Lowen’s Day 2 grind

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The sun rises on Day 2 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.
The sun rises on Day 2 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.
Elite Series veteran Bill Lowen brought 20 pounds to the scales on Day 1, and looks to back that up on Day 2 of competition.
Elite Series veteran Bill Lowen brought 20 pounds to the scales on Day 1, and looks to back that up on Day 2 of competition.
Lowen has fished seven Elite Series events on the St. Johns River with varying results, but rolling into the day, he’s put himself in a great position for his best finish.
Lowen has fished seven Elite Series events on the St. Johns River with varying results, but rolling into the day, he’s put himself in a great position for his best finish.
Lowen heads towards his starting location.
Lowen heads towards his starting location.
After a short run, Lowen begins working over his starting spot. On Day 1, Lowen was able to do a large part of his damage in his starting spot, then continued to cull throughout the day.
After a short run, Lowen begins working over his starting spot. On Day 1, Lowen was able to do a large part of his damage in his starting spot, then continued to cull throughout the day.
Lowen has made a career out of being able to milk areas for everything they are worth. Rather than making a few casts at a piece of cover and moving on, Lowen would make a lot of casts while rotating different baits and casting angles.
Lowen has made a career out of being able to milk areas for everything they are worth. Rather than making a few casts at a piece of cover and moving on, Lowen would make a lot of casts while rotating different baits and casting angles.
Fishing off of the bank, Lowen was making specific casts at structure. After thoroughly fishing a piece of structure, the Indiana native would make a short run to the next piece of cover.
Fishing off of the bank, Lowen was making specific casts at structure. After thoroughly fishing a piece of structure, the Indiana native would make a short run to the next piece of cover.
After fishing for a while with no bites, Lowen leans back on his first keeper of the day.
After fishing for a while with no bites, Lowen leans back on his first keeper of the day.
“About time,” Lowen said after boating No. 1.
“About time,” Lowen said after boating No. 1.
“My game plan hasn’t worked out so far,” he said shortly after boating his first keeper. Lowen did state that his afternoon bite had been better, but the fishing was still slow. Making a move further south was a part of his gameplan, but he wanted to let the boat traffic settle down before making the move.
“My game plan hasn’t worked out so far,” he said shortly after boating his first keeper. Lowen did state that his afternoon bite had been better, but the fishing was still slow. Making a move further south was a part of his gameplan, but he wanted to let the boat traffic settle down before making the move.
Not long after boating his first keeper, Lowen hooks into keeper No. 2.
Not long after boating his first keeper, Lowen hooks into keeper No. 2.
No. 2 is in the boat!
No. 2 is in the boat!
“I’m just not seeing them like I was yesterday,” said Lowen before pulling the trolling motor. He mentioned that he’s been able to utilize Humminbird 360 to see the fish set up on shell bars.
“I’m just not seeing them like I was yesterday,” said Lowen before pulling the trolling motor. He mentioned that he’s been able to utilize Humminbird 360 to see the fish set up on shell bars.
With that, Lowen makes the move down the lake.
With that, Lowen makes the move down the lake.
Lowen gets right to work, fishing shoreline vegetation.
Lowen gets right to work, fishing shoreline vegetation.
The St. Johns River is full of lily pads. In some places, they get so thick that it appears you could walk across them.
The St. Johns River is full of lily pads. In some places, they get so thick that it appears you could walk across them.
“I don’t understand where this bite went,” he said. “After practice I really thought this is how I’d wreck them but it hasn’t happened yet.”
“I don’t understand where this bite went,” he said. “After practice I really thought this is how I’d wreck them but it hasn’t happened yet.”
After fishing patches of pads, Lowen would work his way further south.
After fishing patches of pads, Lowen would work his way further south.
In one swift motion, Lowen jerked in a line burner. Keeper No. 3.
In one swift motion, Lowen jerked in a line burner. Keeper No. 3.
“It’s a giant,” he said with a laugh.
“It’s a giant,” he said with a laugh.
“A man shouldn’t have to work this hard to catch a bass,” said Lowen before making a longer run south.
“A man shouldn’t have to work this hard to catch a bass,” said Lowen before making a longer run south.
We made a short move to find Scott Canterbury, who had a solid start to his morning.
We made a short move to find Scott Canterbury, who had a solid start to his morning.
Canterbury had four keepers in the boat that he suspected would go for about 13 pounds.
Canterbury had four keepers in the boat that he suspected would go for about 13 pounds.
“I just need one more good bite and I’ll be pretty happy,” he said.
“I just need one more good bite and I’ll be pretty happy,” he said.
Canterbury was also picking about lily pads, switching between a moving bait as well as a flipping bait.
Canterbury was also picking about lily pads, switching between a moving bait as well as a flipping bait.
After an hour or so after thoroughly fishing a long stretch, Canterbury decided to make a move in hopes to catch his fifth keeper.
After an hour or so after thoroughly fishing a long stretch, Canterbury decided to make a move in hopes to catch his fifth keeper.