Day 3 with Zaldain

Follow tournament leader Chris Zaldain as he fights to hang onto his lead on Day 3 on the Sacramento River.

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Chris Zaldain started Day 3 on the Sacramento River in a small backwater, hoping to catch a big fish on a swim bait.
Chris Zaldain started Day 3 on the Sacramento River in a small backwater, hoping to catch a big fish on a swim bait.
Zaldain is known for his prowess with a swimbait and used it frequently all day.
Zaldain is known for his prowess with a swimbait and used it frequently all day.
But he also took the time to pitch soft plastics to targets.
But he also took the time to pitch soft plastics to targets.
Slowly working a ledge where big fish are known to pull up on during the spawn.
Slowly working a ledge where big fish are known to pull up on during the spawn.
He spent a good hour or more casting and working the area without a fish.
He spent a good hour or more casting and working the area without a fish.
Kelly Jordon would work the other side of the area.
Kelly Jordon would work the other side of the area.
Zaldain has stayed at the top of the leaderboard by catching a big fish everyday.
Zaldain has stayed at the top of the leaderboard by catching a big fish everyday.
But Saturday, he would have a tough time finding a quality bite on the Delta.
But Saturday, he would have a tough time finding a quality bite on the Delta.
He did catch small fish.
He did catch small fish.
But they were really small.
But they were really small.
At times, painfully small.
At times, painfully small.
But the young angler known as the
But the young angler known as the “California Kid” kept working.
He would work down a bank with a topwater.
He would work down a bank with a topwater.
Or a big swimbait but had no takers.
Or a big swimbait but had no takers.
The action even forced cameraman, Brian Mason to take a seat.
The action even forced cameraman, Brian Mason to take a seat.
By mid day, you could see him gritting his teeth.
By mid day, you could see him gritting his teeth.
He would finally find a bed with a
He would finally find a bed with a “huge” fish on it and spend close to an hour trying to catch it.
But after an hour and late in the day,
But after an hour and late in the day,
He would have to start settling for smaller fish.
He would have to start settling for smaller fish.
This would be his first keeper.
This would be his first keeper.
Followed soon after by his second keeper.
Followed soon after by his second keeper.
This one had a little more size to it, but still not big enough to make a move.
This one had a little more size to it, but still not big enough to make a move.
His third keeper would come off the bed where the big fish was seen earlier.
His third keeper would come off the bed where the big fish was seen earlier.
And it would be the only taker from that bed all day.
And it would be the only taker from that bed all day.
The shallow area forced a prop clean up.
The shallow area forced a prop clean up.
And occasionally, a recreational angler would buzz by painfully close.
And occasionally, a recreational angler would buzz by painfully close.
Zaldain though would stay perched and looking.
Zaldain though would stay perched and looking.
He added his fourth keeper.
He added his fourth keeper.
But it still lacked the size.
But it still lacked the size.
Zaldain, though, knew a limit was important,
Zaldain, though, knew a limit was important,
Especially if he wanted to stay in contention for the final day.
Especially if he wanted to stay in contention for the final day.
All the action was covered for the live show and Go Pro.
All the action was covered for the live show and Go Pro.
Late in the day, he started running and gunning back to the launch.
Late in the day, he started running and gunning back to the launch.
This was his last stop near where he started. He would finish out his limit on the way back and stay in the top three after his lowest weight of the event.
This was his last stop near where he started. He would finish out his limit on the way back and stay in the top three after his lowest weight of the event.