According to a competitor who'd prefer to fish offshore, this week's PAA Tournament Series event at Lake Neely Henry in Alabama is likely to be won close to dry land.
"I've tried to get out on the breaks and ledges and it just isn't panning out," said Mike McClelland, who's in 3rd place in the Angler of the Year (AOY) race heading into finale of the three-event circuit. "There's a lot of fish roaming and following bait and they're just not set up on the (offshore) stuff.
"I'll be doing what kicked my butt most of the year (on the Bassmaster Elite Series) – going to the bank and fishing shallow. That's what I did in the Northern Open at the James River, so at least I'm in that groove. I'm actually looking forward to it. I've definitely devoted enough practice time to the deeper stuff that I can really focus on the shallow water and not think twice about it."
He trails AOY leader Todd Auten by 7 points and 2nd-place Tommy Biffle by 3.
"We're all going to be on the same page and we'll all be doing pretty similar things, and the guy who puts it all together this week will walk away with it. At least I won't be wondering how they're catching them up shallow – I'll be right there with them."
The tournament runs Thursday through Saturday.
