Dock talk at St. Johns River 2022

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The offseason is finally over: Competition begins on Thursday for the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River. Will the Florida River produce another big-bass bonanza? Here’s what thoughts about the event from pros.
The offseason is finally over: Competition begins on Thursday for the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River. Will the Florida River produce another big-bass bonanza? Here’s what thoughts about the event from pros.
<b>Bernie Schultz</b><br /> “We’re early, I’ll tell you that. Winter finally got here, and it changed everything. Overall it was a very mild winter until about mid-January, and then everything changed. Water temperatures have plummeted. Right now the water temperatures are 55 in the morning, getting up to 57, maybe 59, depending on where you’re at.”<br /> ” class=”wp-image-569763″ width=”960″ height=”640″/><figcaption><b>Bernie Schultz</b><br /> “We’re early, I’ll tell you that. Winter finally got here, and it changed everything. Overall it was a very mild winter until about mid-January, and then everything changed. Water temperatures have plummeted. Right now the water temperatures are 55 in the morning, getting up to 57, maybe 59, depending on where you’re at.”<br /> </figcaption></figure> <figure class=“The fish just aren’t doing what they would normally do this time of year. There’s no evidence of a major spawn happening. There’s some fish spawning, but very limited and there’ll be locations that are very crowded. The fish that I’m catching are from 2 feet to 10 feet, and everywhere in between.”
“The fish just aren’t doing what they would normally do this time of year. There’s no evidence of a major spawn happening. There’s some fish spawning, but very limited and there’ll be locations that are very crowded. The fish that I’m catching are from 2 feet to 10 feet, and everywhere in between.”
<b>Todd Auten</b><br /> “I hadn’t practiced on this end yet, so I wanted to come up here and look at some things. It helped me make some decisions.”<br /> ” class=”wp-image-569765″ width=”960″ height=”640″/><figcaption><b>Todd Auten</b><br /> “I hadn’t practiced on this end yet, so I wanted to come up here and look at some things. It helped me make some decisions.”<br /> </figcaption></figure> <div class=
“Actually the water temperature is about the same everywhere. it seems like the water is a little bit higher than it was last year. Same old, same old.”
“Actually the water temperature is about the same everywhere. it seems like the water is a little bit higher than it was last year. Same old, same old.”
<b>Josh Douglas</b><br /> “This is my first time at the St. Johns, so I don’t know if it’s good or bad out there. I did catch a couple of good ones, but honestly I don’t know that I’m going to fish in those areas I caught them in just because I think those were very weather-orientated.”<br /> ” class=”wp-image-569767″ width=”960″ height=”640″/><figcaption><b>Josh Douglas</b><br /> “This is my first time at the St. Johns, so I don’t know if it’s good or bad out there. I did catch a couple of good ones, but honestly I don’t know that I’m going to fish in those areas I caught them in just because I think those were very weather-orientated.”<br /> </figcaption></figure> <figure class=“Generally I do very well in Florida. This looks like nothing I’ve ever fished before: I can’t find two pieces of vegetation to put them together. So a lot of hard targets, a lot of shell beds, stuff like that. And I think what I do find for vegetation isn’t really holding them right now, but maybe the by the weekend it will.”
“Generally I do very well in Florida. This looks like nothing I’ve ever fished before: I can’t find two pieces of vegetation to put them together. So a lot of hard targets, a lot of shell beds, stuff like that. And I think what I do find for vegetation isn’t really holding them right now, but maybe the by the weekend it will.”
<b>Bryan New</b><br /> “It’s a lot tougher. Last year we had a lot of fish spawning. (Last year during the) last day of practice, they were pulling up and then throughout the tournament more pulled up. I don’t think that’s going on right now. I don’t think it’s going to go on.<br /> ” class=”wp-image-569769″ width=”960″ height=”640″/><figcaption><b>Bryan New</b><br /> “It’s a lot tougher. Last year we had a lot of fish spawning. (Last year during the) last day of practice, they were pulling up and then throughout the tournament more pulled up. I don’t think that’s going on right now. I don’t think it’s going to go on.<br /> </figcaption></figure> <figure class=“The weather’s supposed to get better. We’ll get some cold before the tournament, but throughout the tournament it’s going to warm up a little bit. So there’s a chance some fish do try to pull up. I don’t know: Practice has been really tough.”
“The weather’s supposed to get better. We’ll get some cold before the tournament, but throughout the tournament it’s going to warm up a little bit. So there’s a chance some fish do try to pull up. I don’t know: Practice has been really tough.”
“But, but, I’m really excited. I don’t know we’ll see how it goes. We’ll leave it at that.”
“But, but, I’m really excited. I don’t know we’ll see how it goes. We’ll leave it at that.”
<b>Mike Huff</b><br /> “It’s pretty tough. It seems we either hit or miss this place with the weather. I mean, I’m getting a few bites — I think everybody is getting a few bites — but the weights are just not going to be what they were last year.”<br /> ” class=”wp-image-569772″ width=”960″ height=”640″/><figcaption><b>Mike Huff</b><br /> “It’s pretty tough. It seems we either hit or miss this place with the weather. I mean, I’m getting a few bites — I think everybody is getting a few bites — but the weights are just not going to be what they were last year.”<br /> </figcaption></figure> <figure class=“Those big females just aren’t up. The water temperatures just seems to be too cold. There’s a few (bass) up there, but it’s not going to be nothing like last year. I think 9 or 10 (pounds) a day will get you to fishing the third day. It could be more — I may miss the boat like crazy — but it seems pretty tough.”
“Those big females just aren’t up. The water temperatures just seems to be too cold. There’s a few (bass) up there, but it’s not going to be nothing like last year. I think 9 or 10 (pounds) a day will get you to fishing the third day. It could be more — I may miss the boat like crazy — but it seems pretty tough.”
<b>Derek Hudnall</b><br /> “This is a very, very, very different St. Johns River this year. For the first time in several years we are not going to have warming conditions that will make those fish move up. We have been fortunate the last three or four years and that’s been the case; it will not be the case this year. The St. Johns River itself is on a decline to begin with. Water clarity is terrible; it’s really hard to get a bite out there.”<br /> ” class=”wp-image-569774″ width=”960″ height=”640″/><figcaption><b>Derek Hudnall</b><br /> “This is a very, very, very different St. Johns River this year. For the first time in several years we are not going to have warming conditions that will make those fish move up. We have been fortunate the last three or four years and that’s been the case; it will not be the case this year. The St. Johns River itself is on a decline to begin with. Water clarity is terrible; it’s really hard to get a bite out there.”<br /> </figcaption></figure> <div class=
“The big caveat is going to be Rodman. Rodman is going to be a big player this year, and I think you’re going to see those forward-facing sonars dominate. There’s a lot of standing timber and clear water, and they’ve got big ones in there. I’d be willing to bet that’s the way it’s going to be won. You’re going to see some giant bags caught that way.”
“The big caveat is going to be Rodman. Rodman is going to be a big player this year, and I think you’re going to see those forward-facing sonars dominate. There’s a lot of standing timber and clear water, and they’ve got big ones in there. I’d be willing to bet that’s the way it’s going to be won. You’re going to see some giant bags caught that way.”
<b>Bryan Schmitt</b><br /> “So what I honestly think is that during the little warm spell before practice some fish tried to come up. And I believe that they’re hanging tough. The first two days of practice I stayed deeper with the thought, ‘It’s going to be too cold, blah, blah, blah.’ And I did OK.”<br /> ” class=”wp-image-569776″ width=”960″ height=”640″/><figcaption><b>Bryan Schmitt</b><br /> “So what I honestly think is that during the little warm spell before practice some fish tried to come up. And I believe that they’re hanging tough. The first two days of practice I stayed deeper with the thought, ‘It’s going to be too cold, blah, blah, blah.’ And I did OK.”<br /> </figcaption></figure> <figure class=“Yesterday I went and did what I normally would do here, and I got some bites really, really shallow. With the sun getting ready to come out, I think they’re itching. I know it’s been cold down here forever; I think they’re itching. And for them to be where they were yesterday in this cold, nasty weather, it’s got me a little bit concerned that I might have to skip the deep pattern and go for these shallow fish. When it’s all said and done, I think it’s going to be traditional St. Johns weights and good fishing.”
“Yesterday I went and did what I normally would do here, and I got some bites really, really shallow. With the sun getting ready to come out, I think they’re itching. I know it’s been cold down here forever; I think they’re itching. And for them to be where they were yesterday in this cold, nasty weather, it’s got me a little bit concerned that I might have to skip the deep pattern and go for these shallow fish. When it’s all said and done, I think it’s going to be traditional St. Johns weights and good fishing.”
<b>Patrick Walters</b><br /> “It’s going to be a grinder this week. I think we’re going to see some serious junk fishing. I think it’s going to be a lot of here today, gone tomorrow. It’s going to be hard to pattern them. It’s not going to be a slug fest this year. I think it’s just going to be a grinder, but that’s going to be the good thing. I think the weights are going to a little bit down this week.<br /> ” class=”wp-image-569778″ width=”960″ height=”640″/><figcaption><b>Patrick Walters</b><br /> “It’s going to be a grinder this week. I think we’re going to see some serious junk fishing. I think it’s going to be a lot of here today, gone tomorrow. It’s going to be hard to pattern them. It’s not going to be a slug fest this year. I think it’s just going to be a grinder, but that’s going to be the good thing. I think the weights are going to a little bit down this week.<br /> </figcaption></figure> <figure class=“I think we’re going to see some areas play kind of like when Paul (Mueller) won (in 2020): The whole river’s going to play. It’s not going to be a whole (Lake) George slug fest like it was in 2019. It’ll be the whole body of of water. People are going to catch them in Rodman, people are going to catch them north, they’re going to catch them way south. And that’s what’s going to be interesting: You can go anywhere and have a chance.”
“I think we’re going to see some areas play kind of like when Paul (Mueller) won (in 2020): The whole river’s going to play. It’s not going to be a whole (Lake) George slug fest like it was in 2019. It’ll be the whole body of of water. People are going to catch them in Rodman, people are going to catch them north, they’re going to catch them way south. And that’s what’s going to be interesting: You can go anywhere and have a chance.”
<b>Hank Cherry</b><br /> “There’s going to a lot of guys struggle and a few guys really catch them. I think just because of the weather, there’s some specific techniques some guys are doing that found them and they’re going to catch them. I think a lot of guys are going to struggle, and it’s going to be a bite here, a bite there.”<br /> ” class=”wp-image-569780″ width=”960″ height=”640″/><figcaption><b>Hank Cherry</b><br /> “There’s going to a lot of guys struggle and a few guys really catch them. I think just because of the weather, there’s some specific techniques some guys are doing that found them and they’re going to catch them. I think a lot of guys are going to struggle, and it’s going to be a bite here, a bite there.”<br /> </figcaption></figure> <div class=
“I don’t think it’s going be very heavy weights, just because of the weather. There’s some (fish) up there, and I think it might throw things off the first day because you’ll see be caught, but I don’t know if there’s more coming. It’s Florida, and they live here; they’re not going anywhere. They just back off and don’t want to bite.”
“I don’t think it’s going be very heavy weights, just because of the weather. There’s some (fish) up there, and I think it might throw things off the first day because you’ll see be caught, but I don’t know if there’s more coming. It’s Florida, and they live here; they’re not going anywhere. They just back off and don’t want to bite.”
<b>Brock Mosely</b><br /> “I have no idea. I don’t know. You always expect something here, and come in and get your teeth kicked in. Nothing like starting the year with whole you’ve got to climb out of.”<br /> ” class=”wp-image-569782″ width=”960″ height=”640″/><figcaption><b>Brock Mosely</b><br /> “I have no idea. I don’t know. You always expect something here, and come in and get your teeth kicked in. Nothing like starting the year with whole you’ve got to climb out of.”<br /> </figcaption></figure> <figure class=“It just always changes in the tournament. It’s the same thing this year: I don’t know what to expect until I dunk my boat in the water in the morning and see how far the water temperatures dropped. That’s the whole deal: it just changes every year from practice to the tournament. We haven’t seen the sun in three days of practice, and we haven’t seen 60 degrees in three days of practice. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.”
“It just always changes in the tournament. It’s the same thing this year: I don’t know what to expect until I dunk my boat in the water in the morning and see how far the water temperatures dropped. That’s the whole deal: it just changes every year from practice to the tournament. We haven’t seen the sun in three days of practice, and we haven’t seen 60 degrees in three days of practice. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.”
<b>Clark Wendlandt</b><br /> “Well, obviously it’s colder than we wish it was. We’d like it to be warmer. The water temperature when first put in the first morning was 57 to 60, now it’s 54, 55, maybe even 53. So it’s a lot colder, and that’s tough in Florida. Florida bass are just accustomed to it being warm.”<br /> ” class=”wp-image-569784″ width=”960″ height=”640″/><figcaption><b>Clark Wendlandt</b><br /> “Well, obviously it’s colder than we wish it was. We’d like it to be warmer. The water temperature when first put in the first morning was 57 to 60, now it’s 54, 55, maybe even 53. So it’s a lot colder, and that’s tough in Florida. Florida bass are just accustomed to it being warm.”<br /> </figcaption></figure> <figure class=“So I think it’s going to be a little bit tough. But there’s still going to be some giants caught.”
“So I think it’s going to be a little bit tough. But there’s still going to be some giants caught.”
<b>Matt Robertson</b><br /> “It’s been pretty tough. I’ve been getting a few bites, but it’s been pretty tough, and from what I’ve heard from other anglers it’s been pretty tough.”<br /> ” class=”wp-image-569786″ width=”960″ height=”640″/><figcaption><b>Matt Robertson</b><br /> “It’s been pretty tough. I’ve been getting a few bites, but it’s been pretty tough, and from what I’ve heard from other anglers it’s been pretty tough.”<br /> </figcaption></figure> <div class=
“I hear that, but I see a picture of everybody catching a giant. I think it’s going to be high weights at the top and it’s going to trickle down pretty fast.”
“I hear that, but I see a picture of everybody catching a giant. I think it’s going to be high weights at the top and it’s going to trickle down pretty fast.”