Dock talk at Neely Henry

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Bass anglers stand to earn a wealth of knowledge this week at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake. The reason why are the changing conditions. Thunderstorms packing heavy rain passed over the lake during the first two practice days. The river came up, the water got muddy and any game plans underway got thrown out.
Bass anglers stand to earn a wealth of knowledge this week at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Neely Henry Lake. The reason why are the changing conditions. Thunderstorms packing heavy rain passed over the lake during the first two practice days. The river came up, the water got muddy and any game plans underway got thrown out.
What we all stand to gain is how to catch more and bigger bass in those conditions. That’s what myself and Andy Crawford set out to do on the competition eve. We did our best to get past the obvious. Bass don’t get tight lipped in rising, muddy water. They still eat, chase lures and get caught. Here is what found out in this edition of Dock Talk.
What we all stand to gain is how to catch more and bigger bass in those conditions. That’s what myself and Andy Crawford set out to do on the competition eve. We did our best to get past the obvious. Bass don’t get tight lipped in rising, muddy water. They still eat, chase lures and get caught. Here is what found out in this edition of Dock Talk.
<b>Justin Hamner:</b> “Ask any local and these are the conditions they like the most in springtime. I love these conditions because it positions the fish where they set up on ambush points to feed,
Justin Hamner: “Ask any local and these are the conditions they like the most in springtime. I love these conditions because it positions the fish where they set up on ambush points to feed,” said Hamner. “They burn a lot of energy this current — What a lot of anglers don’t realize is current like this stimulates the appetite of a bass.”
<b>Patrick Walters:</b>
Patrick Walters: “We are going to have changing conditions, and I feel that’s what the entire year has been about. Not a single day has been the same.”
“What I do know is you can throw practice out the window, which I love,” said Walters. “I was on bedding bass the first two days, but I don’t think there will be any of that going on during the tournament.”
“What I do know is you can throw practice out the window, which I love,” said Walters. “I was on bedding bass the first two days, but I don’t think there will be any of that going on during the tournament.”
<b>Matt Robertson:</b> “I’m a river rat and fish places like this back home in Kentucky, but I’ve never been to a place where the water can be 3 or 4 foot lower at the dam and 3 or 5 feet higher on the upper end.”
Matt Robertson: “I’m a river rat and fish places like this back home in Kentucky, but I’ve never been to a place where the water can be 3 or 4 foot lower at the dam and 3 or 5 feet higher on the upper end.”
“It will be a learning experience, for sure,” said Robertson. We took that as he’s NOT On ‘Em.
“It will be a learning experience, for sure,” said Robertson. We took that as he’s NOT On ‘Em.
<b>Brandon Lester:</b> “What’s weird here is when you run upriver it’s really high, and then it’s low when you go downriver it’s lower.”
Brandon Lester: “What’s weird here is when you run upriver it’s really high, and then it’s low when you go downriver it’s lower.”
“Today I got two bites that I know were bass, and I was doing separate things for both fish.
“Today I got two bites that I know were bass, and I was doing separate things for both fish.”
“I tried to make a pattern with both ideas and never got another bite. It’s going to be like a Sabine River kind of deal.”
“I tried to make a pattern with both ideas and never got another bite. It’s going to be like a Sabine River kind of deal.”
<b>Garrett Paquette:</b> “It was already tough before the flood. I’m surprised because I thought all the current with the higher water would get the bite going.”
Garrett Paquette: “It was already tough before the flood. I’m surprised because I thought all the current with the higher water would get the bite going.”
“I stayed upriver and maybe that was my problem,” said Paquette.
“I stayed upriver and maybe that was my problem,” said Paquette.
“There’s not a real pattern; you have to junk fish like you do a river.”
“There’s not a real pattern; you have to junk fish like you do a river.”
<b>Greg Hackney:</b> “What we have here this week are the kind of conditions that made The Bassmasters fun to watch, all the way back to the days of TNN (The Nashville Network).
Greg Hackney: “What we have here this week are the kind of conditions that made The Bassmasters fun to watch, all the way back to the days of TNN (The Nashville Network).
“They dealt with these kinds of conditions all of the time back then,” said Hackney. “Not every tournament can be a Lake Fork. I’m looking forward to it.
“They dealt with these kinds of conditions all of the time back then,” said Hackney. “Not every tournament can be a Lake Fork. I’m looking forward to it.”
“The reason why is this going to be the kind of deal where the weights are going to be really close. And that’s what I like.”
“The reason why is this going to be the kind of deal where the weights are going to be really close. And that’s what I like.”
<b>Buddy Gross:</b> “I’ve fished here a lot and checked everything from the past. I’ve fished here when the current was like this, but I’ve struggled this time.”
Buddy Gross: “I’ve fished here a lot and checked everything from the past. I’ve fished here when the current was like this, but I’ve struggled this time.”
“I’ve been from the bottom to the top end without putting together a pattern,” said Gross.
“I’ve been from the bottom to the top end without putting together a pattern,” said Gross.
“It’s going to be a junk fishing deal all around.”
“It’s going to be a junk fishing deal all around.”