Day 3 with B. Hite

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Brett HIte had some ground to make up on tournament leader Britt Myers, and started the day in 3rd place.
Brett HIte had some ground to make up on tournament leader Britt Myers, and started the day in 3rd place.
We were waiting for him at his starting stop, along with a couple of bald eagles.
We were waiting for him at his starting stop, along with a couple of bald eagles.
We get our first sighting of HIte as he begins the long idle to his fishing location.
We get our first sighting of HIte as he begins the long idle to his fishing location.
He surveyed the water immediately and noticed the tide was lower than it had been the first two days.
He surveyed the water immediately and noticed the tide was lower than it had been the first two days.
And that was when his temporary troubles began...
And that was when his temporary troubles began…
...he was having a hard time getting into his area...
…he was having a hard time getting into his area…
...and had to sling a little mud to get it done.
…and had to sling a little mud to get it done.
The last hundred yards may have been the toughest of his more than one hunred mile run to get there.
The last hundred yards may have been the toughest of his more than one hunred mile run to get there.
But he made it across the high spot , lined up on his first waypoint...
But he made it across the high spot , lined up on his first waypoint…
...and fired his first cast.
…and fired his first cast.
And it didn't take long before he was hooked up with his first fish of the day.
And it didn’t take long before he was hooked up with his first fish of the day.
He had to measure the fish...
He had to measure the fish…
...but it went into the livewell.
…but it went into the livewell.
After a few more casts he...
After a few more casts he…
...he was leaning into another one.
…he was leaning into another one.
And you could tell this fish was a bit more substantial.
And you could tell this fish was a bit more substantial.
He prevents the fish from jumping by plunging his rod downward...
He prevents the fish from jumping by plunging his rod downward…
...and puts the kind of fish he's looking for into the boat.
…and puts the kind of fish he’s looking for into the boat.
He gives the folks at home watching on Bassmaster Live a good look at this best fish so far this morning.
He gives the folks at home watching on Bassmaster Live a good look at this best fish so far this morning.
Hite was settled into his area as the tide began to rise...
Hite was settled into his area as the tide began to rise…
..but his fish were still biting.
..but his fish were still biting.
Another solid keeper comes over the side of the boat.
Another solid keeper comes over the side of the boat.
He shows the camera how the fish choked his bait...
He shows the camera how the fish choked his bait…
...gave us one more good look at his fish...
…gave us one more good look at his fish…
...before placing it in the livewell.
…before placing it in the livewell.
He fired cast...
He fired cast…
..after cast...
..after cast…
...the only thing slowing him down was the occasional wrong species...
…the only thing slowing him down was the occasional wrong species…
...that forced him to sit down and re-tie.
…that forced him to sit down and re-tie.
Hite was putting another limit of fish...
Hite was putting another limit of fish…
...including this small keeper he would cull later.
…including this small keeper he would cull later.
HIte fished clean except for this one fish...
HIte fished clean except for this one fish…
...that came off at the side of the boat.
…that came off at the side of the boat.
But after a few more casts he had another fish hooked...
But after a few more casts he had another fish hooked…
...and into the boat.
…and into the boat.
It wasn't his biggest fish of the day...
It wasn’t his biggest fish of the day…
...but it still put a smile on his face.
…but it still put a smile on his face.
...with his largest bass of the day.
…with his largest bass of the day.
The following photos show HIte's battle with his heaviest fish today.
The following photos show HIte’s battle with his heaviest fish today.
Hite culls for the last time today.
Hite culls for the last time today.
With one last check of his fish in the livewell...
With one last check of his fish in the livewell…
...he gave us one last salute...
…he gave us one last salute…
...and began his long run back to the weigh-in.
…and began his long run back to the weigh-in.