2020 Bassmaster Elite Lake Eufaula Day 1: Bill Lowen Slams Lead

Lowen proves big bass live shallow

By Bryan Brasher

BASS Press Release

Lowen making the shallow bite a contender on a lake known for offshore fishing.
(Photo: BASS)

Conventional wisdom says a tournament held on Lake Eufaula during 90-degree weather in June should be won offshore on the ledges.

But Bill Lowen isn’t buying it. He never buys that anywhere B.A.S.S. takes him.

The Indiana pro who cut his teeth fishing the shallow waters of the Ohio River stayed near the shoreline during Wednesday’s opening round of the DEWALT Bassmaster Elite at Lake Eufaula and grabbed the lead with five bass that weighed 23 pounds, 4 ounces.

The tournament, which marked a return to competition for the Elite Series after a three-month break due to COVID-19, was carried live on ESPN2 — and for Lowen, it couldn’t have set up any better.

“Today was just one of those awesome days when every decision I made worked out perfectly,” Lowen said. “I fished clean, didn’t lose any fish — and yes, it’s no secret I’m fishing shallow.

“I always like to fish in my comfort zone, and if I get out there in the middle of the lake, I’m not in my comfort zone. So, I’m gonna stay shallow the rest of the week.”

2019 BASS Elite Lake Tenkiller Day 3: Monti Moves into Lead with 39-11 lbs!

Canadians Cory Johnston 4th, Gustafson 36th & Chris Johnston 46th 

By David A Brown

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Off-shore key to top weights on stingy Tenkiller.
(Photo: BASS)

A key adjustment early on Saturday enabled Okeechobee, Florida’s Kyle Monti to stay with his offshore game and move into the lead of the Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Bassmaster Elite at Lake Tenkiller with a three-day total of 39 pounds, 11 ounces.

After placing third Thursday with 14-4, Monti slipped to fifth with 23-2 Friday. On Saturday, he added 16-9 — the event’s heaviest catch so far. His Day 3 bag included four largemouth bass and one spotted bass.

For two days, Monti fished an offshore sandbar with isolated hard spots and caught his fish on a drop-shot rig. Saturday, he shifted gears and caught most of his bass on a wobblehead jig.

“I caught one right off the bat that clued me in that the fish were still there, but I caught it on a bait that I haven’t caught a fish on all week,” Monti said. “That clued me in on how to catch them without dropping straight down to them with a drop shot.”

Monti said this proved crucial to his success, as he would have had a difficult time executing the drop-shot technique he had employed for much of Days 1 and 2.

2019 BASS Elite Lake Tenkiller Day 1: Blaylock Leads with 15-09 lbs!

Cory Johnston 6th, Chris Johnston 26th & Gustafson 36th

By David A Brown

BASS PRESS RELEASE

Heat wave and summer transition makes Tenkiller tough but
Blaylock ekes out lead.
(Photo: BASS)

Stetson Blaylock loves a tough tournament, and pushing through Thursday’s tough conditions delivered a 15-pound, 9-ounce limit that leads Day 1 of the Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Bassmaster Elite at Lake Tenkiller.

Daytime highs reached into the 90s, while a declining lake level, which has lost about a foot and a half since practice, left fish displaced and finicky. Fishing the mid- to lower lake, Blaylock caught a mixed bag of largemouth, spotted bass and smallmouth bass. His catch, which included a 4-pound smallmouth, was a welcome performance, considering his expectations.

“Everybody said practice was bad, but I literally caught six keepers the entire practice,” the Benton, Ark., angler said. “I just like this style of lake. When they pulled that water down, it didn’t help the bite, but I was able to slow down and not think about whether I need to flip bushes because I knew the water was falling out of there. So, I just went out with no care and threw.

“I knew if I just caught a bass, that I would be in (the Bassmaster Classic) easy. My very first cast, I caught a 12-inch spotted bass and I was like ‘Well, my day’s made.’ So I just slowed down.”

Blaylock demonstrated his toughness earlier this season with a hard-fought win at the Winyah Bay Bassmaster Elite Series event in April. Acknowledging the similarities, he notes two major differences: First, he stayed in a much smaller area on the South Carolina tidal fishery; moreover, his 2020 Classic berth was far from secure at Winyah.