Welcher’s giant Championship Sunday

Elite pro Kyle Welcher went into the final day of the 2022 Bassmaster Classic tied for the lead, and he didn’t go very far after leaving the dock. His starting spot was a sailboat marina minutes from Green Pond Landing. Yesterday he caught a 4-pounder and lost two good bass in the cove.
Elite pro Kyle Welcher went into the final day of the 2022 Bassmaster Classic tied for the lead, and he didn’t go very far after leaving the dock. His starting spot was a sailboat marina minutes from Green Pond Landing. Yesterday he caught a 4-pounder and lost two good bass in the cove.
He told me before blast off he hoped for a good early morning bite in the cove, and he worked his way into the area covering water with a swimbait.
He told me before blast off he hoped for a good early morning bite in the cove, and he worked his way into the area covering water with a swimbait.
Welcher had all his weapons arrayed on his deck for easy access.
Welcher had all his weapons arrayed on his deck for easy access.
It didn’t take long for Welcher to put his first bass in the boat. It was a 1-pounder he definitely hoped to cull as the day wore on.
It didn’t take long for Welcher to put his first bass in the boat. It was a 1-pounder he definitely hoped to cull as the day wore on.
Welcher briefly worked a glide bait in the open water between docks.
Welcher briefly worked a glide bait in the open water between docks.
After 30 minutes without a bite, Welcher decided it was time to check other spots in his rotation.
After 30 minutes without a bite, Welcher decided it was time to check other spots in his rotation.
He headed for a cove just north of Highway 24, where he started yesterday. Welcher was looking for bass on his electronics, hoping to find them chasing bait.
He headed for a cove just north of Highway 24, where he started yesterday. Welcher was looking for bass on his electronics, hoping to find them chasing bait.
It wasn’t until Welcher began cruising the bank that he finally got a bite. He missed the first bass, but he kept on casting and winding the bank.
It wasn’t until Welcher began cruising the bank that he finally got a bite. He missed the first bass, but he kept on casting and winding the bank.
His patience paid off when another 1-pounder pounced on his swimbait.
His patience paid off when another 1-pounder pounced on his swimbait.
Soon, Welcher left the cove to switch plans and start a lot of running and gunning. He did have a small limit, but the young pro was ready to find some bigger bass.
Soon, Welcher left the cove to switch plans and start a lot of running and gunning. He did have a small limit, but the young pro was ready to find some bigger bass.
Welcher began working docks and shaded areas in shallow coves, skipping a swimbait and a wacky rig under docks. But his main weapon initially was the swimbait.
Welcher began working docks and shaded areas in shallow coves, skipping a swimbait and a wacky rig under docks. But his main weapon initially was the swimbait.
He would quickly work a cove and then pull up the trolling motor.
He would quickly work a cove and then pull up the trolling motor.
Finally, a bass with a bit more heft swallowed his wacky rig. “I haven’t been able to catch them a wacky rig until now,” Welcher said. “Everybody else can, but I can’t catch them on it.”
Finally, a bass with a bit more heft swallowed his wacky rig. “I haven’t been able to catch them a wacky rig until now,” Welcher said. “Everybody else can, but I can’t catch them on it.”
That bass allowed him to make his first cull.
That bass allowed him to make his first cull.
The wacky rig struck again a few casts later, with another bass that gave him an additional few ounces being dragged from beneath a dock. The catch seemed to give Welcher a boost of confidence. “This bait will catch big ol’ stupid ones too,” he said of the wacky rig.
The wacky rig struck again a few casts later, with another bass that gave him an additional few ounces being dragged from beneath a dock. The catch seemed to give Welcher a boost of confidence. “This bait will catch big ol’ stupid ones too,” he said of the wacky rig.
Welcher also put the wacky rig to work in the back of a cove that was dotted with flooded buck brush.
Welcher also put the wacky rig to work in the back of a cove that was dotted with flooded buck brush.
He said he could see a bass suspended in the water column, so he put the soft-plastic worm right in its face.
He said he could see a bass suspended in the water column, so he put the soft-plastic worm right in its face.
The bass couldn’t resist the lure, and Welcher was soon struggling to get the fish in his boat.
The bass couldn’t resist the lure, and Welcher was soon struggling to get the fish in his boat.
“It’s a giant,” Welcher said when he pulled the bass closer.
“It’s a giant,” Welcher said when he pulled the bass closer.
He was right: That bass proved to be the biggest of his day. He logged it into BassTrakk as a 4-pounder.
He was right: That bass proved to be the biggest of his day. He logged it into BassTrakk as a 4-pounder.
The catch called for a celebration.
The catch called for a celebration.
Welcher made several more stops, before deciding to make a long run with just an hour before check-in.
Welcher made several more stops, before deciding to make a long run with just an hour before check-in.