Over the river with Ott

Posted on
As dawn breaks over East Tennessee, we wait for the leaders of the Northern Open #3, Drew Benton and Ott Defoe, as they bring their aluminum boats to the shallow waters of the French Broad River.
As dawn breaks over East Tennessee, we wait for the leaders of the Northern Open #3, Drew Benton and Ott Defoe, as they bring their aluminum boats to the shallow waters of the French Broad River.
Benton arrives first.
Benton arrives first.
DeFoe is not far behind.
DeFoe is not far behind.
The two play a little hopscotch, but never close enough to have a discussion about it.
The two play a little hopscotch, but never close enough to have a discussion about it.
Ott settles upriver.
Ott settles upriver.
And Drew heads even further in.
And Drew heads even further in.
We stay with Ott and he catches his first fish.
We stay with Ott and he catches his first fish.
His co-angler adds one as well.
His co-angler adds one as well.
Another move.
Another move.
Another fish for the co-angler.
Another fish for the co-angler.
Looks like Ott has number two!
Looks like Ott has number two!
Except he didn't.
Except he didn’t.
He persistently tries again, and hooks up.
He persistently tries again, and hooks up.
Ott finds his second fish, but he's pretty far away from us to get a good look.
Ott finds his second fish, but he’s pretty far away from us to get a good look.
This part of the river is about a foot deep.
This part of the river is about a foot deep.
Ott caught this fish in extremely shallow water.
Ott caught this fish in extremely shallow water.
After we had to leave, Ott would find his limit and have a very good chance of winning at Douglas yet again.
After we had to leave, Ott would find his limit and have a very good chance of winning at Douglas yet again.
Just as we head back to the ramp, we find Drew Benton.
Just as we head back to the ramp, we find Drew Benton. “I got about 17 pounds up the river” (he was joking, I think).