Day 4 action

We head out on the California Delta to track down members of the Top 12.

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We head out on the California Delta to track down members of the Top 12. Follow along to see how Chris Zaldain, Dean Rojas and fellow competitors fair on the the final day.
We head out on the California Delta to track down members of the Top 12. Follow along to see how Chris Zaldain, Dean Rojas and fellow competitors fair on the the final day.
We start out with Dean Rojas.
We start out with Dean Rojas.
Dean puts a few fish in the boat quickly.
Dean puts a few fish in the boat quickly.
In the box you go.
In the box you go.
Dean works his way down the bank...
Dean works his way down the bank…
pitching into thick mats of vegetation.
pitching into thick mats of vegetation.
Dean rolls on.
Dean rolls on.
Rojas has caught several of his fish on this stretch this week...
Rojas has caught several of his fish on this stretch this week…
including an 8-pounder.
including an 8-pounder.
Dean sticks one.
Dean sticks one.
...
…
And brings it into the boat.
And brings it into the boat.
...
…
...
…
Another look at the thick mats in this area.
Another look at the thick mats in this area.
Wes Miller locks in on Dean Rojas...
Wes Miller locks in on Dean Rojas…
streaming LIVE footage out to the masses via Bassmaster LIVE.
streaming LIVE footage out to the masses via Bassmaster LIVE.
Rojas stays a safe distance back from the vegetation until he works it thoroughly.
Rojas stays a safe distance back from the vegetation until he works it thoroughly.
Mount Diablo looms in the distance.
Mount Diablo looms in the distance.
Rojas hooks up again.
Rojas hooks up again.
This one...
This one…
looks a little bigger.
looks a little bigger.
Get in the boat.
Get in the boat.
A little better fish...
A little better fish…
goes in the well.
goes in the well.
The wind and tide combine to make fishing this stretch a little tricky. Dean allows the weeds to hold him in place.
The wind and tide combine to make fishing this stretch a little tricky. Dean allows the weeds to hold him in place.
Working deep into the vegetation...
Working deep into the vegetation…
Dean targets any holes he can find near the bank where fish might be spawning.
Dean targets any holes he can find near the bank where fish might be spawning.
Time to swap things up...
Time to swap things up…
and take a vibrating jig...
and take a vibrating jig…
out to the edges of the grass.
out to the edges of the grass.
This area is very deep once you get off the bank, except for this one stretch where hydrila stretches out on a shallow flat.
This area is very deep once you get off the bank, except for this one stretch where hydrila stretches out on a shallow flat.
A herren sails by.
A herren sails by.
Seigo Saito slides in for a few photos.
Seigo Saito slides in for a few photos.
Dean rolls on.
Dean rolls on.
Cast after cast with the vibrating jig...
Cast after cast with the vibrating jig…
but no catches for Seigo and I to document as of now.
but no catches for Seigo and I to document as of now.
As Seigo does his thing, the windmills do their thing.
As Seigo does his thing, the windmills do their thing.
Time to make a move.
Time to make a move.
I'm pretty sure we just verified the exsistence of the Loch Ness Monster or perhaps Godzilla.
I’m pretty sure we just verified the exsistence of the Loch Ness Monster or perhaps Godzilla.
Nope, just a massive sealion.
Nope, just a massive sealion.
Rojas joked on Bassmaster LIVE that it was eating all his fish.
Rojas joked on Bassmaster LIVE that it was eating all his fish.
He commented he's seen them all the way up to Sacramento.
He commented he’s seen them all the way up to Sacramento.
This particular sealion looked to be half the size of Dean's boat.
This particular sealion looked to be half the size of Dean’s boat.
He's gone.
He’s gone.
Rojas is out of here as well.
Rojas is out of here as well.
As Rojas heads out, we do too.
As Rojas heads out, we do too.
We stumble on Chris Zaldain and fall in behind him.
We stumble on Chris Zaldain and fall in behind him.
Zaldain gets to work...
Zaldain gets to work…
firing away.
firing away.
Zaldain hooks up.
Zaldain hooks up.
This one looks like it could be a good one.
This one looks like it could be a good one.
...
…
Zaldain drags the fish around the boat...
Zaldain drags the fish around the boat…
and wings her in...
and wings her in…
...
…
...
…
...
…
In the box.
In the box.
Brian Mason is locked in on Zaldain.
Brian Mason is locked in on Zaldain.
Zaldain has had a very tough morning, so this one helps calm his nerves a bit.
Zaldain has had a very tough morning, so this one helps calm his nerves a bit.
Mason pans around.
Mason pans around.
Zaldain continues on.
Zaldain continues on.
Tim to make a move.
Tim to make a move.
Looks like there's someone fishing behind these boat.
Looks like there’s someone fishing behind these boat.
Ken Iyobe pops into view.
Ken Iyobe pops into view.
Looks like Iyobe has a new fan.
Looks like Iyobe has a new fan.
Iyobe eyes the shallows.
Iyobe eyes the shallows.
Zaldain has locked in on one...
Zaldain has locked in on one…
and so has Iyobe.
and so has Iyobe.
After a few pitches without any luck, Iyobe lifts his poles.
After a few pitches without any luck, Iyobe lifts his poles.
Iyobe targets beds with Iyobe.
Iyobe targets beds with Iyobe.
Zaldain continues to work across the marina.
Zaldain continues to work across the marina.
Zaldain works this fish for about 45 minutes...
Zaldain works this fish for about 45 minutes…
and finally hooks up.
and finally hooks up.
Looks like it was a valuable use of his time.
Looks like it was a valuable use of his time.
The fish battles on...
The fish battles on…
...
…
Looks like it's time to go airborne.
Looks like it’s time to go airborne.
This fish fights to free itself...
This fish fights to free itself…
....
….
...
…
The fish comes loose and Zaldain releases his rod to grab for the fish...
The fish comes loose and Zaldain releases his rod to grab for the fish…
then his rod goes in the water and his reel almost disappears from sight.
then his rod goes in the water and his reel almost disappears from sight.
Zaldain grabs for his rod knowing the fish is gone.
Zaldain grabs for his rod knowing the fish is gone.
He's at least able to save his rod.
He’s at least able to save his rod.
A family of ducks pass by.
A family of ducks pass by.
...
…
Tim Horton has also fished this area all week.
Tim Horton has also fished this area all week.
Tim spots one and doubles back.
Tim spots one and doubles back.
After trying for a few minutes, Tim moves on.
After trying for a few minutes, Tim moves on.
Iyobe has seen enough...
Iyobe has seen enough…
and trolls past Tim...
and trolls past Tim…
and Zaldain.
and Zaldain.
Carey Barrett flys a drone overhead...
Carey Barrett flys a drone overhead…
capturing video of the Top 12 to be used later on the TV show.
capturing video of the Top 12 to be used later on the TV show.
B.A.S.S. Emcee Dave Mercer doing a little double duty.
B.A.S.S. Emcee Dave Mercer doing a little double duty.
Mercer hands the camera off to Barrett and takes the mic for a Bassmaster LIVE update.
Mercer hands the camera off to Barrett and takes the mic for a Bassmaster LIVE update.
Horton asks if he can pass between the bank and Zaldain.
Horton asks if he can pass between the bank and Zaldain.
Zaldain gladly allows it and chats with Timmy about his morning.
Zaldain gladly allows it and chats with Timmy about his morning.
The two pass.
The two pass.
Zaldain peers into the wind chopped water.
Zaldain peers into the wind chopped water.
A naughty girl passes by.
A naughty girl passes by.
...
…
Jason Christie comes through.
Jason Christie comes through.
Both these guys are hard at work.
Both these guys are hard at work.
Brian Mason settles in as Zaldain locks in on another spawner.
Brian Mason settles in as Zaldain locks in on another spawner.
Zaldain isn't coughing or sneezing, he's trying to block out the elective glare from the water so he can see better.
Zaldain isn’t coughing or sneezing, he’s trying to block out the elective glare from the water so he can see better.
Zaldain spots one...
Zaldain spots one…
and hooks a monster.
and hooks a monster.
The fish comes to the surface...
The fish comes to the surface…
slinging water with its tail.
slinging water with its tail.
The fish fights...
The fish fights…
and Zaldain has to watch...
and Zaldain has to watch…
as another giant comes loose.
as another giant comes loose.
The pain is visible.
The pain is visible.
That was a big one.
That was a big one.
Zaldain does put the smaller male bass in the boat...
Zaldain does put the smaller male bass in the boat…
and Brian Mason is there to catch it all...
and Brian Mason is there to catch it all…
...
…
...
…
Another one in the box.
Another one in the box.
A boat passes by.
A boat passes by.
Christie finds himself a new spot.
Christie finds himself a new spot.
Our anglers...
Our anglers…
definitely aren't the biggest boats in this pond.
definitely aren’t the biggest boats in this pond.
Zaldain catches another small one, but time is running out.
Zaldain catches another small one, but time is running out.
Zaldain looks everywhere but is unable to improve and heads in.
Zaldain looks everywhere but is unable to improve and heads in.
A seagull swoops through.
A seagull swoops through.
Christie heads out and so do we. Time to head to weigh-in.
Christie heads out and so do we. Time to head to weigh-in.