By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Kyle Welcher is utterly dominating the Bassmaster Elite Series event at the Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound.
The Opelika, Ala., pro caught the biggest bag of the tournament on Saturday, a 34-pound limit anchored by a whopping 10-8 largemouth. With bags of 30-11 and 30-3 the first two days of the event, Welcher carries a total of 94-14 into the final day of competition.
“I’ve never had one day of fishing like this,” Welcher said. “I hope there are a few more spawning because that’s the fun way to catch them.”
The 2023 Bassmaster Angler of the Year is on pace to achieve several milestones on Sunday. Not only will he likely claim his first Century Belt, Welcher also could break the record for largest margin of victory Elite Series history set by Patrick Walters at Lake Fork in the fall of 2020, a 29-10 difference.
He currently leads second-place Brandon Lester by 33-14.
Welcher achieved several personal bests on Saturday as well, including catching his biggest tournament bag ever in his Elite Series career. The 10-8 that now leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors is now his personal best, unseating the 10-1 he landed at the St. Johns River in 2020.
All this success comes after experiencing one of the worst practices of his career.
“A week like this is only possible when you have a bad (practice),” he said. “When they are in a migration pattern like they are right now, you need them to be coming to you. The area I have, I fished down it Day 3 of practice and had one bite down that stretch.
“Day 1 I had four big ones down it, yesterday I caught five big ones and today I caught five big ones.”
Welcher has fished a mile stretch of the Pasquotank River each day of the tournament, focusing on bass that are either setting up to spawn or spawning on cypress trees and stumps.
“There’s not a lot of spawning habitat in the area, and the stretch (I’m fishing) provides the only habitat,” Welcher said. “I caught them shallower today, but the water was six inches lower.”
A Rapala Crush City Bronco Bug rigged on a 1/4-ounce Texas rig has landed all his best bites this week. Welcher has focused his time on only bass he feels will be easy to catch, making his days more efficient. The females he has landed have had a male with them, but most times he can’t see them on his forward-facing sonar.
“(The Bronco Bug) has got big appendages that sit off the bottom,” he said. “It also has a hinge system that moves, so when I’m shaking it, I just visualize those legs flapping back and forth in the bed. For whatever reason the big females really like it.”
In similar fashion to Day 2, Welcher opened the morning by landing a 7-pounder, settling his nerves and ensuring he would likely fish with the lead the rest of the day.
“I knew then someone would have to catch 30 pounds to catch me with just that one fish,” Welcher said. “It got me to settle down and pick apart the area. It took me a little while after that to start generating more big bites, but around 11:30 every day I have caught a couple big ones. That same thing happened today.”
With a limit in the boat, Welcher landed a 5-pounder close to midday before coming across the 10-8. That bass ate his Bronco bug twice before Welcher was able to hook it for good and land it.
“That was unbelievable. I was trolling and I saw it. It spooked off really slow and came right back. The first cast I made to it, it bit. It swam to the boat, and I lost it. I fished for it for 10 more minutes and I hooked it for a long time then. I probably had it hooked for 10 or 15 seconds before it came off. So, I fished for it for 20 to 25 more minutes before eating it again. When I set the hook, it was like it was hooked to the back of a truck. I’ll never forget it.”
Lester, meanwhile, landed 24-11 on Day 3 and increased his three-day total to 61-0. The Tennessee pro opened the tournament in eighth with 17-7 before catching 18-14 on Day 2 to move into fifth.
“It was a really good day. I feel like it could fall apart at any moment,” the 2022 Pickwick Elite Series champion said. “I’m fishing slow, methodical and confident. The worst I can finish now is 10th. So, it is all good.”
His Tennessee River roots were on full display during the morning hours of Day 3. Lester caught his limit fishing a shallow shellbar next to a bridge in the Pasquotank River. A 6 1/2-inch LiveTarget Straight Tail Worm on a 1/8-ounce shaky head caught the majority of those bass while a 3/8-ounce jig produced a 5-pounder.
“That was the best start I’ve had, and it was totally unexpected,” Lester said. “I had a hunch on that spot. You need the north wind, because it gets the current moving out of here. That’s what happened this morning.”
Once the bite slowed on his bridge, he returned to a creek in the Pasquotank he had fished the two previous days. Late in the day, he landed a 6-12 on a 3/16-ounce drop shot with a LiveTarget Finesse Worm.
With bags of 23-7, 15-7 and 21-7, Trey McKinney is third with a three-day total of 60-5. After a disappointing Day-2 performance, McKinney returned to the North River on Day 3. After a slow start, he was able to pick off better quality bass as the day progressed, including some 5-pounders.
“I don’t know about tomorrow. I feel like I’m either going to bomb or catch them (well),” he said. “I’ve seen the most cypress knees I’ve ever seen in my life. There is so much cover there that you can’t physically fish all of it. In 30 minutes you can go down a stretch and not catch anything, and come back 30 minutes later and one will move a little bit and you can catch it.”
McKinney has rotated between a prototype jig paired with a twin-tail grub-style bait and a Neko rig with either a 6th Sense Bamboosa Worm or 6th Sense Divine Shaky Head Worm. The shaky-head worm generated more bites on Day 3.
“I think it moves a little more water and they are more aggressive to it,” McKinney said.
The Top 10 anglers will launch from Waterfront Park in Elizabeth City beginning at 7 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in beginning at 3 p.m.
Day 3 Standings
1. Kyle Welcher -- Valley, AL -- 15, 94-14 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 30-11 -- Day 2: 5, 30-03 -- Day 3: 5, 34-00
2. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 15, 61-00 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 17-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-14 -- Day 3: 5, 24-11
3. Trey McKinney -- Carbondale, IL -- 15, 60-05 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 23-07 -- Day 2: 5, 15-07 -- Day 3: 5, 21-07
4. Tyler Williams -- Belgrade, ME -- 15, 60-02 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 17-14 -- Day 2: 5, 19-11 -- Day 3: 5, 22-09
5. Easton Fothergill -- Grand Rapids , MN -- 14, 54-03 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 23-13 -- Day 2: 4, 10-12 -- Day 3: 5, 19-10
6. Seth Feider -- Elko New Market, MN -- 15, 53-11 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 15-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-03 -- Day 3: 5, 21-02
7. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 15, 51-00 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 16-01 -- Day 2: 5, 17-02 -- Day 3: 5, 17-13
8. Kyle Patrick -- Cooperstown, NY -- 15, 50-15 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 16-11 -- Day 2: 5, 19-09 -- Day 3: 5, 14-11
9. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 15, 50-01 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 5, 15-06 -- Day 3: 5, 18-15
10. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 15, 49-14 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 16-06 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14 -- Day 3: 5, 20-10
The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on Day 4.
11. Kyoya Fujita -- Yamanashi, JAPAN -- 15, 49-07 -- 94 -- $7,000
Day 1: 5, 15-13 -- Day 2: 5, 11-01 -- Day 3: 5, 22-09
12. Logan Parks -- Auburn, AL -- 15, 47-07 -- 93 -- $7,000
Day 1: 5, 13-14 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06 -- Day 3: 5, 20-03
13. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 15, 46-05 -- 92 -- $7,000
Day 1: 5, 12-06 -- Day 2: 5, 16-05 -- Day 3: 5, 17-10
14. Cody Meyer -- Eagle, ID -- 15, 45-09 -- 91 -- $7,000
Day 1: 5, 15-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15 -- Day 3: 5, 17-11
15. Jay Przekurat -- Plover, WI -- 15, 45-09 -- 90 -- $7,000
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 5, 16-04 -- Day 3: 5, 14-12
16. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 15, 45-07 -- 89 -- $6,500
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08 -- Day 3: 5, 14-12
17. Will Davis Jr -- Sylacauga, AL -- 15, 44-12 -- 88 -- $6,500
Day 1: 5, 11-04 -- Day 2: 5, 17-08 -- Day 3: 5, 16-00
18. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 15, 44-06 -- 87 -- $6,500
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 18-11 -- Day 3: 5, 14-05
19. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 15, 43-12 -- 86 -- $6,500
Day 1: 5, 16-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-11 -- Day 3: 5, 14-03
20. Jake Whitaker -- Hendersonville, NC -- 15, 43-08 -- 85 -- $6,500
Day 1: 5, 12-12 -- Day 2: 5, 19-08 -- Day 3: 5, 11-04
21. Chris Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 14, 42-11 -- 84 -- $6,000
Day 1: 4, 07-00 -- Day 2: 5, 24-05 -- Day 3: 5, 11-06
22. Bryant Smith -- Roseville, CA -- 15, 42-05 -- 83 -- $6,000
Day 1: 5, 16-03 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03 -- Day 3: 5, 15-15
23. Joey Cifuentes III -- Clinton, AR -- 13, 42-04 -- 82 -- $6,000
Day 1: 5, 18-12 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13 -- Day 3: 3, 11-11
24. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 15, 41-13 -- 81 -- $6,000
Day 1: 5, 12-09 -- Day 2: 5, 20-04 -- Day 3: 5, 09-00
25. Jacob Foutz -- Charleston, TN -- 12, 41-13 -- 80 -- $6,000
Day 1: 5, 18-10 -- Day 2: 5, 19-08 -- Day 3: 2, 03-11
26. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 15, 41-09 -- 79 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 13-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-04 -- Day 3: 5, 09-14
27. Bob Downey -- Detroit Lakes, MN -- 15, 40-14 -- 78 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 17-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01 -- Day 3: 5, 11-10
28. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 15, 40-10 -- 77 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 15-00 -- Day 2: 5, 13-14 -- Day 3: 5, 11-12
29. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA 15 -- 40-09 -- 76 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 5, 10-00 -- Day 3: 5, 16-00
30. Alex Wetherell -- Middletown, CT -- 14, 40-00 -- 75 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 16-08 -- Day 2: 4, 08-03 -- Day 3: 5, 15-05
31. Logan Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 15, 40-00 -- 74 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 09-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05 -- Day 3: 5, 14-14
32. Marc Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 13, 39-14 -- 73 -- $5,500
Day 1: 3, 05-13 -- Day 2: 5, 17-15 -- Day 3: 5, 16-02
33. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 15, 39-11 -- 72 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 16-05 -- Day 2: 5, 09-10 -- Day 3: 5, 13-12
34. Cory Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 15, 39-00 -- 71 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 13-06 -- Day 2: 5, 13-14 -- Day 3: 5, 11-12
35. Alex Redwine -- Blue Ash, OH -- 14, 38-10 -- 70 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 13-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-01 -- Day 3: 4, 08-03
36. Tucker Smith -- Birmingham, AL -- 15, 37-03 -- 69 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 5, 12-12 -- Day 3: 5, 08-11
37. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 15, 36-01 -- 68 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03 -- Day 3: 5, 10-08
38. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 13, 36-00 -- 67 -- $5,500
Day 1: 4, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 14-09 -- Day 3: 4, 08-10
39. John Garrett -- Union City, TN -- 14, 35-14 -- 66 -- $5,500
Day 1: 4, 09-07 -- Day 2: 5, 16-04 -- Day 3: 5, 10-03
40. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 11, 35-12 -- 65 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 18-05 -- Day 2: 5, 15-07 -- Day 3: 1, 02-00
41. David Gaston -- Sylacauga, AL -- 15, 35-12 -- 64 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 13-15 -- Day 2: 5, 10-07 -- Day 3: 5, 11-06
42. Kyle Norsetter -- Cottage Grove, WI -- 14, 35-07 -- 63 -- $5,500
Day 1: 4, 07-01 -- Day 2: 5, 17-06 -- Day 3: 5, 11-00
43. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 15, 35-06 -- 62 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 13-09 -- Day 2: 5, 12-09 -- Day 3: 5, 09-04
44. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 15, 35-04 -- 61 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 12-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-07 -- Day 3: 5, 10-10
45. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 14, 34-13 -- 60 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-01 -- Day 3: 4, 08-04
46. JT Thompkins -- Myrtle Beach, SC -- 12, 33-06 -- 59 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 15-04 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14 -- Day 3: 2, 07-04
47. Jonathan Kelley -- Old Forge, PA -- 14, 33-04 -- 58 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 10-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00 -- Day 3: 4, 09-02
48. Blake Capps -- Muskogee, OK -- 13, 31-05 -- 57 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 09-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-09 -- Day 3: 3, 07-10
49. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 9, 30-12 -- 56 -- $5,500
Day 1: 3, 05-00 -- Day 2: 5, 23-14 -- Day 3: 1, 01-14
50. Chris Zaldain -- Boyd, TX -- 10, 23-11 -- 55 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 10-09 -- Day 2: 5, 13-02 -- Day 3: 0, 00-00
