Day 3 with Roumbanis and Hudnall

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After about a 40-minute run, tournament leader Fred Roumbanis reached his starting spot on the final day of the Bass Pro Shops Central Open on the Atchafalaya Basin.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Roumbanis started the day with 35 pounds, 15 ounces.

Photo: James Overstreet

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He banks his boat hard left into one of the hundreds of canals in the area...

Photo: James Overstreet

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...with a couple spectator boats on his tail.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Roumbanis pulls his flipping stick from the rod locker...

Photo: James Overstreet

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...and gets to work.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Roumbanis failed to qualify for the 2016 Bassmaster Classic through the Elite Series, but can make it if he wins today.

Photo: James Overstreet

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He shields his eyes from the morning sun...

Photo: James Overstreet

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...then made his way into a small lake off the canal.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Roumbanis had a seemingly comfortable 6-pound, 5-ounce lead over fellow Elite Series pro Greg Hackney.

Photo: James Overstreet

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But the area that had given up his first two days' weight was proving very, very stingy.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Roumbanis said he hadn't gotten many bites the first two days, either, but this morning was proving much more difficult than he had hoped for.

Photo: James Overstreet

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He looks ahead for a spot where he had lost a 6-pounder on Day 2...

Photo: James Overstreet

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...before raising his trolling motor to move closer.

Photo: James Overstreet

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Sure enough, the fish was back in the same place...

Photo: James Overstreet

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...but came off right after Roumbanis set the hook. He continued to fish the area for more than three hours before deciding to make a 40-minute run in an effort, as he said, to just try and catch 10 pounds.

Photo: James Overstreet

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On the way in, we were fortunate enough to run into 3rd place contender Derek Hudnall. When he drove past us he indicated he already had four fish in the livewell.

Photo: James Overstreet

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We stayed with Hudnall for some time to see if he could put the last fish he needed for a limit in the livewell. Obviously, given Roumbanis' struggles, the door was open for another contender to challenge for the win.

Photo: James Overstreet