Day on the lake: Scott Canterbury

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It was mid-February 2020, and Scott Canterbury was on a roll. “I’d just won 2019 Angler of the Year honors, fished my first [Bassmaster] Classic and placed sixth at the 2020 kickoff tournament on the St. Johns River,” he recalled. “I was totally fired up for the upcoming Elite season.” Then March arrived, and with it the coronavirus pandemic, forcing B.A.S.S. to cancel or postpone its remaining 2020 tournaments. This crisis might have demoralized a less competent or optimistic angler, but Canterbury knew the best way to both practice social distancing and maintain a competitive edge was to keep fishing. “During this so-called downtime, I’ve been hitting nearby lakes and rivers by myself and occasionally competing in local tournaments, always while taking the recommended safety precautions. Sure, it’s different right now because I’m not touring, but hey, I’m sitting in sixth place in 2020 Angler of the Year points, and I’m hopeful that this health crisis will soon pass. So, dude, let’s hurry up and get this boat in the water! I’m ready to whack some bass!” Tired of cold fronts messing up your late spring bass trips? Following the game plan that Canterbury formulated on Lake X just might result in a whack-fest of your own! (Note: B.A.S.S. announced the resumption of its 2020 tournament schedule on May 7, the day after Canterbury’s “Day on the Lake” outing.) <br><br> <b>6:39 a.m.</b> I meet Canterbury at Lake X’s deserted boat ramp. It’s clear, calm and 52 degrees. “This is unseasonably cool for May, and there’s a huge cold front approaching, but the bite should be shallow,” he predicts. “The weather here has been supervolatile this spring — 80s one day, 50s the next. I could find bass in all three stages of spawning. Points leading into shallow spawning bays should hold both pre- and postspawn fish.” <BR><BR> <B>7 HOURS LEFT</B><BR> <b>6:45 a.m.</b> We launch the Skeeter. The water near the ramp is 62 degrees and stained. Canterbury pulls several of his signature Halo rods paired with Ardent reels from storage; his lure arsenal includes jigs, swimbaits and topwaters. <br> <b>6:52 a.m.</b> Canterbury runs to a rounded point with a seawall in a nearby tributary arm and makes his first casts with a Bagley Knocker B surface plug. <br> <b>6:54 a.m.</b> He slow rolls a ­6-inch albino shad Megabass Magdraft swimbait parallel to the seawall. “Swimbaits aren’t just for clear water! This big white one is visible in murky water and puts out tons of vibration.” <br> <b>7:03 a.m.</b> Canterbury cranks a shad pattern Strike King 5XD diving plug around a rock point. “I’m seeing fish suspended at 12 feet, but they may be crappie.”
It was mid-February 2020, and Scott Canterbury was on a roll. “I’d just won 2019 Angler of the Year honors, fished my first [Bassmaster] Classic and placed sixth at the 2020 kickoff tournament on the St. Johns River,” he recalled. “I was totally fired up for the upcoming Elite season.” Then March arrived, and with it the coronavirus pandemic, forcing B.A.S.S. to cancel or postpone its remaining 2020 tournaments. This crisis might have demoralized a less competent or optimistic angler, but Canterbury knew the best way to both practice social distancing and maintain a competitive edge was to keep fishing. “During this so-called downtime, I’ve been hitting nearby lakes and rivers by myself and occasionally competing in local tournaments, always while taking the recommended safety precautions. Sure, it’s different right now because I’m not touring, but hey, I’m sitting in sixth place in 2020 Angler of the Year points, and I’m hopeful that this health crisis will soon pass. So, dude, let’s hurry up and get this boat in the water! I’m ready to whack some bass!” Tired of cold fronts messing up your late spring bass trips? Following the game plan that Canterbury formulated on Lake X just might result in a whack-fest of your own! (Note: B.A.S.S. announced the resumption of its 2020 tournament schedule on May 7, the day after Canterbury’s “Day on the Lake” outing.) 6:39 a.m. I meet Canterbury at Lake X’s deserted boat ramp. It’s clear, calm and 52 degrees. “This is unseasonably cool for May, and there’s a huge cold front approaching, but the bite should be shallow,” he predicts. “The weather here has been supervolatile this spring — 80s one day, 50s the next. I could find bass in all three stages of spawning. Points leading into shallow spawning bays should hold both pre- and postspawn fish.”
7 HOURS LEFT6:45 a.m. We launch the Skeeter. The water near the ramp is 62 degrees and stained. Canterbury pulls several of his signature Halo rods paired with Ardent reels from storage; his lure arsenal includes jigs, swimbaits and topwaters. 6:52 a.m. Canterbury runs to a rounded point with a seawall in a nearby tributary arm and makes his first casts with a Bagley Knocker B surface plug. 6:54 a.m. He slow rolls a ­6-inch albino shad Megabass Magdraft swimbait parallel to the seawall. “Swimbaits aren’t just for clear water! This big white one is visible in murky water and puts out tons of vibration.” 7:03 a.m. Canterbury cranks a shad pattern Strike King 5XD diving plug around a rock point. “I’m seeing fish suspended at 12 feet, but they may be crappie.”
<b>7:07 a.m.</b> Canterbury hops to another tributary point and tries a vintage Rebel P70 Pop-R. “It was silver and black, but most of the paint’s been chewed off.” <br> <b>7:08 a.m.</b> A good fish plasters the Pop-R! Canterbury battles the bass and lips his first keeper of the day, a ­3-4 largemouth. Its tail is raw from spawning. “This point curls around into a spawning cove.” <br> <b>7:13 a.m.</b> Canterbury retrieves the swimbait past a dock. “Postspawners suspend under docks while recuperating and will hit a slow-moving presentation. I’m fishing this swimbait on a 6.3:1 reel; a faster reel would make it roll over.” <br> <b>7:15 a.m.</b> Canterbury bags a ­1-pound keeper on the swimbait. “He’s not much bigger than the lure!” <br> <b>7:22 a.m.</b> Canterbury pauses to rig a ­6-inch green pumpkin NetBait Salt Lick stickworm on a 5/0 EWG hook “to throw around docks.” He also ties on a black 3/­8-ounce Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Pro Buzz buzzbait. “I finished second in two FLW Cup tournaments with a buzzbait. I’ve got this one rigged with a black Zoom Horny Toad replacing the skirt, a deadly big-fish combo. The toad gives ’em something solid to inhale instead of that flimsy skirt, so you miss fewer strikes.” He moves into the cove to attack a series of docks. <br> <b>7:33 a.m.</b> Canterbury flips an ­8-inch green pumpkin Zoom lizard to a dock. <br> <b>7:37 a.m.</b> Canterbury runs the Pro Buzz around the dock. “I hope they’ll hit this buzzer; I can cover water a lot faster with it than with a worm or jig.”
7:07 a.m. Canterbury hops to another tributary point and tries a vintage Rebel P70 Pop-R. “It was silver and black, but most of the paint’s been chewed off.” 7:08 a.m. A good fish plasters the Pop-R! Canterbury battles the bass and lips his first keeper of the day, a ­3-4 largemouth. Its tail is raw from spawning. “This point curls around into a spawning cove.” 7:13 a.m. Canterbury retrieves the swimbait past a dock. “Postspawners suspend under docks while recuperating and will hit a slow-moving presentation. I’m fishing this swimbait on a 6.3:1 reel; a faster reel would make it roll over.” 7:15 a.m. Canterbury bags a ­1-pound keeper on the swimbait. “He’s not much bigger than the lure!” 7:22 a.m. Canterbury pauses to rig a ­6-inch green pumpkin NetBait Salt Lick stickworm on a 5/0 EWG hook “to throw around docks.” He also ties on a black 3/­8-ounce Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Pro Buzz buzzbait. “I finished second in two FLW Cup tournaments with a buzzbait. I’ve got this one rigged with a black Zoom Horny Toad replacing the skirt, a deadly big-fish combo. The toad gives ’em something solid to inhale instead of that flimsy skirt, so you miss fewer strikes.” He moves into the cove to attack a series of docks. 7:33 a.m. Canterbury flips an ­8-inch green pumpkin Zoom lizard to a dock. 7:37 a.m. Canterbury runs the Pro Buzz around the dock. “I hope they’ll hit this buzzer; I can cover water a lot faster with it than with a worm or jig.”
<b>7:41 a.m.</b> Canterbury moves to the back of a canal and gets a massive strike on the buzzbait! His third keeper weighs 5 pounds, 12 ounces. “Man, that was awesome! Nothing’s more exciting than catching ’em on a buzzbait, but you’ve got to know when to put it down ’cause they’ll turn off it in a heartbeat.” <BR><BR> <B>6 HOURS LEFT</B><BR>
<b>7:45 a.m.</b> Canterbury moves quickly out of the canal while casting the buzzer.
7:41 a.m. Canterbury moves to the back of a canal and gets a massive strike on the buzzbait! His third keeper weighs 5 pounds, 12 ounces. “Man, that was awesome! Nothing’s more exciting than catching ’em on a buzzbait, but you’ve got to know when to put it down ’cause they’ll turn off it in a heartbeat.”
6 HOURS LEFT
7:45 a.m. Canterbury moves quickly out of the canal while casting the buzzer.
<b>7:50 a.m.</b> Canterbury bags keeper No. 4, a ­2-2 male, on the Pro Buzz. “I saw a cloud of fry, and I bet this fish was guarding a nest.” The wind has started to blow. “That may mess up my topwater fishing.” <br> <b>7:57 a.m.</b> Canterbury catches his fifth keeper, ­2-14, near a dock on the buzzbait. “Got my limit; now I need to cull that ­1-pounder!” <br> <b>8:08 a.m.</b> Canterbury tries a shad pattern Bagley Balsa B2 squarebill crankbait in a shallow pocket. The wind is howling now and the air temp is plummeting. “Dang, it feels like November out here!” <br> <b>8:18 a.m.</b> Canterbury runs back to the point where he caught his first fish and cranks the squarebill.
7:50 a.m. Canterbury bags keeper No. 4, a ­2-2 male, on the Pro Buzz. “I saw a cloud of fry, and I bet this fish was guarding a nest.” The wind has started to blow. “That may mess up my topwater fishing.” 7:57 a.m. Canterbury catches his fifth keeper, ­2-14, near a dock on the buzzbait. “Got my limit; now I need to cull that ­1-pounder!” 8:08 a.m. Canterbury tries a shad pattern Bagley Balsa B2 squarebill crankbait in a shallow pocket. The wind is howling now and the air temp is plummeting. “Dang, it feels like November out here!” 8:18 a.m. Canterbury runs back to the point where he caught his first fish and cranks the squarebill.

<b>8:23 a.m.</b> Canterbury rounds the point and catches keeper No. 6, ­3-15, on the Pro Buzz. “This fish was near that seawall. I never saw a splash; she just sucked it under.” <br> <b>8:25 a.m.</b> Canterbury retrieves the swimbait parallel to the seawall and catches keeper No. 7, a ­3-1 largemouth. “These fish are really feeding! I need to rack ’em and stack ’em before that front passes through.” <br> <b>8:28 a.m.</b> Canterbury bags keeper No. 8, ­3-4 — same lure, same place. <br> <b>8:41 a.m.</b> A massive cloudbank has rolled in and it’s gusting 35 mph as Canterbury casts the swimbait to a shallow point. “This weather is insane!” <BR><BR> <B>5 HOURS LEFT</B><BR> <b>8:45 a.m.</b> Canterbury tries a sexy Guntersville shad 3/­8-ounce Dirty Jigs swim jig with a white NetBait Mini Kickin’ B trailer around a dock.
8:23 a.m. Canterbury rounds the point and catches keeper No. 6, ­3-15, on the Pro Buzz. “This fish was near that seawall. I never saw a splash; she just sucked it under.” 8:25 a.m. Canterbury retrieves the swimbait parallel to the seawall and catches keeper No. 7, a ­3-1 largemouth. “These fish are really feeding! I need to rack ’em and stack ’em before that front passes through.” 8:28 a.m. Canterbury bags keeper No. 8, ­3-4 — same lure, same place. 8:41 a.m. A massive cloudbank has rolled in and it’s gusting 35 mph as Canterbury casts the swimbait to a shallow point. “This weather is insane!”
5 HOURS LEFT8:45 a.m. Canterbury tries a sexy Guntersville shad 3/­8-ounce Dirty Jigs swim jig with a white NetBait Mini Kickin’ B trailer around a dock.
<b>8:56 a.m.</b> Canterbury casts the buzzer parallel to a riprap bank in a shallow canal. <br> <b>9:02 a.m.</b> Canterbury flips the stickworm to the rocks. A bass chomps it but instantly drops it. “Cold-front bite!” <br> <b>9:16 a.m.</b> Canterbury casts a chartreuse/white half-ounce Z-Man JackHammer bladed jig with a white NetBait Little Spanky trailer to a dock and catches keeper No. 9, 2 pounds even. <br> <b>9:25 a.m.</b> The JackHammer bags Canterbury’s 10th keeper, ­3-15, off a seawall. <br> <b>9:41 a.m.</b> Canterbury is in the upper reaches of the canal. “It’s really muddy back here. I need to find some clearer water.”
8:56 a.m. Canterbury casts the buzzer parallel to a riprap bank in a shallow canal. 9:02 a.m. Canterbury flips the stickworm to the rocks. A bass chomps it but instantly drops it. “Cold-front bite!” 9:16 a.m. Canterbury casts a chartreuse/white half-ounce Z-Man JackHammer bladed jig with a white NetBait Little Spanky trailer to a dock and catches keeper No. 9, 2 pounds even. 9:25 a.m. The JackHammer bags Canterbury’s 10th keeper, ­3-15, off a seawall. 9:41 a.m. Canterbury is in the upper reaches of the canal. “It’s really muddy back here. I need to find some clearer water.”
<B>4 HOURS LEFT</B><BR> <b>9:45 a.m.</b> Canterbury moves uplake to a grassy island and bags keeper No. 11, 2 pounds, 13 ounces, on the swimbait. <br> <b>9:46 a.m.</b> He catches a ­2-10 on his next cast. <br> <b>10:06 a.m.</b> Having circled the small island, Canterbury moves into a nearby cove to pitch a green pumpkin NetBait Dagger 4.5 creature around sunken logs. He detects a tap, slams back his rod and his line breaks! “Aww, man, that was a stud! It almost pulled the rod out of my hands!” <br> <b>10:11 a.m.</b> Canterbury switches Balsa B2 colors to chartreuse and black, “for better visibility in this muddy water.” <br> <b>10:13 a.m.</b> Canterbury flips the Dagger under an overhanging bush, sets the hook, goes to swing a ­5-pounder aboard … and it comes unbuttoned! “Arrghhh! I could have used that one!” <br> <b>10:15 a.m.</b> He catches his 13th keeper, ­1-4, on the Dagger. What’s his take on the day so far? <br> “I’ve caught prespawn, bedding and postspawn fish up shallow. The bite has been active, but I’m expecting it to taper off as this front moves through. Once it does, I’ll probably have to slow way down and flip a jig.” <br> <b>10:27 a.m.</b> Canterbury swings and misses with the Dagger. He dips its tail in chartreuse dye and dabs some scent additive on the bait, “so they’ll hang onto it longer.” <br> <b>10:35 a.m.</b> A bass swirls on his buzzer off a rock point. “See? They’re acting a lot more tentative now than they were earlier.”
4 HOURS LEFT9:45 a.m. Canterbury moves uplake to a grassy island and bags keeper No. 11, 2 pounds, 13 ounces, on the swimbait. 9:46 a.m. He catches a ­2-10 on his next cast. 10:06 a.m. Having circled the small island, Canterbury moves into a nearby cove to pitch a green pumpkin NetBait Dagger 4.5 creature around sunken logs. He detects a tap, slams back his rod and his line breaks! “Aww, man, that was a stud! It almost pulled the rod out of my hands!” 10:11 a.m. Canterbury switches Balsa B2 colors to chartreuse and black, “for better visibility in this muddy water.” 10:13 a.m. Canterbury flips the Dagger under an overhanging bush, sets the hook, goes to swing a ­5-pounder aboard … and it comes unbuttoned! “Arrghhh! I could have used that one!” 10:15 a.m. He catches his 13th keeper, ­1-4, on the Dagger. What’s his take on the day so far? “I’ve caught prespawn, bedding and postspawn fish up shallow. The bite has been active, but I’m expecting it to taper off as this front moves through. Once it does, I’ll probably have to slow way down and flip a jig.” 10:27 a.m. Canterbury swings and misses with the Dagger. He dips its tail in chartreuse dye and dabs some scent additive on the bait, “so they’ll hang onto it longer.” 10:35 a.m. A bass swirls on his buzzer off a rock point. “See? They’re acting a lot more tentative now than they were earlier.”
<b>10:38 a.m.</b> Canterbury buzzes another shallow canal without success. <BR><BR> <B>3 HOURS LEFT</B><BR> <b>10:45 a.m.</b> A big fish swats the swimbait a few feet from the boat but doesn’t hook up. “That was another ­5-pounder! It just headbutted the bait.” <br> <b>10:53 a.m.</b> Canterbury ties on his signature Dirty Jigs Flippin’ Jig (1/2-ounce, in the hematoma pattern), adds an Okeechobee craw Dagger trailer and exits the muddy canal. Patches of blue are breaking through the cloud cover and the wind is roaring.
10:38 a.m. Canterbury buzzes another shallow canal without success.
3 HOURS LEFT10:45 a.m. A big fish swats the swimbait a few feet from the boat but doesn’t hook up. “That was another ­5-pounder! It just headbutted the bait.” 10:53 a.m. Canterbury ties on his signature Dirty Jigs Flippin’ Jig (1/2-ounce, in the hematoma pattern), adds an Okeechobee craw Dagger trailer and exits the muddy canal. Patches of blue are breaking through the cloud cover and the wind is roaring.
<b>10:59 a.m.</b> Canterbury catches a ­2-7 off a seawall on the jig. <br> <b>11:11 a.m.</b> He runs back to the point where he caught his first bass of the day and tries the swimbait. <br>
10:59 a.m. Canterbury catches a ­2-7 off a seawall on the jig. 11:11 a.m. He runs back to the point where he caught his first bass of the day and tries the swimbait.
<b>11:27 a.m.</b> Canterbury exits the tributary arm where he has fished all morning and runs across Lake X to the entrance of a cove. The bank here is littered with laydowns. He flips the jig into a gnarly tangle of branches and catches his 15th keeper, 3 pounds, 7 ounces. As he leans over to release the bass, the iPhone in his hoodie pocket nearly falls into the water. “I’ve dropped 14 phones in lakes from New York to California during my pro career. That may be a record!”
11:27 a.m. Canterbury exits the tributary arm where he has fished all morning and runs across Lake X to the entrance of a cove. The bank here is littered with laydowns. He flips the jig into a gnarly tangle of branches and catches his 15th keeper, 3 pounds, 7 ounces. As he leans over to release the bass, the iPhone in his hoodie pocket nearly falls into the water. “I’ve dropped 14 phones in lakes from New York to California during my pro career. That may be a record!”
<B>2 HOURS LEFT</B><BR> <b>11:45 a.m.</b> Canterbury has been flipping laydowns in the cove without another bite. <br> <b>11:52 a.m.</b> The back of the cove is shallow and stumpy. Here, Canterbury hauls water with both the swimbait and Pop-R. <br> <b>12:06 p.m.</b> While exiting the cove via the opposite bank, Canterbury hangs a ­3-pounder on the JackHammer, but it shakes free. <br> <b>12:10 p.m.</b> He tries a 1/2-ounce Dirty Jigs tandem-willow spinnerbait with a purple haze skirt and white Little Spanky trailer around scattered stumps. “They just aren’t loving these stumps like they should be.” <br> <b>12:17 p.m.</b> Canterbury gets a huge strike on the spinnerbait near a seawall, but the fish comes unbuttoned! “Did you see that?! My rod bent double when it hit! These fish are just swatting at the lure.” <br> <b>12:39 p.m.</b> Canterbury has fished a long stretch of bank, targeting seawalls and docks with the swimbait, spinnerbait and jig without success. He runs downlake to another cove entrance and begins flipping wood cover. <br><br> <B>1 HOUR LEFT</B><BR> <b>12:45 p.m.</b> Canterbury flips the jig to a laydown, slams back his rod and sticks a lunker bass! It surges out of the cover; Canterbury races to the boat’s console to lip-land his 16th keeper, a hulking ­6-6 postspawn female! <br> <b>12:56 p.m.</b> The sun is shining again as Canterbury catches a ­3-0 on the buzzbait. <br> <b>1:01 p.m.</b> Canterbury flips the jig beneath overhanging bushes and limbs on the opposite bank of the cove.
2 HOURS LEFT11:45 a.m. Canterbury has been flipping laydowns in the cove without another bite. 11:52 a.m. The back of the cove is shallow and stumpy. Here, Canterbury hauls water with both the swimbait and Pop-R. 12:06 p.m. While exiting the cove via the opposite bank, Canterbury hangs a ­3-pounder on the JackHammer, but it shakes free. 12:10 p.m. He tries a 1/2-ounce Dirty Jigs tandem-willow spinnerbait with a purple haze skirt and white Little Spanky trailer around scattered stumps. “They just aren’t loving these stumps like they should be.” 12:17 p.m. Canterbury gets a huge strike on the spinnerbait near a seawall, but the fish comes unbuttoned! “Did you see that?! My rod bent double when it hit! These fish are just swatting at the lure.” 12:39 p.m. Canterbury has fished a long stretch of bank, targeting seawalls and docks with the swimbait, spinnerbait and jig without success. He runs downlake to another cove entrance and begins flipping wood cover.
1 HOUR LEFT12:45 p.m. Canterbury flips the jig to a laydown, slams back his rod and sticks a lunker bass! It surges out of the cover; Canterbury races to the boat’s console to lip-land his 16th keeper, a hulking ­6-6 postspawn female! 12:56 p.m. The sun is shining again as Canterbury catches a ­3-0 on the buzzbait. 1:01 p.m. Canterbury flips the jig beneath overhanging bushes and limbs on the opposite bank of the cove.
<b>1:06 p.m.</b> Canterbury’s 18th keeper, ­3-7, hits his jig on a laydown. <br> <b>1:15 p.m.</b> With 30 minutes remaining, Canterbury races downlake to a small cove and flips shoreline cover. <br> <b>1:26 p.m.</b> Canterbury catches a ­5-9 off a laydown. “Nice fish! This is unreal!” <b>1:34 p.m.</b> With minutes remaining, Canterbury scores a ­4-3 on the jig near the entrance to another cove. <br> <b>1:39 p.m.</b> Canterbury moves quickly around the cove, casting the swimbait. No more takers. <br> <b>1:45 p.m.</b> Time’s up! In spite of a massive cold front, Canterbury has had a spectacular day on Lake X. He scored 20 keeper bass; his five largest total a whopping 25 pounds, 13 ounces!
1:06 p.m. Canterbury’s 18th keeper, ­3-7, hits his jig on a laydown. 1:15 p.m. With 30 minutes remaining, Canterbury races downlake to a small cove and flips shoreline cover. 1:26 p.m. Canterbury catches a ­5-9 off a laydown. “Nice fish! This is unreal!”
1:34 p.m. With minutes remaining, Canterbury scores a ­4-3 on the jig near the entrance to another cove. 1:39 p.m. Canterbury moves quickly around the cove, casting the swimbait. No more takers. 1:45 p.m. Time’s up! In spite of a massive cold front, Canterbury has had a spectacular day on Lake X. He scored 20 keeper bass; his five largest total a whopping 25 pounds, 13 ounces!
<B>THE DAY IN PERSPECTIVE</B><BR>
“Today proves that once bass move shallow to spawn, they’ll usually stay there until they’ve finished and are done recuperating, in spite of the weather,” Canterbury told Bassmaster. “They were actively hitting moving baits early and all through the initial arrival of the cold front, but once the skies began clearing again, they weren’t responding nearly as well to moving baits; they’d moved tight to cover, and I had to slow way down and flip a jig. If I were to fish here tomorrow, I’d expect the frontal passage to have killed the moving-bait bite, so I’d probably spend most of my day flipping a jig.”
<BR><BR> <B>WHEN AND WHERE SCOTT CANTERBURY CAUGHT HIS FIVE BIGGEST BASS</B><BR> 5 pounds, 12 ounces; black 3/­8-ounce Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Pro Buzz buzzbait with black Zoom Horny Toad replacing the skirt; back of canal; 7:41 a.m.</b><br> 3 pounds, 15 ounces; same lure as No. 1; tributary point with seawall; 8:23 a.m.</b><br> 6 pounds, 6 ounces; 1/2-ounce hematoma Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Flippin’ Jig with Okeechobee craw NetBait Dagger trailer; laydown; 12:45 p.m.</b><br> 5 pounds, 9 ounces; same lure as No. 3; laydown; 1:26 p.m.</b><br> 4 pounds, 3 ounces; same lure as No. 3; laydown; 1:34 p.m.</b><br> TOTAL: 25 POUNDS, 13 OUNCES
THE DAY IN PERSPECTIVE
“Today proves that once bass move shallow to spawn, they’ll usually stay there until they’ve finished and are done recuperating, in spite of the weather,” Canterbury told Bassmaster. “They were actively hitting moving baits early and all through the initial arrival of the cold front, but once the skies began clearing again, they weren’t responding nearly as well to moving baits; they’d moved tight to cover, and I had to slow way down and flip a jig. If I were to fish here tomorrow, I’d expect the frontal passage to have killed the moving-bait bite, so I’d probably spend most of my day flipping a jig.”
WHEN AND WHERE SCOTT CANTERBURY CAUGHT HIS FIVE BIGGEST BASS
5 pounds, 12 ounces; black 3/­8-ounce Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Pro Buzz buzzbait with black Zoom Horny Toad replacing the skirt; back of canal; 7:41 a.m.
3 pounds, 15 ounces; same lure as No. 1; tributary point with seawall; 8:23 a.m.
6 pounds, 6 ounces; 1/2-ounce hematoma Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Flippin’ Jig with Okeechobee craw NetBait Dagger trailer; laydown; 12:45 p.m.
5 pounds, 9 ounces; same lure as No. 3; laydown; 1:26 p.m.
4 pounds, 3 ounces; same lure as No. 3; laydown; 1:34 p.m.
TOTAL: 25 POUNDS, 13 OUNCES