Day 4 on Chickamauga II

Kevin VanDam, Jeff Kriet and Russ Lane work to bring in five good keepers on Day 4 on Chickamauga Lake.

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Like he had the previous two tournament days, Kevin VanDam arrived to the same point. This time with a cameraman and a contingent of spectators.
Like he had the previous two tournament days, Kevin VanDam arrived to the same point. This time with a cameraman and a contingent of spectators.
While many spectators followed him down the river, there were already two dozen waiting before he got there.
While many spectators followed him down the river, there were already two dozen waiting before he got there.
Not far behind him is Russ Lane.
Not far behind him is Russ Lane.
It didn’t take Lane long before he hooked up, either.
It didn’t take Lane long before he hooked up, either.
This fish made a shot jump,
This fish made a shot jump,
and then another one close to the boat,
and then another one close to the boat,
before Lane could boat flip the fish.
before Lane could boat flip the fish.
Lane thought the fish would be in the 4-pound range.
Lane thought the fish would be in the 4-pound range.
The fish comes in perfectly for the marshal to get a shot.
The fish comes in perfectly for the marshal to get a shot.
Lane and KVD hope the catch has fired up a school of fish.
Lane and KVD hope the catch has fired up a school of fish.
A throng of spectators gather in hopes of watching a display like that on Day 2.
A throng of spectators gather in hopes of watching a display like that on Day 2.
While they are watching and KVD is studying his graph, a boater blows across the point.
While they are watching and KVD is studying his graph, a boater blows across the point.
At about the same time, Jeff Kriet shows up.
At about the same time, Jeff Kriet shows up.
He has his own issues, asking the armada of boats to make way as he moves to his spot.
He has his own issues, asking the armada of boats to make way as he moves to his spot.
Nearby, Mark Zona produces a BassCam explaining what is taking place behind him.
Nearby, Mark Zona produces a BassCam explaining what is taking place behind him.
Russ Lane heaves a cast toward to point.
Russ Lane heaves a cast toward to point.
And KVD follows with a cast of his own.
And KVD follows with a cast of his own.
After his cast, he works to wave off a boat idling across the point.
After his cast, he works to wave off a boat idling across the point.
And behind him, Jeff Kriet does the same.
And behind him, Jeff Kriet does the same.
And then KVD is back to casting.
And then KVD is back to casting.
A young boy looks amazed at the throng of boats,
A young boy looks amazed at the throng of boats,
but the boatload never check up as they idle down river and next to KVD.
but the boatload never check up as they idle down river and next to KVD.
Kriet can only smile and shrug.
Kriet can only smile and shrug.
Despite the disturbance, KVD hooks up soon after.
Despite the disturbance, KVD hooks up soon after.
He quickly gets the fish to the side of the boat,
He quickly gets the fish to the side of the boat,
swinging it toward him,
swinging it toward him,
and into his hand. This would be his first keeper.
and into his hand. This would be his first keeper.
Spectators nearby capture the action on their smartphones.
Spectators nearby capture the action on their smartphones.
Soon after, KVD is back to casting,
Soon after, KVD is back to casting,
lofting long casts over the flat.
lofting long casts over the flat.
And boaters continue to idle across the point.
And boaters continue to idle across the point.
Kriet reels in a mussel,
Kriet reels in a mussel,
and lets the spectators near him know it’s huge.
and lets the spectators near him know it’s huge.
Lane and Kriet gather close to the sweet spot where the three anglers caught big fish on Day 2.
Lane and Kriet gather close to the sweet spot where the three anglers caught big fish on Day 2.
One would be casting, one would be fishing.
One would be casting, one would be fishing.
And then the other would be casting.
And then the other would be casting.
And every once in a while, a boat would leave the river channel and boat across the point, right by the anglers.
And every once in a while, a boat would leave the river channel and boat across the point, right by the anglers.
Sometimes they would wave the boats around.
Sometimes they would wave the boats around.
But a lot of times, they would just keep coming.
But a lot of times, they would just keep coming.
The anglers would stay focused and keep working.
The anglers would stay focused and keep working.
Even though they were surrounded by boats.
Even though they were surrounded by boats.
Lane would move shallow and fire a crankbait .
Lane would move shallow and fire a crankbait .
And more spectators would move in.
And more spectators would move in.
Occasionally, one of them would get a bite.
Occasionally, one of them would get a bite.
And swing the fish in the boat.
And swing the fish in the boat.
VanDam is measuring this one at it nears his hand.
VanDam is measuring this one at it nears his hand.
Then does it for real on the measuring board,
Then does it for real on the measuring board,
before dumping the short back into the river.
before dumping the short back into the river.
Lane would move shallow,
Lane would move shallow,
and catch the same type fish.
and catch the same type fish.
And in the deep water, Kriet kept firing away.
And in the deep water, Kriet kept firing away.
He would hook up,
He would hook up,
and the scenario was the same: short fish.
and the scenario was the same: short fish.
One of the more exciting catches was a trolling motor prop.
One of the more exciting catches was a trolling motor prop.
It was exciting, because as Lane was catching it, KVD was working on his.
It was exciting, because as Lane was catching it, KVD was working on his.
And all the time, boats continued to idle over the point.
And all the time, boats continued to idle over the point.
KVD would eventually leave, opting for a more peaceful area.
KVD would eventually leave, opting for a more peaceful area.
He caught a few fish here, before the cameras arrived.
He caught a few fish here, before the cameras arrived.
And for the most part appeared to be throwing just about everything.
And for the most part appeared to be throwing just about everything.
He was working it so fast that the water from his retrieve was still in the air above him, and he’s be moving through to the next cast.
He was working it so fast that the water from his retrieve was still in the air above him, and he’s be moving through to the next cast.
But about the only fish catching taking place was by a blue heron.
But about the only fish catching taking place was by a blue heron.
But VanDam never stopped moving.
But VanDam never stopped moving.
By midday he was still searching for a big fish.
By midday he was still searching for a big fish.