Day on the lake with Cliff Pirch

Elite Series pro Cliff Pirch took the challenge to locate and catch bass on a lake he'd never seen before.

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For the 2015 Classic Preview issue of Bassmaster’s reality series, “Day On The Lake,” Elite Series pro Cliff Pirch took the challenge: Locate and catch bass on a lake you’ve never seen before within a seven-hour time frame. Pirch, 40, hails from Payson, Ariz., and has fished B.A.S.S. events since 2001, qualifying for one Classic. Pirch makes custom umbrella rigs and jigs, available on his website: www.cliffordpirchoutdoors.com. Here’s what happened March 26, 2014, when we put Pirch on Lake J, a small, remote reservoir.
For the 2015 Classic Preview issue of Bassmaster’s reality series, “Day On The Lake,” Elite Series pro Cliff Pirch took the challenge: Locate and catch bass on a lake you’ve never seen before within a seven-hour time frame. Pirch, 40, hails from Payson, Ariz., and has fished B.A.S.S. events since 2001, qualifying for one Classic. Pirch makes custom umbrella rigs and jigs, available on his website: www.cliffordpirchoutdoors.com. Here’s what happened March 26, 2014, when we put Pirch on Lake J, a small, remote reservoir.
9:55 a.m. Pirch tries an umbrella rig around some boat slips.
9:55 a.m. Pirch tries an umbrella rig around some boat slips.
10:22 a.m. Pirch fishes submerged rocks with a football jig.
10:22 a.m. Pirch fishes submerged rocks with a football jig.
Pirch’s custom-made Antenna jigs feature two extra-long skirt strands that mimic the antennae of a live crawfish.
Pirch’s custom-made Antenna jigs feature two extra-long skirt strands that mimic the antennae of a live crawfish.
10:35 a.m. Pirch slow rolls an umbrella rig around submerged wood cover.
10:35 a.m. Pirch slow rolls an umbrella rig around submerged wood cover.
11:20 a.m. Shortly after relocating to the upper end of Lake J, Pirch bags a 1 1/4-pound keeper on a football jig.
11:20 a.m. Shortly after relocating to the upper end of Lake J, Pirch bags a 1 1/4-pound keeper on a football jig.
11:28 a.m. Pirch catches his second keeper of the day, 2 pounds, 2 ounces, off lily pads on a flipping jig.
11:28 a.m. Pirch catches his second keeper of the day, 2 pounds, 2 ounces, off lily pads on a flipping jig.
11:45 a.m. Pirch’s hunch about moving to the upper end of Lake J pays off with a keeper.
11:45 a.m. Pirch’s hunch about moving to the upper end of Lake J pays off with a keeper.
Pirch catches a beautiful 7-pound, 14-ounce bass.
Pirch catches a beautiful 7-pound, 14-ounce bass.
Pirch catches the 7-14 on a 1/2-ounce green pumpkin/brown/orange Clifford Pirch Outdoors Antenna Flipping Jig with generic craw trailer.
Pirch catches the 7-14 on a 1/2-ounce green pumpkin/brown/orange Clifford Pirch Outdoors Antenna Flipping Jig with generic craw trailer.
1:03 p.m. Pirch fishes some pads in the back of a tributary arm.
1:03 p.m. Pirch fishes some pads in the back of a tributary arm.
Pirch is still searching the back of the tributary arm.
Pirch is still searching the back of the tributary arm.
1:32 p.m. Pirch fishes a laydown with an umbrella rig.
1:32 p.m. Pirch fishes a laydown with an umbrella rig.
Wood cover failed to yield any fish during Pirch’s day on Lake J.
Wood cover failed to yield any fish during Pirch’s day on Lake J.