Chris Zaldain has seemed dead in the water most of today. The one angler who had the best chance to catch AOY leader Scott Canterbury needed something to give a boost to his good, but not great, limit of about 14 1/2 pounds. And he got it at 1:15 p.m.
“That’s the biggest smallmouth I’ve ever caught in my life!” screamed Zaldain after he finally boated what’s estimated to be a 7-pounder. “It’s got one just like it with it. We could do it right here.”
Zaldain made a move shallow, and it’s paying off. Unofficially, that’s got him back up 11th place, where he started the day. The Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year championship is going down to the final hour.