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Despite added fishing strain on his major space, Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson linked with 17 kilos, 3 ounces on Day 2. This prolonged his Bassmaster Classic result in a whopping 5 kilos, 12 ounces going into Championship Sunday. While the vast majority of the sector is focusing on largemouth bass, Gussy is staying together with his Lake Tellico river channel on the lookout for suspended bass.
Gustafson continues to depend on his Humminbird APEX fish finder to find and catch these monster fish (a bit of substances that we clearly don’t have any selection however to get into testing this 12 months). His 2-day complete weight rocks the scales at 35 kilos, 11 ounces.
He started the 2023 Bassmaster Classic as a favourite, got here out sturdy on Day 1, and delivered by 2 days of competitors.
Canada Came to Play on the 2023 Bassmaster Classic
Our neighbors to the north imply critical enterprise.
Representing Ontario, Jeff has led 6 straight days on the Tennessee River in Knoxville courting again to his 2021 victory. His offshore smallmouth sample continues to supply as he targets fish under his boat with MEGA Live Imaging sonar. Essentially using ice fishing ways to catch pressured smallmouth, his better-than-average-sized bass has him 5 fish away from his first Bassmaster Classic victory.
While fishing in transferring currents and elevated winds on Day 2, he relied on his X2 Battery lithiums to maintain his trolling motor locked on, permitting him to focus on particular person fish. Fans this week can observe alongside on Bassmaster stay protection with real-time footage linked to Gustafson’s Humminbird APEX unit, exhibiting the capabilities of his forward-facing sonar.
If you’re a gear junkie like we’re, it doesn’t get a lot cooler than that.
Cox Crushes, Moves Into Second
John Cox has had his ups and down on the Tennessee River, however is locked right into a candy spot this week the place warming waters have largemouth bass transferring into him day by day of the occasion. He started with 14 kilos, 4 ounces on Day 1. Day 2 discovered him including one other 15 kilos, 11 ounces. He’s bought a slim second-place seat headed into Day 3.
Cox is focusing on bass transferring into shallow spawning areas round a creek channel. As fish transfer by his space, he’s focusing on rocks round bridge pilings with Berkley Frittside Crankbait. His technique appears to be deflecting his bait to trigger response bites. Keeping his sort out involved with rocks causes an erratic motion that the larger feminine largemouth can not resist.
Cox is over 5 kilos behind Gustafson going into the ultimate day of Sunday, and simply 2 ounces forward of Maryland angler Bryan Schmitt who sits in third.
2023 Bassmaster Classic: Day 2 Wrapup
On the ultimate day of Sunday, the 55-angler area is reduce to 25, with someday of fishing remaining to find out the 2023 Classic Champion. Gustafson seems to develop into the primary Canadian angler to hoist the famed Bassmaster Classic trophy whereas John Cox seems so as to add to his adorned profession.
Will Gustafson’s smallmouth spots maintain up another day, or will a largemouth angler make a comeback to take the title?
Check out the total leaderboard, right here.