Day 3 with Stephens

Take a ride with Whitney Stephens and Mike England as they battle for a chance at respective wins on both the pro and co-angler side of the final Northern Open on Lake Erie.

Take a ride with Whitney Stephens and Mike England as they battle for a chance at respective wins on both the pro and co-angler side of the final Northern Open on Lake Erie.
Stephens started the day 1-14 behind Day 2 leader Derek Remitz while co-angler Mike England started the day 2-11 behind Mark Shopene.
Take a ride with Whitney Stephens and Mike England as they battle for a chance at respective wins on both the pro and co-angler side of the final Northern Open on Lake Erie.
Stephens started the day 1-14 behind Day 2 leader Derek Remitz while co-angler Mike England started the day 2-11 behind Mark Shopene.

As soon as we found the two anglers, co-angler Mike England was hooked up and ready to boat his fish.
As soon as we found the two anglers, co-angler Mike England was hooked up and ready to boat his fish.
A solid keeper for England.
A solid keeper for England.
Before England could put it in the livewell, Stephens was hooked up.
Before England could put it in the livewell, Stephens was hooked up.
This one tested Stephens and jumped near the boat.
This one tested Stephens and jumped near the boat.
An acrobatic smallmouth.
An acrobatic smallmouth.
It pulled and fought everywhere…
It pulled and fought everywhere…
Taking Whitney Stephens from one side of the trolling motor, to the other, and back again.
Taking Whitney Stephens from one side of the trolling motor, to the other, and back again.
Then it made a jump at the boat…
Then it made a jump at the boat…
Before he reached his line…
Before he reached his line…
And eventually grabbed the smallmouth.
And eventually grabbed the smallmouth.
Bringing it aboard safely.
Bringing it aboard safely.
But it still wouldn’t give up.
But it still wouldn’t give up.
A good keeper in the boat…
A good keeper in the boat…
And he is back to fishing.
And he is back to fishing.
England hooks up…
England hooks up…
And then Stephens does. Once one of them hooked up, the other normally would follow.
And then Stephens does. Once one of them hooked up, the other normally would follow.
Bam! Giant for Mike England.
Bam! Giant for Mike England.
Whitney stays in fight mode…
Whitney stays in fight mode…
As it makes a run down the boat.
As it makes a run down the boat.
And jumps…
And jumps…
And thrashes…
And thrashes…
But Whitney stays calm during the fight and reaches into the Lake Erie water.
But Whitney stays calm during the fight and reaches into the Lake Erie water.
He grabs the smallmouth….
He grabs the smallmouth….
And scoops it into the boat.
And scoops it into the boat.
That’s a good one and Stephens knows it.
That’s a good one and Stephens knows it.
He shows it off before he heads to cull.
He shows it off before he heads to cull.
Then he hooks up moments after.
Then he hooks up moments after.
There weren’t many empty casts for Stephens during this 45-minute flurry.
There weren’t many empty casts for Stephens during this 45-minute flurry.
This one is a fighter, too.
This one is a fighter, too.
But he manages to keep it on…
But he manages to keep it on…
And then he corrals it in the boat. Stephens said he didn’t lose a single fish this week once he sat in the driver seat. Every fish he touched…he boated.
And then he corrals it in the boat. Stephens said he didn’t lose a single fish this week once he sat in the driver seat. Every fish he touched…he boated.
It looks as if Stephens was talking to this smallmouth, and if he was the conversation probably went like “I got you, I got you smallie.”
It looks as if Stephens was talking to this smallmouth, and if he was the conversation probably went like “I got you, I got you smallie.”
England hooks up and hopes to add to his three-fish co-angler limit.
England hooks up and hopes to add to his three-fish co-angler limit.
Scoop…
Scoop…
And Score!
And Score!
Thirty seconds later Stephens was hooked up.
Thirty seconds later Stephens was hooked up.
He tried to keep this one from jumping…
He tried to keep this one from jumping…
But it’s hard to make these smallmouth do what you want.
But it’s hard to make these smallmouth do what you want.
Then it makes a dig for deeper water…
Then it makes a dig for deeper water…
But Stephens grabs it and lands it just before it tried to get away.
But Stephens grabs it and lands it just before it tried to get away.
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Check this one out Mike!
Check this one out Mike!
It’s a good one, but it won’t help Stephens bag right now.
It’s a good one, but it won’t help Stephens bag right now.
Hooked up!
Hooked up!
This one looks like it’ll help.
This one looks like it’ll help.
If at first you don’t succeed…
If at first you don’t succeed…
Try, try again.
Try, try again.
Success! Stephens gets it in the boat.
Success! Stephens gets it in the boat.
That’ll cull!
That’ll cull!
Stephens couldn’t get the five pounder that he thought he needed today, but every ounce counted for him on this final day.
Stephens couldn’t get the five pounder that he thought he needed today, but every ounce counted for him on this final day.
Stephens flips out his dropshot…
Stephens flips out his dropshot…
And, of course, hooks up.
And, of course, hooks up.
He patiently coaxes this smallmouth to the boat.
He patiently coaxes this smallmouth to the boat.
But it has other plans to fight.
But it has other plans to fight.
This is the scariest part of fighting a smallmouth on light line.
This is the scariest part of fighting a smallmouth on light line.
But Whitney Stephens corrals it.
But Whitney Stephens corrals it.
Then he gets back to setting the hook.
Then he gets back to setting the hook.
Stephens keeps this one down…but it pulls free.
Stephens keeps this one down…but it pulls free.
So he sits down and re-ties.
So he sits down and re-ties.
Then he drives back up to his spot.
Then he drives back up to his spot.
And checks his electronics.
And checks his electronics.
Then Steve Clapper stopped by to see how he was doing.
Then Steve Clapper stopped by to see how he was doing.
Clapper is a Lake Erie legend and he gave Stephens some baits because he was running low after his morning frenzy.
Clapper is a Lake Erie legend and he gave Stephens some baits because he was running low after his morning frenzy.
So Stephens invites Clapper to fish the spot with him.
So Stephens invites Clapper to fish the spot with him.
They fish around each other for a couple minutes…
They fish around each other for a couple minutes…
And then England hooks up.
And then England hooks up.
He lays down to get a better angle.
He lays down to get a better angle.
Then he brings the fish aboard.
Then he brings the fish aboard.
Clapper fishes along. He had a tough final day and only caught one keeper, which was a shock to many. Clapper said “If it’s your day then it will happen. Today wasn’t my day.”
Clapper fishes along. He had a tough final day and only caught one keeper, which was a shock to many. Clapper said “If it’s your day then it will happen. Today wasn’t my day.”
Stephens battles waves so he can stay on his waypoint.
Stephens battles waves so he can stay on his waypoint.
And hooks up as he battles the conditons.
And hooks up as he battles the conditons.
This one wasn’t hardly the fight as the others and it probably won’t help his bag…
This one wasn’t hardly the fight as the others and it probably won’t help his bag…
So he swings it aboard.
So he swings it aboard.
Stephens is back to fighting the waves…
Stephens is back to fighting the waves…
And back to catching fish.
And back to catching fish.
He swings a small one aboard…
He swings a small one aboard…
But after two small fish in a row, it’s time to change areas.
But after two small fish in a row, it’s time to change areas.
Lake Erie offers plenty of water to fish…
Lake Erie offers plenty of water to fish…
But Stephens certainly has it dialed in, and his co-angler Mike England shows it by hooking up again.
But Stephens certainly has it dialed in, and his co-angler Mike England shows it by hooking up again.
He keeps his rod in the water to keep it from jumping…
He keeps his rod in the water to keep it from jumping…
But that isn’t happening today as this smallmouth takes flight.
But that isn’t happening today as this smallmouth takes flight.
Come here!
Come here!
Got it!
Got it!
Whitney Stephens hooks up again.
Whitney Stephens hooks up again.
He was targeting deeper water than most anglers we saw this week.
He was targeting deeper water than most anglers we saw this week.
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Whitney almost has this one in his hand…
Whitney almost has this one in his hand…
And after one more jump…
And after one more jump…
Stephens boats the keeper. That should cull.
Stephens boats the keeper. That should cull.
Time to show it off before making a move.
Time to show it off before making a move.
Stephens noticed that the shift in wind direction would position these fish differently on each spot.
Stephens noticed that the shift in wind direction would position these fish differently on each spot.
So he would scan with his electronics on spots he hadn’t fished today.
So he would scan with his electronics on spots he hadn’t fished today.
Then he would pinpoint the fish…and attack.
Then he would pinpoint the fish…and attack.
Stephens successfully keeps this fish from jumping…
Stephens successfully keeps this fish from jumping…
And then reaches deep in the water.
And then reaches deep in the water.
He guides the smallmouth close to him…
He guides the smallmouth close to him…
Then he scoops and scores!
Then he scoops and scores!
That is a better than average one.
That is a better than average one.
But it didn’t cull for him. He definitely has a good bag today.
But it didn’t cull for him. He definitely has a good bag today.
So he moves…
So he moves…
And with every location change, the waves got bigger and bigger.
And with every location change, the waves got bigger and bigger.
England hooks up in the rough waves…
England hooks up in the rough waves…
And it’s another good fish.
And it’s another good fish.
He is working his way to a very good co-angler limit.
He is working his way to a very good co-angler limit.
While Stephens battles the waves…
While Stephens battles the waves…
Almost taking some over the bow.
Almost taking some over the bow.
And then he goes high enough to show the trolling motor blades.
And then he goes high enough to show the trolling motor blades.
But that doesn’t stop him from hooking up again.
But that doesn’t stop him from hooking up again.
He keeps his trolling motor on high to keep him on his spot.
He keeps his trolling motor on high to keep him on his spot.
...
It was just a small one.
It was just a small one.
Then Stephens notices a surge in his electronics and so he checks his batteries. A quick jump and he is back under power and ready to go.
Then Stephens notices a surge in his electronics and so he checks his batteries. A quick jump and he is back under power and ready to go.
Hooked up!
Hooked up!
The waves build near the boat as he tries to land this fish.
The waves build near the boat as he tries to land this fish.
This one shows it’s face.
This one shows it’s face.
And Stephens grabs him.
And Stephens grabs him.
He hooks up again and I tell my boat driver Don that we have to go after this fish catch if we want to make it back in time.
He hooks up again and I tell my boat driver Don that we have to go after this fish catch if we want to make it back in time.
Stephens makes quick work of the fish.
Stephens makes quick work of the fish.
Then he hauls it in.
Then he hauls it in.
That’s a great way to send off your cameraman. Stephens eventually brought 20 pounds, 5 ounces to the Bass Pro Shops in Rossford, Ohio and claimed the Northern Open title on Lake Erie by nine ounces. Stephens punched his ticket to the Bassmaster Classic after holding off 150 of the best northern boaters.
That’s a great way to send off your cameraman. Stephens eventually brought 20 pounds, 5 ounces to the Bass Pro Shops in Rossford, Ohio and claimed the Northern Open title on Lake Erie by nine ounces. Stephens punched his ticket to the Bassmaster Classic after holding off 150 of the best northern boaters.