Whitaker and Cox making moves

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Florida’s John Cox popped in and out of the Top 10 all morning. I caught up with him in a Lake Harris Canal, and he was doing what he does best: Working the shallows. And he was finding fish on beds. “It’s happening, finally,” Cox said.
Florida’s John Cox popped in and out of the Top 10 all morning. I caught up with him in a Lake Harris Canal, and he was doing what he does best: Working the shallows. And he was finding fish on beds. “It’s happening, finally,” Cox said.
Cox said there were beds all up and down the canal, but he hadn’t been successful pulling any females from the beds. “They don’t want nothing to do with me,” he said.
Cox said there were beds all up and down the canal, but he hadn’t been successful pulling any females from the beds. “They don’t want nothing to do with me,” he said.
Cox is a simple man, with a deck uncluttered by electronics and rods.
Cox is a simple man, with a deck uncluttered by electronics and rods.
Cox would hop up on his gunnel to get a better view of beds lining the banks, but he was frustrated with the bass. “I caught some males early, but they’re just not sticking to beds,” he said. “They’re moving from one to another.”
Cox would hop up on his gunnel to get a better view of beds lining the banks, but he was frustrated with the bass. “I caught some males early, but they’re just not sticking to beds,” he said. “They’re moving from one to another.”
He finally worked his way to the end of the call, explaining he was going to make a long run to try and find some bass that would cooperate.
He finally worked his way to the end of the call, explaining he was going to make a long run to try and find some bass that would cooperate.
So I headed over to Jake Whitaker, who was leading the event, according to BASSTrakk. He was fishing a crowded Lake Harris bay, but that hadn’t seemed to stop him from catching enough fish to take the lead.
So I headed over to Jake Whitaker, who was leading the event, according to BASSTrakk. He was fishing a crowded Lake Harris bay, but that hadn’t seemed to stop him from catching enough fish to take the lead.
Ray Hanselman, who was fishing just on the other side of Whitaker, hooked up almost as soon as I pulled up.
Ray Hanselman, who was fishing just on the other side of Whitaker, hooked up almost as soon as I pulled up.
As many as 20 Elites were in the bay at one point, many fishing yards from each other.
As many as 20 Elites were in the bay at one point, many fishing yards from each other.
Through it all, Whitaker simply kept his head down and made cast after cast, swimming a worm through hydrilla patches dotting the bay.
Through it all, Whitaker simply kept his head down and made cast after cast, swimming a worm through hydrilla patches dotting the bay.
The competitors not only had to share water with each other, they also had to contend with locals who often times idled past mere yards away.
The competitors not only had to share water with each other, they also had to contend with locals who often times idled past mere yards away.
Whitaker briefly tried a hard jerk bait, but quickly returned to his swim bait.
Whitaker briefly tried a hard jerk bait, but quickly returned to his swim bait.
His strategy meant long stretches of casting and slow-winding his lure, but every now and then he would find a bass willing to eat.
His strategy meant long stretches of casting and slow-winding his lure, but every now and then he would find a bass willing to eat.
This bass added to his weight, helping keep him in the top position.
This bass added to his weight, helping keep him in the top position.
The pros often chatted about their day as they worked the bay.
The pros often chatted about their day as they worked the bay.
Whitaker wasn’t the only one finding periodic success. Brandon Card put a solid fish in the boat as Whitaker watched.
Whitaker wasn’t the only one finding periodic success. Brandon Card put a solid fish in the boat as Whitaker watched.
Finally, it was Whitaker’s turn again, and he landed another key fish.
Finally, it was Whitaker’s turn again, and he landed another key fish.
That bass allowed him to cull up a few critical ounces.
That bass allowed him to cull up a few critical ounces.