On board with Kevin Short and Chris Zaldain

Climb aboard two Elite Series pros' boats for Day 3 on Cayuga Lake.

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Welcome aboard Kevin Short's BassCat on Day 3 of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake.
Welcome aboard Kevin Short’s BassCat on Day 3 of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake.
Short runs Rigid Industries lights.
Short runs Rigid Industries lights.
Here's the side of his console.
Here’s the side of his console.
A 250-horse Mercury Optimax ProXS scoots his 'Cat down the lake.
A 250-horse Mercury Optimax ProXS scoots his ‘Cat down the lake.
His BassCat has ample deck space.
His BassCat has ample deck space.
Here's his windshield.
Here’s his windshield.
Shot was flipping plastics for most of the day.
Shot was flipping plastics for most of the day.
Even his steering wheel has custom pink accents.
Even his steering wheel has custom pink accents.
He makes another pitch.
He makes another pitch.
He swings his first keeper aboard...
He swings his first keeper aboard…
...and works to get it under control.
…and works to get it under control.
He's got it.
He’s got it.
He unhooks it...
He unhooks it…
...and shows it to the camera.
…and shows it to the camera.
Now it's time to re-rig.
Now it’s time to re-rig.
Here's something neat: riding on the shank of his hook is a rattle rig that he makes. He takes a piece of vinyl shrink-wrap, slides the rattle in it then impales it on the hook. How clever is that?
Here’s something neat: riding on the shank of his hook is a rattle rig that he makes. He takes a piece of vinyl shrink-wrap, slides the rattle in it then impales it on the hook. How clever is that?
Lew's rods and reels adorn his front deck.
Lew’s rods and reels adorn his front deck.
Short was dialed in on the flipping bite, so there weren't many rods on deck.
Short was dialed in on the flipping bite, so there weren’t many rods on deck.
Here's another look at his console.
Here’s another look at his console.
Scissors and other cutting devices ride in a handy holder.
Scissors and other cutting devices ride in a handy holder.
One of his local sponsors.
One of his local sponsors.
These pennies were given to him by a long-time friend. Back when Short fished team trails, the tournament director would toss pennies into each of the anglers' livewell for good luck. Short says he's got a Ziploc bag full of them from years of tournament fishing.
These pennies were given to him by a long-time friend. Back when Short fished team trails, the tournament director would toss pennies into each of the anglers’ livewell for good luck. Short says he’s got a Ziploc bag full of them from years of tournament fishing.
Here are a few Jewel jigs and Zoom plastics in a cup holder.
Here are a few Jewel jigs and Zoom plastics in a cup holder.
Short at work.
Short at work.
He goes for another rod...
He goes for another rod…
...as well as bait.
…as well as bait.
Here, he adds a bit of chartreuse accent to his Zoom Speed Craw.
Here, he adds a bit of chartreuse accent to his Zoom Speed Craw.
Short skips under a dock.
Short skips under a dock.
He's all smiles on Day 3.
He’s all smiles on Day 3.
He makes a move.
He makes a move.
Short had a slow morning, but his bite picked up in the afternoon.
Short had a slow morning, but his bite picked up in the afternoon.
He works his
He works his “cricket.”
On board Chris Zaldain's Skeeter we find a 250-horse Yamaha VMax SHO.
On board Chris Zaldain’s Skeeter we find a 250-horse Yamaha VMax SHO.
Zaldain works a drop shot rig.
Zaldain works a drop shot rig.
A 12-inch touchscreen Raymarine unit resides in his dash.
A 12-inch touchscreen Raymarine unit resides in his dash.
He's hooked up!
He’s hooked up!
The bass was small, but frisky.
The bass was small, but frisky.
It makes another jump.
It makes another jump.
He lands it.
He lands it.
This one wouldn't help him at all.
This one wouldn’t help him at all.
Dual GoPros keep an eye on Zaldain.
Dual GoPros keep an eye on Zaldain.
Up front area pair of Raymarine units.
Up front area pair of Raymarine units.
Zaldain prefers Megabass Destroyer rods.
Zaldain prefers Megabass Destroyer rods.
His wrap reads
His wrap reads “Zaldaingerous.”
Here's a cool keeper from the Classic.
Here’s a cool keeper from the Classic.
Zaldain fights another fish.
Zaldain fights another fish.
He hoists it in with his 20-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid, which is affixed to a leader of 10-pound Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon.
He hoists it in with his 20-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid, which is affixed to a leader of 10-pound Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon.
Here it is!
Here it is!
Zaldain found a whole world of fish on this spot, which he's sharing with Todd Faircloth.
Zaldain found a whole world of fish on this spot, which he’s sharing with Todd Faircloth.
Each fish he caught fought well.
Each fish he caught fought well.
This one wouldn't help him any...
This one wouldn’t help him any…
...so back it went.
…so back it went.
“This stuff is the money grass,” Zaldain said. “It looks so good and green that it ought to be in an aquarium.”
Zaldain welcomes another fish aboard.
Zaldain welcomes another fish aboard.
This one might help.
This one might help.
He sizes it up...
He sizes it up…
...then goes for his cull potential side.
…then goes for his cull potential side.
Here's the gang.
Here’s the gang.
It would help after he reevaluated his catch.
It would help after he reevaluated his catch.
He's hooked up yet again!
He’s hooked up yet again!
This one wouldn't help, though.
This one wouldn’t help, though.
He lays into yet another bass.
He lays into yet another bass.
This one has some size to it.
This one has some size to it.
It led him to the back of the boat...
It led him to the back of the boat…
...where he played it with intensity.
…where he played it with intensity.
He reaches for it...
He reaches for it…
...And gets a hold of its lip.
…And gets a hold of its lip.
This one would cull as well.
This one would cull as well.
Zaldain had a good day today, and is in position to win tomorrow if he has a spectacular Day 4.
Zaldain had a good day today, and is in position to win tomorrow if he has a spectacular Day 4.