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Day on the lake with Chris Zaldain

Welcome to Bassmaster Magazine's Day on the Lake! This month, it’s Chris Zaldain's turn to take on a small lake he’s never seen before; he’ll attempt to catch bass for seven hours while we document his every move.

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Elite Series pro Chris Zaldain of California takes on Bassmaster’s challenge to fish a small lake he’s never seen before with just seven hours to locate and catch bass while we log his every move. This month, instead of an inland lake venue, we’re putting the 29-year-old pro on a limited section of a massive Great Lakes bay, where extreme depths, ultra-clear water and a dearth of cover will add to the challenge. <br><br>Immediately after launching on Bay E, Zaldain rigs a couple of spinning rods for tube casting and drop shotting.
Elite Series pro Chris Zaldain of California takes on Bassmaster’s challenge to fish a small lake he’s never seen before with just seven hours to locate and catch bass while we log his every move. This month, instead of an inland lake venue, we’re putting the 29-year-old pro on a limited section of a massive Great Lakes bay, where extreme depths, ultra-clear water and a dearth of cover will add to the challenge. Immediately after launching on Bay E, Zaldain rigs a couple of spinning rods for tube casting and drop shotting.
7:20 a.m. Zaldain checks his graph as he prepares to make a long run on Bay E.
7:20 a.m. Zaldain checks his graph as he prepares to make a long run on Bay E.
8:06 a.m. Zaldain’s rod bows as a good smallmouth loads onto his spinnerbait.
8:06 a.m. Zaldain’s rod bows as a good smallmouth loads onto his spinnerbait.
8:06 a.m. Zaldain prepares to swing aboard the smallmouth that hit his spinnerbait on a rock-strewn flat.
8:06 a.m. Zaldain prepares to swing aboard the smallmouth that hit his spinnerbait on a rock-strewn flat.
8:06 a.m. Zaldain's first fish of the day, a 3-15 smallmouth, whacked his spinnerbait on a rock-strewn flat.
8:06 a.m. Zaldain’s first fish of the day, a 3-15 smallmouth, whacked his spinnerbait on a rock-strewn flat.
8:25 a.m. Zaldain battles a keeper smallie that hit his drop shot lure on its spawning bed.
8:25 a.m. Zaldain battles a keeper smallie that hit his drop shot lure on its spawning bed.
8:25 a.m. Zaldain’s second keeper of the day, 2 pounds even, hit his drop shot lure on its spawning bed.
8:25 a.m. Zaldain’s second keeper of the day, 2 pounds even, hit his drop shot lure on its spawning bed.
8:41 a.m. Zaldain’s third keeper of the day, a beautiful 4-9 smallmouth.
8:41 a.m. Zaldain’s third keeper of the day, a beautiful 4-9 smallmouth.
The 4-9 smallmouth hit his drop shot lure on its spawning bed.
The 4-9 smallmouth hit his drop shot lure on its spawning bed.
9:03 a.m. Zaldain sticks another bedding smallmouth on his drop shot rig.
9:03 a.m. Zaldain sticks another bedding smallmouth on his drop shot rig.
9:03 a.m. Zaldain’s fourth keeper, a 1-12 smallmouth, hit his drop shot lure on its spawning bed.
9:03 a.m. Zaldain’s fourth keeper, a 1-12 smallmouth, hit his drop shot lure on its spawning bed.
9:05 a.m. Zaldain’s fifth keeper, a 3-15 spawner, was fooled by a drop shot lure.
9:05 a.m. Zaldain’s fifth keeper, a 3-15 spawner, was fooled by a drop shot lure.
9:17 a.m. “Wow, what a spectacular place!” Zaldain says as he probes the dropoff on the edge of a flat on Bay E.
9:17 a.m. “Wow, what a spectacular place!” Zaldain says as he probes the dropoff on the edge of a flat on Bay E.
12:08 p.m. Zaldain catches his seventh keeper, 2 pounds even, off its spawning bed.
12:08 p.m. Zaldain catches his seventh keeper, 2 pounds even, off its spawning bed.
1:30 p.m. This 2-pound, 13-ounce smallie hit Zaldain’s drop shot lure on a ledge.
1:30 p.m. This 2-pound, 13-ounce smallie hit Zaldain’s drop shot lure on a ledge.

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