The final day of practice for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech at Douglas Lake has been a damp affair, with Ryan Lachniet, tied by points for second in the 7 Brew Angler of the Year standings, taking us along for the ride. The young Virginia pro is off to a great start to the season, with three Top 25 finishes and a Top 10 in the opener at the Harris Chain. But in the hills of East Tennessee, Lachniet is out of his comfort zone, and his doubts are evident. Despite this, he's more than capable of a good finish.
Lachniet's strategy is to fish the upper end of the lake, looking for a shallow bite that suits his strengths. As soon as he launches his boat, he realizes the need for rain gear, and the misty, light rain becomes a constant companion throughout the morning. He starts on a steep rock bank, tentatively searching for a shad spawn, but the lake hasn't given him many signs.
Moving up the river, Lachniet encounters a dock, where he catches a 2.47-pound fish, a good start to the day. He continues down the bank, probing around docks, shallow wood, and vegetation, using a ChatterBait and a popper. He spots a fish inches from the boat, but it's not a big catch. Lachniet is on the phone with fellow anglers Drew Gill and Connor Jacob, a modern innovation in bass fishing, and they're having a good time, joking and discussing fishing strategies.
Lachniet then zips up to a bridge, where he catches a few bass on a jerkbait. However, Gill is against this strategy, preferring the fish to be caught on tournament day. Despite this, Lachniet is confident in his abilities and is making the Top 10 nearly a third of the time with MLF, a remarkable achievement.
As the weather clears, Lachniet heads back down the lake, seeking out pockets and irregularities. He's seeing some fish, but deliberately not hooking them. He's a tournament junkie, having fished three events with MLF this year, and he's confident in his shallow-water strategy, despite his doubts about catching good ones.
Lachniet's boat is well-stocked with fishing gear, and he's ready for the final hours of practice. He's confident in his abilities and is determined to have a good finish, despite his doubts. The competition is fierce, and he knows that schools offshore might be the key to success. But he's not one for schools, and he's not thrilled with practice.
As the day comes to a close, Lachniet is ready to buckle down for the last hours. He's confident in his strategy and is determined to have a good finish. The competition is fierce, but he's ready to take on the challenge and make a name for himself in the world of bass fishing.
