Kicker Fish of Elite First Half

Kicker fish are critical to success on the Bassmaster Elite Series. To a man, the pros will tell you it’s about figuring out how to get the big ones to chew.

In most events, it’s getting five large for the 100 large, but other times one big bite can do wonders.

The biggest fish weighed so far in 2012 was Greg Hackney’s 10-pound, 9-ounce on the first day of the first event, the St. Johns River Showdown. Hackney stood second with 23-14, two ounces behind J Todd Tucker. 

If Hackney had not caught the lunker and weighed a fish similar to the average of...