Day 4 with Myers

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Britt Myers arrives after a 1 hour and 30 minute run from Georgetown to a rice field flat in the Pimlico area of the Cooper River. He had enjoyed the lead after two days of action, but had fallen to third after Day 3.
Britt Myers arrives after a 1 hour and 30 minute run from Georgetown to a rice field flat in the Pimlico area of the Cooper River. He had enjoyed the lead after two days of action, but had fallen to third after Day 3.
Within the first minutes of his arrival, Myers hooks up.
Within the first minutes of his arrival, Myers hooks up.
The bend in his rod promised a fish that would be larger than the norm.
The bend in his rod promised a fish that would be larger than the norm.
The 3-pound plus fish would start Myers day on the right track.
The 3-pound plus fish would start Myers day on the right track.
It would actually be his largest of the day.
It would actually be his largest of the day.
Each day of the event, Myers had started with a decent keeper.
Each day of the event, Myers had started with a decent keeper.
Each of them were important, but this one proved to be even more so on the final day.
Each of them were important, but this one proved to be even more so on the final day.
You could see in his reaction that he knew it was the right fish.
You could see in his reaction that he knew it was the right fish.
A quick show to the audience of Bassmaster Live.
A quick show to the audience of Bassmaster Live.
Then Myers leaned in real close.
Then Myers leaned in real close.
And in his best Jimmy Houston imitation, planted a kiss on the fish.
And in his best Jimmy Houston imitation, planted a kiss on the fish.
Once the make-out session was over, Myers was back at work. Working his white bladed jig and fluke around isolated pieces of wood scattered on the flat.
Once the make-out session was over, Myers was back at work. Working his white bladed jig and fluke around isolated pieces of wood scattered on the flat.
He often knelt down, after a fish swung and missed or flashed at his lure.
He often knelt down, after a fish swung and missed or flashed at his lure.
An Osprey checks out the action from on high.
An Osprey checks out the action from on high.
And after the quick kneel down, Myers boats his second keeper.
And after the quick kneel down, Myers boats his second keeper.
Again, the Bassmaster Live audience got a close look.
Again, the Bassmaster Live audience got a close look.
And the Myers was back to work.
And the Myers was back to work.
In short order he had his third keeper.
In short order he had his third keeper.
But at this point, they were smaller than what he had caught the first two days of the event.
But at this point, they were smaller than what he had caught the first two days of the event.
But in this event, they were all critical.
But in this event, they were all critical.
Myers worked the flat all morning, obviously bearing down.
Myers worked the flat all morning, obviously bearing down.
Besides a smattering of spectators, he had a pelican glide by just an inch or so off the water.
Besides a smattering of spectators, he had a pelican glide by just an inch or so off the water.
And there were moments when the occasional snag would slow things down.
And there were moments when the occasional snag would slow things down.
Chris Zaldain shared the flat and he was catching small ones as well.
Chris Zaldain shared the flat and he was catching small ones as well.
And at times it appeared as if he had found the big bite.
And at times it appeared as if he had found the big bite.
But for the first time all week, they turned into what South Carolinians refer to as “jack fish.”
But for the first time all week, they turned into what South Carolinians refer to as “jack fish.”
They would provide a few moments of excitement. That always ended in a let down.
They would provide a few moments of excitement. That always ended in a let down.
Closer to the river, Zaldain would catch his second keeper.
Closer to the river, Zaldain would catch his second keeper.
And like the previous keeper.
And like the previous keeper.
It was on the small side.
It was on the small side.
By mid-morning, Myers would be stuck on three as he waited for the tide to top out. The marks on the pilings show just how far of a rise that required.
By mid-morning, Myers would be stuck on three as he waited for the tide to top out. The marks on the pilings show just how far of a rise that required.
But he would continue to get bit.
But he would continue to get bit.
Unfortunately by the wrong species.
Unfortunately by the wrong species.
The jack fish or pickerel loved his bladed jig.
The jack fish or pickerel loved his bladed jig.
And he went through a flurry of three or four in less than 15 minutes.
And he went through a flurry of three or four in less than 15 minutes.
After a relatively short move, he escaped the pickerel.
After a relatively short move, he escaped the pickerel.
And started looking for bites in places behind the reeds.
And started looking for bites in places behind the reeds.
He eventually moved back to his primary area, though, and quickly added a fourth keeper.
He eventually moved back to his primary area, though, and quickly added a fourth keeper.
His fifth keeper, and potentially the most critical fish of the day, bit soon after that.
His fifth keeper, and potentially the most critical fish of the day, bit soon after that.
At the time this fish put Myers in the lead on BassTrakk.
At the time this fish put Myers in the lead on BassTrakk.
Although it was just by ounces, it indicated that Myers could win this event.
Although it was just by ounces, it indicated that Myers could win this event.
Myers, though, had no way of knowing that. Elite anglers are forbidden to look at BassTrakk.
Myers, though, had no way of knowing that. Elite anglers are forbidden to look at BassTrakk.
The fish, though, would provide enough margin,
The fish, though, would provide enough margin,
To move him in the driver’s seat for the rest of the day.
To move him in the driver’s seat for the rest of the day.
With a limit in hand, Myers took a seat and the normally smiling Myers, broke out in a toothy grin that beamed across the area.
With a limit in hand, Myers took a seat and the normally smiling Myers, broke out in a toothy grin that beamed across the area.
Minutes later he would catch a sixth keeper that hit right at the boat.
Minutes later he would catch a sixth keeper that hit right at the boat.
This fish would cull up a few ounces, providing an extra bit of weight.
This fish would cull up a few ounces, providing an extra bit of weight.
Myers, though, felt like he needed a 5-pounder to even have a shot. He moved quickly around the area, getting hung up in a hyacinth patch.
Myers, though, felt like he needed a 5-pounder to even have a shot. He moved quickly around the area, getting hung up in a hyacinth patch.
At times you could hear him say “come on big girl, I need you to bite.’’
At times you could hear him say “come on big girl, I need you to bite.’’
As other anglers in the Cooper River left the area for the long ride home, Myers stayed until the very last minute hoping for the final big bite.
As other anglers in the Cooper River left the area for the long ride home, Myers stayed until the very last minute hoping for the final big bite.
At 1:45 p.m., he was forced to race away, facing a more than 1 hour and 30 minute run back with a 3:20 p.m. check in time and thinking he was more than 5 pounds away from a win the whole way.
At 1:45 p.m., he was forced to race away, facing a more than 1 hour and 30 minute run back with a 3:20 p.m. check in time and thinking he was more than 5 pounds away from a win the whole way.