Hartman's Saturday grind

Jamie Hartman started his day in third place, and made his first casts where he’s been fishing all week.

He’s fishing a spot that has numerous other anglers filtering in and out, so the area has been hit pretty hard.

Much of the day, Hartman keeps his eyes on his electronics looking for fish he can drop a bait on. It’s been largely a vertical game this week.

Meanwhile, Keith Combs who is fishing nearby is landing a nice fish.

It takes a short while after beginning, but Hartman finally hooks up with his first keeper of the day.

The fish peels drag and Hartman jumps back up to the front deck to feed the fish line.

Finally subdued, the smallmouth bass is at boatside.

Looks like a 2-pounder, and a fine start to his morning.

Almost immediately, he hooks up again and the battle ensues.

Hartman goes in for the grab and is temporarily blocked by his cameraman and outboard.

Looks like a near carbon copy of the first fish, but every ounce counts and into the livewell it goes.

Back to work with Combs in the background. Many of the anglers are closely sharing water, which isn’t unheard of, but they are closer than you’d expect them to tolerate.

With his chin down, Hartman continues to search for and work smallies that are staged near bottom.

He weaves his boat back and forth, and when he locates a fish, he’ll drop his presentation down hoping to make the fish eat.

Combs is at it again just behind Hartman.

As Combs reaches, the smallie leaps away from his hand.

But, Combs is the victor and brings the keeper aboard.

Hartman has had enough of that particular spot, and decides to look for more eager fish elsewhere.

As he gets puts his rig on pad, he looks up the lake to the next stop that he hopes will hold the right fish.

Josh Bertrand is off in the distance working a similar pattern.

Hartman goes back to work …

… but not for long. He makes a few drops and stows his trolling motor. Keeping on the move seems to be key for many of the anglers, as finding active fish is crucial to getting bit.

He has his eye on a spot about a quarter mile up the lake that has several other anglers already on it.

He makes the short run in about a minute.

As quickly as he put the boat off plane, the trolling motor is deployed and he begins working the presentation.

Jordan Lee is next to Hartman and working a horizontal pattern.

Jason Williamson (R) and Bradley Roy are also sharing water in the vicinity.

And Hartman hooks up.

He needs this fish, but the bass has other ideas …

He reaches while the smallmouth resists.

But Hartman gets the lip gripped and swings him aboard to make his total three on the day so far.

Again pretty similar in size as his other two.

As we were heading back in, we find Jacob Wheeler looking to cull up a few times.

He hooks into something, but he doesn’t seem overly excited about what’s on the other end.

It’s a bass, but Wheeler’s demeanor indicates it’s small.

As expected. A small fish that likely wouldn’t measure anyway.

Back it goes.

Wheeler has seen enough, and pulls up his trolling motor looking for the next hot spot.

He heads up lake hoping to build on his existing limit. A few culls will put him close to the leader.