Americana Outdoors E-Magazine - January 2017

Whilehewasstartingthedaywithasolidlead, theLeevilewaterwayisthekindoffisherythatcanreadilyproduce aBulRedthatcouldhavepotentialyrubbedoutanykindofleadacrosthetop10. Weatherconditionsondaythreewereagreatimprovementoverthefirsttwodaysofcompetitionwithareturntothe kindofconditionsexperiencedduringthePreFishSesions. Clearskies, temperaturesaround60ºF(16ºC) andlight- erwindsof10mphfromthenorthmadeforconsiderablyeasierstarttotheday. However,thecoldfrontthathadpasedthroughduringtheprevioustwodayshaddroppedthewatertemperature considerablymeaningthattheanglerswouldstilbefacedwithchalengingconditionstryingtoatractthebiteof thetargetspeciesthathadseemedtochangefeedingpaterns. Lesardwentintothefinal dayofcompetitionwiththepresureofhavingatargetonhisbackaswelastheaddi- tional presureofbeingalocal, Louisiana, kayakfisherman. Intheendthoughitwaslocal knowledgethatplayeda handinhisresult. “Yesterday, Ijusthungonfordearlifebuttoday, withthisweathercomingthroughitwas‘PlanC’. IknewtodayIjust hadtogettwofish. I felbacktoawinterpatern, I foundalitleisolatedareawithstilwaterthatwasdeepandcold. Imanagedtopulasurprisinglygoodtroutearly.IwasthenabletomovearoundtosomepylonstopulaRedFish thatwasakeeperandatthatpointthepresurewasofandI couldrelaxandgoRedfishing. I ranintoRonaldTras andhelpedhimtakeaphotoofhisfishandhewasmyluckycharm, Ithenwentaroundanothercornerandcaught anotherRedfishandInewIhadagoodscore.” Somerton,the2013WorldChampionandcurentHobieBreamSeriesAustralianChampionsetoutwithaplanof atackandaverycleargoal.IknewIhadmyworkcutoutformewith10 ” tocatchup. “Iwentoutwith,theBirthdayBoy,MitchKingandAaronWiliamsandwedecidedtochasetroutfirstupbutdueto thecoldtheywereshutdownsowewentlookingforRedfishbackatsomespotswehadworkedpreviously. Ipicked upa27”RedfishandthenIlefttheguystogoinsearchoftrout.Iranintoabunchofguyslaterandtheywereal catchingtrout,Chrislandedone,Modspuledone,somanypeopleweregetingtroutaroundmeandIwasgeting nothing…IntheendtheclockwasrunningdownandI saidtoModsthatthiswasmylastdriftandasIkesays‘Never GiveUp’ onmylastcast, puledmytrout, measureditandtookofhomewithafewminutestospare.