Just over a year ago at the 2020 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Guntersville, Hank Cherry was leading by 4 pounds, 13 ounces going into final day. After two days at Lake Ray Roberts he leads by 4 pounds, 12 ounces going into today’s final at Lake Ray Roberts. Cherry weighed a 19-pound, 8-ounce limit the final day to win the 2020 Classic.
Last year Cherry spent most of the final day throwing a jerkbait along the riprap banks near bridges at Lake Guntersville. Yesterday Cherry spent most of his day throwing a jerkbait near the riprap at Lake Ray Roberts Dam.
“What’s eerie about this is it’s the same feeling,” Cherry said yesterday. “I’m out there on the dam (Saturday) and people are stopped all the way down the dam, getting out and watching me fish.”
But there’s another recent Classic, this one also in Texas, that comes to mind for anyone trying to overtake Hank Cherry today. On March 26, 2017, at Lake Conroe near Houston, Jordan Lee jumped from 15th place, almost 14 pounds out of first place after two days, to win. He did it with a limit weighing 27-4 the final day.
It appears, however, that the fishing is getting tougher at Lake Ray Roberts. Only 15 of the 54 anglers weighed a 5-fish limit yesterday while 33 did so on Day 1. On the other hand, some big bass continue to be caught here. Chad Pipkens took big bass honors on Day 2 with an 8-1, Frank Talley did it on Day 1 with an 8-3, and second-place Justin Kerr had a 7-2 and an 6-12 in his 19-12/4-fish bag yesterday.
Is it still possible to catch a giant 5-bass limit at Lake Ray Roberts? Yesterday’s tougher bite may have been due to the thunderstorm that roared across the lake and cut off the first two hours of competition.
“It can absolutely happen at this place – absolutely,” said Drew Cook, who starts the day in 7th place, 8-12 behind Cherry. “I could see someone weighing in a 30-pound bag, for sure. It’s just got so many big fish in it.”