Palmer powers into lead at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Santee Cooper Lakes

Luke Palmer of Coalgate, Okla., is leading after Day 3 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a three-day total of 70 pounds, 15 ounces.  

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

April 29, 2023

Palmer powers into lead at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Santee Cooper Lakes

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Building on the momentum he established through a Friday adjustment, Luke Palmer stepped on the gas to sack up a Semifinal Saturday limit of 26 pounds, 3 ounces. He took over the lead at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a three-day total of 70-15.

A fifth-year Elite from Coalgate, Okla., Palmer holds a lead of 3-8 over South Carolina’s Brandon Cobb (67-7) heading into Championship Sunday with a $100,000 first-place prize on the line.

“It has been a week; things have finally gone right,” said Palmer, who finished fourth at last year’s Elite at Santee Cooper. “I’ve never led one. It dang sure feels good, I’m not gonna lie about that.”

Palmer placed 10th during Thursday’s opening round with 21-3 and then moved into third with a Friday limit of 23-9.

Friday’s round saw Palmer abandon a bladed jig in favor of flipping a Texas-rigged YUM Wooly Bug with a 3/16- to 5/16-ounce weight. On Saturday, he did most of his work with that bait, along with a YUM Bad Mamma on the same rig.

“Even when you’re struggling, it’s one flip away here,” Palmer said. “I’ve gotten to put those Falcon Rods to work. I’ve gotten to do it my way and I’ve gotten to enjoy it.”

Fishing the southwest side of Lake Marion, Palmer was mainly looking for spawning bass around cypress trees skirted with eelgrass. Gaps between a tree and grass were the most consistent, but Day 2 showed him the need for specificity.

“You gotta find the sweet spot,” he said. “When you find that sweet spot, it’s over. My biggest one this morning, I spent 25 minutes on her. I finally figured out the spot and the angle and once I did, it took me five minutes to catch her.”

Palmer said Sunday’s game plan could find him running new water, with the idea that the fish he caught Saturday were spawners.

“The trees I’m fishing are kind of sporadic,” he said. “I caught one of my fish today off a tree I’ve never fished in my life, and I’ve fished here for four years. I think I need to move around more tomorrow and come across new pairs (of spawning fish). I didn’t move around enough today.”

After two days of mostly dimmer skies and breezy conditions, Day 3 brought a sunny, calm complexion that seemed to favor Palmer’s plan. Despite the ideal setup, Palmer said a slow period prompted him to throw a jerkbait and a drop shot with a YUM Finesse Worm.

“I caught three or four fish (on those baits), so that was crucial for me — one of them was a big one,” Palmer said. “I had a big one come up on the jerkbait and if I could have caught her, it would have been (a big help). Hopefully, that fish is there tomorrow.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s forecast for thunderstorms and strong winds, Palmer believes his positioning could protect him. Nevertheless, he’s prepared to make a key adjustment to overcome any weather interference.

“We’ll see how it’s going to pan out tomorrow with the wind that’s forecast,” Palmer said. “I might just throw a heavier weight so I can crack ‘em harder.”

Cobb remained in second place after adding 21-8 to his previous two bags that went 21-0 and 24-15.

Having earned Top 10 finishes in the previous three Elite Series events — including a third place at the season opener on Lake Okeechobee — and placing 20th at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota, Cobb is riding an unparalleled wave of momentum.

“This is my 10th year of professional fishing and I’ve never had a start like this,” he said. “Everything is going right and when you get on a streak, you have to keep riding it. I’m enjoying every minute.”

Cobb is committed to throwing a wacky-rigged green pumpkin Zoom Fluke Stick around cypress trees. Same as Day 2, he said he only got eight bites, but he’s obviously around the right quality.

“Every day, I think I’m out of fish and then I end up getting two or three big bites,” Cobb said. “I get to go again tomorrow, so hopefully there are at least five big bites to catch because it’s going to take a big bag to win.”

Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., who won last year’s event, is third with 62-13. He’s had daily weights of 21-13, 17-12 and 23-4. Anchoring his Day 3 bag with a 7-pounder, Cook has spent most of his time sight fishing — the same way he won in 2022.

When Bassmaster Emcee Dave Mercer asked Cook if he believed the general consensus that the Santee Cooper sight-fishing game was virtually done, Cook’s response was emphatic.

“It ain’t over until I say it’s over!” Cook quipped. “There are five left out there — I know, but they’re few and far between.

“I did a whole lot of trolling today and don’t have a whole lot to go to tomorrow. I was fortunate enough to find a 5- and a 7-pounder today. I love this place.”

Cook, the 2019 Bassmaster Rookie of the Year, caught his bass by flipping a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog and the Big Bite Baits Quarantine Craw that he designed.

Paul Mueller of Naugatuck, Conn., earned the $1,000 daily bonus for catching the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day with his 7-10. David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala., leads the race for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the week — an honor that pays $2,000 — with the 8-5 he caught on Day 1.

Matt Robertson of Kuttawa, Ky., had his toughest day of the week with only two bass that weighed 4-6, falling from first place to ninth. But he still leads the race for VMC Monster Bag of the Week with his 28-1 limit from Thursday’s opening round.

Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 389 points. Cook is in second with 369 points, followed by Tyler Rivet of Raceland, La., with 349,  Carl Jocumsen of Queensland, Australia, with 335 and Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., with 333.

Gaston leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 299 points.

The Top 10 remaining anglers will take off at 7 a.m. ET Sunday from John C. Land III Sport Fishing Facility. The weigh-in will be held at the facility at 3 p.m. FS1 will broadcast live with the tournament leaders from 8-11 a.m. Live coverage will transition to Bassmaster.com afterward.

2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 4/27-4/30Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County  SC.(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3

   Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK            15  70-15  104  Day 1: 5   21-03     Day 2: 5   23-09     Day 3: 5   26-03   2.  Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC           15  67-07  103   $1,000.00  Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   24-15     Day 3: 5   21-08   3.  Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               15  62-13  102  Day 1: 5   21-13     Day 2: 5   17-12     Day 3: 5   23-04   4.  Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY             14  59-02  101  Day 1: 5   21-14     Day 2: 4   09-07     Day 3: 5   27-13   5.  Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            14  57-14  100  Day 1: 4   21-14     Day 2: 5   14-05     Day 3: 5   21-11   6.  Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           14  57-01   99   $1,000.00  Day 1: 5   25-10     Day 2: 5   15-15     Day 3: 4   15-08   7.  Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA 15  55-10   98  Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   20-12     Day 3: 5   16-14   8.  Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA           12  54-09   97  Day 1: 5   26-15     Day 2: 3   09-10     Day 3: 4   18-00   9.  Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY             12  54-04   96  Day 1: 5   28-01     Day 2: 5   21-13     Day 3: 2   04-06   10. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              13  52-02   95  Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   22-03     Day 3: 3   12-01   11. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD               15  52-00   94  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   18-13     Day 3: 5   19-02   12. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL           14  51-11   93  $11,000.00  Day 1: 5   20-15     Day 2: 5   15-10     Day 3: 4   15-02   13. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC          14  51-01   92  $10,000.00  Day 1: 4   09-06     Day 2: 5   22-05     Day 3: 5   19-06   14. Darold Gleason         Many, LA                15  49-15   91  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   13-05     Day 3: 5   15-02   15. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              14  49-08   90  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   20-05     Day 3: 4   15-02   16. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX             13  48-13   89  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 3   15-10     Day 3: 5   14-06   17. Joshua Stracner        Vandiver, AL            15  48-12   88  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   19-00     Day 3: 5   09-05   18. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL           15  47-07   87  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   13-11     Day 3: 5   16-00   19. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           15  47-06   86  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   09-09     Day 2: 5   20-09     Day 3: 5   17-04   20. Masayuki Matsushita    Tokoname-Aichi  JAPAN   15  45-14   85  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   19-06     Day 2: 5   15-06     Day 3: 5   11-02   21. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY             13  45-06   84  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   18-10     Day 2: 5   12-04     Day 3: 3   14-08   22. Gary Clouse            Winchester, TN          14  45-05   83  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   17-11     Day 2: 4   14-07     Day 3: 5   13-03   23. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA 14  45-02   82  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 5   15-04     Day 3: 4   09-13   24. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR              14  45-02   81  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   15-08     Day 2: 4   15-03     Day 3: 5   14-07   25. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             15  45-01   80  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   18-02     Day 2: 5   09-12     Day 3: 5   17-03   26. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          15  45-01   79  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   17-00     Day 3: 5   10-05   27. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL         12  45-00   78  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   23-05     Day 3: 2   05-08   28. John Cox               DeBary, FL              15  45-00   77  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   10-15     Day 3: 5   14-09   29. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK           13  44-15   76  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   11-09     Day 2: 5   22-07     Day 3: 3   10-15   30. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL           14  44-15   75  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 5   17-10     Day 3: 4   11-12   31. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN 15  44-10   74  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   13-00     Day 2: 5   20-14     Day 3: 5   10-12   32. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC              15  44-09   73  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 5   17-01     Day 3: 5   15-03   33. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ           15  44-03   72  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   16-09     Day 3: 5   15-15   34. Michael Iaconelli      Pittsgrove, NJ          15  43-14   71  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   15-08     Day 2: 5   13-03     Day 3: 5   15-03   35. Jay Przekurat          Stevens Point, WI       15  43-08   70  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   14-00     Day 3: 5   13-03   36. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI               13  43-07   69  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   15-01     Day 2: 5   15-04     Day 3: 3   13-02   37. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA            15  43-02   68  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   11-08     Day 2: 5   16-07     Day 3: 5   15-03   38. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX          13  42-09   67  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   20-11     Day 2: 5   15-10     Day 3: 3   06-04   39. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL            15  42-07   66  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 5   11-02     Day 3: 5   12-04   40. Seth Feider            New Market, MN          14  42-07   65  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 4   14-06     Day 3: 5   13-10   41. Kyle Welcher           Opelika, AL             13  42-03   64  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   23-00     Day 2: 4   12-09     Day 3: 4   06-10   42. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, Ontario CANADA  14  41-11   63  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   14-15     Day 2: 5   15-15     Day 3: 4   10-13   43. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI           12  40-06   62  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 4   14-11     Day 3: 3   07-11   44. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX              12  39-08   61  $10,000.00  Day 1: 4   12-04     Day 2: 5   19-11     Day 3: 3   07-09   45. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland AUSTRALIA    12  38-06   60  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   15-04     Day 3: 2   03-08   46. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC             13  36-07   59  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 5   17-03     Day 3: 3   04-09   47. Cole Sands             Calhoun, TN             13  35-07   58  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   11-03     Day 3: 3   06-07   48. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI        8  35-00   57  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   24-13     Day 2: 2   07-07     Day 3: 1   02-12   49. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA              12  33-08   56  $10,000.00  Day 1: 5   12-02     Day 2: 5   16-09     Day 3: 2   04-13   50. Taku Ito               Chiba JAPAN             9  32-12   55  $10,000.00  Day 1: 4   18-01     Day 2: 5   14-11     Day 3: 0   00-00   ———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS Day 1   David Gaston             Sylacauga, AL       08-05      $1,000.00 2   Brandon Cobb             Greenwood, SC       07-11      $1,000.00 3   Paul Mueller             Naugatuck, CT       07-10      $1,000.00

———————————————————————–TotalsDay   #Limits    #Fish      Weight 1        72       450      1465-12 2        54       413      1295-04 3        27       203       646-13———————————-         153      1066      3407-13

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