Day 3 action with Poche and Davis

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The morning plan was to hook up with Bobby Lane up the Pearl River. Lane made a last-minute switch, forcing a stronger look at Mark Davis and Keith Poche battle in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Ross Barnett Reservoir.. Both anglers were fishing in the same vicinity as Lane on Day 2.
The morning plan was to hook up with Bobby Lane up the Pearl River. Lane made a last-minute switch, forcing a stronger look at Mark Davis and Keith Poche battle in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Ross Barnett Reservoir.. Both anglers were fishing in the same vicinity as Lane on Day 2.
And like the day before the catching started early.
And like the day before the catching started early.
Poche was the first to get a fish in the boat.
Poche was the first to get a fish in the boat.
And he quickly hooked up with number two.
And he quickly hooked up with number two.
This fish would tip the scales around the 3-pound range.
This fish would tip the scales around the 3-pound range.
And would provide a few these moments as it got hung up in one of the many clumps of grass.
And would provide a few these moments as it got hung up in one of the many clumps of grass.
Poche would win the battle, though.
Poche would win the battle, though.
Boat flipping the fish.
Boat flipping the fish.
And leaving the grass behind.
And leaving the grass behind.
It was a great start for Poche.
It was a great start for Poche.
Most of the action in the event was punctuated by dead periods.
Most of the action in the event was punctuated by dead periods.
Having two keepers in the boat at an early hour created a laid-back morning for Poche.
Having two keepers in the boat at an early hour created a laid-back morning for Poche.
Davis was fishing nearby.
Davis was fishing nearby.
And it wouldn't be too long before he hooked up with his first keeper.
And it wouldn’t be too long before he hooked up with his first keeper.
He wasted little time getting the fish to the boat,
He wasted little time getting the fish to the boat,
And bringing it over the gunwales.
And bringing it over the gunwales.
This one lacked the size of Poche's, but a keeper early was still a good start.
This one lacked the size of Poche’s, but a keeper early was still a good start.
Fletcher Shryock would idle through the area, paying close attention to the stumps scattered around.
Fletcher Shryock would idle through the area, paying close attention to the stumps scattered around.
But Poche would stay in the area.
But Poche would stay in the area.
As would Davis, both trying to hit every piece of cover.
As would Davis, both trying to hit every piece of cover.
Davis would hook up next with his second keeper.
Davis would hook up next with his second keeper.
And like the first, he would waste no time in getting it boatside.
And like the first, he would waste no time in getting it boatside.
The small keeper provided little resistance.
The small keeper provided little resistance.
But within the first hour, both anglers had hooked up with two keepers.
But within the first hour, both anglers had hooked up with two keepers.
And both had two in the livewell.
And both had two in the livewell.
The rest of the morning Davis would focus on small clumps of grass.
The rest of the morning Davis would focus on small clumps of grass.
Throwing a variety of lures
Throwing a variety of lures
And never stopping his motion.
And never stopping his motion.
Poche would follow the same course
Poche would follow the same course
Both anglers moving from one side
Both anglers moving from one side
And then to the other side of the backwater area.
And then to the other side of the backwater area.
Each of them had their own style.
Each of them had their own style.
And each would throw different, but similar lures.
And each would throw different, but similar lures.
There was the occasional spectator that would slip in and watch.
There was the occasional spectator that would slip in and watch.
But neither angler seemed to notice.
But neither angler seemed to notice.
By midmorning, Davis had enough of the area.
By midmorning, Davis had enough of the area.
Running out of the shallow area to greener pastures.
Running out of the shallow area to greener pastures.
No sooner than Davis had left, Poche hooked up.
No sooner than Davis had left, Poche hooked up.
This would be his third keeper.
This would be his third keeper.
And it would provide a tussle.
And it would provide a tussle.
Along with some tense moments,
Along with some tense moments,
that brought out an assortment of facial expressions.
that brought out an assortment of facial expressions.
The fish would eventually get to the boat.
The fish would eventually get to the boat.
And provide a loud sigh of relief from Poche.
And provide a loud sigh of relief from Poche.
The fish was his biggest of the day at that point.
The fish was his biggest of the day at that point.
While there was still a lot of day left.
While there was still a lot of day left.
Poche's three fish put him within striking distance of making the final day.
Poche’s three fish put him within striking distance of making the final day.
And it was just the right thing to give him a shot of adrenaline.
And it was just the right thing to give him a shot of adrenaline.
And produced even more interesting facial expressions.
And produced even more interesting facial expressions.
All of it followed by a fist pump.
All of it followed by a fist pump.
Along with a little yell.
Along with a little yell.
And a quick moment to pose with the catch.
And a quick moment to pose with the catch.
Before he deposited it in the well.
Before he deposited it in the well.
By the time we left, the only other angler in the area with Poche was one with a ridges on his back and big teeth out front.
By the time we left, the only other angler in the area with Poche was one with a ridges on his back and big teeth out front.