We are to the halfway point of the 2023 Bassmaster Elite season as crazy as that is to say. Feels like yesterday we were kicking things off at Okeechobee. But getting to the final half of the season is exciting, you start seeing things shape up such as the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race, Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race, and the Classic qualification line starts getting interesting.
This event has been one I’m pretty excited about since the season started because it’s so close to home in Birmingham. Getting to attend the event will be fun, but also seeing how the pros break down the lake will be interesting to see. Especially considering how many times Kyle Jessie and I have been out there fishing since moving to Birmingham. I want to learn some new tips and tricks of Lay Lake, and there’s no better way than to watch the Elites.
All of the Elite pros always talk about the home lake curse, but I feel like Lay Lake is one of those places that having a good bit of knowledge of the lake will go really far. Kyle Jessie and I have both fished it enough to know that Lay is one of the tougher places to fish on the Coosa River, and it can be feast or famine. It feels like one of those places that the more you know might actually be better so my assumption is to take guys who have spent a good bit of time there. We will have to see if that comes back to haunt me or not.
Let’s jump into some picks.
BUCKET A: GASTON
My first of four local picks is David Gaston. Gaston has had a pretty phenomenal year thus far. He hasn’t missed a cut, sitting in 12th in the Angler of the Year race and sitting in second place currently in the Rookie of the Year standings. You mix the momentum from a spectacular season so far with some home lake advantage and I think you will see Gaston at the top of the leaderboard.
Alternate: Kyle Welcher
BUCKET B: PRZEKURAT
Jay Przekurat is my only pick not from Alabama, but I think Przekurat will feel right at home at Lay Lake. Considering the amount of time he claims he spends on muddy rivers in Wisconsin, you could expect him to find his groove at Lay. It also doesn’t hurt to mention that he won the 2020 Bassmaster Open on Lay Lake as a co-angler.
Alternate: Chris Johnston
BUCKET C: HAMNER
Another Alabama native who has plenty of experience on the Coosa River is Justin Hamner. Hamner hasn’t had the greatest go this season, but after scoring a 19th-place finish at Santee Cooper he is looking to turn his season around. There’s no better place to do it than somewhere he has plenty of experience. He also added a 35th-place finish on Lay back in 2020 in the Bassmaster Open.
Alternate: Gerald Swindle
BUCKET D: LOGAN
Wes Logan took his first Elite Series victory just two lakes up from Lay Lake in 2021 when he won on Neely Henry. Also note it was the same time of year as 2021 when Logan won. With postspawn fish in the grass and most likely a swim jig in play, Logan is going to feel right at home. Also, I would not mind one bit if someone caught them swimming a jig this week.
Alternate: Josh Stracner
BUCKET E: DAVIS
When you got to Bucket E, you probably noticed Will Davis Jr. in there and most likely thought, “Why is he in Bucket E?”
Well there was a mistake where the computer put Clent Davis in Bucket A instead of E, and put Will Davis Jr. in Bucket E instead of A. Therefore you get the chance have a pretty solid pick in Bucket E. We had considered changing it, but so many people had already submitted their picks when we noticed it, we decided to just let it ride. So, here is your chance to take the Rookie of the Year leader and local angler in Bucket E, so you better cash in.
Alternate: Matt Herren
