Day 3 with Jones, Scanlon

Go on the water with Elite Series pros Alton Jones and Casey Scanlon on Day 3 of the Plano Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair!

Day 3 of the Plano Bassmaster Elite on Lake St. Clair started out looking a lot like Day 2 for Casey Scanlon and Alton Jones. Both had secured top-five positions by fishing near Lake Huron.
Day 3 of the Plano Bassmaster Elite on Lake St. Clair started out looking a lot like Day 2 for Casey Scanlon and Alton Jones. Both had secured top-five positions by fishing near Lake Huron.
And like the day before, Alton Jones quickly hooks up.
And like the day before, Alton Jones quickly hooks up.
And the look on his face told us it wasn’t what he was hoping for.
And the look on his face told us it wasn’t what he was hoping for.
It turned out to be a walleye.
It turned out to be a walleye.
Ironically, the only boats in the area where those that were fishing in a walleye tournament.
Ironically, the only boats in the area where those that were fishing in a walleye tournament.
Not sure if this one would have helped any of those teams, but it went back in Lake Huron.
Not sure if this one would have helped any of those teams, but it went back in Lake Huron.
Scanlon watches the catch as he follows the same drift from the day earlier.
Scanlon watches the catch as he follows the same drift from the day earlier.
Like the day before, the two would run to the head of the shipping channel coming out of Lake Huron and into the St. Clair River then let the current drift them back.
Like the day before, the two would run to the head of the shipping channel coming out of Lake Huron and into the St. Clair River then let the current drift them back.
Once they completed the drift, they would quickly run about a ¼ of a mile and do it all over.
Once they completed the drift, they would quickly run about a ¼ of a mile and do it all over.
Jones would hook up again on one of his early passes.
Jones would hook up again on one of his early passes.
This one would be the right species.
This one would be the right species.
But not big enough to measure the minimum 14 inches.
But not big enough to measure the minimum 14 inches.
This would be the smallest smallmouth the area had produced in three days.
This would be the smallest smallmouth the area had produced in three days.
And the area wasn’t producing many bites at all.
And the area wasn’t producing many bites at all.
While the two had spent their Day 2 on a specific drift, they spent more time hitting other places.
While the two had spent their Day 2 on a specific drift, they spent more time hitting other places.
Hoping to find where the bigger smallmouth were hiding. But the bite was lackadaisical at best.
Hoping to find where the bigger smallmouth were hiding. But the bite was lackadaisical at best.
Even the spectators were a bit lackadaisical.
Even the spectators were a bit lackadaisical.
Scanlon would move up to the bank and we would see out first cast in two days, instead of just dropping the bait and drifting.
Scanlon would move up to the bank and we would see out first cast in two days, instead of just dropping the bait and drifting.
Out in the lake, John Murray would be dwarfed by a passing ship.
Out in the lake, John Murray would be dwarfed by a passing ship.
And further out in the lake Jones would move to a lighthouse.
And further out in the lake Jones would move to a lighthouse.
He even adopted the sight-fisherman’s salute. The water was clear enough to see more than 20 feet deep.
He even adopted the sight-fisherman’s salute. The water was clear enough to see more than 20 feet deep.
With no bites, he would head further out into the lake.
With no bites, he would head further out into the lake.
Closer to land and with the Blue Water Bridge behind him, Scanlon would be testing new waters.
Closer to land and with the Blue Water Bridge behind him, Scanlon would be testing new waters.
For a while, he had double coverage during the Bassmaster Live show.
For a while, he had double coverage during the Bassmaster Live show.
He fished around buoys.
He fished around buoys.
And close to passing ships.
And close to passing ships.
But like Jones he struggled during the first hours of the day.
But like Jones he struggled during the first hours of the day.
Nearby John Murray would be celebrating his birthday, while boating three keepers in the area, hoping to gain enough points to make it into the Classic ranks.
Nearby John Murray would be celebrating his birthday, while boating three keepers in the area, hoping to gain enough points to make it into the Classic ranks.
Jones would come back from the lake and start working river banks in the St. Clair River.
Jones would come back from the lake and start working river banks in the St. Clair River.
He caught a 4-pounder doing that and hoped there would be more.
He caught a 4-pounder doing that and hoped there would be more.
Brandon Palaniuk would abandon the river and head back to Lake St. Clair.
Brandon Palaniuk would abandon the river and head back to Lake St. Clair.
Jones, though, would stick to the river.
Jones, though, would stick to the river.
Looking for new places that might hold a fish.
Looking for new places that might hold a fish.
He would get bit, but it too would be too small.
He would get bit, but it too would be too small.
He would even manage to get hung in the only tree on the river.
He would even manage to get hung in the only tree on the river.
But he would keep working and looking.
But he would keep working and looking.
But mid-afternoon, he had still not found the type fish he needed.
But mid-afternoon, he had still not found the type fish he needed.