Day 3 with Rojas

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Dean Rojas and tournament leader Tim Horton both made the long run south and arrived at their first fishing spot of day 3 on Lake Okeechobee.
Dean Rojas and tournament leader Tim Horton both made the long run south and arrived at their first fishing spot of day 3 on Lake Okeechobee.
Rojas started flipping into the broken up clumps of Kissimmee grass.
Rojas started flipping into the broken up clumps of Kissimmee grass.
200 feet over Dean.
200 feet over Dean.
Rojas picks apart the grass, making sure to flip into each clump several times.
Rojas picks apart the grass, making sure to flip into each clump several times.
A view from behind Dean out towards the main lake. He fished this one isolated patch of Kissimmee for 40 mins.
A view from behind Dean out towards the main lake. He fished this one isolated patch of Kissimmee for 40 mins.
Down on the waters surface, Rojas adjust his bait and makes small moves around the grass.
Down on the waters surface, Rojas adjust his bait and makes small moves around the grass.
Flip, flip flip.
Flip, flip flip.
When his bait would get hung up in the Kissimmee stalks he would take a few seconds and adjust the rig.
When his bait would get hung up in the Kissimmee stalks he would take a few seconds and adjust the rig.
Several other local anglers were fishing around Dean and Horton.
Several other local anglers were fishing around Dean and Horton.
Horton was also flipping into the Kissimmee patches and had just lost what he estimated to be a 9lb bass.
Horton was also flipping into the Kissimmee patches and had just lost what he estimated to be a 9lb bass.
Rojas with some grass on his bait.
Rojas with some grass on his bait.
A fan boat roars by, possibly Santa Claus on a February vacation to Lake Okeechobee?!
A fan boat roars by, possibly Santa Claus on a February vacation to Lake Okeechobee?!
While getting the drone ready for take off, Dean sets the hook and boat flips a small fish.
While getting the drone ready for take off, Dean sets the hook and boat flips a small fish.
The cane burning was putting a huge plume of white smoke into the air behind Rojas.
The cane burning was putting a huge plume of white smoke into the air behind Rojas.
After so many flips your line gets all messed up.
After so many flips your line gets all messed up.
Rojas casts into a gap in the Kissimmee grass.
Rojas casts into a gap in the Kissimmee grass.
He sets the hook and the fish below explodes across the water.
He sets the hook and the fish below explodes across the water.
He lifts the rod to boat flip the fish.
He lifts the rod to boat flip the fish.
He quickly gets control of the fish and unhooks the bait from its mouth.
He quickly gets control of the fish and unhooks the bait from its mouth.
Hey at least they’re biting.
Hey at least they’re biting.
150 yards off from Rojas Horton was having a tough morning.
150 yards off from Rojas Horton was having a tough morning.
The water clarity in the area wasn’t great, the wind was almost non-existent and the waters surface was covered in algae.
The water clarity in the area wasn’t great, the wind was almost non-existent and the waters surface was covered in algae.
Horton worked his way around the Kissimmee grass like he had the previous two mornings.
Horton worked his way around the Kissimmee grass like he had the previous two mornings.
Parked right in the patch.
Parked right in the patch.
High above Horton.
High above Horton.
Horton’s boat was leaving a trail in the surface bloom.
Horton’s boat was leaving a trail in the surface bloom.
A closer look at the algae.
A closer look at the algae.
Dean sets up on another patch of grass.
Dean sets up on another patch of grass.
While flying an orbit over Rojas, we noticed what we thought was a large gator in the grass mat behind Dean.
While flying an orbit over Rojas, we noticed what we thought was a large gator in the grass mat behind Dean.
When we got closer we realized that this gator had seen better days. I guess that’s life in the swamp.
When we got closer we realized that this gator had seen better days. I guess that’s life in the swamp.
Rojas slowly inches up to another isolated bit of grass.
Rojas slowly inches up to another isolated bit of grass.
He makes a few casts around the clumps.
He makes a few casts around the clumps.
As the day went on, the temperature soared and the wind was flat. Time to pull up that buff.
As the day went on, the temperature soared and the wind was flat. Time to pull up that buff.
Rojas goes back to fishing.
Rojas goes back to fishing.
He sets the hook and quickly flips a fish into the boat.
He sets the hook and quickly flips a fish into the boat.
After wrangling the fish he unhooks it and heads for the live well.
After wrangling the fish he unhooks it and heads for the live well.
Back after it.
Back after it.
A closer look at the patches he was casting around.
A closer look at the patches he was casting around.
Theres another one!
Theres another one!
Rojas flips the fish into the boat.
Rojas flips the fish into the boat.
That one will help a little!
That one will help a little!
Not far off Horton picks up the trolling motor and makes a move to a hopefully more productive location.
Not far off Horton picks up the trolling motor and makes a move to a hopefully more productive location.
Dean's on again.
Dean’s on again.
This ones not bad, but can hopefully be replaced with a Okeechobee giant.
This ones not bad, but can hopefully be replaced with a Okeechobee giant.
He goes to the back of the boat to cull.
He goes to the back of the boat to cull.
Then releases the smaller fish.
Then releases the smaller fish.
A look at the endless fish habitat that is Lake Okeechobee.
A look at the endless fish habitat that is Lake Okeechobee.
Dean was still hunting for a big kicker around lunch.
Dean was still hunting for a big kicker around lunch.
He was catching plenty of fish and just needed the right bite.
He was catching plenty of fish and just needed the right bite.