Elites attack Apopka

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We started Day 1 of the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain just 15 miles outside of Orlando, Fla., at Lake Apopka. At 30,800 acres, Lake Apopka is the fourth largest lake in the state of Florida. Apopka is the furthest south of all the lakes that make up the Harris Chain. To reach Apopka, anglers have to travel through Lake Harris, Eustis, Dora, Beauclair then all the way through the Apopka Beauclair Canal.
We started Day 1 of the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain just 15 miles outside of Orlando, Fla., at Lake Apopka. At 30,800 acres, Lake Apopka is the fourth largest lake in the state of Florida. Apopka is the furthest south of all the lakes that make up the Harris Chain. To reach Apopka, anglers have to travel through Lake Harris, Eustis, Dora, Beauclair then all the way through the Apopka Beauclair Canal.
After going through a down period, Apopka is starting to creep its way back to being one of the best lakes in the state of Florida, and that is largely due to the resurgence of grass.
After going through a down period, Apopka is starting to creep its way back to being one of the best lakes in the state of Florida, and that is largely due to the resurgence of grass.
There is submerged grass just about anywhere you looked when running across the lake.
There is submerged grass just about anywhere you looked when running across the lake.
Apopka is a target rich environment. The majority of the lake is surrounded by reeds.
Apopka is a target rich environment. The majority of the lake is surrounded by reeds.
Amongst the reeds is matted vegetation.
Amongst the reeds is matted vegetation.
Dollar pads and lily pads are plentiful as well.
Dollar pads and lily pads are plentiful as well.
As previously mentioned, the Elites have to travel through the Apopka Beauclair Canal. The canal is fairly narrow, but the anglers do have the ability to run the canal. A few miles up the canal is a lock, which caused anglers a bit of trouble this morning. Unfortunately, they were only letting a few anglers through the lock at a time, causing anglers to have longer waits at the lock than expected.
As previously mentioned, the Elites have to travel through the Apopka Beauclair Canal. The canal is fairly narrow, but the anglers do have the ability to run the canal. A few miles up the canal is a lock, which caused anglers a bit of trouble this morning. Unfortunately, they were only letting a few anglers through the lock at a time, causing anglers to have longer waits at the lock than expected.
The first angler that we saw make it through the lock was 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year Austin Felix.
The first angler that we saw make it through the lock was 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year Austin Felix.
Felix mentioned that it took about an hour for him to make it from takeoff to his starting spot.
Felix mentioned that it took about an hour for him to make it from takeoff to his starting spot.
The second wave of anglers make it through the lock.
The second wave of anglers make it through the lock.

Jay Przekurat
Jay Przekurat
Brad Whatley
Brad Whatley
Jamie Hartman
Jamie Hartman
Second wave of anglers make it through the lock.
Second wave of anglers make it through the lock.
The first angler we covered was Matt Robertson, who started right around the corner from the mouth of the canal.
The first angler we covered was Matt Robertson, who started right around the corner from the mouth of the canal.
Matt Robertson: “I’ve got a limit, but I need to catch some big ones,” said Robertson when asked how his morning had been going.
Matt Robertson: “I’ve got a limit, but I need to catch some big ones,” said Robertson when asked how his morning had been going.
“I’ve got some areas with a bunch of fish, but I don’t understand why the females aren’t here yet,” he said.
“I’ve got some areas with a bunch of fish, but I don’t understand why the females aren’t here yet,” he said.
Robertson meticulously picked apart the lily pads, making short pitches and soaking his bait in an area for a long while.
Robertson meticulously picked apart the lily pads, making short pitches and soaking his bait in an area for a long while.
Under 100 yards away was Greg DiPalma, who was fishing similarly to Robertson.
Under 100 yards away was Greg DiPalma, who was fishing similarly to Robertson.
Greg DiPalma: “I can’t believe how long it took to get down here,” DiPalma said. “It’s also surprising how many guys came down here,”
Greg DiPalma: “I can’t believe how long it took to get down here,” DiPalma said. “It’s also surprising how many guys came down here,”
Moments later, DiPalma hooks up with his first keeper of the morning.
Moments later, DiPalma hooks up with his first keeper of the morning.
Number one is a solid keeper.
Number one is a solid keeper.
56 …
56 …
A closer look at the vegetation that DiPalma and Robertson were attacking.
A closer look at the vegetation that DiPalma and Robertson were attacking.
Robertson made a minor change to his gameplan by pitching to isolated clumps of Pencil Reeds.
Robertson made a minor change to his gameplan by pitching to isolated clumps of Pencil Reeds.
DiPalma boats his second keeper.
DiPalma boats his second keeper.
Isolated patches of Pencil Reeds have proven to be productive areas in Florida, especially when the fish are spawning.
Isolated patches of Pencil Reeds have proven to be productive areas in Florida, especially when the fish are spawning.
At the midway point of the day, there was a shift in anglers fishing the north end of the lake to the south end of the lake. The south end of the lake prevailed as the end of the lake that was least effected by the wind. Scott Martin, one of the favorites for this event, spend the majority of his day in the south end of the lake.
At the midway point of the day, there was a shift in anglers fishing the north end of the lake to the south end of the lake. The south end of the lake prevailed as the end of the lake that was least effected by the wind. Scott Martin, one of the favorites for this event, spend the majority of his day in the south end of the lake.
Effectively fishing slow for spawning fish can be difficult with a heavy amount of wind.
Effectively fishing slow for spawning fish can be difficult with a heavy amount of wind.
A large number of anglers had the same gameplan.
A large number of anglers had the same gameplan.
After fishing for a bed fish for a couple of minutes, Martin hooks up with the male.
After fishing for a bed fish for a couple of minutes, Martin hooks up with the male.
After putting the male in the box, Martin gets right back after it.
After putting the male in the box, Martin gets right back after it.
Martin wouldn’t stay in an area for long before making a small move. Later on in the day on Bassmaster Live, Martin mentioned that he was fishing for fish that he shook-off during practice.
Martin wouldn’t stay in an area for long before making a small move. Later on in the day on Bassmaster Live, Martin mentioned that he was fishing for fish that he shook-off during practice.
Shortly after missing a fish, Martin sets the hook and boats a small keeper.
Shortly after missing a fish, Martin sets the hook and boats a small keeper.
When Martin would boat a small keeper, he would pitch right back in the same area in hopes of a large female being in there too.
When Martin would boat a small keeper, he would pitch right back in the same area in hopes of a large female being in there too.
Later in the day, a large number of anglers made their way back to the canal. One of those anglers was Jamie Hartman, who was having a solid day to this point.
Later in the day, a large number of anglers made their way back to the canal. One of those anglers was Jamie Hartman, who was having a solid day to this point.

With the sun at its highest point, Hartman made a move back to the canal where the water was clear in hopes of seeing a few on bed.
With the sun at its highest point, Hartman made a move back to the canal where the water was clear in hopes of seeing a few on bed.
Hartman hooks up.
Hartman hooks up.
A solid cull for Hartman.
A solid cull for Hartman.