Dock Talk at Lake Eufaula

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Craig Lamb and Andy Crawford went to the launch ramp at Lakepoint State Resort Park on a mission. That was to find out how practice went for the anglers competing in this week’s DEWALT Bassmaster Elite at Lake Eufaula. We are calling this series “Dock Talk” to cover ourselves on some of the unexpected (and predicted) minor variances in the truth. Here is what the guys had to say on the eve of the competition. <br><br><I>All captions: Craig Lamb</i>
Craig Lamb and Andy Crawford went to the launch ramp at Lakepoint State Resort Park on a mission. That was to find out how practice went for the anglers competing in this week’s DEWALT Bassmaster Elite at Lake Eufaula. We are calling this series “Dock Talk” to cover ourselves on some of the unexpected (and predicted) minor variances in the truth. Here is what the guys had to say on the eve of the competition.

All captions: Craig Lamb

<b>Hank Cherry</b><br><br>“My practice wasn’t so good. I can’t really get out and crank on the ledges because my arm is still hurting after what happened at the Classic. I confined myself to the river, flipping pretty much doing anything I can do with one hand.”
Hank Cherry“My practice wasn’t so good. I can’t really get out and crank on the ledges because my arm is still hurting after what happened at the Classic. I confined myself to the river, flipping pretty much doing anything I can do with one hand.”
“Guys are catching them out deep, catching them in the brush on the ledges. The weather could screw it all up. We’ve had storms today and we’ll have rain tomorrow. If it gets windy the guys can’t sit on the brushpiles. Should that happen it kind of levels the playing field.”
“Guys are catching them out deep, catching them in the brush on the ledges. The weather could screw it all up. We’ve had storms today and we’ll have rain tomorrow. If it gets windy the guys can’t sit on the brushpiles. Should that happen it kind of levels the playing field.”
“There are big fish where I am. I just haven’t been able to put five together. There will be some guys that catch them shallow. But they won’t be able to catch the 23 to 25 pounds a day you need to win here.”
“There are big fish where I am. I just haven’t been able to put five together. There will be some guys that catch them shallow. But they won’t be able to catch the 23 to 25 pounds a day you need to win here.”
<b>Chris Groh</b><br><br>“I came down here before the shutdown and spent a lot of time up the river. During practice, I picked back up where I left off.”
Chris Groh“I came down here before the shutdown and spent a lot of time up the river. During practice, I picked back up where I left off.”
“I joined the group out on the lake and that seems like an issue I don’t want to deal with. I went back up there and was pleasantly surprised. At first, I thought it was just good luck. But there are big fish up there.”
“I joined the group out on the lake and that seems like an issue I don’t want to deal with. I went back up there and was pleasantly surprised. At first, I thought it was just good luck. But there are big fish up there.”
“I went back up there today, dropped some waypoints on some juice. And it literally looks like the chain (the Fox Chain of Lakes in Wisconsin where he is from). So, I’m going to go up there and frog and flip to a good finish.”
“I went back up there today, dropped some waypoints on some juice. And it literally looks like the chain (the Fox Chain of Lakes in Wisconsin where he is from). So, I’m going to go up there and frog and flip to a good finish.”
<b>John Crews</b><br><br> “Practice was not very good for me. I caught fish every way you can think, but it’s not what I want to do. I came here with every intention of 100 percent fishing deep. It’s not good enough to where I felt comfortable to commit to it.”
John Crews
“Practice was not very good for me. I caught fish every way you can think, but it’s not what I want to do. I came here with every intention of 100 percent fishing deep. It’s not good enough to where I felt comfortable to commit to it.”
“I caught some shallow, midrange, and deep. So, I’m going to have to really junk it up, junk fish, and see how things are going to go.”
“I caught some shallow, midrange, and deep. So, I’m going to have to really junk it up, junk fish, and see how things are going to go.”
“I’m just hoping I can get dialed into the deep bite. The quality fish are out there.”
“I’m just hoping I can get dialed into the deep bite. The quality fish are out there.”
<b>Matt Herren</b><br><br> “The fish are biting. They are hitting a lot of different baits. But catching the right quality fish is going to be the issue.”
Matt Herren
“The fish are biting. They are hitting a lot of different baits. But catching the right quality fish is going to be the issue.”
“In the summertime, this lake is known for deep offshore fishing. And there are fish there, but they are very moody. One day you will pull up there and the fish are feeding. The next day they are gone.”
“In the summertime, this lake is known for deep offshore fishing. And there are fish there, but they are very moody. One day you will pull up there and the fish are feeding. The next day they are gone.”
“There is a very limited window of time in which to catch them. They move up, feed, and move back out. I found a 40 fish school. This morning I went to check on them because it’s where I’d like to start. They were gone. I went back at the same time I found them yesterday and they were back. “There are little windows and if you miss them, then you’ve totally missed out.”
“There is a very limited window of time in which to catch them. They move up, feed, and move back out. I found a 40 fish school. This morning I went to check on them because it’s where I’d like to start. They were gone. I went back at the same time I found them yesterday and they were back. “There are little windows and if you miss them, then you’ve totally missed out.”
<b>Derek Hudnall</b><br><br> “I’ve had some good and bad moments, nothing really consistent. What I do know is this lake is like the others in this area of the South. The bite is in post-spawn and the fish are scattered.”
Derek Hudnall
“I’ve had some good and bad moments, nothing really consistent. What I do know is this lake is like the others in this area of the South. The bite is in post-spawn and the fish are scattered.”
“There are fish shallow, midrange, and deep. The key to success this week is to have a good mix of shallow and deep fish at the same time.”
“There are fish shallow, midrange, and deep. The key to success this week is to have a good mix of shallow and deep fish at the same time.”
“I wish my practice was better but this is Lake Eufaula. A classic summertime fishery with lots of opportunities.”
“I wish my practice was better but this is Lake Eufaula. A classic summertime fishery with lots of opportunities.”
<b>Quentin Cappo</b><br><br> “Practice was good. The weather helped my bite. I was able to capitalize on the weather conditions.”
Quentin Cappo
“Practice was good. The weather helped my bite. I was able to capitalize on the weather conditions.”
“Practice went better than expected, actually. I’m fishing mostly shallow. I also have a few offshore things that I’m working on.”
“Practice went better than expected, actually. I’m fishing mostly shallow. I also have a few offshore things that I’m working on.”
“On game day, hopefully, those offshore areas will turn on, because I think that is where the tournament will be won. There is just a small window whey the bite.“
“On game day, hopefully, those offshore areas will turn on, because I think that is where the tournament will be won. There is just a small window whey the bite.“
<b>Harvey Horne</b><br><br> “I did find some shallow fish. I finally got on some deep fish the last hour of practice. I think it’s going to take some of both to stay in it.”
Harvey Horne
“I did find some shallow fish. I finally got on some deep fish the last hour of practice. I think it’s going to take some of both to stay in it.”
“You’ll have to catch some shallow and go search for them out deep later in the day.”
“You’ll have to catch some shallow and go search for them out deep later in the day.”
“Somebody may camp out there and do well. but I’ve been fishing shallow and deep. It’s the only way I’ve been able to get a limit.”
“Somebody may camp out there and do well. but I’ve been fishing shallow and deep. It’s the only way I’ve been able to get a limit.”
<b>Jay Yelas</b><br><br> “I’ve been coming here since the early 1990s and the last time was around 2015. I’ve been hearing the fishing is on the upswing. Practice has been good for me, and surprisingly good. I have enough going to keep me hopeful for a good tournament.”
Jay Yelas
“I’ve been coming here since the early 1990s and the last time was around 2015. I’ve been hearing the fishing is on the upswing. Practice has been good for me, and surprisingly good. I have enough going to keep me hopeful for a good tournament.”
“I’ve tried shallow and deep water and had success at both. One thing currently going on with this lake is the water is up. In my past experiences that really helps the shallow bite. There are some shallow fish biting. So, I’m going to give both ends a try.”
“I’ve tried shallow and deep water and had success at both. One thing currently going on with this lake is the water is up. In my past experiences that really helps the shallow bite. There are some shallow fish biting. So, I’m going to give both ends a try.”
<b>Tyler Carriere </b><br><br> “The first day was slow and today was decent. I figured out something when the sun came out.”
Tyler Carriere
“The first day was slow and today was decent. I figured out something when the sun came out.”
“Then when it got cloudy the bites got slim. Then, they bit again when the sun came back out. So, putting two and two together, I’ll have something going if it stays out.”
“Then when it got cloudy the bites got slim. Then, they bit again when the sun came back out. So, putting two and two together, I’ll have something going if it stays out.”
<b>Cliff Prince</b><br><br> “Practice was stingy. I found a couple of schools and they disappeared. So I went junk fishing and got a bite.”
Cliff Prince
“Practice was stingy. I found a couple of schools and they disappeared. So I went junk fishing and got a bite.”

“If the wind lays down then it’ll be on out deep.”

“I’m just going to go out and do what I do the best.”
“I’m just going to go out and do what I do the best.”
And with that, the weather went south. The forecast on competition eve calls for more scattered thunderstorms. Tomorrow will tell how the weather plays it all out.
And with that, the weather went south. The forecast on competition eve calls for more scattered thunderstorms. Tomorrow will tell how the weather plays it all out.