Lefebre’s last stand

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Dave Lefebre held a 4-6 lead going into Championship Sunday on Wheeler Lake. Follow along as he tries to hold steady and win his first Elite Series event.
Dave Lefebre held a 4-6 lead going into Championship Sunday on Wheeler Lake. Follow along as he tries to hold steady and win his first Elite Series event.
Lefebre pulled into his main area and started to hit his sweet stuff just 15 minutes after takeoff.
Lefebre pulled into his main area and started to hit his sweet stuff just 15 minutes after takeoff.
He flipped and pitched a 3/8-ounce black and blue jig towards the wooded cover.
He flipped and pitched a 3/8-ounce black and blue jig towards the wooded cover.
After hitting some of the deeper wood cover he moved closer to the shoreline vegetation and brush.
After hitting some of the deeper wood cover he moved closer to the shoreline vegetation and brush.
Along with a jig he threw two different types of topwater baits. One being a buzzbait and the other being the new Terminator Poppin’ Frog, which will be released at ICAST.
Along with a jig he threw two different types of topwater baits. One being a buzzbait and the other being the new Terminator Poppin’ Frog, which will be released at ICAST.
Lefebre started his morning off slow as he tried to locate where the fish may have positioned themselves with the harsh rain and fluctuating water levels.
Lefebre started his morning off slow as he tried to locate where the fish may have positioned themselves with the harsh rain and fluctuating water levels.
Cameraman Rick Mason gets level with the water to get a unique shot.
Cameraman Rick Mason gets level with the water to get a unique shot.
He switches up to the in-line buzzbait as he rounds a small point.
He switches up to the in-line buzzbait as he rounds a small point.
The Bassmaster drone flies in to get some aerial shots of Lefebre.
The Bassmaster drone flies in to get some aerial shots of Lefebre.
No, he isn’t ducking from the drone, but rather squatting so he could skip his bait under some overhanging trees.
No, he isn’t ducking from the drone, but rather squatting so he could skip his bait under some overhanging trees.
A young fishing fan sits on top of his truck so he can get a better view of Lefebre going to work.
A young fishing fan sits on top of his truck so he can get a better view of Lefebre going to work.
The Elite Series newcomer heads around an overhanging tree and makes a quick cast past it.
The Elite Series newcomer heads around an overhanging tree and makes a quick cast past it.
He hooks up with his first possible keeper of the morning.
He hooks up with his first possible keeper of the morning.
The fish boils near a piece of wood as Lefebre lets it get free.
The fish boils near a piece of wood as Lefebre lets it get free.
He keeps the fish down before he gets ready to swing it in the boat.
He keeps the fish down before he gets ready to swing it in the boat.
He then gains leverage on the bass and starts to bring it airborne.
He then gains leverage on the bass and starts to bring it airborne.
He went a longtime without a keeper bite to start his morning.
He went a longtime without a keeper bite to start his morning.
On Day 3 he had three keepers in the livewell by 8 a.m., but on Championship Sunday this was the only thing swimming in the box at that time.
On Day 3 he had three keepers in the livewell by 8 a.m., but on Championship Sunday this was the only thing swimming in the box at that time.
That chunk gets his morning started.
That chunk gets his morning started.
That keeper started a flurry for Lefebre as he looked to build his weight.
That keeper started a flurry for Lefebre as he looked to build his weight.
A small keeper comes aboard and Lefebre will likely cull that, but for now it is number two.
A small keeper comes aboard and Lefebre will likely cull that, but for now it is number two.
This one bit the black and blue jig as well.
This one bit the black and blue jig as well.
Back to work for Lefebre. He doesn’t know it, but Takahiro Omori already had three fish for about 12 pounds at this point in the day and was unofficially leading.
Back to work for Lefebre. He doesn’t know it, but Takahiro Omori already had three fish for about 12 pounds at this point in the day and was unofficially leading.
He hooks up again and keeps the flurry going.
He hooks up again and keeps the flurry going.
This one jumps near the boat…
This one jumps near the boat…
…as Lefebre swings it aboard.
…as Lefebre swings it aboard.
Number three for the Pennsylvania pro as he slowly builds his total.
Number three for the Pennsylvania pro as he slowly builds his total.
Lefebre looks to improve from three to four as he hooks up again.
Lefebre looks to improve from three to four as he hooks up again.
Another small fish, but it put up a fight close to the boat.
Another small fish, but it put up a fight close to the boat.
He swings it aboard and that is four keepers in 40 minutes.
He swings it aboard and that is four keepers in 40 minutes.
The size was very different for Lefebre on the final day, but at least he was getting bites early.
The size was very different for Lefebre on the final day, but at least he was getting bites early.
This one might be a little bigger than the last few fish.
This one might be a little bigger than the last few fish.
It is, but he still wants to get rid of that one later in the day.
It is, but he still wants to get rid of that one later in the day.
Chunky bass for Lefebre to fill his limit.
Chunky bass for Lefebre to fill his limit.
Time to hydrate and get back to work.
Time to hydrate and get back to work.
He keeps the momentum going as he sets the hook again.
He keeps the momentum going as he sets the hook again.
The small fish may actually cull one of the even smaller fish he caught earlier.
The small fish may actually cull one of the even smaller fish he caught earlier.
Lefebre shows off a shad that a bass spit up in his livewell.
Lefebre shows off a shad that a bass spit up in his livewell.
After a small lull in the action a bass boils on his jig as he pulled it back to the boat so Lefebre dropped in back in the water and the fish crushed his bait.
After a small lull in the action a bass boils on his jig as he pulled it back to the boat so Lefebre dropped in back in the water and the fish crushed his bait.
He fought the fish towards the boat as it went wild after being hooked.
He fought the fish towards the boat as it went wild after being hooked.
This one will certainly help the cause, but Lefebre noted this looked to be a post-spawn fish.
This one will certainly help the cause, but Lefebre noted this looked to be a post-spawn fish.
It was a long skinny fish and not as thick as the pre-spawners Lefebre had been catching on Days 1 through 3.
It was a long skinny fish and not as thick as the pre-spawners Lefebre had been catching on Days 1 through 3.
A couple minutes later he hooked up with a grown one and he knew it right away.
A couple minutes later he hooked up with a grown one and he knew it right away.
He certainly needed this kicker so he kept his rod down to prevent the fish from jumping.
He certainly needed this kicker so he kept his rod down to prevent the fish from jumping.
As the fish surged towards the surface Lefebre decided to swing the fish.
As the fish surged towards the surface Lefebre decided to swing the fish.
This largemouth had other plans as it thrashed. You can see the fish was hooked well with his jig.
This largemouth had other plans as it thrashed. You can see the fish was hooked well with his jig.
The acrobatic fish didn’t come aboard his boat easily and actually didn’t make it on the first attempt.
The acrobatic fish didn’t come aboard his boat easily and actually didn’t make it on the first attempt.
As you can see on Lefebre’s face, the fish had plans of its own and was going crazy.
As you can see on Lefebre’s face, the fish had plans of its own and was going crazy.
This was the bite that Lefebre had been waiting for. At 10:30 a.m. he desperately needed to wrangle this one in the boat.
This was the bite that Lefebre had been waiting for. At 10:30 a.m. he desperately needed to wrangle this one in the boat.
It lands back in the water and Lefebre regains his composure momentarily.
It lands back in the water and Lefebre regains his composure momentarily.
Time to get this fish in the boat.
Time to get this fish in the boat.
And he successfully lands the kicker and shows a big sign of emotion as he gives a big “Wooo” after winning that battle.
And he successfully lands the kicker and shows a big sign of emotion as he gives a big “Wooo” after winning that battle.
Hello GoPro, meet Mr. Largemouth.
Hello GoPro, meet Mr. Largemouth.
That will certainly bump his weight up significantly.
That will certainly bump his weight up significantly.
Trading a 1-pounder for a 4+ pounder is clutch for Lefebre.
Trading a 1-pounder for a 4+ pounder is clutch for Lefebre.
He would continue fishing his area as he looked for a few more like that.
He would continue fishing his area as he looked for a few more like that.
Along with grass and wood, Lefebre would fish around isolated clumps of lily pads.
Along with grass and wood, Lefebre would fish around isolated clumps of lily pads.
After no dice in that part of the creek he starts up the big motor and heads back to where he started.
After no dice in that part of the creek he starts up the big motor and heads back to where he started.
He has a couple fans watching along the shore as he probed every piece of cover available.
He has a couple fans watching along the shore as he probed every piece of cover available.
He made a move after a couple minutes and actually left his main area.
He made a move after a couple minutes and actually left his main area.
His change of scenery took him from Trinity Branch to Mallards Creek.
His change of scenery took him from Trinity Branch to Mallards Creek.
After realizing both Cliff Crochet and Gary Klein were fishing in the area he decided he wasn’t going to encroach and so he headed back after only fishing for five minutes.
After realizing both Cliff Crochet and Gary Klein were fishing in the area he decided he wasn’t going to encroach and so he headed back after only fishing for five minutes.
He headed straight back to his area in Trinity Branch and started heaving his buzzbait around the lily-pad flats.
He headed straight back to his area in Trinity Branch and started heaving his buzzbait around the lily-pad flats.
He made his way to some shoreline cover and flipped his jig.
He made his way to some shoreline cover and flipped his jig.
Donk! He got a quick bite and set the hook.
Donk! He got a quick bite and set the hook.
It was all wrapped up in vegetation so he bends down and grabs the fish.
It was all wrapped up in vegetation so he bends down and grabs the fish.
That will help his bag.
That will help his bag.
He heads to the back to make a small cull.
He heads to the back to make a small cull.
Lefebre slips around the corner and fishes some thick cover.
Lefebre slips around the corner and fishes some thick cover.
He slowly made his way back out of the dense cover and into the open.
He slowly made his way back out of the dense cover and into the open.