OTW Day 2 Grigsby

Follow Day 1 leader Shaw Grigsby on the water as he works to maintain his lead on Day 2 on St. Lawrence river.

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Shaw Grigsby started Day 2 with the lead at the Evan Williams Bassmaster Elite Series event on the St. Lawrence River.
Shaw Grigsby started Day 2 with the lead at the Evan Williams Bassmaster Elite Series event on the St. Lawrence River.
Grisgby started the day with 22 pounds, 15 ounces and more than a 1-pound lead.
Grisgby started the day with 22 pounds, 15 ounces and more than a 1-pound lead.
On Day 1, he caught his limit quickly, having a limit in six casts.
On Day 1, he caught his limit quickly, having a limit in six casts.
But on Day 2, the wind was blowing in the neighborhood of 25 miles per hour.
But on Day 2, the wind was blowing in the neighborhood of 25 miles per hour.
The wind caused problems for Grigsby.
The wind caused problems for Grigsby.
Not only was the ride rough, the wind was blowing straight down the river.
Not only was the ride rough, the wind was blowing straight down the river.
The wind direction forced Grigsby’s boat to drift much faster. And with the light line it made it tough to get lures to the bottom.
The wind direction forced Grigsby’s boat to drift much faster. And with the light line it made it tough to get lures to the bottom.
On every cast, he would hold his rod way out to get as much line as possible out in front of him...
On every cast, he would hold his rod way out to get as much line as possible out in front of him…
...even bending into the wind to get every inch.
…even bending into the wind to get every inch.
Then he would follow it down in the water to get there quickly and sink.
Then he would follow it down in the water to get there quickly and sink.
On every cast he would repeat the process, but with no takers. He switched to heavier lures.
On every cast he would repeat the process, but with no takers. He switched to heavier lures.
Fishing them in the same place as the day before.
Fishing them in the same place as the day before.
And working hard with every cast.
And working hard with every cast.
He eventually had to stop and re-tie all his rods. The heavier weights would snag more in the cover than the lighter weights.
He eventually had to stop and re-tie all his rods. The heavier weights would snag more in the cover than the lighter weights.
Grigsby would dig deep in his storage while he calmly re-worked everything.
Grigsby would dig deep in his storage while he calmly re-worked everything.
Then he moved back at the top of his drift.
Then he moved back at the top of his drift.
And almost immediately hooked up.
And almost immediately hooked up.
Grigsby had to widen his base to ride the waves and fight the fish.
Grigsby had to widen his base to ride the waves and fight the fish.
He eventually moved to the passenger seat.
He eventually moved to the passenger seat.
And almost went out of sight digging the fish out of the water.
And almost went out of sight digging the fish out of the water.
He pulls up a 2-pounder.
He pulls up a 2-pounder.
Not anywhere the size from the day before, but a start.
Not anywhere the size from the day before, but a start.
A spectator would pull out his camera and capture the moment.
A spectator would pull out his camera and capture the moment.
Grigsby would eventually move a few times, being the consummate “Shaw Grigsby” smiling and talking to viewers on Bassmaster LIVE.
Grigsby would eventually move a few times, being the consummate “Shaw Grigsby” smiling and talking to viewers on Bassmaster LIVE.
Across the bay, Clifford Pirch was fishing out of the wind.
Across the bay, Clifford Pirch was fishing out of the wind.
But he was scratching his head too. He had three keepers at this time.
But he was scratching his head too. He had three keepers at this time.
And his spectators included a mallard hen...
And his spectators included a mallard hen…
...a treetop full cormorants...
…a treetop full cormorants…
...and a flock of seagulls that swarmed around him at times.
…and a flock of seagulls that swarmed around him at times.
At times, it looked like they would join him in the boat.
At times, it looked like they would join him in the boat.
But he was getting bit on occasion.
But he was getting bit on occasion.
This fish was obviously a big one, forcing Pirch to move around the boat.
This fish was obviously a big one, forcing Pirch to move around the boat.
And at one point forced him down on the front deck.
And at one point forced him down on the front deck.
Where he dug his rod and reel well under water.
Where he dug his rod and reel well under water.
It looked like he was trying to get unhung.
It looked like he was trying to get unhung.
After a minute he shot up still fighting the fish.
After a minute he shot up still fighting the fish.
And moving to the back of the boat.
And moving to the back of the boat.
After a few tense moments, though, the fish broke off. Pirch said it had gotten under a “boulder the size of a bus and broke me off.”
After a few tense moments, though, the fish broke off. Pirch said it had gotten under a “boulder the size of a bus and broke me off.”