Elites on Lake George

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On Day 1 of the Dick Cepek Tires Bassmaster Elite Series Event on the St. Johns River, we headed down to Lake George to see what anglers we could find bunched up. Bill Lowen and Carl Jocumsen were the first two we saw.
On Day 1 of the Dick Cepek Tires Bassmaster Elite Series Event on the St. Johns River, we headed down to Lake George to see what anglers we could find bunched up. Bill Lowen and Carl Jocumsen were the first two we saw.
Greg Vinson was using a push pole to silently poke around the area so he wouldn’t startle many fish.
Greg Vinson was using a push pole to silently poke around the area so he wouldn’t startle many fish.
Keith Combs was also nearby and he was hooked up first out of this group of anglers.
Keith Combs was also nearby and he was hooked up first out of this group of anglers.
Combs swings aboard a keeper.
Combs swings aboard a keeper.
Lowen keeps fishing around. During the first hour or two Lowen was fan casting moving baits because it wasn’t very conducive to sight fishing early on. Once the sun broke through the clouds he began to slow down and bed fish some of the Florida largemouth.
Lowen keeps fishing around. During the first hour or two Lowen was fan casting moving baits because it wasn’t very conducive to sight fishing early on. Once the sun broke through the clouds he began to slow down and bed fish some of the Florida largemouth.
In the distance, James Niggemeyer hooks up.
In the distance, James Niggemeyer hooks up.
He swings in the fish as it continues to thrash and fight to get away.
He swings in the fish as it continues to thrash and fight to get away.
Not today as he successfully boats the fish.
Not today as he successfully boats the fish.
Lowen sees a fish so he posts up on it and soon after he hooks up.
Lowen sees a fish so he posts up on it and soon after he hooks up.
He tries to wrangle the fish, but the bass tries to get away. Once the sun came out Lowen began to plug away at bedding bass and he rocketed to the top of the leaderboard pretty quickly.
He tries to wrangle the fish, but the bass tries to get away. Once the sun came out Lowen began to plug away at bedding bass and he rocketed to the top of the leaderboard pretty quickly.
Lowen works it down the side of the boat and when he finally gets enough momentum he swings it aboard.
Lowen works it down the side of the boat and when he finally gets enough momentum he swings it aboard.
In the boat. That’s No. 2 for Lowen.
In the boat. That’s No. 2 for Lowen.
He takes a moment to show it off to his marshal.
He takes a moment to show it off to his marshal.
Davy Hite pulled into the area and began fishing around at a faster pace.
Davy Hite pulled into the area and began fishing around at a faster pace.
Hite and Dennis Tietje swap areas as they maneuver around each other.
Hite and Dennis Tietje swap areas as they maneuver around each other.
Hite continues to fan cast a moving bait as he tries to initiate a reaction strike.
Hite continues to fan cast a moving bait as he tries to initiate a reaction strike.
Then he spots a fish on the bed and drops to his knees so the fish can’t tell he is there.
Then he spots a fish on the bed and drops to his knees so the fish can’t tell he is there.
Carl Jocumsen hooks up on the other side of this group. James Niggemeyer looks on as the Australian battles this fish.
Carl Jocumsen hooks up on the other side of this group. James Niggemeyer looks on as the Australian battles this fish.
Turns out Jocumsen hooked a big mudfish.
Turns out Jocumsen hooked a big mudfish.
“That thing was big,” Jocumsen exclaimed!
“That thing was big,” Jocumsen exclaimed!
Dennis Tietje makes his way away from this group and farther down a stretch of grass.
Dennis Tietje makes his way away from this group and farther down a stretch of grass.
Jocumsen hooks up.
Jocumsen hooks up.
This time it is indeed a bass.
This time it is indeed a bass.
The second year pro swings aboard his first keeper of the morning. It is a solid fish to break the ice.
The second year pro swings aboard his first keeper of the morning. It is a solid fish to break the ice.
This fish seemingly started a flurry for all the anglers in the vicinity. Even bed fish have some kind of timing to them. Just as the sun truly pops out Jocumsen lands this fish.
This fish seemingly started a flurry for all the anglers in the vicinity. Even bed fish have some kind of timing to them. Just as the sun truly pops out Jocumsen lands this fish.
Combs hooked up nearby.
Combs hooked up nearby.
And boated another keeper.
And boated another keeper.
Then Combs went back-to-back and hooked up once again.
Then Combs went back-to-back and hooked up once again.
This one wasn’t as big, but it still added to his weight as he closed in on his limit.
This one wasn’t as big, but it still added to his weight as he closed in on his limit.
In the distance Greg Vinson hooked up near his trolling motor.
In the distance Greg Vinson hooked up near his trolling motor.
Then he took it to the side of the boat as his marshal made room for him.
Then he took it to the side of the boat as his marshal made room for him.
Then Vinson grabbed the keeper.
Then Vinson grabbed the keeper.
Jocumsen put his Power Poles down for at least 30 minutes as he began catching numerous fish from the same area.
Jocumsen put his Power Poles down for at least 30 minutes as he began catching numerous fish from the same area.
He swings in his second keeper. It isn’t big, but it’s a second keeper for him.
He swings in his second keeper. It isn’t big, but it’s a second keeper for him.
As he unhooks it his marshal takes a photo of him.
As he unhooks it his marshal takes a photo of him.
Plenty of boats in this stretch, but by no means is it as crowded as it was in 2014 when over half the field gathered in a 500 yard stretch of bank.
Plenty of boats in this stretch, but by no means is it as crowded as it was in 2014 when over half the field gathered in a 500 yard stretch of bank.
Brandon Card strolls through one side of the reeds as Combs picks apart the other side.
Brandon Card strolls through one side of the reeds as Combs picks apart the other side.
Meanwhile Jocumsen hooks up again.
Meanwhile Jocumsen hooks up again.
There is his third keeper of the day. He says the quality needs to get bigger, but he will worry with that once he fills his limit.
There is his third keeper of the day. He says the quality needs to get bigger, but he will worry with that once he fills his limit.
Combs hooks up on a bed fish and battles it to the boat.
Combs hooks up on a bed fish and battles it to the boat.
Bill Lowen looks on as an angler makes his way toward him.
Bill Lowen looks on as an angler makes his way toward him.
Bill Lowen looks on as an angler makes his way toward him.
Bill Lowen looks on as an angler makes his way toward him.
No, Andy Montgomery wasn’t trying to hide his face from Lowen, but rather he was shielding his eyes from any sun glare.
No, Andy Montgomery wasn’t trying to hide his face from Lowen, but rather he was shielding his eyes from any sun glare.
Lowen hooks up.
Lowen hooks up.
He decides to boat flip this bed fish.
He decides to boat flip this bed fish.
Although it’s an alright-sized keeper, it wont help his limit so he releases back into the river.
Although it’s an alright-sized keeper, it wont help his limit so he releases back into the river.
Montgomery makes a pitch at a bed fish and is patient as he works on tricking the fish.
Montgomery makes a pitch at a bed fish and is patient as he works on tricking the fish.
He hooks up and fights the fish to the side of the boat.
He hooks up and fights the fish to the side of the boat.
The marshal tries to get out of the way, but Montgomery is ready to land the fish.
The marshal tries to get out of the way, but Montgomery is ready to land the fish.
So Andy swings it aboard as it shakes it’s head.
So Andy swings it aboard as it shakes it’s head.
That’s a good fish for Montgomery.
That’s a good fish for Montgomery.
He is pleased to put that in the livewell at the moment.
He is pleased to put that in the livewell at the moment.
Alton Jones moved into this area after roughly two hours into the day. It didn’t take him long to hook up.
Alton Jones moved into this area after roughly two hours into the day. It didn’t take him long to hook up.
He swings aboard a good fish that is probably in the four-pound range.
He swings aboard a good fish that is probably in the four-pound range.
That will certainly improve his limit.
That will certainly improve his limit.
After catching that fish he told us he had roughly 18 pounds or so.
After catching that fish he told us he had roughly 18 pounds or so.