Follow the leader

Spend a day on the water with Day 2 leader Clifford Pirch.

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As Day 3 begins, Cliff Pirch stops right next to takeoff. Jeff Kriet also has this location as his first stop.
As Day 3 begins, Cliff Pirch stops right next to takeoff. Jeff Kriet also has this location as his first stop.
David Walker's spot is further up the river.
David Walker’s spot is further up the river.
No success, so Pirch makes a move.
No success, so Pirch makes a move.
Puts down the trolling motor...
Puts down the trolling motor…
...and gets to work.
…and gets to work.
An early bite.
An early bite.
Wait a minute...
Wait a minute…
...that's the wrong type of bass.
…that’s the wrong type of bass.
Soon he's sharing water with Dean Rojas, who lives here in Lake Havasu City.
Soon he’s sharing water with Dean Rojas, who lives here in Lake Havasu City.
Cliff Pirch spends a lot of time reading his electronics...
Cliff Pirch spends a lot of time reading his electronics…
...reacting to what he sees...
…reacting to what he sees…
...and reading them again.
…and reading them again.
He thought he had one here.
He thought he had one here.
Still don't know what to call these things other than evil-looking ducks.
Still don’t know what to call these things other than evil-looking ducks.
Pirch isn't admiring the wildlife, he's catching it.
Pirch isn’t admiring the wildlife, he’s catching it.
This catch required a..
This catch required a..
...plenty...
…plenty…
...of...
…of…
patience.
patience.
Just like the wildlife, the forms of entertainment here are different. Maybe we can get Dave Mercer up in one of these tomorrow.
Just like the wildlife, the forms of entertainment here are different. Maybe we can get Dave Mercer up in one of these tomorrow.
No distraction to Cliff, though. He's from Arizona and has seen it all here.
No distraction to Cliff, though. He’s from Arizona and has seen it all here.
He just needs to find his fish.
He just needs to find his fish.
Doesn't take long.
Doesn’t take long.
He likes this one.
He likes this one.
It is definitely going for a ride.
It is definitely going for a ride.
Let's find some more.
Let’s find some more.
Viewers on Bassmaster LIVE saw this one up close...
Viewers on Bassmaster LIVE saw this one up close…
...and personal.
…and personal.
He eyes it, and likes it.
He eyes it, and likes it.
Not far away, Aaron Martens has hired a security guard. Actually, he's fishing close to where the B.A.S.S. fans will be parking for the weigh-in.
Not far away, Aaron Martens has hired a security guard. Actually, he’s fishing close to where the B.A.S.S. fans will be parking for the weigh-in.
Saturday did bring something else to Lake Havasu...
Saturday did bring something else to Lake Havasu…
...recreational boaters.
…recreational boaters.
Lots of them.
Lots of them.
Some with very little concept of how close one should get to someone who's trying to win $100,000.
Some with very little concept of how close one should get to someone who’s trying to win $100,000.
Pirch is used to this, too.
Pirch is used to this, too.
He said that the boat traffic fires them up.
He said that the boat traffic fires them up.
Maybe so.
Maybe so.
Hard to argue with him.
Hard to argue with him.
Pirch found enough fish...
Pirch found enough fish…
..that he could start to be picky.
..that he could start to be picky.
Like this one...
Like this one…
...goes back in.
…goes back in.