Heartbreak and triumph

We were able to see both ends of an Elite Series pro’s emotional spectrum over the course of just a couple minutes. Shane LeHew hooked up on a big fish, carefully played it for a couple of minutes and then his line broke. He deflated. That would have been an important cull. Not long afterward,  Chris Johnston, just a few cast-lengths away from LeHew, hooked up and landed what appeared to be a 4-plus pounder. This fish certainly inflated his weight and his confidence. And just now … LeHew is hooked up again. The smallmouth just jumped 3 feet above the water’s surface. The fight is taking forever. The sting of the lost fish, no doubt, can still be felt. Finally, he leans over and lips a 4-plus pounder. A very quick change from heartbreak to triumph.