College: Day 3 on Lake Mead

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The final morning of the Carhartt College Series Western Regional on Lake Mead greeted anglers with a beautiful sunrise as they headed out for the final eight hours of fishing.
The final morning of the Carhartt College Series Western Regional on Lake Mead greeted anglers with a beautiful sunrise as they headed out for the final eight hours of fishing.
Anglers stand at attention for the national anthem before they blast off.
Anglers stand at attention for the national anthem before they blast off.
The Day 1 and 2 leaders from Northern Arizona lead the field out for the final day.
The Day 1 and 2 leaders from Northern Arizona lead the field out for the final day.
The rest of the field follows in line behind them.
The rest of the field follows in line behind them.
Gunnar Stanton and Gunner Campbell arrive at their first spot of the day and try to get the action started early today. On Day 2 they didn’t fill their limit until the final hour of the day.
Gunnar Stanton and Gunner Campbell arrive at their first spot of the day and try to get the action started early today. On Day 2 they didn’t fill their limit until the final hour of the day.
Stanton heaves out a jig early on Monday’s competition day.
Stanton heaves out a jig early on Monday’s competition day.
Meanwhile Campbell threw a dropshot around the shallow Lake Mead cover.
Meanwhile Campbell threw a dropshot around the shallow Lake Mead cover.
The duo kept calm and focused to start the day as they knew every fish caught before 9 a.m. was basically a bonus.
The duo kept calm and focused to start the day as they knew every fish caught before 9 a.m. was basically a bonus.
Stanton and Campbell go deep in a pocket and begin to disappear behind the rock point.
Stanton and Campbell go deep in a pocket and begin to disappear behind the rock point.
Cameraman Wes Miller shoots video from the shore and gets a different angle.
Cameraman Wes Miller shoots video from the shore and gets a different angle.
With no fish to show at their first spot they head out to spot number two.
With no fish to show at their first spot they head out to spot number two.
They head north on Mead in hunt of their first keeper.
They head north on Mead in hunt of their first keeper.
Stanton throws a weightless senko towards some reeds.
Stanton throws a weightless senko towards some reeds.
And in a matter of second he hooked up and boated the solid fish.
And in a matter of second he hooked up and boated the solid fish.
Number one for NAU and an early start to their day.
Number one for NAU and an early start to their day.
Campbell zings a dropshot out as water sprays off of his reel.
Campbell zings a dropshot out as water sprays off of his reel.
NAU fishes around a few short pockets as they try to put together a limit.
NAU fishes around a few short pockets as they try to put together a limit.
The ESPNU cameras are rolling and this regional will air later this year.
The ESPNU cameras are rolling and this regional will air later this year.
As I step on land to get a better angle, Stanton hooked up and Campbell already netted the second keeper of the day.
As I step on land to get a better angle, Stanton hooked up and Campbell already netted the second keeper of the day.
Solid number two for the teammates.
Solid number two for the teammates.
Stanton shows it off for the cameras.
Stanton shows it off for the cameras.
As he headed to put the fish in the livewell he saw Campbell’s rod tip bounce ever so slightly. He put the fish in the box and picked up the rod and the fight was on! He hooked up with another fish as Campbell’s bait was dragging the bottom during the last fish catch.
As he headed to put the fish in the livewell he saw Campbell’s rod tip bounce ever so slightly. He put the fish in the box and picked up the rod and the fight was on! He hooked up with another fish as Campbell’s bait was dragging the bottom during the last fish catch.
The third keeper of the day got the blood pumping for NAU as this fish fought and battled.
The third keeper of the day got the blood pumping for NAU as this fish fought and battled.
The fish jumps at the boat as Campbell reaches to net the fish.
The fish jumps at the boat as Campbell reaches to net the fish.
It tries to get away, but Stanton guides it towards the net…
It tries to get away, but Stanton guides it towards the net…
And it splashes in the net as the duo puts number three in the boat.
And it splashes in the net as the duo puts number three in the boat.
“Did you see that? That is the second time that has happened to us. That happened a few weeks ago in one of our tournaments as well,” Stanton said.
“Did you see that? That is the second time that has happened to us. That happened a few weeks ago in one of our tournaments as well,” Stanton said.
NAU peeks in a shallow pocket to see if they can visibly see some cruising bass.
NAU peeks in a shallow pocket to see if they can visibly see some cruising bass.
After they didn’t see any they headed out to another pocket in hopes of filling their limit.
After they didn’t see any they headed out to another pocket in hopes of filling their limit.
Wes Miller stands on a rock formation on the bank to get a cool perspective of the two anglers.
Wes Miller stands on a rock formation on the bank to get a cool perspective of the two anglers.
Stanton shields the sun off of his eyes as he checks for a bed fish.
Stanton shields the sun off of his eyes as he checks for a bed fish.
Campbell hooks up from the back deck and fights a possible fourth keeper to the boat.
Campbell hooks up from the back deck and fights a possible fourth keeper to the boat.
He hooked up on a dropshot and this fish was pulling hard. It is either a good one or a smallmouth.
He hooked up on a dropshot and this fish was pulling hard. It is either a good one or a smallmouth.
Keeper number four for the duo is a smallmouth.
Keeper number four for the duo is a smallmouth.
They put it on the measuring board, but it is good to go. They certainly don’t want to bring that one to weigh-in.
They put it on the measuring board, but it is good to go. They certainly don’t want to bring that one to weigh-in.
There is a lot of fishable water on Lake Mead, but if it wasn’t very low then there would be even more water to cover.
There is a lot of fishable water on Lake Mead, but if it wasn’t very low then there would be even more water to cover.
Stanton and Campbell sneak around a point and into a shallow pocket.
Stanton and Campbell sneak around a point and into a shallow pocket.
After they don’t catch a fish they takeoff and head north.
After they don’t catch a fish they takeoff and head north.
Moments after pulling into another pocket Stanton hooks up. This seems like a good one.
Moments after pulling into another pocket Stanton hooks up. This seems like a good one.
His rod doubles over and Campbell gets the net ready for the scoop and score.
His rod doubles over and Campbell gets the net ready for the scoop and score.
In the net!
In the net!
That’s a limit for NAU. Now it’s time for some culling if they want to increase their weight.
That’s a limit for NAU. Now it’s time for some culling if they want to increase their weight.
Show it off to the cameras!
Show it off to the cameras!
Stanton takes a moment to retie. A weightless senko was key for Stanton and Campbell as they fished isolated reed patches.
Stanton takes a moment to retie. A weightless senko was key for Stanton and Campbell as they fished isolated reed patches.
Hooked up!
Hooked up!
He says this is a good one and so does his body language.
He says this is a good one and so does his body language.
Campbell readies the net as the fish is close to the boat.
Campbell readies the net as the fish is close to the boat.
He can’t believe it…
He can’t believe it…
He talks to the cameraman Wes Miller in disbelief.
He talks to the cameraman Wes Miller in disbelief.
No he didn’t lose the fish, but rather it was a catfish. Stanton says this was the first catfish he has ever caught on Lake Mead while specifically bass fishing.
No he didn’t lose the fish, but rather it was a catfish. Stanton says this was the first catfish he has ever caught on Lake Mead while specifically bass fishing.
The teammates make move to a flat pocket with reeds and wood scattered throughout.
The teammates make move to a flat pocket with reeds and wood scattered throughout.
They said they got bit in the wood throughout practice, but it just hasn’t paid dividends in the tournament yet.
They said they got bit in the wood throughout practice, but it just hasn’t paid dividends in the tournament yet.
That just looks fishy.
That just looks fishy.
Lake Mead is in a league of it’s own when it comes to scenic views while on the water.
Lake Mead is in a league of it’s own when it comes to scenic views while on the water.
As I headed back to the ramp I found Humboldt State fishing long.
As I headed back to the ramp I found Humboldt State fishing long.
Alex Robbins said they have a decent bag and should make the National Championship cut.
Alex Robbins said they have a decent bag and should make the National Championship cut.
They caught fish on numerous baits throughout the week including a Carolina Rig. Being from North Carolina, I can appreciate someone slinging the ball and chain around over 2,000 miles from home.
They caught fish on numerous baits throughout the week including a Carolina Rig. Being from North Carolina, I can appreciate someone slinging the ball and chain around over 2,000 miles from home.
For Robbins and Directo they did indeed qualify for the National Championship. Their first with College BASS.
For Robbins and Directo they did indeed qualify for the National Championship. Their first with College BASS.