Day 3 with Zaldain

Chris Zaldain, who was tied for the Day 2 lead with Bill Lowen, started his morning in the Sugarloaf area. That area is about 35 to 40 minutes from the take-off area.
Chris Zaldain, who was tied for the Day 2 lead with Bill Lowen, started his morning in the Sugarloaf area. That area is about 35 to 40 minutes from the take-off area.
And in the last mile of that run lost an ear on his prop, forcing him to shut down early.
And in the last mile of that run lost an ear on his prop, forcing him to shut down early.
But he started catching fish anyway. This would be his first keeper of the day, a spotted bass.
But he started catching fish anyway. This would be his first keeper of the day, a spotted bass.
And moments later he would add his second, also a spotted bass.
And moments later he would add his second, also a spotted bass.
And in short order, he had three keepers in the boat, all of the spotted bass. He said he could catch one on every outside buck brush. But they were two small.
And in short order, he had three keepers in the boat, all of the spotted bass. He said he could catch one on every outside buck brush. But they were two small.
Then his fourth keeper would hit from well within the bushes.
Then his fourth keeper would hit from well within the bushes.
The tussle and splash let us know this wasn't a small spotted bass. Those were basically jerked in the boat.
The tussle and splash let us know this wasn’t a small spotted bass. Those were basically jerked in the boat.
Zaldain quickly pulled the fish to the side of the boat.
Zaldain quickly pulled the fish to the side of the boat.
And the resulting splash and fish showed us this was a definite upgrade.
And the resulting splash and fish showed us this was a definite upgrade.
While the fish wasn't huge, it was definitely the size Zaldain hoped to capture more of.
While the fish wasn’t huge, it was definitely the size Zaldain hoped to capture more of.
The 2-pound largemouth has been the most common fish in this event. Capturing one with even a little more weight than that is cause for celebration.
The 2-pound largemouth has been the most common fish in this event. Capturing one with even a little more weight than that is cause for celebration.
While there were four fish in the boat, this would be the only one Zaldain would want to ride with him all day long.
While there were four fish in the boat, this would be the only one Zaldain would want to ride with him all day long.
He would quickly get back to work, gritting his teeth as he worked his drop-shot around the flooded bushes.
He would quickly get back to work, gritting his teeth as he worked his drop-shot around the flooded bushes.
His fifth fish would bite soon after, this one well into the bushes.
His fifth fish would bite soon after, this one well into the bushes.
But the fish quickly hung him up and forced the pro to get into the bushes to retrieve it.
But the fish quickly hung him up and forced the pro to get into the bushes to retrieve it.
In a flash he was on his belly trying to get a hand on the fish he felt
In a flash he was on his belly trying to get a hand on the fish he felt “looked like a 4-pounder.”
The fish, though, would win this one And the Bassmaster drone would be there to capture the whole scene.
The fish, though, would win this one And the Bassmaster drone would be there to capture the whole scene.
Zaldain would continue to get bit, but not by the size fish he needed.
Zaldain would continue to get bit, but not by the size fish he needed.
He eventually hooked up with his fifth keeper.
He eventually hooked up with his fifth keeper.
Zaldain had a few tense moments as he fought the keeper around the tangles of multiple bushes.
Zaldain had a few tense moments as he fought the keeper around the tangles of multiple bushes.
He eventually got the fish in the open.
He eventually got the fish in the open.
And jerked his fifth keeper into the boat.
And jerked his fifth keeper into the boat.
This one would be a largemouth.
This one would be a largemouth.
And finish out his limit, giving him a total of around 10 pounds for the day.
And finish out his limit, giving him a total of around 10 pounds for the day.
With a limit in the box, Zaldain turned his attention to changing his prop.
With a limit in the box, Zaldain turned his attention to changing his prop.
And while he was pulling his way past the bushes, he came out with this little critter.
And while he was pulling his way past the bushes, he came out with this little critter.
A banded water snake is harmless, but not something most sane people would just grab up.
A banded water snake is harmless, but not something most sane people would just grab up.
With the snake scared away, Zaldain jumps into the shallow water to change out his prop.
With the snake scared away, Zaldain jumps into the shallow water to change out his prop.
The ear was obviously sheared.
The ear was obviously sheared.
It didn't take Zaldain long to take the old prop off and insert the new one. All he needed was a piece of hard wood to torque the nut down and make sure other problems don't occur.
It didn’t take Zaldain long to take the old prop off and insert the new one. All he needed was a piece of hard wood to torque the nut down and make sure other problems don’t occur.
The only hard wood nearby was the stock end of shotgun, offered by the camera-boat driver, who had it in his boat to either shoot snakes or possibly hunt turkeys.
The only hard wood nearby was the stock end of shotgun, offered by the camera-boat driver, who had it in his boat to either shoot snakes or possibly hunt turkeys.
The Remington 870 was perfect for the job.
The Remington 870 was perfect for the job.
And the 30-year old gun held up to the torquing Zaldain put on it.
And the 30-year old gun held up to the torquing Zaldain put on it.
With the job complete, a wrench in one hand and a gun in the other, Zaldain was ready to move on.
With the job complete, a wrench in one hand and a gun in the other, Zaldain was ready to move on.
He quickly moved to another area.
He quickly moved to another area.
After two more moves, he started hooking up again.
After two more moves, he started hooking up again.
This one rumbled...
This one rumbled…
...stumbled...
…stumbled…
...tumbled...
…tumbled…
And rolled it's way all the way to the boat.
And rolled it’s way all the way to the boat.
Before being put aboard by Zaldain.
Before being put aboard by Zaldain.
The next bite, though, would not come in so easy.
The next bite, though, would not come in so easy.

This one would force Zaldain to do a little squatting as he battled it to the boat.
This one would force Zaldain to do a little squatting as he battled it to the boat.
And eventually getting close enough to jerk in.
And eventually getting close enough to jerk in.
This would be another better than 2-pound average fish that would give Zaldain cause for a little yell.
This would be another better than 2-pound average fish that would give Zaldain cause for a little yell.
The better fish would allow Zaldain the opportunity to cull.
The better fish would allow Zaldain the opportunity to cull.
He was able to cull out one of the small spotted bass from the morning.
He was able to cull out one of the small spotted bass from the morning.
And for the first time of the day felt like he might have enough to finish in the top 12 and fish the final day.
And for the first time of the day felt like he might have enough to finish in the top 12 and fish the final day.
But he wouldn't stop there.
But he wouldn’t stop there.
Another keeper largemouth bulled out of the bushes.
Another keeper largemouth bulled out of the bushes.
And started racing toward open water.
And started racing toward open water.
The resulting push around the boat forced Zaldain to break into a dance routine of his complete with a left hand on his hip.
The resulting push around the boat forced Zaldain to break into a dance routine of his complete with a left hand on his hip.
But it would take two hands to slow the fish on the opposite side.
But it would take two hands to slow the fish on the opposite side.
And give Zaldain enough leverage to jerk the fish out of the water.
And give Zaldain enough leverage to jerk the fish out of the water.
And into the boat.
And into the boat.
Zaldain's dance moves would continue.
Zaldain’s dance moves would continue.
Some of them ending with a kick as the bass came in the boat.
Some of them ending with a kick as the bass came in the boat.
And some of them adding ounces to his overall weight.
And some of them adding ounces to his overall weight.
Even if it took a few extra glances to make certain.
Even if it took a few extra glances to make certain.
Or a side-by-side comparison to make doubly certain.
Or a side-by-side comparison to make doubly certain.
After every cull and a few minutes later, Zaldain would start his fish landing dance again.
After every cull and a few minutes later, Zaldain would start his fish landing dance again.
This one kept his knees moving.
This one kept his knees moving.
Before Zaldain popped him in the boat.
Before Zaldain popped him in the boat.
Yet another decent keeper.
Yet another decent keeper.
That would give Zaldain a few more ounces.
That would give Zaldain a few more ounces.
Some smaller fish were in the mix.
Some smaller fish were in the mix.
But it was always the better fish that created the Zaldain dance.
But it was always the better fish that created the Zaldain dance.
That ended with a kick and a fish in the boat.
That ended with a kick and a fish in the boat.
And precious few ounces added to his total.
And precious few ounces added to his total.