Day 4 with Lucas

Day 4 on the water with Justin Lucas

Posted on
Justin Lucas started Day 4 with a 3-pound lead over Aaron Martens. To make sure he had a good start he began his day in Collinsville Marina at the edge of the freshwater and brackish water of the Delta.
Justin Lucas started Day 4 with a 3-pound lead over Aaron Martens. To make sure he had a good start he began his day in Collinsville Marina at the edge of the freshwater and brackish water of the Delta.
Lucas spent his morning flipping a line of pilings. And by the time photographers reached him he already had four keepers in the boat.
Lucas spent his morning flipping a line of pilings. And by the time photographers reached him he already had four keepers in the boat.
His fast start gave him time to really work the cover.
His fast start gave him time to really work the cover.
And it paid off with several bites.
And it paid off with several bites.
Including this one.
Including this one.
It would work Lucas a little before getting close to the boat.
It would work Lucas a little before getting close to the boat.
But it would eventually be brought over the gunwale.
But it would eventually be brought over the gunwale.
And fill out the young angler's limit.
And fill out the young angler’s limit.
The fish would give him more than 14 pounds on the day.
The fish would give him more than 14 pounds on the day.
At that moment, Lucas had the event won.
At that moment, Lucas had the event won.
But there was no way of knowing that. The Delta had served up plenty of fish to admire all week.
But there was no way of knowing that. The Delta had served up plenty of fish to admire all week.
Lucas would continue working hard trying to build a heavier stringer.
Lucas would continue working hard trying to build a heavier stringer.
That work would pay off with another hefty keeper.
That work would pay off with another hefty keeper.
One that struggled on the surface.
One that struggled on the surface.
But would allow Lucas to cull.
But would allow Lucas to cull.
The nice-sized keeper would provide valuable ounces.
The nice-sized keeper would provide valuable ounces.
Allowing Lucas a little bit of breather.
Allowing Lucas a little bit of breather.
Especially after he gave it a good look.
Especially after he gave it a good look.
And responded with a fist pump.
And responded with a fist pump.
The fish would be shown off for Bassmaster Live.
The fish would be shown off for Bassmaster Live.
Before allowing Lucas a chance to cull a smaller keeper.
Before allowing Lucas a chance to cull a smaller keeper.
A live audience watched every move the young angler made.
A live audience watched every move the young angler made.
Which was mostly pitching a Berkley Pit Boss to old pilings complete with vegetation.
Which was mostly pitching a Berkley Pit Boss to old pilings complete with vegetation.
Some of them even had broken down boards for cover.
Some of them even had broken down boards for cover.
And there were hundreds of them to chose from.
And there were hundreds of them to chose from.
And Lucas caught fish all the way through them.
And Lucas caught fish all the way through them.
Occasionally, he would have to kick himself away from the pilings.
Occasionally, he would have to kick himself away from the pilings.
By mid-morning, he decided to weigh all his fish to know how much he really had, so he could make a decision when to move.
By mid-morning, he decided to weigh all his fish to know how much he really had, so he could make a decision when to move.
The initial stringer weighed 14 1/2 pounds and he felt he needed to catch a 3- or 4-pounder to have a shot at winning. This fish wouldn't come close.
The initial stringer weighed 14 1/2 pounds and he felt he needed to catch a 3- or 4-pounder to have a shot at winning. This fish wouldn’t come close.
Nor would this one.
Nor would this one.
Or this one.
Or this one.
They would all be too small to cull.
They would all be too small to cull.
Lucas spent some time fishing the barren side of the marina under the shadows of windmills.
Lucas spent some time fishing the barren side of the marina under the shadows of windmills.
Then gave the area one last look.
Then gave the area one last look.
Before heading to across a big bay in rough water toward the middle of the Delta where most of the anglers were fishing.
Before heading to across a big bay in rough water toward the middle of the Delta where most of the anglers were fishing.
He wound up in Paradise Cove Marina where he idled quickly to cover water.
He wound up in Paradise Cove Marina where he idled quickly to cover water.
Most of that water was filled with aquatic vegetation.
Most of that water was filled with aquatic vegetation.
Lucas would slip behind the boat docks.
Lucas would slip behind the boat docks.
And make long casts with a topwater.
And make long casts with a topwater.
Every so often he would come to bridge.
Every so often he would come to bridge.
And be forced to go under it.
And be forced to go under it.
This plan had produced an 8-pounder on Day 3.
This plan had produced an 8-pounder on Day 3.
And Lucas covered a lot of water and bridges trying to make it happen again.
And Lucas covered a lot of water and bridges trying to make it happen again.
He had spectators on the wild side at times, like this mother hen and ducklings.
He had spectators on the wild side at times, like this mother hen and ducklings.
When he wasn't throwing the topwater, he was pitching to the docks behind him.
When he wasn’t throwing the topwater, he was pitching to the docks behind him.
His spectators included two friends, Andy and Damon; two brothers, Kevin and Joe; and his wife, Brianna.
His spectators included two friends, Andy and Damon; two brothers, Kevin and Joe; and his wife, Brianna.
As the day wore on, Lucas would to the other marinas.
As the day wore on, Lucas would to the other marinas.
And he would occasionally catch a fish too short to help.
And he would occasionally catch a fish too short to help.
This one hit a topwater.
This one hit a topwater.
And it caught the attention of another spectator from the wild side.
And it caught the attention of another spectator from the wild side.
This blue heron thought Lucas had a good spot and moved in.
This blue heron thought Lucas had a good spot and moved in.
He even made a cast of his own.
He even made a cast of his own.
But came up empty handed.
But came up empty handed.
Lucas would keep working the marinas behind signs that were intended for folks like photographers on the banks, not fishermen on the water.
Lucas would keep working the marinas behind signs that were intended for folks like photographers on the banks, not fishermen on the water.
Every once in a while he would Power Pole down on a bed.
Every once in a while he would Power Pole down on a bed.
This one had him scratching his head, but as soon as he put his hat back on,
This one had him scratching his head, but as soon as he put his hat back on,
The fish bit.
The fish bit.
The decent keeper would put up a struggle.
The decent keeper would put up a struggle.
And Lucas would work it away from the bank.
And Lucas would work it away from the bank.
And out into open water.
And out into open water.
Before bringing it aboard.
Before bringing it aboard.
The family and friends loved the show.
The family and friends loved the show.
This would be Lucas' last cull, giving him a total of 16 pounds even.
This would be Lucas’ last cull, giving him a total of 16 pounds even.
He would keep working under bridges and behind marinas in hopes of catching a big fish to seal the deal for him.
He would keep working under bridges and behind marinas in hopes of catching a big fish to seal the deal for him.
But to no avail. The lack of a big bite was wearing on him.
But to no avail. The lack of a big bite was wearing on him.
But by the time he left for the ride home, he had captured the winning weight by more than 2 pounds.
But by the time he left for the ride home, he had captured the winning weight by more than 2 pounds.