Bradley Roy in the Lead Going into Final Day of the Dixie Duel: What pattern will it be?

By Drew Berry

Twenty year old Bradley Roy is leading the Dixie Duel after three days of fishing.  He was Rookie of the Year last year, and although in a sophomore slump, he is having a good tournament this week. 

     Roy, as well as a majority of the top twelve, are fishing the shell beds on the ledges here on this Tennessee River impoundment.  There have been three different lures these pros have been throwing.  Crankbaits have had more “water time” than the other two baits and is a go-to summertime technique. 

     The guys are also throwing big Texas rigged worms and Carolina rigs across these ledges.  Some of the guys told me they have even caught bass on worms as big as 16 inches!  The other interesting lures being thrown or “jigged” have been large spoons.  Both Bradley Roy and day 3’s leader, David Walker, have been seen pulling up a lot of bass (white and green ones) with these pieces of metal.

      Some of the other Elites are doing the exact opposite.  Greg Hackney and Ott DeFoe have been kicking mud up with the trolling motor all week.  They have been seen throwing frogs and other top waters and also flipping creature baits around the shallow cover.  My update a couple of days ago talked about the impressive mayfly hatch going on right now.  I know that many of the pros including Matt Herren, Terry Butcher, Greg Hackney and Ott DeFoe were reaping the benefits of these winged insects. 

    So what’s it going to be?  Will Wheeler’s ledges hold the winning stringer for Roy, KVD or Walker?  Or will “frogs and flies” rule the day?  Only time will tell.

See ya at the dock!