If I Had a Do-Over: Near Misses From The 2020 Elites

EVERY BASSMASTER ELITE Series pro has a painful tale of a near-win, a total bomb or something in between where a key decision shifted outcomes one way or another. Within these tales, we find a rich harvest of techniques, tactics and timing that can help all anglers sharpen their game.

Here, we look at four Elites who finished high in the 2020 Bassmaster Angler of the Year race and the events they believe most impeded their cause.

STAY ON THE JUICE

Jake Whitaker

Event: Lake St. Clair; AOY: Fifth place

Scenario: Describing an event heavier on quality than quantity, Whitaker said, “The bite wasn’t great, but the ones that were biting were big ones. You had to have that 21- to 22-pound mark [daily] to be in contention.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, anglers were limited to the U.S. waters of Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River, Lake Huron and the upper part of the Detroit River. Whitaker’s practice led him to solid fish in the St. Clair River delta’s middle and south channels and in Lake St. Clair.

The Decision: Admittedly less astute at smallmouth tactics, Whitaker said that while he was pleased with a fifth-place finish in a predominantly bronzeback fishery, he believes a repeat of that first day could have yielded a blue trophy. Looking back, Whitaker sees how timing bit him in