This is where Steve Kennedy is fishing right now. It's almost like stream fishing with so much current. The water seems to have come down a lot from yesterday.
John Murray upgrades with another keeper, estimated at just under 3 pounds. Photo by Jimmy Rogers
Edwin Evers just caught his sixth fish of the day, but it wasn't big enough for him to be able to cull. He's working a very steep red dirt bluff -- another of Randy Howell's hot spots the past few days. This is the time of day yesterday when the bite shut off in the Bouldin Dam Canal. With 13 pounds or so in the boat, Evers will have to continue to plug away into the 1 pound, 3 ounce lead Brent Chapman had on him heading into the final day of fishing in the Alabama River Charge presented by Star brite.
David Walker got stuck on a rock. He had to work hard to get off, but he finally got loose and is now back to fishing. Steve Kennedy is going up toward the dam now. There are really strong currents here.
This is about as star-studded a group of Bassmaster Elite Series finalists as I can remember. Each of the 12 has won at least one B.A.S.S. event, 10 of them have won an Elite Series tournament (all but John Murray and Randy Howell), there are three former Bassmaster Classic champions (Alton Jones, Skeet Reese and Paul Elias) and as many former Anglers of the Year (Brent Chapman, Reese and Aaron Martens) in the field.
Steve Kennedy just made a move up toward the dam, where media boats don't want to go because of big rocks. I can now see Brent Chapman and David Walker in the distance.
Brent Chapman continues to put on a show. The latest episode had some added drama. Chapman hooked a good fish that doubled his rod. Just as he lifted it in the boat, the spinnerbait fell out of its mouth. The bass barely cleared the gunnel, but landed safely in the boat seat well. "These fish will compare to peacock bass," Chapman said. "That one weighed 3 1/2 pounds. I thought he was bigger than that, the way he bit."
Paul Elias has four in the boat. He's looking for No. 5. Photo by Jimmy Murphy