New nails ’em early

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Bryan New started Day 1 working a fog-covered point on the St. Johns River between Palatka and Little Lake George.
Bryan New started Day 1 working a fog-covered point on the St. Johns River between Palatka and Little Lake George.
New told me yesterday that his plan was to make a couple of stops in the main river downstream from Lake George, and then make the run across the lake to the stretch of river where he won the 2021 Elite Series last year. He said he had found a key to getting fish there to bite, and he was excited about putting that plan into motion.
New told me yesterday that his plan was to make a couple of stops in the main river downstream from Lake George, and then make the run across the lake to the stretch of river where he won the 2021 Elite Series last year. He said he had found a key to getting fish there to bite, and he was excited about putting that plan into motion.
His second stop was another bar on the main river near Little Lake George.
His second stop was another bar on the main river near Little Lake George.
New cycled through a number of bait choices as he worked to figure out what would produce bites.
New cycled through a number of bait choices as he worked to figure out what would produce bites.
It didn’t take long, however to get his first bite of the day. The bass wasn’t a huge fish, but it was a keeper and broke the ice.
It didn’t take long, however to get his first bite of the day. The bass wasn’t a huge fish, but it was a keeper and broke the ice.
As soon as he placed the bass into the livewell, New rushed to the front deck to get the same bait in the water.
As soon as he placed the bass into the livewell, New rushed to the front deck to get the same bait in the water.
This lure produced his second bass within a few casts.
This lure produced his second bass within a few casts.
This bass had more quality, giving the Elite Series sophomore confidence in his pattern.
This bass had more quality, giving the Elite Series sophomore confidence in his pattern.
The next cast produced another small but keeper fish. New’s three fish in the livewell didn’t weigh much, but it proved that one of his lures was much more effective because every bite came on the same bait.
The next cast produced another small but keeper fish. New’s three fish in the livewell didn’t weigh much, but it proved that one of his lures was much more effective because every bite came on the same bait.
After a few more casts without bites, New headed back downriver. He seemed to be coming to terms with abandoning the Astor-area stretch of river on which he earned his first Elite Series trophy last year.
After a few more casts without bites, New headed back downriver. He seemed to be coming to terms with abandoning the Astor-area stretch of river on which he earned his first Elite Series trophy last year.
The key to New’s locations was making the same cast over and over again to essentially the same spot. New told me yesterday he didn’t have to fan cast because his locations were holding fish in small areas.
The key to New’s locations was making the same cast over and over again to essentially the same spot. New told me yesterday he didn’t have to fan cast because his locations were holding fish in small areas.
The day has been dead calm, and the sun quickly burned off the patches of thick fog. While it looks like New is fishing the shallows, he’s actually positioning his boat close to the bank and casting into deeper water.
The day has been dead calm, and the sun quickly burned off the patches of thick fog. While it looks like New is fishing the shallows, he’s actually positioning his boat close to the bank and casting into deeper water.
He wouldn’t give any spot more than a handful of casts before moving off, if he didn’t get bit.
He wouldn’t give any spot more than a handful of casts before moving off, if he didn’t get bit.
Stop No. 3 was another bar on the main river, even closer to Palatka. He said he still had last year’s winning spot in his mind, but he was torn. “I want to go, but I don’t know if I have enough gas,” New said. “And I didn’t check to see what fuel stations are open.”
Stop No. 3 was another bar on the main river, even closer to Palatka. He said he still had last year’s winning spot in his mind, but he was torn. “I want to go, but I don’t know if I have enough gas,” New said. “And I didn’t check to see what fuel stations are open.”
New had his deck filled with rods, but by this point he was using one key bait that had produced every bite thus far.
New had his deck filled with rods, but by this point he was using one key bait that had produced every bite thus far.
His first cast was rewarded with a quality bite. Again, he attributed the catch to pinpoint casting to a spot he identified during practice.
His first cast was rewarded with a quality bite. Again, he attributed the catch to pinpoint casting to a spot he identified during practice.
This bass was a solid fish that excited the pro and gave him even more confidence in the pattern he was running.
This bass was a solid fish that excited the pro and gave him even more confidence in the pattern he was running.
Two casts later another bass struck his lure, and this one was a quality fish. After weighing each bass on his culling system, he said he had “18-plus” pounds for his early five-fish limit.
Two casts later another bass struck his lure, and this one was a quality fish. After weighing each bass on his culling system, he said he had “18-plus” pounds for his early five-fish limit.
Even though he still had a 1-pound, 13-ouncer in his livewell, New was pumped.
Even though he still had a 1-pound, 13-ouncer in his livewell, New was pumped.