Elite: Practice Day on Eufaula

We spent an hour or so on Lake Eufaula Tuesday hoping to get a glimpse of some action for the restart of the Bassmaster Elite Series with the DeWalt Bassmaster Elite at Lake Eufaula. Our first stop was on David Fritts, who characteristically sits while he fishes. No different in practice.

Across the way was another legend, Rick Clunn working his way under the watchful eye of an osprey.

Clunn is the oldest of the 87 anglers in this event but is expected to be a force in this event.

In other parts of the lake, we found anglers tucked away in little pockets, quickly working available cover.

Garrett Paquette is in his second year on the Elite Series and quickly hit the dock in the back of the pocket.

Then he tried the shoreline grass nearby.

Like all of the pros in practice, he didnât stick to one place for long.

Then he was on his way to another spot.

As he takes off heâs adjusting his electronics, we assume plotting his course.

And then heâs on his way like his tail is on fire.

But before he could completely get on plane, he sees something that he has to check out. Boat trips for an Elite run the gambit, but these short bursts are a common occurrence during practice.

Other anglers were knocking around offshore structure.

This is second-year Randy Pierson who was so focused on what was in front of him we were able to sneak up on him.

Pierson said he was struggling, as other boats ran by.

But he was getting a few bites, like this one he decided to show us.

It was obvious this was a chunk before the head could get completely out of water.

Then it was verified once the whole fish cleared the surface.

This was not the fish Pierson hoped to show us in practice.

Fish like this will be a big help in this event. And Pierson hoped for more like it.

He didnât make another cast in the area, but spent a lot of time idling and looking at the area with his electronics, trying to unlock the puzzle that will allow him to find and catch more.

On another section of the lake, Mark Menendez is plying the waters hoping to find a place that is loaded.

As we idle up, he too sets the hook. This fish quickly jumps.

Through the camera lens, we assume itâs a bass.

But once it clears the water, we can see it comes with whiskers.

The catfish and Menendez come eye-to-eye. Menendez tells us the fish hit his lure four times and he knew it wasnât a bass.

He also knew that we would get a charge out of seeing someone catch one.

While Menendez is joking with us, Cody Hollen is haulinâ tail across the lake, like so many of the pros.

Jason Williamson, though, is simply ambling around.

As is Harve Horne, who said heâs spending his day doing things heâs not entirely comfortable with, in case his primary areas and tactics donât pan out.

Regardless, Horne is hoping this event will be tougher than other anglers are saying. He points out, âItâs the tough ones, I seem to do better in.â

Drew Benton doesnât want tough, though. Another favorite, he has a lot of experience on the lake and was doing more looking than fishing, although there was a pile of rods on his deck.

Steve Kennedy was looking as well, even while he ate his lunch.

Kyle Welcher wasnât slowing down for lunch. He was accompanied by a media observer and was showing them the whole lake.

Kennedy, on the other hand, was taking it easier.

As a matter of fact, he was on his way to the dock to make a doctorâs appointment.

Closer to the dock, Fritts was still turning over every rock and drop.

There was a lot of activity close to the ramp, like Destin DeMarion, who was rushing to get in.

He wasnât cutting any corners either.

Right behind him was Cliff Prince.

As anglers were running in some were stopping to take a quick look, like Cory Johnston.

All of them were racing to cover from this dark menace rolling across the lake.

Within minutes after this photo was taken a torrential downpour with lightning strikes hit the area. Many anglers took cover in docks or their trucks while the storm hit. As for us, we stayed off the water after that.