Elite

Atkins and Robertson take on Pickwick

Posted on
Photography by
Andy Crawford
Photography by
Kyle Jessie
Justin Atkins began the 2022 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite Series at Pickwick Lake struggling in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race, and he climbed the leaderboard to make Championship Sunday with a three-day total of 53-4.
We caught up with Atkins upriver of Koger’s Island after a slow morning. He had one bass in the livewell for 2 pounds.
The Alabama pro, who is intimately familiar with Pickwick Lake, was fishing a stump-dotted ridge. He was making precision casts, using his electronics to identify targets.
Shortly after we pulled up, he sunk the hook.
The chunky bass was boat flipped over the gunwale.
And Atkins yelled and fist-pumped in celebration.
This 4-pounder was needed, and gave him confidence the right fish were on his stretch of the lake.
Atkins was fishing a 10-inch, black Berkley Power Worm around the bottom cover.
He would drag the lure over the structure, and let it drop.
Atkins had a milk run he was making, giving each spot a few minutes before pulling up the trolling motor to run to the next spot.
On one of Atkins’ spots way up the lake, he finally got another bite …
… and the angler flipped it into the boat.
It wasn’t a huge bass, but the 2-pounder was key to helping gain as many points as possible.
After leading Day 1 of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake, Matt Robertson struggled on Day 2. However, he backed that up with a 20 pound, 7 ounce bag on Day 3 to jump back inside the Top 10.
Robertson’s start to Championship Sunday was less than ideal, as he only had two keepers at 12:00. He was running and gunning, graphing over offshore structure in hopes of finding a giant school of bass.
Once we caught up with Robertson, he graphed three different spots before he made a cast.
The Kentucky pro settled into an area and began rotating through a variety of baits including a crankbait and a magnum spoon.
A few casts into throwing the magnum spoon, Robertson hooks up with a nice fish.
This was Robertson’s third keeper of the day.
Robertson eventually left the area, and continued up river.

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