Day 3 with Lefebre

Posted on
Catch up with tournament leader Dave Lefebre on Day 3 of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake!
Catch up with tournament leader Dave Lefebre on Day 3 of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake!
After boating a small early keeper Lefebre went to work on filling his livewell. As we rolled up he was urgently casting at a fish that missed his bait.
After boating a small early keeper Lefebre went to work on filling his livewell. As we rolled up he was urgently casting at a fish that missed his bait.
Moments later the fish came back and ate his bait and he set the hook.
Moments later the fish came back and ate his bait and he set the hook.
We put the trolling motor on high to get a glimpse of Lefebre as he fought his second keeper to the boat.
We put the trolling motor on high to get a glimpse of Lefebre as he fought his second keeper to the boat.
He celebrates a grown fish early and holds it high for us.
He celebrates a grown fish early and holds it high for us.
Lefebre was focused and kept his head down knowing that one more fish would probably get him to Sunday at minimum.
Lefebre was focused and kept his head down knowing that one more fish would probably get him to Sunday at minimum.
Cast after cast Lefebre broke down the water in front of him and was zeroed in on his area and maximizing every bite.
Cast after cast Lefebre broke down the water in front of him and was zeroed in on his area and maximizing every bite.
Although no Elite Series anglers were fishing nearby he saw some locals and shared his water momentarily.
Although no Elite Series anglers were fishing nearby he saw some locals and shared his water momentarily.
With cloudy conditions Lefebre was hoping for an early bite with some quality fish mixed in.
With cloudy conditions Lefebre was hoping for an early bite with some quality fish mixed in.
Cameraman Rick Mason gets a unique shot as Lefebre scoots under some overhanging trees.
Cameraman Rick Mason gets a unique shot as Lefebre scoots under some overhanging trees.
A muskrat swims by and heads out of the pocket.
A muskrat swims by and heads out of the pocket.
Lefebre snatches a small fish out of the shoreline cover. It isn't big at all, but it did measure and is number three for Lefebre.
Lefebre snatches a small fish out of the shoreline cover. It isn’t big at all, but it did measure and is number three for Lefebre.
Three fish before 8 a.m. is good for Lefebre, but he had his sights aimed at number four.
Three fish before 8 a.m. is good for Lefebre, but he had his sights aimed at number four.
This is a good one and Lefebre knows it. He battles it beside his boat as he fish thrashes on the other side of the boat.
This is a good one and Lefebre knows it. He battles it beside his boat as he fish thrashes on the other side of the boat.
Time for the boat flip. This is when we realize how good of a fish it was as it comes over the rub rail.
Time for the boat flip. This is when we realize how good of a fish it was as it comes over the rub rail.
This is a quality fish that will boost his bag very fast.
This is a quality fish that will boost his bag very fast.
He shows it off for the online viewers of Bassmaster LIVE.
He shows it off for the online viewers of Bassmaster LIVE.
There are some isolated pieces of cover that have been key for Lefebre this week.
There are some isolated pieces of cover that have been key for Lefebre this week.
Lefebre gets snagged on the gnarly cover and pops his line to free his bait.
Lefebre gets snagged on the gnarly cover and pops his line to free his bait.
Then he takes the time to retie and make sure his line isn't damaged.
Then he takes the time to retie and make sure his line isn’t damaged.
Lefebre back-hands a cast towards the bank...
Lefebre back-hands a cast towards the bank…
Moments later he hooked up and fought the fish to the boat.
Moments later he hooked up and fought the fish to the boat.
This one will make number five for Lefebre.
This one will make number five for Lefebre.
After filling his limit he hooked up with one that will cull.
After filling his limit he hooked up with one that will cull.
This fish jumps at the boat. It won't be a big cull, but everything helps.
This fish jumps at the boat. It won’t be a big cull, but everything helps.
Lefebre swings it aboard.
Lefebre swings it aboard.
This is Lefebre's first cull of the day.
This is Lefebre’s first cull of the day.
Throughout the early morning period birds, animals and fish were very active.
Throughout the early morning period birds, animals and fish were very active.
Lefebre hooks up soon after.
Lefebre hooks up soon after.
This is a grown one.
This is a grown one.
The big one thrashes and splashes at the boat.
The big one thrashes and splashes at the boat.
He makes a risky decision and decides to flip this 5+ pounder.
He makes a risky decision and decides to flip this 5+ pounder.
Most definitely his biggest fish of the day so far.
Most definitely his biggest fish of the day so far.
Bam! That'll help the cause.
Bam! That’ll help the cause.
Now he looks for one of his small fish to cull.
Now he looks for one of his small fish to cull.
Wes Miller gets in close for some slo-mo shots.
Wes Miller gets in close for some slo-mo shots.
He gets back to work fishing his area.
He gets back to work fishing his area.
He swings aboard a small keeper, but it'll help him by a couple ounces.
He swings aboard a small keeper, but it’ll help him by a couple ounces.
That helps some.
That helps some.
A little while had passed since Lefebre boated his last quality fish, but he hooked up with one in the bushes and had to go in and get it unwrapped.
A little while had passed since Lefebre boated his last quality fish, but he hooked up with one in the bushes and had to go in and get it unwrapped.
He reaches to unwrap the fish and grabs it.
He reaches to unwrap the fish and grabs it.
The crazy battle ends with Lefebre holding the quality fish.
The crazy battle ends with Lefebre holding the quality fish. “That never happens to me…I always lose them,” said the Elite Series newcomer.
He fishes around some thick cover as he attacks every hiding place a bass can be.
He fishes around some thick cover as he attacks every hiding place a bass can be.
Lefebre hooks up on a fish.
Lefebre hooks up on a fish.
It comes unbuttoned, but he keeps fishing and stays calm.
It comes unbuttoned, but he keeps fishing and stays calm.
He decides to make a move back to his starting area in this creek.
He decides to make a move back to his starting area in this creek.
This was one of the few times Lefebre had to start his motor today.
This was one of the few times Lefebre had to start his motor today.
After the quick move he was dialed in to his area and was looking for a few more good bites to inch him closer to 20 pounds.
After the quick move he was dialed in to his area and was looking for a few more good bites to inch him closer to 20 pounds.
He worked to get his bait in and around as much cover as possible.
He worked to get his bait in and around as much cover as possible.
A bird is perched on a bush that Lefebre fishes around.
A bird is perched on a bush that Lefebre fishes around.
He also disappeared around hedges of grass as he targeted every type of cover possible.
He also disappeared around hedges of grass as he targeted every type of cover possible.
After a significant lull in the action, Lefebre worked down a bank that we didn't see him fish so far this week.
After a significant lull in the action, Lefebre worked down a bank that we didn’t see him fish so far this week.
He sets the hook and fights a quality keeper towards the boat.
He sets the hook and fights a quality keeper towards the boat.
That'll help the cause.
That’ll help the cause.
Lefebre heads to his livewell to throw back his smallest.
Lefebre heads to his livewell to throw back his smallest.
That upgrade adds a pound or so to his total.
That upgrade adds a pound or so to his total.
Now that he is close to 20 pounds roughly he heads over to explore a stretch of his area in preparation for Championship.
Now that he is close to 20 pounds roughly he heads over to explore a stretch of his area in preparation for Championship.
There is plenty of cover for Lefebre to save for Sunday, so he fishes around without hitting the
There is plenty of cover for Lefebre to save for Sunday, so he fishes around without hitting the “juice.”
With 20-pounds, 10-ounces in the livewell Dave Lefebre was all smiles. He maintained his lead and heads out with a 4-6 lead.
With 20-pounds, 10-ounces in the livewell Dave Lefebre was all smiles. He maintained his lead and heads out with a 4-6 lead.