Day on the lake: Skylar Hamilton

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If you’re a longtime Bassmaster reader, you probably remember “Harry ’n’ Charlie,” my humor series that followed the misadventures of two redneck bass addicts from Swamp Gas Corners, U.S.A. Whether they were journeying up yonder to Snail Hollow Lake in search of a record smalljaw or chasing after that monster largemouth Ol’ Iron Jaw on Belly Button Bayou back home, H & C would always be found in their trusty aluminum johnboat, Ol’ Stump Jumper. “There’s only three things a real bassin’ man needs,” Harry reasoned: “A hawg stick, a can o’ Viennies and a good ol’ tin boat.” Tennessee pro Skylar Hamilton’s not fond of Vienna sausages, but he agrees with Harry 100 percent about boats — he’s one of only two dudes on the Elite Series running an aluminum bass rig. “An aluminum boat fits the way I like to fish,” he says. “Its hull is tough as boilerplate, so I can slip into shallow/rocky/stumpy places that would tear up a fiberglass rig. I guess you could say my boat is like me: It’s not fancy, but it gets the job one.” As Hamilton is about to prove on Lake R, a skilled angler, a tin boat and skinny water can indeed be a potent combination.<p> <b>7 HOURS LEFT</b><br> <b>6:42 a.m.</b> Hamilton and I arrive at Lake R, which is shrouded in dense fog. He pulls an assortment of Duckett rods and reels from storage. “I’m hoping to score some good fish on topwater before the fog lifts,” he says. <br> <b>7 a.m.</b> We launch the Xpress. Hamilton checks the lake temp: 80 degrees. “The water looks stained, but it’s not muddy, so I should be able to fish a variety of lures. Most of the bass have probably already spawned, but there should still be plenty of fish up shallow. I’m going to run uplake for starters and fish my way back down if I have to. Big bass prey on spawning bluegill this time of year, so I’ll look for bream beds in the shallows.” <br> <b>7:10 a.m.</b> Hamilton threads his way uplake through the fog to the edge of a long, shallow flat. He makes his first cast with a white and chartreuse River2Sea Whopper Plopper 130 surface lure, a “supernoisy bait that’s perfect for these low-light conditions.” He retrieves the big lure slowly and steadily across a shallow sand point. <p> <em>All captions: Don Wirth</em>
If you’re a longtime Bassmaster reader, you probably remember “Harry ’n’ Charlie,” my humor series that followed the misadventures of two redneck bass addicts from Swamp Gas Corners, U.S.A. Whether they were journeying up yonder to Snail Hollow Lake in search of a record smalljaw or chasing after that monster largemouth Ol’ Iron Jaw on Belly Button Bayou back home, H & C would always be found in their trusty aluminum johnboat, Ol’ Stump Jumper. “There’s only three things a real bassin’ man needs,” Harry reasoned: “A hawg stick, a can o’ Viennies and a good ol’ tin boat.” Tennessee pro Skylar Hamilton’s not fond of Vienna sausages, but he agrees with Harry 100 percent about boats — he’s one of only two dudes on the Elite Series running an aluminum bass rig. “An aluminum boat fits the way I like to fish,” he says. “Its hull is tough as boilerplate, so I can slip into shallow/rocky/stumpy places that would tear up a fiberglass rig. I guess you could say my boat is like me: It’s not fancy, but it gets the job one.” As Hamilton is about to prove on Lake R, a skilled angler, a tin boat and skinny water can indeed be a potent combination.
7 HOURS LEFT6:42 a.m. Hamilton and I arrive at Lake R, which is shrouded in dense fog. He pulls an assortment of Duckett rods and reels from storage. “I’m hoping to score some good fish on topwater before the fog lifts,” he says. 7 a.m. We launch the Xpress. Hamilton checks the lake temp: 80 degrees. “The water looks stained, but it’s not muddy, so I should be able to fish a variety of lures. Most of the bass have probably already spawned, but there should still be plenty of fish up shallow. I’m going to run uplake for starters and fish my way back down if I have to. Big bass prey on spawning bluegill this time of year, so I’ll look for bream beds in the shallows.” 7:10 a.m. Hamilton threads his way uplake through the fog to the edge of a long, shallow flat. He makes his first cast with a white and chartreuse River2Sea Whopper Plopper 130 surface lure, a “supernoisy bait that’s perfect for these low-light conditions.” He retrieves the big lure slowly and steadily across a shallow sand point.

All captions: Don Wirth

<b>7:12 a.m.</b> A good fish plasters the Whopper Plopper on Hamilton’s second cast to the point! He works it toward the boat and swings aboard his first bass of the day, a 2-pound, 10-ounce largemouth.
7:12 a.m. A good fish plasters the Whopper Plopper on Hamilton’s second cast to the point! He works it toward the boat and swings aboard his first bass of the day, a 2-pound, 10-ounce largemouth.
<b>7:12 a.m.</b> “That was awesome! There’s no cover on that little point that I can see; it’s just a bare patch of sand.”<br> <b>7:13 a.m.</b> A light northerly breeze is pushing more fog into Lake R’s upper end. Hamilton switches to a bluegill colored Brian’s surface lure; it has a feathered tail, a propeller and a dished-out mouth. “This balsa bait pops like a feeding bluegill, and you can dog-walk it. I’ve caught some whales on it during postspawn.” He casts the popper across the point. <br> <b>7:15 a.m.</b> Hamilton switches to a green Jackall Iobee Frog and skips it beneath overhanging bushes. “I’m seeing [crater-like] bluegill beds all around the bank. There should be some bass hanging around them.” <br> <b>7:22 a.m.</b> Back to the Whopper Plopper. He’s fishing the noisy plug on braided line with a soft-tipped cranking rod. “The light tip gives the fish that critical extra second to inhale the lure before you can react with a hook set.” <br> <b>7:30 a.m.</b> Hamilton switches to the Brian’s popper. “I’m still stoked about catching that fish on my second cast!”
7:12 a.m. “That was awesome! There’s no cover on that little point that I can see; it’s just a bare patch of sand.”7:13 a.m. A light northerly breeze is pushing more fog into Lake R’s upper end. Hamilton switches to a bluegill colored Brian’s surface lure; it has a feathered tail, a propeller and a dished-out mouth. “This balsa bait pops like a feeding bluegill, and you can dog-walk it. I’ve caught some whales on it during postspawn.” He casts the popper across the point. 7:15 a.m. Hamilton switches to a green Jackall Iobee Frog and skips it beneath overhanging bushes. “I’m seeing [crater-like] bluegill beds all around the bank. There should be some bass hanging around them.” 7:22 a.m. Back to the Whopper Plopper. He’s fishing the noisy plug on braided line with a soft-tipped cranking rod. “The light tip gives the fish that critical extra second to inhale the lure before you can react with a hook set.” 7:30 a.m. Hamilton switches to the Brian’s popper. “I’m still stoked about catching that fish on my second cast!”
<b>7:32 a.m.</b> Hamilton spots a stump just beneath the surface and casts the popper to the cover, and a bass smashes it! The fish races off the stump, then stops. “He’s got my line wrapped around something,” Hamilton says. “I haven’t got braid on this reel, so I’ve got to ease him out of that cover.”
7:32 a.m. Hamilton spots a stump just beneath the surface and casts the popper to the cover, and a bass smashes it! The fish races off the stump, then stops. “He’s got my line wrapped around something,” Hamilton says. “I haven’t got braid on this reel, so I’ve got to ease him out of that cover.”
<b>7:32 a.m.</b> He maneuvers his boat to the opposite side of the unseen obstruction, and the fish swims free. Hamilton patiently works the bass closer and grabs his second keeper of the day, 2 pounds, 12 ounces. “Whew! He shot off of one stump straight into another one! I had to be really careful with him in case my line was nicked up.”<br> <b>7:41 a.m.</b> Hamilton is slowly fishing his way along the shallow flat, alternating between the Whopper Plopper, popper and frog. A good fish slurps the frog under but doesn’t hook up. “There are stumps peppered all over this flat. Great bass cover!” <br> <b>7:43 a.m.</b> Hamilton pitches a green pumpkin pepper Jackall Archelon creature rigged on a 5/0 Hayabusa flipping hook with a 1/4-ounce Jackall tungsten sinker to the stump where he missed the bass. <br> <b>7:47 a.m.</b> Back to the popper. He hangs it in some overhanging brush and retrieves it. “It’s foggier now than when we started!” <br> <b>7:56 a.m.</b> Still proceeding along the flat with the three surface baits and the creature. <p> <b>6 HOURS LEFT</b><br> <b>8:09 a.m.</b> The shoreline turns inward to form a large pocket littered with stumps — ideal targets for Hamilton’s topwater arsenal. <br> <b>8:16 a.m.</b> Hamilton chunks the Plopper beneath an overhanging bush. A big fish boils on it but doesn’t hook up. He immediately reels in and pitches the popper to the same spot but can’t coax a replay. <br> <b>8:18 a.m.</b> Hamilton lobs a jointed Jackall Giron bluegill swimbait beneath the overhang and jerks it erratically. Still no takers. <br> <b>8:24 a.m.</b> Both the Plopper and Archelon fail to elicit a strike on a big blowdown. <br> <b>8:30 a.m.</b> Hamilton switches Whopper Plopper colors to black and white. “Hopefully, they can see this one better in the fog.” <br> <b>8:33 a.m.</b> Hamilton isn’t thrilled with the sound of the black Plopper. “Every one of these baits sounds different. The white one makes a deeper plopping sound; this one is higher pitched.” <br> <b>8:40 a.m.</b> A bluegill pecks the popper in another shallow pocket. “He probably thinks it’s his girlfriend!”
7:32 a.m. He maneuvers his boat to the opposite side of the unseen obstruction, and the fish swims free. Hamilton patiently works the bass closer and grabs his second keeper of the day, 2 pounds, 12 ounces. “Whew! He shot off of one stump straight into another one! I had to be really careful with him in case my line was nicked up.”7:41 a.m. Hamilton is slowly fishing his way along the shallow flat, alternating between the Whopper Plopper, popper and frog. A good fish slurps the frog under but doesn’t hook up. “There are stumps peppered all over this flat. Great bass cover!” 7:43 a.m. Hamilton pitches a green pumpkin pepper Jackall Archelon creature rigged on a 5/0 Hayabusa flipping hook with a 1/4-ounce Jackall tungsten sinker to the stump where he missed the bass. 7:47 a.m. Back to the popper. He hangs it in some overhanging brush and retrieves it. “It’s foggier now than when we started!” 7:56 a.m. Still proceeding along the flat with the three surface baits and the creature.

6 HOURS LEFT8:09 a.m. The shoreline turns inward to form a large pocket littered with stumps — ideal targets for Hamilton’s topwater arsenal. 8:16 a.m. Hamilton chunks the Plopper beneath an overhanging bush. A big fish boils on it but doesn’t hook up. He immediately reels in and pitches the popper to the same spot but can’t coax a replay. 8:18 a.m. Hamilton lobs a jointed Jackall Giron bluegill swimbait beneath the overhang and jerks it erratically. Still no takers. 8:24 a.m. Both the Plopper and Archelon fail to elicit a strike on a big blowdown. 8:30 a.m. Hamilton switches Whopper Plopper colors to black and white. “Hopefully, they can see this one better in the fog.” 8:33 a.m. Hamilton isn’t thrilled with the sound of the black Plopper. “Every one of these baits sounds different. The white one makes a deeper plopping sound; this one is higher pitched.” 8:40 a.m. A bluegill pecks the popper in another shallow pocket. “He probably thinks it’s his girlfriend!”

<b>8:44 a.m.</b> Hamilton flips the Archelon into the branches of a blown-down tree, slams back his rod and swings a big bass into his boat! His third keeper weighs 4 pounds, 4 ounces.
8:44 a.m. Hamilton flips the Archelon into the branches of a blown-down tree, slams back his rod and swings a big bass into his boat! His third keeper weighs 4 pounds, 4 ounces.
<b>8:44 a.m.</b> “That tree looks like it just recently snapped off and fell into the water. Never pass up a fresh blowdown; green leaves provide a lot more overhead cover than bare branches.” <br> <b>8:45 a.m.</b> Hamilton pulls out another flipping rod; its reel is spooled with heavy braided line. “I’m [going to] rig another creature on this rod with a 1-ounce sinker so it’ll drop straight down through the thicker leaves and branches.” <br> <b>8:52 a.m.</b> Hamilton flips the 1-ounce creature rig to another tree branch, detects a tap, swings and misses. <br> <b>8:56 a.m.</b> Hamilton enters a short tributary arm and casts the popper around laydown wood. <p> <b>5 HOURS LEFT</b><br> <b>9 a.m.</b> He’s moving slowly along the tributary’s shoreline, alternating between the popper, frog and creature. “There’s a little channel running along this bank. Bass should use it to travel in and out of this creek arm.” <br> <b>9:13 a.m.</b> The fog has dissipated as Hamilton continues working shallow cover. “I’m seeing bluegill beds everywhere, but so far, no bass.” <br> <b>9:17 a.m.</b> Hamilton pitches the popper beneath an overhanging branch. A 3-pound bass rushes it but doesn’t strike. He immediately pitches the frog to the fish, but it’s disappeared. “I don’t see a bass bed there. I bet it was waiting under that overhang to ambush a bluegill.” <br> <b>9:19 a.m.</b> The bass moves back beneath the overhang. Hamilton pitches the Giron bluegill mimic to the fish and cranks it slowly, and the bass follows the lure to the boat. “Go on, hit it!” <br> <b>9:22 a.m.</b> He pitches the creature to the fish, but it’s not interested.
8:44 a.m. “That tree looks like it just recently snapped off and fell into the water. Never pass up a fresh blowdown; green leaves provide a lot more overhead cover than bare branches.” 8:45 a.m. Hamilton pulls out another flipping rod; its reel is spooled with heavy braided line. “I’m [going to] rig another creature on this rod with a 1-ounce sinker so it’ll drop straight down through the thicker leaves and branches.” 8:52 a.m. Hamilton flips the 1-ounce creature rig to another tree branch, detects a tap, swings and misses. 8:56 a.m. Hamilton enters a short tributary arm and casts the popper around laydown wood.

5 HOURS LEFT9 a.m. He’s moving slowly along the tributary’s shoreline, alternating between the popper, frog and creature. “There’s a little channel running along this bank. Bass should use it to travel in and out of this creek arm.” 9:13 a.m. The fog has dissipated as Hamilton continues working shallow cover. “I’m seeing bluegill beds everywhere, but so far, no bass.” 9:17 a.m. Hamilton pitches the popper beneath an overhanging branch. A 3-pound bass rushes it but doesn’t strike. He immediately pitches the frog to the fish, but it’s disappeared. “I don’t see a bass bed there. I bet it was waiting under that overhang to ambush a bluegill.” 9:19 a.m. The bass moves back beneath the overhang. Hamilton pitches the Giron bluegill mimic to the fish and cranks it slowly, and the bass follows the lure to the boat. “Go on, hit it!” 9:22 a.m. He pitches the creature to the fish, but it’s not interested.

<b>9:26 a.m.</b> The bass wanders off, and Hamilton continues up the creek arm with the popper, frog and creature. <br> <b>9:31 a.m.</b> Hamilton spots a big fish cruising out of a submerged tree branch. He drops to his knees and pitches the creature to the cover but hauls water. “That was a 5-pounder!” He backs off the cover, lowers his Power-Poles and waits a few minutes for the bass to reappear, but it doesn’t. <br> <b>9:44 a.m.</b> A foot-long gizzard shad races just beneath the surface in front of Hamilton’s boat. “I’d like to catch the bass that scared that shad! I’m seeing a lot of smaller baitfish on my graph, too. Shallow, murky reservoirs, especially ones that don’t have current like this one, often have low oxygen in their deeper areas once the water gets warm, so most of the baitfish and bass will stay surprisingly shallow. I’m going to check some deeper areas, but I’ve had three good fish up shallow so far.” <br> <b>9:48 a.m.</b> Hamilton works the frog around a boathouse in the rear of the tributary. “I’m amazed I haven’t had a fish on that frog yet.” <br> <b>9:55 a.m.</b> Hamilton plops, pops and pitches his way out of the tributary along the opposite shoreline without scoring a bite. He pauses to tie on a bluegill colored 1/2-ounce Buckeye G-Man Ballin’ Out jig with a green pumpkin pepper Jackall craw trailer. “Gerald Swindle designed this jig; it’s got a ball head for skipping under docks.” He rigs another stick with a blueback shad Strike King 5XD diving crankbait. <p> <b>4 HOURS LEFT</b><br> <b>10 a.m.</b> Hamilton makes a high-speed run to a long main-lake point. He idles around the structure, surveying it with his electronics, then cranks it with the 5XD. <br> <b>10:12 a.m.</b> He hangs the crankbait in a deep snag, breaks it off and doesn’t bother to retie. “I didn’t see much activity on that structure. [Pointing] I’m going to hit that bank over there while it’s still got some shade on it.” <br> <b>10:31 a.m.</b> A quick pass down the shady, stump-filled bank with topwaters and the creature fails to yield a strike. What’s Hamilton’s take on the day so far? “Early morning was awesome, especially the topwater bite, but it’s slowed down now that the sun’s out. I’m keeping an open mind about fishing offshore, but I’ll probably spend most of my remaining time flipping blowdown trees and hitting isolated wood on flats.” <br>
9:26 a.m. The bass wanders off, and Hamilton continues up the creek arm with the popper, frog and creature. 9:31 a.m. Hamilton spots a big fish cruising out of a submerged tree branch. He drops to his knees and pitches the creature to the cover but hauls water. “That was a 5-pounder!” He backs off the cover, lowers his Power-Poles and waits a few minutes for the bass to reappear, but it doesn’t. 9:44 a.m. A foot-long gizzard shad races just beneath the surface in front of Hamilton’s boat. “I’d like to catch the bass that scared that shad! I’m seeing a lot of smaller baitfish on my graph, too. Shallow, murky reservoirs, especially ones that don’t have current like this one, often have low oxygen in their deeper areas once the water gets warm, so most of the baitfish and bass will stay surprisingly shallow. I’m going to check some deeper areas, but I’ve had three good fish up shallow so far.” 9:48 a.m. Hamilton works the frog around a boathouse in the rear of the tributary. “I’m amazed I haven’t had a fish on that frog yet.” 9:55 a.m. Hamilton plops, pops and pitches his way out of the tributary along the opposite shoreline without scoring a bite. He pauses to tie on a bluegill colored 1/2-ounce Buckeye G-Man Ballin’ Out jig with a green pumpkin pepper Jackall craw trailer. “Gerald Swindle designed this jig; it’s got a ball head for skipping under docks.” He rigs another stick with a blueback shad Strike King 5XD diving crankbait.

4 HOURS LEFT10 a.m. Hamilton makes a high-speed run to a long main-lake point. He idles around the structure, surveying it with his electronics, then cranks it with the 5XD. 10:12 a.m. He hangs the crankbait in a deep snag, breaks it off and doesn’t bother to retie. “I didn’t see much activity on that structure. [Pointing] I’m going to hit that bank over there while it’s still got some shade on it.” 10:31 a.m. A quick pass down the shady, stump-filled bank with topwaters and the creature fails to yield a strike. What’s Hamilton’s take on the day so far? “Early morning was awesome, especially the topwater bite, but it’s slowed down now that the sun’s out. I’m keeping an open mind about fishing offshore, but I’ll probably spend most of my remaining time flipping blowdown trees and hitting isolated wood on flats.”

<b>10:38 a.m.</b> Hamilton moves straight across the lake to flip several blowdowns with creatures and jigs. <br> <b>10:47 a.m.</b> He ties on a black 5/8-ounce Buckeye Mop Jig with a 5-inch green pumpkin Jackall craw trailer. “This jig has an extremely long skirt; together with that big trailer, it presents a bulky profile in these dense branches.”
10:38 a.m. Hamilton moves straight across the lake to flip several blowdowns with creatures and jigs. 10:47 a.m. He ties on a black 5/8-ounce Buckeye Mop Jig with a 5-inch green pumpkin Jackall craw trailer. “This jig has an extremely long skirt; together with that big trailer, it presents a bulky profile in these dense branches.”
<b>10:54 a.m.</b> Hamilton bags his fourth keeper, 1 pound, 2 ounces. “That’s the smallest bass I’ve ever caught on a Mop Jig, but I’ll take it.” <p> <b>3 HOURS LEFT</b><br> <b>11:03 a.m.</b> Hamilton is picking apart each tree he comes to with his flipping arsenal. He hits the outer branches with the 1/4-ounce creature and uses the heavier, bulkier baits to probe the thicker stuff. <br> <b>11:18 a.m.</b> Hamilton moves into a big main-lake cove and graphs up a brush-covered ledge rising from 24 to 9 feet. He rigs a plum 10-inch Berkley Power Worm with a 5/0 offset hook and 3/8-ounce sinker and casts it to the top of the snaggy structure. The wind has shifted from the north to the east.
10:54 a.m. Hamilton bags his fourth keeper, 1 pound, 2 ounces. “That’s the smallest bass I’ve ever caught on a Mop Jig, but I’ll take it.”

3 HOURS LEFT11:03 a.m. Hamilton is picking apart each tree he comes to with his flipping arsenal. He hits the outer branches with the 1/4-ounce creature and uses the heavier, bulkier baits to probe the thicker stuff. 11:18 a.m. Hamilton moves into a big main-lake cove and graphs up a brush-covered ledge rising from 24 to 9 feet. He rigs a plum 10-inch Berkley Power Worm with a 5/0 offset hook and 3/8-ounce sinker and casts it to the top of the snaggy structure. The wind has shifted from the north to the east.

<b>11:36 a.m.</b> The ledge didn’t pan out, so Hamilton runs to Lake R’s dam.
11:36 a.m. The ledge didn’t pan out, so Hamilton runs to Lake R’s dam.
<b>11:36 a.m.</b> Here he cranks riprap with a blueback shad Jackall Aska 50 squarebill.<br> <b>11:49 a.m.</b> No luck on the dam. Hamilton moves to a nearby shallow pocket where baitfish are flipping on the surface and tries the popper and frog. <p> <b>2 HOURS LEFT</b><br> <b>12:03 p.m.</b> Hamilton runs straight across the lake to the entrance of a short creek arm. Here he flips blowdowns with the 1/4-ounce creature. <br> <b>12:11 p.m.</b> He presses deeper into the creek, still flipping tree branches. “This lake was definitely better when it was foggy!” <br> <b>12:20 p.m.</b> Hamilton moves to the opposite bank, which is considerably steeper, and hits more tree branches with the creature. <br> <b>12:24 p.m.</b> Hamilton has reached the back end of the creek, which is shallow and loaded with big stumps. He scans the area looking for cruising bass. “I bet they spawned back here, but they’re gone now.” <br> <b>12:29 p.m.</b> Hamilton digs through his topwater stash and pulls out a battered Rico popper with a ragged feather tail. “I call this plug Ol’ Reliable! It used to be gold, but the paint’s been chewed off it.” He fires the popper beneath an overhanging tree and dog-walks it across several stumps. “If there was one there, she wouldn’t be able to stand it!” <br> <b>12:40 p.m.</b> Hamilton has blasted back uplake to the shallow flat where he bagged his first three keepers. He’s cranking a Tennessee shad Jackall Aska 70, an upsized version of the squarebill he cranked at the dam. <br> <b>12:46 p.m.</b> Hamilton tries the black Whopper Plopper on the sand point where he caught his first keeper. <br> <b>12:49 p.m.</b> He moves farther off the bank and resumes cranking the Aska 70. <br> <b>12:56 p.m.</b> Hamilton idles uplake as far as he can go. Here, multiple schools of immature baitfish are popping on the surface, and his trolling motor is kicking up mud. He ties on a 1/2-ounce white and purple Jackall Break Blade bladed jig with a white Zoom Speed Craw trailer and retrieves it quickly through the shallows.
11:36 a.m. Here he cranks riprap with a blueback shad Jackall Aska 50 squarebill.11:49 a.m. No luck on the dam. Hamilton moves to a nearby shallow pocket where baitfish are flipping on the surface and tries the popper and frog.

2 HOURS LEFT12:03 p.m. Hamilton runs straight across the lake to the entrance of a short creek arm. Here he flips blowdowns with the 1/4-ounce creature. 12:11 p.m. He presses deeper into the creek, still flipping tree branches. “This lake was definitely better when it was foggy!” 12:20 p.m. Hamilton moves to the opposite bank, which is considerably steeper, and hits more tree branches with the creature. 12:24 p.m. Hamilton has reached the back end of the creek, which is shallow and loaded with big stumps. He scans the area looking for cruising bass. “I bet they spawned back here, but they’re gone now.” 12:29 p.m. Hamilton digs through his topwater stash and pulls out a battered Rico popper with a ragged feather tail. “I call this plug Ol’ Reliable! It used to be gold, but the paint’s been chewed off it.” He fires the popper beneath an overhanging tree and dog-walks it across several stumps. “If there was one there, she wouldn’t be able to stand it!” 12:40 p.m. Hamilton has blasted back uplake to the shallow flat where he bagged his first three keepers. He’s cranking a Tennessee shad Jackall Aska 70, an upsized version of the squarebill he cranked at the dam. 12:46 p.m. Hamilton tries the black Whopper Plopper on the sand point where he caught his first keeper. 12:49 p.m. He moves farther off the bank and resumes cranking the Aska 70. 12:56 p.m. Hamilton idles uplake as far as he can go. Here, multiple schools of immature baitfish are popping on the surface, and his trolling motor is kicking up mud. He ties on a 1/2-ounce white and purple Jackall Break Blade bladed jig with a white Zoom Speed Craw trailer and retrieves it quickly through the shallows.

<b>12:57 p.m.</b> Hamilton casts the bladed jig to a lone stickup and gets a solid strike. His fifth keeper is a chunky 3-14 largemouth. “Man, he smoked it! Bass will sit on any little piece of wood cover they can find in the spot like this. I got my limit; now I need to cull that pounder.” <p> <b>1 HOUR LEFT</b><br> <b>1:01 p.m.</b> Hamilton gets a jarring strike on the Break Blade, but the bass comes unbuttoned. <br> <b>1:03 p.m.</b> Another bass bumps the blade bait.
12:57 p.m. Hamilton casts the bladed jig to a lone stickup and gets a solid strike. His fifth keeper is a chunky 3-14 largemouth. “Man, he smoked it! Bass will sit on any little piece of wood cover they can find in the spot like this. I got my limit; now I need to cull that pounder.”

1 HOUR LEFT1:01 p.m. Hamilton gets a jarring strike on the Break Blade, but the bass comes unbuttoned. 1:03 p.m. Another bass bumps the blade bait.

<b>1:08 p.m.</b> Hamilton bags keeper No. 6, 3-1, on the Break Blade; it culls his 1-2.
1:08 p.m. Hamilton bags keeper No. 6, 3-1, on the Break Blade; it culls his 1-2.
<b>1:08 p.m.</b> “That fish was only 6 inches deep!” <br> <b>1:14 p.m.</b> Another good fish knocks the blade bait but doesn’t hook up. <br> <b>1:26 p.m.</b> It’s clouding up again as Hamilton fishes his way out toward deeper water with the bladed jig. <br> <b>1:38 p.m.</b> Back on the flat where he started his day, a 3-pounder hits Hamilton’s surface popper at boatside but shakes free. <br> <b>1:46 p.m.</b> Hamilton retrieves the bladed jig parallel to a dock, then pitches the creature to the structure. <br> <b>2 p.m.</b> Back to the ramp. Hamilton has had a successful day on Lake R. He’s boated six keeper largemouth; the five biggest weigh a solid 16 pounds, 9 ounces. <p> <b>THE DAY IN PERSPECTIVE</b><br> “Every fish I caught was in Lake R’s shallow upper end, either on a flat or in a blowdown tree,” Hamilton told Bassmaster. “The dense fog helped the topwater bite early, then I had to flip trees once the sun got high. Spotting those baitfish schools tipped me off that the highest oxygen levels were probably in the shallows; I tried some offshore spots, but none of them produced. If I were to fish here tomorrow, I’d launch at daybreak to maximize my topwater window, then once the sun got high, I’d pound shallow flats and the backs of the creeks with the bladed jig and flip blowdowns.” <p> <b>HIS FIVE BIGGEST BASS</b><br> <b>2 pounds, 10 ounces;</b> sand point on shallow flat; white/chartreuse River2Sea Whopper Plopper surface bait; 7:12 a.m. <br> <b>2 pounds, 12 ounces; </b> submerged stump on shallow flat; bluegill Brian’s surface popper; 7:32 a.m. <br> <b>4 pounds, 4 ounces; </b> blowdown tree; green pumpkin pepper Jackall Archelon creature on 5/0 hook with 1/4-ounce sinker; 8:44 a.m. <br> <b>3 pounds, 14 ounces; </b> shallow isolated stickup in headwaters; white/purple Jackall Break Blade bladed jig with white Zoom Speed Craw trailer, 12:57 p.m. <br> <b>3 pounds, 1 ounce; </b> same place and lure as No. 4; 1:08 p.m. <br> TOTAL: 16 POUNDS, 9 OUNCES
1:08 p.m. “That fish was only 6 inches deep!” 1:14 p.m. Another good fish knocks the blade bait but doesn’t hook up. 1:26 p.m. It’s clouding up again as Hamilton fishes his way out toward deeper water with the bladed jig. 1:38 p.m. Back on the flat where he started his day, a 3-pounder hits Hamilton’s surface popper at boatside but shakes free. 1:46 p.m. Hamilton retrieves the bladed jig parallel to a dock, then pitches the creature to the structure. 2 p.m. Back to the ramp. Hamilton has had a successful day on Lake R. He’s boated six keeper largemouth; the five biggest weigh a solid 16 pounds, 9 ounces.

THE DAY IN PERSPECTIVE
“Every fish I caught was in Lake R’s shallow upper end, either on a flat or in a blowdown tree,” Hamilton told Bassmaster. “The dense fog helped the topwater bite early, then I had to flip trees once the sun got high. Spotting those baitfish schools tipped me off that the highest oxygen levels were probably in the shallows; I tried some offshore spots, but none of them produced. If I were to fish here tomorrow, I’d launch at daybreak to maximize my topwater window, then once the sun got high, I’d pound shallow flats and the backs of the creeks with the bladed jig and flip blowdowns.”

HIS FIVE BIGGEST BASS2 pounds, 10 ounces; sand point on shallow flat; white/chartreuse River2Sea Whopper Plopper surface bait; 7:12 a.m. 2 pounds, 12 ounces; submerged stump on shallow flat; bluegill Brian’s surface popper; 7:32 a.m. 4 pounds, 4 ounces; blowdown tree; green pumpkin pepper Jackall Archelon creature on 5/0 hook with 1/4-ounce sinker; 8:44 a.m. 3 pounds, 14 ounces; shallow isolated stickup in headwaters; white/purple Jackall Break Blade bladed jig with white Zoom Speed Craw trailer, 12:57 p.m. 3 pounds, 1 ounce; same place and lure as No. 4; 1:08 p.m.
TOTAL: 16 POUNDS, 9 OUNCES