After two events of the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series season, Brandon Cobb finds himself in 21st place in the standings sheet. He’s looking to continue his success and qualify for another Bassmaster Classic. Looking ahead, he’s excited at the upcoming events and thinks they will offer some diversity and excellent fishing.
Report on First Events
At both the St. Johns River, Fla. and the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn., Cobb was able to secure nice checks and finish inside the Top 50. He’s pleased with that but hopes to improve as the season moves along. His first venture on Pickwick in Florence, Ala., he finished first out of the money.
Looking ahead, Cobb already has a game-plan in place for the next seven Elite event destinations. He shared what he will have onboard from April to July through stops from Texas to New York and the fisheries along the way.
Sabine River, Texas - April 8~11
Cobb has never been part of the Elite Series stops on the Sabine River, so this is a mystery for him.
“I honestly have no idea about this one,” he says. “I’ve never been there, but it should be a lot of shallow water fishing. That time of year when the bass are up shallow, a Yo-Zuri popper or 3DB Pencil should be good. There should be some topwater fish caught at this one.”
Lake Fork, Texas - April 22~25
The last time the Elite Series visited Lake Fork, Cobb won the event and he thinks it will set up similar to his victory, even though this event is a little earlier in the calendar year.
“I think it will be pretty much the same because that year, Spring was a little later to arrive,” says Cobb. “There also could be a good shad spawn happening and that has me thinking the bigger 5” Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil will be a big player.”
Neely Henry Lake, Alabama - May 6~9
This stop on the schedule is another new one for Cobb, but he thinks topwater will again be essential for success
“I plan to use both sizes of the 3DB Pencil here,” says Cobb. “I like the smaller size for covering water and go with the bigger size when I am fishing slowly and know where the fish are already or when working it over cover. Both of them are super easy to walk, and that’s what makes them so great.”
Lake Guntersville, Alabama - May 20~23
“Transition” was the word Cobb used to describe this event as he believes it will be right between bass moving from spring to summer.
“They will be post-spawn, but maybe not fully on the ledge stuff,” he begins. “I’ll be fishing a topwater like a 3DB Pencil or Popper shallow and then cranking in deeper water.”
Bassmaster Classic - Lake Ray Roberts, Texas - June 11~13
After rescheduling the Bassmaster Classic, it is now a mid-season affair and Cobb is happy about the change in dates.
“I’m excited that it moved,” he says. “I’ve been there one time and like how it will set up for a June event. There should be a good offshore bite, but it won’t be like most offshore places that are full of community spots with everyone fishing for the same schools of fish. It will be smaller groups of fish on roadbeds, brush, and deep timber and there will be plenty of places to move around.”
For techniques, Cobb predicts deep crankbaits in the Yo-Zuri 3DB series as well as topwaters to come into play.
“The wildcard is if there is a shallow bluegill spawn bite,” says Cobb. “If that happens, it will be a 3DB Pencil ready to go.”
Lake Champlain, Vermont - July 8~11
Cobb has visited Champlain a few times and always has the same gameplan. Fish for smallmouth and then switch to largemouth when he is looking to upgrade his bag.
“I’ll throw topwater for smallmouth,” he says. “Then, I’ll probably go flip and pitch for largemouth.”
St. Lawrence River, New York - July 15~18
This famed venue is a favorite stop for many anglers, but not for Cobb.
“I’ve done horrible when I have been there,” he says. “I tend to run around too much and not milk those drifts over and over again when I find some better fish. It should be another one where the deep water fishing with a drop-shot is the way to go.”
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