aboard and give Lefebre about 10 pounds at the time.

Lefebre would add to that, though, finishing the day with 12-5 and a 7th place finish after Day 1.