Day 3 with ULM

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Championship Saturday began with Louisiana Monroe, who has led this tournament since it started on Thursday. Tyler Stewart and Nick Joiner started their day with a 30-minute run north of The Bayou Black launch site, and began their final day of the Carhartt College Central Regional on the Atchafalaya Basin.
Championship Saturday began with Louisiana Monroe, who has led this tournament since it started on Thursday. Tyler Stewart and Nick Joiner started their day with a 30-minute run north of The Bayou Black launch site, and began their final day of the Carhartt College Central Regional on the Atchafalaya Basin.
They started fishing shallow in the backs of canals, both pitching a weightless worm around shallow cover.
They started fishing shallow in the backs of canals, both pitching a weightless worm around shallow cover.
The ESPN cameras were rolling as they tried to go wire-to-wire to win the Central Regional.
The ESPN cameras were rolling as they tried to go wire-to-wire to win the Central Regional.
About 15 minutes after they arrived at their spot, Stewart hooked up with a good one.
About 15 minutes after they arrived at their spot, Stewart hooked up with a good one.
It thrashed its head as it tried to escape, but Stewart kept it coming toward the boat.
It thrashed its head as it tried to escape, but Stewart kept it coming toward the boat.
The acrobatic fish made one last attempt, but Joiner netted the good keeper bass.
The acrobatic fish made one last attempt, but Joiner netted the good keeper bass.
For this weeks' tough fishing conditions, this was a giant fish.They estimated it to weigh 3-3/4 to 4 pounds.
For this weeks’ tough fishing conditions, this was a giant fish.They estimated it to weigh 3-3/4 to 4 pounds.
Stewart is pleased that their first bite of the day was a four pounder.
Stewart is pleased that their first bite of the day was a four pounder.
The duo continued to pick apart the shallow shoreline covered with their wacky weightless stick bait.
The duo continued to pick apart the shallow shoreline covered with their wacky weightless stick bait.
Meanwhile cameraman Ben Oliver lines up a shot as they fish their way through a canal.
Meanwhile cameraman Ben Oliver lines up a shot as they fish their way through a canal.
Similar to the first fish, Stewart hooks up on the last piece of cover in the back of the canal. This time it wasn't a four pounder but rather a solid three.
Similar to the first fish, Stewart hooks up on the last piece of cover in the back of the canal. This time it wasn’t a four pounder but rather a solid three.
The fish makes one hard dig at the boat as he tried to get it netted. Instead he plays the fish out with 10-pound line.
The fish makes one hard dig at the boat as he tried to get it netted. Instead he plays the fish out with 10-pound line.
It's a solid fish in the boat and that's number two for the day. Every fish has bit different for this team as some have eaten their wacky rig on the fall while some drug it a few feet.
It’s a solid fish in the boat and that’s number two for the day. Every fish has bit different for this team as some have eaten their wacky rig on the fall while some drug it a few feet.
Stewart unhooks the quality fish and puts it in the livewell.
Stewart unhooks the quality fish and puts it in the livewell.
About 10 minutes later Stewart hooks up again.
About 10 minutes later Stewart hooks up again.
This one isn't as big, but on the final day a limit will be key.
This one isn’t as big, but on the final day a limit will be key.
It jumps at the boat, but Stewart stays calm under pressure and fights the fish towards the net as Joiner gets into position.
It jumps at the boat, but Stewart stays calm under pressure and fights the fish towards the net as Joiner gets into position.
One last-ditch attempt to escape, but it proves to be hopeless for this fish.
One last-ditch attempt to escape, but it proves to be hopeless for this fish.
Joiner nets the third keeper for the team.
Joiner nets the third keeper for the team.
Stewart holds it up as he heads to the livewell.
Stewart holds it up as he heads to the livewell.
The spectators flock to them as they see that Stewart and Joiner of ULM are trying to close the door on Championship Saturday.
The spectators flock to them as they see that Stewart and Joiner of ULM are trying to close the door on Championship Saturday.
It’s pretty cool to see anglers fish at their best when the cameras are rolling in the biggest of situations.
It’s pretty cool to see anglers fish at their best when the cameras are rolling in the biggest of situations.
After fishing for about an hour without a bite, Joiner hooks up and breaks the silence with another keeper bite.
After fishing for about an hour without a bite, Joiner hooks up and breaks the silence with another keeper bite.
Keeper in the boat and that's one more closer to a limit.
Keeper in the boat and that’s one more closer to a limit.
With number four comes a sigh of relief and a smile from Joiner.
With number four comes a sigh of relief and a smile from Joiner.
They head to the area where they caught the 17-pound bag on Day 1 in hopes of catching a kicker fish.
They head to the area where they caught the 17-pound bag on Day 1 in hopes of catching a kicker fish.
They switch it up and Joiner pulls out a bait caster and flips the heavy vegetation.
They switch it up and Joiner pulls out a bait caster and flips the heavy vegetation.
They alternate tasks - as one picks it up the other puts it down. Here, Stewart flips a heavy weight to punch through the thick vegetation.
They alternate tasks – as one picks it up the other puts it down. Here, Stewart flips a heavy weight to punch through the thick vegetation.
Joiner hooks up with the wacky worm, hoping it's keeper number five.
Joiner hooks up with the wacky worm, hoping it’s keeper number five.
He keeps it out of the cover, bringing it close to the net.
He keeps it out of the cover, bringing it close to the net.
That's a limit and a fist pump for the tournament leaders.
That’s a limit and a fist pump for the tournament leaders.
With no luck for a big fish in that last area, they decide to head back to where they started the day. At the entrance to the canal, an Osprey watches over with a recently caught meal in its talons.
With no luck for a big fish in that last area, they decide to head back to where they started the day. At the entrance to the canal, an Osprey watches over with a recently caught meal in its talons.
They begin skipping their wacky worm around the same cover. This time there is more sun and the water is heating up.
They begin skipping their wacky worm around the same cover. This time there is more sun and the water is heating up.
Here's one of their key weapons this week on the Atchafalaya.
Here’s one of their key weapons this week on the Atchafalaya.
Joiner decides to switch it up and pulls another rod from the locker.
Joiner decides to switch it up and pulls another rod from the locker.
Moments later, they see a bedding fish. Unlike the rest of the basin, their water has mostly stayed clear.
Moments later, they see a bedding fish. Unlike the rest of the basin, their water has mostly stayed clear.
After seeing how the fish was positioned, Joiner makes the perfect flip and hooks up with the fish they need to cull up significantly.
After seeing how the fish was positioned, Joiner makes the perfect flip and hooks up with the fish they need to cull up significantly.
He fights it and tries to keep it down while Stewart gets the net and prepares to land the good fish.
He fights it and tries to keep it down while Stewart gets the net and prepares to land the good fish.
That's a good fish. That will certainly upgrade from the pound-and-a-half fish that filled their limit.
That’s a good fish. That will certainly upgrade from the pound-and-a-half fish that filled their limit.
Joiner is pumped. There's another sigh of relief for the team.
Joiner is pumped. There’s another sigh of relief for the team.
The only question now is to make sure that the fish was hooked in the mouth, and indeed it was.
The only question now is to make sure that the fish was hooked in the mouth, and indeed it was.
That's a great cull, bumping them up significantly and possibly sealing the deal. They are now in the region of 13 to 14 pounds. With a 4-pound lead coming into the day, someone would have to catch the biggest bag of the tournament to take the title away.
That’s a great cull, bumping them up significantly and possibly sealing the deal. They are now in the region of 13 to 14 pounds. With a 4-pound lead coming into the day, someone would have to catch the biggest bag of the tournament to take the title away.
They don't want to risk anything, so they decide to make their way back to check in a little earlier than normal.
They don’t want to risk anything, so they decide to make their way back to check in a little earlier than normal.