We’ve had a lot of diversity on this year’s Bassmaster Elite Series, but we’re ending on a fishery where I have a lot of familiarity — the Upper Mississippi River. This will be my fourth time fishing out of La Crosse, Wis., but my experience runs much deeper.
That’s because I’ve spent 15 years fishing the Arkansas River back home, and I can tell you there are a lot of common features. With the current, the rocks and the amount of vegetation, the Upper Mississippi is very similar.
It’s going to translate well because I understand where the fish like to position. It’s a fun place, and the fish bite so well up north.
When I’ve fished La Crosse in the past, I’ve often locked down to Pool 9. I’ll also fish Pool 8, where the tournament is based, but I never lock up to Pool 7.
I like to try and get on a good smallmouth bite in Pool 9. It can be a fun time, and I have a little history down there.
One of the biggest considerations for locking down to Pool 9 is the river’s barge traffic. I’ve had a few close calls when I’ve gotten stuck behind these commercial vessels, but I still believe it’s worth the risk — as long as the bite is on.
If it’s not really good, I’m not gonna risk it. I’m not gonna go down there if the fishing is not phenomenal, just because there is that chance of getting locked out. It’s something that happens every year.
Wherever I end up fishing, I think the key for this time of year will be knowing the current. That’s a matter of finding little eddies and knowing what these fish do and how they set up in those eddies.
Even in the grass, you have to understand how the current moves through the vegetation or along the edge of grass. Knowing how fish set up on it is really critical to doing well there.
This fishery holds a mix of smallmouth and largemouth bass, and I plan on trying to take advantage of both. A lot of the smallmouth hang out on little current seams and structure on the river, so you can pull in really quickly, make a few casts and catch a big one.
Then you can go into one of the backwaters and catch your largemouth. You can definitely catch some nice smallmouth on this fishery, but I feel like the largemouth are dominant, so you have to have a mix of spots.
What’s nice is you’ll find places on the river where you can catch largemouth and smallmouth. I don’t think you have to have both to win, but that’s the way I like to do it.
I’m hoping this strategy will lead me to a good finish. I’m currently outside the Bassmaster Classic cutline, but I have no doubt that if I get on the right stuff, things go well and I get ‘em in the boat, I’ll have a chance to get inside the Classic cut.
I need a solid finish of 20th or above to give me an opportunity. That’s so important because last year I had a rough season, and I’ve been up and down this year.
So, my goal is to make the Top 50 cut, have a good finish and make a check. If things line up and I have a spot that’s really good and I have a good pattern, we’ll see what happens after that.
