Day 2 with Tharp

Randall Tharp fishes Lake Havasu on Day 2.

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Randall Tharp started Day 2 of the Elite Series event on Lake Havasu in 4th place.
Randall Tharp started Day 2 of the Elite Series event on Lake Havasu in 4th place.
He spent most of his day up the Colorado River.
He spent most of his day up the Colorado River.
And it didn't take long before he was catching the keepers on Day 2.
And it didn’t take long before he was catching the keepers on Day 2.
This one came within the first 30 minutes of fishing.
This one came within the first 30 minutes of fishing.
And in virtually the same spot he had finished his limit the day before.
And in virtually the same spot he had finished his limit the day before.
A quick pose for the camera and it went into the livewell.
A quick pose for the camera and it went into the livewell.
The commotion caused a coyote to come out of its den to see what was going on.
The commotion caused a coyote to come out of its den to see what was going on.
After a few minutes the coyote took up a spot on the high ground and watched as Tharp fished the area.
After a few minutes the coyote took up a spot on the high ground and watched as Tharp fished the area.
As Tharp would fish down the bank, the coyote would follow.
As Tharp would fish down the bank, the coyote would follow.
And stop and watch from a vantage point.
And stop and watch from a vantage point.
Tharp never paid the animal a second thought.
Tharp never paid the animal a second thought.
He went to work flipping and pitching to cover.
He went to work flipping and pitching to cover.
Most of the day he worked thick cover.
Most of the day he worked thick cover.
Pitching his lure to every nook and cranny.
Pitching his lure to every nook and cranny.
And covering water.
And covering water.
He quickly added a second keeper to the his bag.
He quickly added a second keeper to the his bag.
Having to fight the fish from the cover.
Having to fight the fish from the cover.
Before bringing it aboard.
Before bringing it aboard.
But it lacked the size of the fish he had caught the day before.
But it lacked the size of the fish he had caught the day before.
A quick re-tie.
A quick re-tie.
And he was back in business.
And he was back in business.
Again with a keeper, but on the small side.
Again with a keeper, but on the small side.
The thick cover forced him to clean his trolling motor at times.
The thick cover forced him to clean his trolling motor at times.
And then he would be back at work.
And then he would be back at work.
Every once in a while catching a short fish.
Every once in a while catching a short fish.
He stayed on the move.
He stayed on the move.
Working into the tules of the river.
Working into the tules of the river.
And coming out with a trolling motor filled with dead reeds.
And coming out with a trolling motor filled with dead reeds.
Big bream occasionally showed themselves.
Big bream occasionally showed themselves.
And he shared the water with blue herons.
And he shared the water with blue herons.
At times he would cast, instead of pitch or flip.
At times he would cast, instead of pitch or flip.
And his cameraman, Ben Oliver, would have to use two hands to stay with him.
And his cameraman, Ben Oliver, would have to use two hands to stay with him.
He hit every nook and cranny he could get to.
He hit every nook and cranny he could get to.
Many of them under the wind-pocked hills canyons,
Many of them under the wind-pocked hills canyons,
That provided an interesting backdrop for a day of fishing.
That provided an interesting backdrop for a day of fishing.
By mid-day, though, he still only had four fish. He would pick up a few more hefty bites dropping from 4th place to 10th place.
By mid-day, though, he still only had four fish. He would pick up a few more hefty bites dropping from 4th place to 10th place.