Following the leader

Go on the water with Elite Series pro Chris Lane during the 2012 Southern Open #1.

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<p> Tournament leader Chris Lane starts off Day Three of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open idling down the Dora Canal on the Harris Chain of Lakes.</p>
Tournament leader Chris Lane starts off Day Three of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open idling down the Dora Canal on the Harris Chain of Lakes.
<p> Lane idles under a bridge on the way to his first fishing location.</p>
Lane idles under a bridge on the way to his first fishing location.
<p> Chris Lane hits the gas, looking to finish out the tournament in his home state.</p>
Chris Lane hits the gas, looking to finish out the tournament in his home state.
<p> The trip to the area that has produces all week for Lane is a long journey with periods of idling and running.</p>
The trip to the area that has produces all week for Lane is a long journey with periods of idling and running.
<p> Lane waits to lock through into Griffin with a few other boats.</p>
Lane waits to lock through into Griffin with a few other boats.
<p> Chris Lane and his non-boater, Bill Capps, relax in the lock early on Day Three of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on the Harris Chain.</p>
Chris Lane and his non-boater, Bill Capps, relax in the lock early on Day Three of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on the Harris Chain.
<p> With the sun rising in the background, Lane makes it out onto Griffin and moves away from the lock.</p>
With the sun rising in the background, Lane makes it out onto Griffin and moves away from the lock.
<p> Lane fires his first cast of the day along an edge in the lily pads.</p>
Lane fires his first cast of the day along an edge in the lily pads.
<p> Chris Lane sets the hook on a Harris Chain largemouth.</p>
Chris Lane sets the hook on a Harris Chain largemouth.
<p> Lane readies the net to scoop up his first keeper of the morning.</p>
Lane readies the net to scoop up his first keeper of the morning.
<p> This bass was hooked perfectly in the roof of the mouth.</p>
This bass was hooked perfectly in the roof of the mouth.
<p> Lane shows off his first keeper of the morning, a solid Harris Chain bass.</p>
Lane shows off his first keeper of the morning, a solid Harris Chain bass.
<p> Lane rears back on another fish not long after the first.</p>
Lane rears back on another fish not long after the first.
<p> “Oh, it’s a big one,” Lane says as he continues reeling.</p>
“Oh, it’s a big one,” Lane says as he continues reeling.
<p> A splash near the boat isn’t enough to keep this nice bass from going into the net.</p>
A splash near the boat isn’t enough to keep this nice bass from going into the net.
<p> His second keeper is even bigger than the first.</p>
His second keeper is even bigger than the first.
<p> Lane pulls out a beautiful largemouth that he caught on Day Three.</p>
Lane pulls out a beautiful largemouth that he caught on Day Three.
<p> The final day was starting off right for Lane, the tournament leader.</p>
The final day was starting off right for Lane, the tournament leader.
<p> This big largemouth would be taking a ride in Lane’s livewell.</p>
This big largemouth would be taking a ride in Lane’s livewell.
<p> Chris Lane rigs another worm on Saturday morning.</p>
Chris Lane rigs another worm on Saturday morning.
<p> Lane makes another long cast along his key stretch of water.</p>
Lane makes another long cast along his key stretch of water.
<p> Chris Lane does a little net work of his own for his non-boater Bill Capps.</p>
Chris Lane does a little net work of his own for his non-boater Bill Capps.
<p> Capps, who started the day in 10th place, was very excited to see this big largemouth.</p>
Capps, who started the day in 10th place, was very excited to see this big largemouth.
<p> Bill Capps hooks up with another big fish and Chris Lane walks to the edge of the boat with the net.</p>
Bill Capps hooks up with another big fish and Chris Lane walks to the edge of the boat with the net.
<p> The bass throws water everywhere but Lane is sure-handed enough to scoop it up.</p>
The bass throws water everywhere but Lane is sure-handed enough to scoop it up.
<p> With two huge bass in the boat early, Bill Capps started his run at the non-boater title.</p>
With two huge bass in the boat early, Bill Capps started his run at the non-boater title.
<p> Chris Lane hooks up again early and Bill Capps readies the net.</p>
Chris Lane hooks up again early and Bill Capps readies the net.
<p> Lane moves to the back of the boat with net in hand.</p>
Lane moves to the back of the boat with net in hand.
<p> A huge fish emerges from the water safely in the bottom of Lane’s net.</p>
A huge fish emerges from the water safely in the bottom of Lane’s net.
<p> With the big largemouth safely in the boat, Lane lets out a shout as his non-boater celebrates with him.</p>
With the big largemouth safely in the boat, Lane lets out a shout as his non-boater celebrates with him.
<p> This is exactly the quality fish Chris Lane needs if he wants to secure the tournament victory and a berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.</p>
This is exactly the quality fish Chris Lane needs if he wants to secure the tournament victory and a berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.
<p> Another bass goes airborne as Chris Lane fights it to the boat.</p>
Another bass goes airborne as Chris Lane fights it to the boat.
<p> With another quality fish in the net, Chris Lane is on his way to another great day on the Harris Chain.</p>
With another quality fish in the net, Chris Lane is on his way to another great day on the Harris Chain.
<p> Lane stops to re-rig his bait on Day Three of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on the Harris Chain.</p>
Lane stops to re-rig his bait on Day Three of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on the Harris Chain.