Kurt Mitchell's Pattern, Baits & Gear

Pros and fans alike expected Sturgeon Bay to show out with multiple single-day totals in the triple digits. Turns out there was only one, and it came from Kurt Mitchell on the first day of the tournament. Hanging in the shipping channel, the Delaware pro caught more fish and weight in Period 1 of the Group A Qualifying Round alone than almost any other angler did all day the rest of the event (the lone exception being Shuffield's Knockout Round weight of 86-13). "It was just one of those days that don't ever happen, but it did," said Mitchell.

Unfortunately, the pressure in the channel never really allowed him to have a day close to it the rest of the week, especially the final day, when numerous local anglers were out practicing for an upcoming tournament. While in the channel, Mitchell said he was focusing on "obvious current seams" around three bridges and a bulkhead, with the bulkhead having a unique feature. "The one bulkhead I fished had 20 ladders and they were all orange," he said. "When it was calm, that's the only time I could get bit on those ladders, and I think it had to do with the baitfish being attracted to that bright color."

Gear:

Dropshot gear: 6'10" medium-action Impulse Energy spinning rod, Daiwa Luvius spinning reel, 15-pound braid to an 8-pound fluorocarbon leader, No. 1 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens TGW dropshot hook, 1/2- or 3/4-ounce weight, Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm (white, natural shad or green-pumpkin).

Main factor in his success - "To be able to fish my places. By the final day, I had five local anglers on each of my spots. There's not much I could do then."

FLW TW Pro Circuit Championship Winning Pattern - BassFan 9/2//20 (Sean Ostruszka)