Day Three on the water

As the competition heats up Ish Monroe show's his most recent keeper to the cameras.

Posted on
<p> Tournament leader Ish Monroe starts his day fishing around some grass on Oneida Lake.</p>
Tournament leader Ish Monroe starts his day fishing around some grass on Oneida Lake.
<p> Monroe quickly hooks up and skips the bass across the surface.</p>
Monroe quickly hooks up and skips the bass across the surface.
<p> With a solid keeper in the boat, Ish Monroe is starting the final day off right.</p>
With a solid keeper in the boat, Ish Monroe is starting the final day off right.
<p> Richard Falcon sets the hook on a fish off the back deck.</p>
Richard Falcon sets the hook on a fish off the back deck.
<p> Falcon swings in his first keeper on Day Three of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open.</p>
Falcon swings in his first keeper on Day Three of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open.
<p> A solid keeper puts non-boater Richard Falcon in position to make a run at the title Saturday.</p>
A solid keeper puts non-boater Richard Falcon in position to make a run at the title Saturday.
<p> The bass were biting for Monroe early; this grass-covered bass was his sixth keeper in the first hour.</p>
The bass were biting for Monroe early; this grass-covered bass was his sixth keeper in the first hour.
<p> After going back to the livewell, Ish Monroe tosses back his smallest fish.</p>
After going back to the livewell, Ish Monroe tosses back his smallest fish.
<p> Monroe has a solid limit already in his quest to lock up the tournament title.</p>
Monroe has a solid limit already in his quest to lock up the tournament title.
<p> With bass swirling around the boat, Richard Falcon quickly caught his second keeper of the day.</p>
With bass swirling around the boat, Richard Falcon quickly caught his second keeper of the day.
<p> Ish Monroe makes a long cast to a busting bass and sets the hook.</p>
Ish Monroe makes a long cast to a busting bass and sets the hook.
<p> An explosion of water means this might be a better keeper.</p>
An explosion of water means this might be a better keeper.
<p> Although Monroe was culling early, most of the fish were in the 2-pound range.</p>
Although Monroe was culling early, most of the fish were in the 2-pound range.
<p> Matt Martin started the day in fifth place and was fishing a windy cove on Oneida Lake early.</p>
Matt Martin started the day in fifth place and was fishing a windy cove on Oneida Lake early.
<p> Kevin Haley leads the non-boaters after two days of competition and is hooked up with a fish on Saturday.</p>
Kevin Haley leads the non-boaters after two days of competition and is hooked up with a fish on Saturday.
<p> This hefty bass will go a long way to claiming the non-boater title.</p>
This hefty bass will go a long way to claiming the non-boater title.
<p> Martin’s turn came shortly after and he fights the bass to the boat as Haley gets the net.</p>
Martin’s turn came shortly after and he fights the bass to the boat as Haley gets the net.
<p> Matt Martin gets his hand on a good-sized Oneida Lake keeper largemouth.</p>
Matt Martin gets his hand on a good-sized Oneida Lake keeper largemouth.
<p> A spinnerbait snagged this big largemouth for the local pro.</p>
A spinnerbait snagged this big largemouth for the local pro.
<p> Martin walks back to the livewell with his best keeper of the morning.</p>
Martin walks back to the livewell with his best keeper of the morning.
<p> Randy Howell makes a long cast near the launch on Saturday morning.</p>
Randy Howell makes a long cast near the launch on Saturday morning.
<p> Howell goes on point as a nice bass swirls and misses his topwater.</p>
Howell goes on point as a nice bass swirls and misses his topwater.
<p> Howell hooks up with his fourth keeper of the morning.</p>
Howell hooks up with his fourth keeper of the morning.
<p> After a last-minute surge at the boat, Randy Howell plays the fish toward the waiting net.</p>
After a last-minute surge at the boat, Randy Howell plays the fish toward the waiting net.
<p> This smallmouth was not big, but it started a flurry that helped Howell catch three keepers in 20 minutes.</p>
This smallmouth was not big, but it started a flurry that helped Howell catch three keepers in 20 minutes.