John Cox's Pattern, Baits & Gear
New format? No prior experience on Sturgeon Bay? Not even any practice? Of course, John Cox was going to excel. Fresh off a 3rd-place finish in the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake St. Clair, Cox was still driving to Sturgeon Bay from Michigan while guys in Group A were launching for the first day of the Qualifying Round. So his "practice" started when Group B launched on Tuesday.
Fortunately, he'd done so well at St. Clair he decided to look for "something similar" to what he'd just fished there, where he basically bank-fished in the river. The shipping channel was the closest thing, so that's where he started, though it hardly started well as he went 2 hours in Period 1 without a scorable fish. "I was worried," said Cox. "I mean, I started on the lake side and there were hundreds of them down there, but I couldn't get them to bite for some reason. So I made a move and caught a 4-09, and then I just started hammering them. I was like, 'Oh, God!'" From that point on, Cox only left the shipping channel on his second qualifying day, when he sampled a few rivers just to see what was up there. Come the Knockout and Championship rounds, though, he dedicated himself to the shipping channel. He lost five key fish in the Knockout Round that made him sweat out making it to the final, and for a good portion of Period 2 on the last day he looked to be in contention for the win. He didn't catch a bass in Period 3, however, as the wind got too bad even in the channel.
Gear:
Dropshot gear: 7'2" medium-action Abu Garcia Fantasista Premier spinning rod, Abu Garcia Winch spinning reel, 6-pound Fireline Crystal braid to 6-pound Berkley Trilene 100% Fluoocarbon leader, No. 2 Berkley Fusion19 dropshot hook, Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm or Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Minnow (white, black, green-pumpkin or watermelon red).
Main factor in his success - "The combination of the Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm paired with the smooth drag of my Abu Garcia reel to handle those smallmouth. That, and the baddest boat and motor on the planet with my Crestliner and Mercury."
FLW TW Pro Circuit Championship Winning Pattern - BassFan 9/2//20 (Sean Ostruszka)
