Faircloth on the water

Sandhill cranes fly over Todd Faircloth’s first stop on the final day of the AOY Championship.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Faircloth was fishing across Bay de Noc as far East as you could near Fairport, Mich.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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The morning started really slow, forcing Faircloth to dig into his rod box early.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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The water temperature had dropped by 9 degrees since Day 1.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Paul Elias buzzes past.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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A cloud bank moves in from the west.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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And so does Edwin Evers, who speeds past and heads a little further East.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Faircloth stuck to his primary spot for most of the morning.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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He caught 21 pounds there on Day 1.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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And most of that weight came in the first hour and half of the day.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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But the fish weren’t cooperating on Monday.

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It would be 10:15 a.m. before Faircloth would catch his first keeper.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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The size would not match those caught on Day 1.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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But after the lid was opened, Faircloth would begin catching fish.

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Andy Montgomery and he shared water, but once Faircloth caught a couple, he gave the spot to AOY contender.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Opting instead to fight his way into the big waves for other water.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Faircloth would catch a limit there.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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But none of them would be the big smallmouth he needed.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Nearby, the wind is picking up, forcing pelicans to take shelter behind a tuft of grass.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Faircloth continued to catch fish.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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And they continued to be just average.

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None of them in the 4-pound range.

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But they would give him a solid limit.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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And occasionally fish like this one would jump off.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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While other average smallmouth would stay hooked.

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He built a limit on decent fish,

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And kept working the area.

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Catching several smallmouth.

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He tried running from the wind.

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But calmer water would not provide any bites.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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By mid-day he moved to the middle of the bay.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Where he would start culling.

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But even those lacked the shoulders he needed.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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The rocking waves forced him to work for every bite.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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The waves rolled him down.

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And forced him to take a seat to land fish.

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While digging into the waves,

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And culling.

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At times his whole boat would be obscured.

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And other times he would be riding high.

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Just to come crashing back down.

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But he was catching fish.

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And they were big enough to cull.

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Although it was tough to stay in position.

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He never checked up.

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At times he had to use the big motor to get back to his spot.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Rolling up and crashing down on the short trips.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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And then settling in to fish.

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Before having to repeat the trip,

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And the crashing of waves.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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The waves were relentless.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Some rolling over the bow.

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Some just rolling.

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Making for an uncomfortable ride home.

Photo: Steve Bowman

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Faircloth on the water

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