(Editor's note: Alan McGuckin of Dynamic Sponsorships provided this short feature.)
Air temps in the high 40s and a full autumn moon hung over famed Lake Guntersville prior to the day-1 takeoff of the Bassmaster Elite Series event, but according to hometown pro Gerald Swindle, things aren’t exactly pumpkin spice and everything nice on his beloved fishery.
“I’ve been fishing this lake for 30 years and the fish should 100-percent be eating a buzzbait, and the flippin’ bite around hydrilla on the river should be lights out right now too, but it’s not,” laments the longtime Toyota pro.
The feel of fall is undeniably in the air in northeastern Alabama, but Swindle reasons that water temps just aren’t low enough to spur Guntersville’s largemouth to put on the feed bags. Water temps are around 74, and “G Man” wishes they were closer to 65.
“We’ve got more grass to flip than you’d find at a Motley Crue concert. But getting one bite flipping grass every 3 hours won’t get the job done. And I’ve thrown a buzzbait ‘till my head hurts, and they’re just not coming up to eat it,” says Swindle.
So, what will Swindle do on day 1 of competition given his practice was as much fun as an autumn ragweed headache?
“I’m gonna simplify. I’ll start on the deeper stuff with a big worm or a shaky-head and if that doesn’t work, I just might return to my roots and skip a jig around docks."
Few men in history are more skilled at sliding a jig under docks than Swindle, and this is the lake where he realized he had a special talent for such when he was 19 years old. Plus, it seems there’s rarely a time, no matter the season, when bass can’t be found around boat docks – even in early autumn.
If that holds true this week, hold onto to your cornstalks; Swindle may find the spice to make everything nice by the time this derby concludes Saturday.
