Day Three on the water I

Pros watched for bird activity on Oneida today to find where the fish were.

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<p> Randy Howell was struggling to get a bite early on Day Three, and when he did, the fish were small.</p>
Randy Howell was struggling to get a bite early on Day Three, and when he did, the fish were small.
<p> Howell fishes alongside one of the many beautiful homes on Oneida Lake.</p>
Howell fishes alongside one of the many beautiful homes on Oneida Lake.
<p> Recreational boat traffic picked up early on Saturday morning.</p>
Recreational boat traffic picked up early on Saturday morning.
<p> Howell hooks up with his first keeper fish of the day.</p>
Howell hooks up with his first keeper fish of the day.
<p> Howell eases the fish over the side and into the boat.</p>
Howell eases the fish over the side and into the boat.
<p> Howell moves to remove the hooks from his first keeper of the day.</p>
Howell moves to remove the hooks from his first keeper of the day.
<p> Howell’s first fish of the day was a nice smallmouth, weighing 3 pounds, 12 ounces on his scales.</p>
Howell’s first fish of the day was a nice smallmouth, weighing 3 pounds, 12 ounces on his scales.
<p> After boating his fish, Howell heaves another long cast into the area.</p>
After boating his fish, Howell heaves another long cast into the area.
<p> Howell removes grass from his bait, while constantly scanning for birds working over baitfish.</p>
Howell removes grass from his bait, while constantly scanning for birds working over baitfish.
<p> Jason Williamson makes a move west on Oneida Lake.</p>
Jason Williamson makes a move west on Oneida Lake.
<p> Howell said birds working bait had been a huge key to his fishing pattern on Day Two.</p>
Howell said birds working bait had been a huge key to his fishing pattern on Day Two.
<p> Howell said the strong morning wind was hurting his chances on Day Three.</p>
Howell said the strong morning wind was hurting his chances on Day Three.
<p> Howell would often cast one direction, while always scanning the horizon for birds and breaking fish.</p>
Howell would often cast one direction, while always scanning the horizon for birds and breaking fish.
<p> Howell grabs a quick drink of water as he makes yet another move.</p>
Howell grabs a quick drink of water as he makes yet another move.
<p> Howell said he desired calm, slick water conditions, but the wind and boat traffic kept the water stirred on Day Three. </p>
Howell said he desired calm, slick water conditions, but the wind and boat traffic kept the water stirred on Day Three. 
<p> Brent Chapman pulls alongside Randy Howell to compare midday fishing notes.</p>
Brent Chapman pulls alongside Randy Howell to compare midday fishing notes.
<p> Matt Herren was trying to move up in the standings and qualify to fish on Sunday.</p>
Matt Herren was trying to move up in the standings and qualify to fish on Sunday.
<p> Skeet Reese adjusts the depth of his trolling motor after fishing a shallow flat.</p>
Skeet Reese adjusts the depth of his trolling motor after fishing a shallow flat.
<p> Skeet takes his hole shot to make a move.</p>
Skeet takes his hole shot to make a move.
<p> Brent Chapman had an early limit, but said it was small.</p>
Brent Chapman had an early limit, but said it was small.
<p> Jason Quinn said he had four fish in the livewell but needed one more to make sure he fished on Sunday and qualified for the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.</p>
Jason Quinn said he had four fish in the livewell but needed one more to make sure he fished on Sunday and qualified for the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.
<p> Travis Manson casts a topwater bait over a shallow grass flat.</p>
Travis Manson casts a topwater bait over a shallow grass flat.
<p> Birds work over an island near Ott Defoe.</p>
Birds work over an island near Ott Defoe.
<p> Todd Faircloth described his Day Three on Oneida Lake as slow, slow and slow.</p>
Todd Faircloth described his Day Three on Oneida Lake as slow, slow and slow.
<p> Clark Reehm started the morning in 11th place with 29 pounds, 10 ounces.</p>
Clark Reehm started the morning in 11th place with 29 pounds, 10 ounces.
<p> Cliff Prince fires a jig into Oneida Lake.</p>
Cliff Prince fires a jig into Oneida Lake.
<p> Takahiro Omori was fishing shallow boat docks on Day Three.</p>
Takahiro Omori was fishing shallow boat docks on Day Three.