Dock Talk at Lake Ray Roberts

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Andy Crawford and I hung around after the final day of practice for the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk to get the inside scoop on how practice went for a few of the Classic contenders. <br><br> <em>All captions: Kyle Jessie</em>
Andy Crawford and I hung around after the final day of practice for the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk to get the inside scoop on how practice went for a few of the Classic contenders.
All captions: Kyle Jessie
<b>Matt Robertson:</b> Matt was snacking on his new favorite snack that he got at Lake Guntersville. “I got these at a gas station at Guntersville and ended up liking them so much that I went back and bought every single jar.”
Matt Robertson: Matt was snacking on his new favorite snack that he got at Lake Guntersville. “I got these at a gas station at Guntersville and ended up liking them so much that I went back and bought every single jar.”
“Everything is flooded and the fish are spread out,” Robertson said. “It seems like you have to fish a lot of dead water to hit a stretch with fish on it.”
“Everything is flooded and the fish are spread out,” Robertson said. “It seems like you have to fish a lot of dead water to hit a stretch with fish on it.”
“I think you’ll see about 10 guys really catch them, and the rest are going to struggle.”
“I think you’ll see about 10 guys really catch them, and the rest are going to struggle.”
<b>Clent Davis:</b> “I spent the majority of my practice out deep and haven’t found anything.”
Clent Davis: “I spent the majority of my practice out deep and haven’t found anything.”
“Every time I went to the bank, I ended up catching some, so that’s where we’ll be on Friday.”
“Every time I went to the bank, I ended up catching some, so that’s where we’ll be on Friday.”
“I’m sure they’ll move back out deep by then,” Davis said with a laugh.
“I’m sure they’ll move back out deep by then,” Davis said with a laugh.
<b>Tommy Williams:</b> “Practice has been pretty tough, but we got on a little something today.”
Tommy Williams: “Practice has been pretty tough, but we got on a little something today.”
“I’m kind of liking this place a lot more after today. I actually feel pretty good about it.”
“I’m kind of liking this place a lot more after today. I actually feel pretty good about it.”
“Hey, at least we are going to get to walk across that stage,” joked Williams.
“Hey, at least we are going to get to walk across that stage,” joked Williams.
<b>Todd Auten:</b> “I can say this morning went pretty well for this lake,” said Auten. “It would have been pretty good if I would have put them in the boat.”
Todd Auten: “I can say this morning went pretty well for this lake,” said Auten. “It would have been pretty good if I would have put them in the boat.”
“It’s been pretty tough for me all week. I’ve got some bites and a couple of good ones but none of them seem to get the bait good.”
“It’s been pretty tough for me all week. I’ve got some bites and a couple of good ones but none of them seem to get the bait good.”
“It’s an all-day grind. You never really know where one is going to come from so you just have to keep your bait wet.”
“It’s an all-day grind. You never really know where one is going to come from so you just have to keep your bait wet.”
<b>Drew Cook:</b> “Someone told me today what this type of fishing was called.” said Cook. “It’s the country school bus pattern. You pick one up, you go 10 miles and you pick up another one.”
Drew Cook: “Someone told me today what this type of fishing was called.” said Cook. “It’s the country school bus pattern. You pick one up, you go 10 miles and you pick up another one.”
Cook is feeling pretty good about finding a new duck decoy after a history of finding decoys in previous events. Typically, when he finds a decoy during practice, he has a good event, but he has yet to win an event in which he found one. “Maybe the third duck is the charm and maybe I will win the Classic,” Cook said.
Cook is feeling pretty good about finding a new duck decoy after a history of finding decoys in previous events. Typically, when he finds a decoy during practice, he has a good event, but he has yet to win an event in which he found one. “Maybe the third duck is the charm and maybe I will win the Classic,” Cook said.
“There’s a lot of dead water. I mean miles of it.”
“There’s a lot of dead water. I mean miles of it.”
<b>Jamie Hartman:</b> “I’ve gotten myself around fish I feel like,” Hartman said. “I just haven’t really been able to duplicate any of it though.”
Jamie Hartman: “I’ve gotten myself around fish I feel like,” Hartman said. “I just haven’t really been able to duplicate any of it though.”
“The water went up, so all I’ve tried to do is expand on what I have already found. I haven’t even touched the first spots I found.”
“The water went up, so all I’ve tried to do is expand on what I have already found. I haven’t even touched the first spots I found.”
“I did hang one big one today but luckily it came off. It was a pretty specific deal so that was cool.”
“I did hang one big one today but luckily it came off. It was a pretty specific deal so that was cool.”
<b>Stetson Blaylock:</b> “Disappointing is a good word to start with,” said Blaylock. “This lake sets up a lot like Lake Fork. It has everything I like, and I’ve spent two and a half days of a four-day practice looking for fish. I’ll fish everything I mark and don’t get a bite.”
Stetson Blaylock: “Disappointing is a good word to start with,” said Blaylock. “This lake sets up a lot like Lake Fork. It has everything I like, and I’ve spent two and a half days of a four-day practice looking for fish. I’ll fish everything I mark and don’t get a bite.”
“If you asked me how I think it’ll be won, I’d still say off of the bank. I think someone has found a couple of those spots where they can get those good bites.”
“If you asked me how I think it’ll be won, I’d still say off of the bank. I think someone has found a couple of those spots where they can get those good bites.”
“This place is fishing pretty small. It’s not a huge lake anyways, but I think you’ll be fishing behind someone in this deal.”
“This place is fishing pretty small. It’s not a huge lake anyways, but I think you’ll be fishing behind someone in this deal.”
<b>Chad Morgenthaler:</b> “I feel like I got on something during the first day of practice, but I feel like that bite is going away,” said Morgenthaler.
Chad Morgenthaler: “I feel like I got on something during the first day of practice, but I feel like that bite is going away,” said Morgenthaler.
“It’s hard to put my finger on exactly what it’s going to take to dial it in.”
“It’s hard to put my finger on exactly what it’s going to take to dial it in.”
“Running across a big fish is extremely difficult,” Morgenthaler. “You can catch a 12-incher or a 2 1/2-pounder, but I’m just not getting a lot of big bites.”
“Running across a big fish is extremely difficult,” Morgenthaler. “You can catch a 12-incher or a 2 1/2-pounder, but I’m just not getting a lot of big bites.”
<b>Patrick Walters:</b> “Practice was OK,” said Walters. “I think it declined every day of practice due to pressure on the obvious stuff.”
Patrick Walters: “Practice was OK,” said Walters. “I think it declined every day of practice due to pressure on the obvious stuff.”
“I think some big fish are going to be caught, but I don’t think a lot of fish are going to be caught.”
“I think some big fish are going to be caught, but I don’t think a lot of fish are going to be caught.”
“You’re going to have to hunker down in your confidence areas and try to get those good bites.”
“You’re going to have to hunker down in your confidence areas and try to get those good bites.”
<b>Brad Whatley:</b> “I had a good practice,” said Whatley. “You’re going to see some big ones for sure.”
Brad Whatley: “I had a good practice,” said Whatley. “You’re going to see some big ones for sure.”
“Really, my goal is to get about 10 bites a day.”
“Really, my goal is to get about 10 bites a day.”
“I’m fired up about it to be honest with you. This is in my wheelhouse.”
“I’m fired up about it to be honest with you. This is in my wheelhouse.”
<b>Hunter Shryock:</b> Hunter Shryock is ecstatic about the fact that it’s a summertime Classic, yet he can still fish shallow.
Hunter Shryock: Hunter Shryock is ecstatic about the fact that it’s a summertime Classic, yet he can still fish shallow.
“I’m excited about it,” Shryock said, “I actually really like it.”
“I’m excited about it,” Shryock said, “I actually really like it.”
“It’s Texas in June, but it’s fishing like May. I think the shallow deal is going to play, so I’m excited for it.”
“It’s Texas in June, but it’s fishing like May. I think the shallow deal is going to play, so I’m excited for it.”
<b>Brandon Palaniuk:</b> “I haven’t caught a limit in one day yet,” said Palaniuk.
Brandon Palaniuk: “I haven’t caught a limit in one day yet,” said Palaniuk.
“I had two keeper bites today, but I would have had my biggest bag all week with those two bites.”
“I had two keeper bites today, but I would have had my biggest bag all week with those two bites.”
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’re still learning and in search mode but that just means we can still find the mother lode.”
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’re still learning and in search mode but that just means we can still find the mother lode.”