Day 3: Live from the Marshals

Mike McClelland with another good one.

Anglers are covering every inch of the lake trying to find that one sweet spot to pull the weigh they need to get to tomorrow.

No. 4 for Daniels.

1st heat check in.

Mike McClelland with another good fish. It’s been a little rough, but he’s getting in the groove.

Last hour upgrade in the search for the twelve cut.

Combs prefers to get the job done with a crankbait but he’s been the master of another technique today.

Jones Jr. back in action!

Kelley Jaye with a 4.5 pounder.

Shane just made his 2nd cull with this 3 pounder. He referred to the culling process as a “blessed inconvenience.”

Maybe this will be some good luck. Clifford Pirch found a lonely hen floating and offered her a ride maybe this will be his new Lucky Duck for the boat . Let’s see what today holds.

Elam catches another! Moved to a new location, but still catching them on the same lure. Culled up about 8 ounces with that last fish.

With dark overcasting sky’s today it just seems the fish aren’t eating for Clifford Pirch like the have in the previous 2 days . He has now started the grind.

Another keeper makes 4 for Gman.

Jordan Lee is culling up a few ounces; he has caught other keepers that didn’t help his total.

Been long dry spell. Couple short fish and another keeper lost in the battle. G-man lands #3 and says he knows where it’s at now. He’s got them figured out.

Been a little while and a couple of smaller fish, but finally got a 4 pounder and culled up to 17 pounds.

After moving spots again, Marty has caught two keepers in a short time. One was 1 1/2, and the other, a nicer 2 1/2.

Brandon Palaniuk with a nice upgrade.

Davy Hite at work.

Skylar Hamilton gets another beautiful Cherokee Lake smallmouth.

Hank Cherry says goodbye to his little spot!

Well a new fire is lit as Clifford Pirch has caught keeper # 2.

Shane now has four in the live well. The bites now are few and far between with the temps dropping. It’s gotten colder over the last couple of hours but not like “Day 1” kind of cold.

A little local pressure from Daniels.

Hank’s no. 5 is a small spotted bass. He’ll go back in a few!

Crochet has finally broke the ice and put 2 fish in the livewell in less than 5 minutes. His second fish is a nice sized largemouth.

After a slow morning Josh Bertrand found a school of fish and has culled several times. It’s been awesome to watch.

Williamson works number five to the boat.

Bradley Roy gained some ounces!

Skylar Hamilton picks up fish number three. We were surprised when a largemouth showed up while fishing for smallies.

James Elam catches his seventh fish and culls his last small spot. He has a pretty good bag already with a lot of time left to fish.

Fish no. 2 for Mark Daniels!

Skylar Hamilton has shown them his bait enough for them to get mad & finally bite it. Keeper no. 2.

After running a bunch of other spots, Marty pulled into a flotilla of other boats, and went to one of his many weigh points. It had payed off with his 1st keeper of the day. A nice 2lb smallmouth.

After four fish that didn’t help the cause, Paul Mueller culls up another quarter pound. Trying to make the Top 12 cut.

Hamilton finally got the skunk out of the boat.

Fish No. 2 and starting to heat up. Warm enough for no shoes.

Jason Williamson fights his 4th fish of the day at the boat.

James Elam culls a small spot with a nice 3 pound smallmouth. Smallmouth are roaming, relating to the bait fish. Elam is putting on a clinic with his Lowrance sonars, finding fish and then getting them to come to his bait.

Paul Mueller culling up again with his 7th fish of the day. 3-pound smallie.

Largemouth upgrade for Jones.

Bill Lowen with his second keeper, a nice smallmouth.

Russ Lane just got a limit with this good Cherokee smallmouth.

James Elam has a limit. Time to start culling up!

Cherry is gathering some followers.

Cherry swings in No. 3.

Things are looking good for Combs.

Paul Mueller culling up with this 3.25-pound smallie.

Jordan Lee’s forth and fifth keepers. He’s boated a few short fish also today.

Stop number 2 for Crochet. He’s hoping the change in water color is gonna pay off big for him today. Crochet still hasn’t put a keeper in the boat.

Swindle battled a big one to the boat that popped free before getting hands on it.

Alton Jr. trading up.

Combs has found a school. No.3 in the boat.

4th fish for Paul Mueller is a 3.25lb smallie. Looking for number 5.

Shane’s 3rd keeper of the day. He’s catching a mix of smallmouth and largemouth consistently. Btw , Shane disclosed to me that he’s a Tarheels fan but said we’re good since I didn’t pull for Duke. United against the Blue Devils we stand!

Keith Combs puts a nice 3.5-pound smallie in the boat.

Alton Jr. working at making the Top 12 cut.

Jason Williamson reaches down to grab his 3rd smallmouth of the morning.

Gman hooks up no. 2.

Hank Cherry staying focused

This is Lineberger’s second keeper of the morning. He’s getting a lot of bites with a hook up here and there. Looking for no. 3.

James Elam snags his first fish of the day. A nice 2-pound smallie.

Ott DeFoe has a audience developing.

Josh Bertrand just landed his first fish of the day.

No. 2 for Boyd Duckett and another nice smallie 3+ pounder.

Ott DeFoe with a good fish for No. 5.

Brandon Palaniuk just polished off an early limit with a decent smallmouth.

Matt Herren on the board

Mike McClelland getting on the bite early to get on the board.

Brandon Coulter boating a nice keeper early.

No. 3 for Jones Jr.!

Second stop, second fish for Bobby Lane. They are choking the bait today.

After 2 get off, Swindle brings in keeper no. 1.

Maybe the bite has started for Ott DeFoe

And it keeps getting smaller with other anglers fishing literally yards apart. Pirch within talking distance of Hank Cherry.

Ott DeFoe adding second fish.

Really cool morning starting off. A group of turkeys with a long beard was hear to wish Pirch luck starting off the morning.

The lake is starting to fish smaller as anglers are starting to gather up closer sharing areas fine tuning the pattern on these winter time fish on lake Cherokee.

Hank Cherry with no. 1.

After a long run up into the river this morning Cliff Crochet is searching hard for his first keeper.

First fish for Jordan Lee

Shane just boated his first keeper; a solid 2lb. smallmouth. It’s a start to what he hopes will be a productive day. The weather is much nicer today and yes, it feels a little weird not wearing so many clothes but I’m not complaining.

Ott Defoe No. 1 for this morning.

Bradley Roy with a 3-pounder.

James Elam is starting out the morning fishing around docks. And he’s not the only pro here.

First fish of the day for Keith Combs, a nice smallie.

Swindles start is slow and methodical.

Fish No. 1 for Daniels

John Crews with No. 1 and a good fish to get the morning started off right.

Brandon Palaniuk is off to a quick start with three in the boat already. And the second flight is just now passing by.

Second heat getting ready to launch.

Seth Feider puts in a stick of chewing gum as he talks to the camera man at the start of Day 3 on Cherokee Lake.

After a short run Brandon Palaniuk makes his first cast on Saturday.

Brain Snowden starts his morning off. Looking for another solid day to make the 12 cut.

Early interview with G-Man before the start of Day 3

Having a heat wave. Wow, now this is a major change. Let’s see if this will lift some spirits and gets these anglers fired up. You are liable to see some heavy sacks today shad should be working good early this morning and that equals big smallies.

Weather is right for a big bag today.