Day 3 on Dardanelle

See the Top 50 Elites take on Day 3 of the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Dardanelle.

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Zell Rowland started Day 3 pitching and swimming a jig.
Zell Rowland started Day 3 pitching and swimming a jig.
It wasn’t long before he started getting bites.
It wasn’t long before he started getting bites.
This one would be his first keeper.
This one would be his first keeper.
A few casts later, he would lose a fish he thought was much bigger.
A few casts later, he would lose a fish he thought was much bigger.
Rowland turns to look at noise behind him.
Rowland turns to look at noise behind him.
And soon boats a short fish.
And soon boats a short fish.
He stayed with his jig, covering a small backwater.
He stayed with his jig, covering a small backwater.
Soon, he boats another keeper.
Soon, he boats another keeper.
Up the lake, John Crews is fishing in a similar fashion.
Up the lake, John Crews is fishing in a similar fashion.
Like all the anglers fishing in the thick cover, he occasionally hits a snag.
Like all the anglers fishing in the thick cover, he occasionally hits a snag.
Crews was the Day 1 leader.
Crews was the Day 1 leader.
Not far from him, Rowland catches another keeper.
Not far from him, Rowland catches another keeper.
Across the creek, David Walker hooks up with a fish that sends him running to the back deck.
Across the creek, David Walker hooks up with a fish that sends him running to the back deck.
Walker’s heart dropped, though, when he realized the big bite was a drum.
Walker’s heart dropped, though, when he realized the big bite was a drum.
Walker looks on as the fish comes into view.
Walker looks on as the fish comes into view.
With the fish thrashing, Walker goes back to the front of the boat.
With the fish thrashing, Walker goes back to the front of the boat.
At the front, he works on getting his jig back.
At the front, he works on getting his jig back.
He kneels down to unplug the fish, but it pops off at the last second.
He kneels down to unplug the fish, but it pops off at the last second.
A young angler across the creek, lands a fish and turns his back to unhook it.
A young angler across the creek, lands a fish and turns his back to unhook it.
Meanwhile, Walker reties, with words from his daughters pasted on his deck lid.
Meanwhile, Walker reties, with words from his daughters pasted on his deck lid.
Up the creek, Rowland fishes away.
Up the creek, Rowland fishes away.
John Crews rushes by.
John Crews rushes by.
As soon as things quiet down, Walker sets the hook.
As soon as things quiet down, Walker sets the hook.
The fish makes a big splash next to the boat.
The fish makes a big splash next to the boat.
And then makes a big entrance into the boat.
And then makes a big entrance into the boat.
Walker allows himself to smile as the 4-pound class is over the gunwales.
Walker allows himself to smile as the 4-pound class is over the gunwales.
As it comes aboard it gives everything a shower.
As it comes aboard it gives everything a shower.
Walker poses for a quick photo for his marshal.
Walker poses for a quick photo for his marshal.
Down the creek, Crews is back at work.
Down the creek, Crews is back at work.
Crews covers water.
Crews covers water.
Then moves down river to do more of the same.
Then moves down river to do more of the same.
Crews would wind up in 7th place.
Crews would wind up in 7th place.
At the mouth of Piney Creek, a crooked sign tells commercial fishermen to stay out.
At the mouth of Piney Creek, a crooked sign tells commercial fishermen to stay out.
Rick Clunn fishes down the creek.
Rick Clunn fishes down the creek.
The elder statesman of Bassmaster, throws his trademark crankbait.
The elder statesman of Bassmaster, throws his trademark crankbait.
He soon hooks up.
He soon hooks up.
But the fish would be too small to keep.
But the fish would be too small to keep.
Clunn spent a lot of time moving around, covering water.
Clunn spent a lot of time moving around, covering water.
At times his casts were animated.
At times his casts were animated.
He caught short fish on a regular basis.
He caught short fish on a regular basis.
This one produced a small shower.
This one produced a small shower.
Clunn never stopped covering water.
Clunn never stopped covering water.
He spent a lot of time cranking.
He spent a lot of time cranking.
Firing a Luck-E-Strike square bill into and around everything.
Firing a Luck-E-Strike square bill into and around everything.
He would occasionally cross paths with anglers like Edwin Evers.
He would occasionally cross paths with anglers like Edwin Evers.
And occasionally catch bigger fish.
And occasionally catch bigger fish.
This one made a big splash,
This one made a big splash,
but Clunn was able to get him under control,
but Clunn was able to get him under control,
and get the fish to the other side of the boat.
and get the fish to the other side of the boat.
That deeper water didn’t keep the fish from jumping.
That deeper water didn’t keep the fish from jumping.
But it allowed Clunn to get on the deck and get his hands on the line.
But it allowed Clunn to get on the deck and get his hands on the line.
The fish peeked through the water,
The fish peeked through the water,
and gets close enough for Clunn to reach.
and gets close enough for Clunn to reach.
The fish made a head shake at the last second, though,
The fish made a head shake at the last second, though,
so Clunn scooped under the fish,
so Clunn scooped under the fish,
And brought the fish aboard.
And brought the fish aboard.
He would soon be back at it, repeating the process, casting,
He would soon be back at it, repeating the process, casting,
Then catching small fish, looking for a keeper.
Then catching small fish, looking for a keeper.