Mille Lacs turns tough

Day 3 of the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship and we were back on Garrison Reef, where Brandon Palaniuk and Matt Herren had whaled on the smallmouth on Day 2.

And as soon as we all get there, Herren hooks up and is fighting a big smallmouth.

This one indicated that the big smallmouth were still around and the two anglers would once again have a great fishing day.

At just shy of 5-pounds, this fish was the perfect start for Herren, who started the day in second place behind Seth Feider.

Like two days earlier, the two professionals would fish side by side even though their targets were different.

Herren was focused on two large boulders, and it wasnât long before he was hooked up again.

It would turn into a small walleye, and the smallest fish he had caught from the area.

Mille Lacs is known for its walleye fishing but the season is closed on that species at the moment.

Palaniuk would hook up with his own walleye, as the waves from the wind begin to build.

Even short trips from anglers like Keith Combs came with a few bumps.

And a whole lot of splashes.

It was the perfect smallmouth conditions and Palaniuk would soon hook up with his first brown bass.

While Herren had caught the bulk of weight in the area, Palaniuk had great days with 20-pound plus sacks.

This appeared to be a good start for yet another big stringer.

The big smallmouth, though, wasnât going to make it easy.

It would produce a splash in the rolling waves.

And come close to sliding into Palaniukâs hand.

Before Palaniuk could get his hand under him.

The hefty smallmouth would seem to indicate that smallmouth were once again loaded up.

Even Herren admired the fish, waiting for his turn to set the hook.

Instead he had to ride the waves with few bites. It appears as if heâs jumping.

But everyone knows Herren canât jump.

He did have the perfect plan to keep his feet dry though.

Much of that credit goes to the Minn Kota Ultrex, that allowed him to keep his feet on the deck and pinned him to the location.

But no matter how well he stayed on the spot or how precise his casts wereâ¦

The action was more up and down on the waves than getting bites.

The two would occasionally get a bite, but it would be small. Forcinig Palaniuk to look for greener pastures.

Herren would stick it out for another hour, catching the occasional walleye.

And hoping with every hook set that the big ones had started to fire.

But more of those resulted in bites that proved frustrating.

By mid morning, Herren would move on.

Plowing through the waves in hopes of finding another magic Mille Lacs spot full of big smallmouth.