Lucas’ Day 3 on Potomac

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Tournament leader Justin Lucas left the dock in first position on Day 3 of the Potomac River Bassmaster Elite.
Tournament leader Justin Lucas left the dock in first position on Day 3 of the Potomac River Bassmaster Elite.
He headed right back to the same location he has been fishing for the past two days and began to make some casts.
He headed right back to the same location he has been fishing for the past two days and began to make some casts.
As the sun began to rise above the surrounding buildings, spider webs on every support started to glow.
As the sun began to rise above the surrounding buildings, spider webs on every support started to glow.
Justin adjusts his bait as he goes, throwing under the dock and working his bait in the current.
Justin adjusts his bait as he goes, throwing under the dock and working his bait in the current.
Spinning rods have been Lucas’s go-to this week.
Spinning rods have been Lucas’s go-to this week.
A little ways down the dock Lucas sets the hook.
A little ways down the dock Lucas sets the hook.
…then boat flips a small fish out of the water.
…then boat flips a small fish out of the water.
He unhooks the fish and tosses his bait away from the fishes mouth.
He unhooks the fish and tosses his bait away from the fishes mouth.
Several spectator boats arrived to watch Justin fish.
Several spectator boats arrived to watch Justin fish.
As more spectators showed up Justin kept them entertained with another fish.
As more spectators showed up Justin kept them entertained with another fish.
Lucas leads the fish down the boat to the stern…
Lucas leads the fish down the boat to the stern…
…then goes in to land the fish…
…then goes in to land the fish…
…but the fish had other plans and was still fired up enough to make one more attempt to escape.
…but the fish had other plans and was still fired up enough to make one more attempt to escape.
Lucas was faster and grabbed the fish under its belly.
Lucas was faster and grabbed the fish under its belly.
This ones not a giant but it’ll help him get to a limit.
This ones not a giant but it’ll help him get to a limit.
Lucas continues to work down the dock as the sun climbed higher in the sky and the temperature rose.
Lucas continues to work down the dock as the sun climbed higher in the sky and the temperature rose.
Another small fish…
Another small fish…
With temperatures approaching 100 degrees, Lucas stays calm and focused, fishing along the dock, back and fourth.
With temperatures approaching 100 degrees, Lucas stays calm and focused, fishing along the dock, back and fourth.
When he reached the end of the dock he looked at us and said, “I guess they’re going to make me work for it today, guys.”
When he reached the end of the dock he looked at us and said, “I guess they’re going to make me work for it today, guys.”
Lucas spun the boat 180 degrees and began to go back down his dock, this time with a small swim jig.
Lucas spun the boat 180 degrees and began to go back down his dock, this time with a small swim jig.
When the swim jig didn’t produce, Lucas went back to the spinning rod and hooked up.
When the swim jig didn’t produce, Lucas went back to the spinning rod and hooked up.
The fish immediately ran towards the dock supports.
The fish immediately ran towards the dock supports.
Justin follows the fish and attempts to keep it clear of the wood.
Justin follows the fish and attempts to keep it clear of the wood.
“Just a catfish!”
“Just a catfish!”
Out come the pliers to unhook the cat.
Out come the pliers to unhook the cat.
The next cast Lucas hooks up with another small largemouth.
The next cast Lucas hooks up with another small largemouth.
Another little one.
Another little one.
Justin clears his line and reels it in fast to get back to the dock.
Justin clears his line and reels it in fast to get back to the dock.
“There’s one! This could be a good one!”
“There’s one! This could be a good one!”
The fish attempts to jump…
The fish attempts to jump…
…but Justin is too quick and repositions his rod to keep the fish down below the waters surface.
…but Justin is too quick and repositions his rod to keep the fish down below the waters surface.
Lucas boat flips his catch.
Lucas boat flips his catch.
This is a better one and will certainly help raise Lucas’s weight.
This is a better one and will certainly help raise Lucas’s weight.
Lucas pulls down his neck gator to talk to Bassmaster Live.
Lucas pulls down his neck gator to talk to Bassmaster Live.
Bassmaster camera guru Wes Miller films some slow motion footage for the Bassmaster TV show.
Bassmaster camera guru Wes Miller films some slow motion footage for the Bassmaster TV show.
With Wes behind the camera, Lucas sets the hook.
With Wes behind the camera, Lucas sets the hook.
Justin keeps this lively fish down as well and steers it to the boat.
Justin keeps this lively fish down as well and steers it to the boat.
The fish goes to jump again!
The fish goes to jump again!
Lucas grabs the fish by the lower lip and brings him over the side of the boat.
Lucas grabs the fish by the lower lip and brings him over the side of the boat.
With a thumbs up, Justin Lucas lifts a little more weight off his shoulders as his livewell weight increases.
With a thumbs up, Justin Lucas lifts a little more weight off his shoulders as his livewell weight increases.
Hooked up again!
Hooked up again!
It’s a smallmouth!
It’s a smallmouth!
Lucas unhooks the smallmouth…
Lucas unhooks the smallmouth…
…while the Coast Guard pilots above watch and wave.
…while the Coast Guard pilots above watch and wave.
Justin boats another small one.
Justin boats another small one.
Another chopper fly by.
Another chopper fly by.
This military hero gives Justin a good luck wave.
This military hero gives Justin a good luck wave.
Lucas is too busy boating another one.
Lucas is too busy boating another one.
You can see the heat wearing on Justin.
You can see the heat wearing on Justin.
Okay, time to cull.
Okay, time to cull.
This one goes back to grow bigger in the mighty Potomac River.
This one goes back to grow bigger in the mighty Potomac River.