Hackney and Powroznik preview Bassmaster Elite

The famous yellow mustard flowers are blooming around the banks at Kentucky Lake this week at the Bassmaster Elite, and that means the bass should be biting.

Straight-shooting veteran anglers Greg Hackney and Jacob Powroznik preview the event that begins Friday and concludes on Monday near Paris, TN in Henry County.

Q: Before we dive into this week’s event at Kentucky Lake, let’s flashback to a great Elite Series event at Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees in Oklahoma a few days ago. What’s your best memory from that event?

Hackney: Watching Kevin VanDam win his 25th tournament on Bassmaster LIVE. Because here’s the deal, I’m not just a pro angler, I’m a huge fan of our sport, and that was pretty amazing to watch.

Powroznik: The second cast of the second day – I caught a 5 pound 10 ounce beast.

Q: Will this tournament at Kentucky Lake be won deeper or shallower than 5-feet of water?

Hackney: Shallower

Powroznik: Shallower 

Q: We’ve been to Kentucky Lake many times. How is this week’s Kentucky Lake different that recent stops here? 

Hackney: Mostly that we’re here at a totally different time of year. We’ve always been here in post-spawn before. But the weather forecast is a great one, and that’s all you can ask for.

Powroznik: It’s a lot tougher. I’m not getting many bites compared to years past.

Q: What will the toughest part of this tournament?

Hackney: Surviving the long grind between bites. But don’t get me wrong – the bass still live here.

Powroznik: Getting five keeper bites a day. 

Q: How much weight will you need to average daily to make the Top 12 cut?

Hackney: You’d better have 17 or 18 pounds a day.

Powroznik: 14 pounds a day.