Day Three with Vinson

Check out leader Greg Vinson's Day Three on the water.

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<p>When Greg Vinson arrived at his primary spot Sunday, he found a mat of floating debris (foreground).</p>
When Greg Vinson arrived at his primary spot Sunday, he found a mat of floating debris (foreground).
<p>Vinson fished around the mat, trying to work his bait under some of it and got a bite quickly.</p>
Vinson fished around the mat, trying to work his bait under some of it and got a bite quickly.
<p>This one was a white bass that put up a big fight.</p>
This one was a white bass that put up a big fight.
<p>Rather than lose his bait, Vinson decides to handle the fish into the boat.</p>
Rather than lose his bait, Vinson decides to handle the fish into the boat.
<p>With the mat proving to be too thick, Vinson ran his boat in a zig-zag pattern to break it up.</p>
With the mat proving to be too thick, Vinson ran his boat in a zig-zag pattern to break it up.
<p>After breaking it up, he ran closely to the bank to push it out.</p>
After breaking it up, he ran closely to the bank to push it out.
<p>After several minutes of running back and forth, he broke up the mat enough to fish.</p>
After several minutes of running back and forth, he broke up the mat enough to fish.
<p>This is what the mat looked like before.</p>
This is what the mat looked like before.
<p>A sign on the bank points anglers to deeper parts of the lake.</p>
A sign on the bank points anglers to deeper parts of the lake.
<p>With the mat dissipated, Vinson fishes further into the creek and almost immediately hooks up.</p>
With the mat dissipated, Vinson fishes further into the creek and almost immediately hooks up.
<p>This one, though, was a crappie.</p>
This one, though, was a crappie.
<p>During the course of the day, Vinson caught crappie, white bass and all three species of bass.</p>
During the course of the day, Vinson caught crappie, white bass and all three species of bass.
<p>There were very few times he wasn’t hooked up with something swimming in the creek.</p>
There were very few times he wasn’t hooked up with something swimming in the creek.
<p>This time it was a nice spotted bass.</p>
This time it was a nice spotted bass.
<p>That made a series of mighty jumps as Vinson reeled it toward the boat.</p>
That made a series of mighty jumps as Vinson reeled it toward the boat.
<p>During the fight, the fish jumped at least three times, clearing the water…</p>
During the fight, the fish jumped at least three times, clearing the water…
<p>Then crashing back into the lake.</p>
Then crashing back into the lake.
<p>Each time, it sent a splash of water into the air.</p>
Each time, it sent a splash of water into the air.
<p>Closer to the boat, Vinson kneels down to land the fish.</p>
Closer to the boat, Vinson kneels down to land the fish.
<p>Its last jump creating a big splash.</p>
Its last jump creating a big splash.
<p>Before coming off right at the side of the boat.</p>
Before coming off right at the side of the boat.
<p>But a few minutes later, Vinson had another fish on.</p>
But a few minutes later, Vinson had another fish on.
<p>This one made it to the boat.</p>
This one made it to the boat.
<p>Vinson fishes the back of a creek.</p>
Vinson fishes the back of a creek.
<p>A small waterfall and stream of fresh water were pouring into the creek as Vinson fishes.</p>
A small waterfall and stream of fresh water were pouring into the creek as Vinson fishes.
<p>Vinson casts toward the bank, the mat of debris still evident to his right.</p>
Vinson casts toward the bank, the mat of debris still evident to his right.
<p>The sun catches the line giving the appearance of a much longer rod.</p>
The sun catches the line giving the appearance of a much longer rod.
<p>Vinson spent a lot of his time fishing just to outside of the flooded brush.</p>
Vinson spent a lot of his time fishing just to outside of the flooded brush.
<p>In a couple of places, he could cast toward docks and boat-houses.</p>
In a couple of places, he could cast toward docks and boat-houses.
<p>All the while, catching fish.</p>
All the while, catching fish.
<p>An American flag that has seen better days gives a good indicator of the wind blowing into the creek.</p>
An American flag that has seen better days gives a good indicator of the wind blowing into the creek.
<p>Back on his main stretch, Vinson catches a big white bass.</p>
Back on his main stretch, Vinson catches a big white bass.
<p>Then follows it up with a short largemouth.</p>
Then follows it up with a short largemouth.
<p>The fish came close to measuring, but didn’t meet the 15-inch minimum.</p>
The fish came close to measuring, but didn’t meet the 15-inch minimum.
<p>Vinson fishes a point, looking for fish pulling up on the warm day.</p>
Vinson fishes a point, looking for fish pulling up on the warm day.
<p>It was mid-day before it was warm enough to shed his jacket.</p>
It was mid-day before it was warm enough to shed his jacket.
<p>And by noon, he was changing tactics and tying on new lures.</p>
And by noon, he was changing tactics and tying on new lures.