Sunday afternoon battle with Felix and Walters

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Follow the Championship Sunday battle with Austin Felix and Patrick Walters at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.
Follow the Championship Sunday battle with Austin Felix and Patrick Walters at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.
I found Walters later in the morning. He made a longer run to Lake Ocklawaha which included having to use a lock gate to enter.
I found Walters later in the morning. He made a longer run to Lake Ocklawaha which included having to use a lock gate to enter.
As shown in the previous photo, he was already catching fish as I made my initial approach.
As shown in the previous photo, he was already catching fish as I made my initial approach.
Walters is covering a large area throwing a jerkbait. He is depending on LiveScope to chase around these schools and target specific fish.
Walters is covering a large area throwing a jerkbait. He is depending on LiveScope to chase around these schools and target specific fish.
Shortly into the morning, Walters is hooked up.
Shortly into the morning, Walters is hooked up.
He caught this fish out of a school closer to the bank on a jerkbait.
He caught this fish out of a school closer to the bank on a jerkbait.
This fish is a keeper and goes into the livewell.
This fish is a keeper and goes into the livewell.
Walters continues to fish out this same area along the bank with no luck. So it’s back to cruising some open water.
Walters continues to fish out this same area along the bank with no luck. So it’s back to cruising some open water.
Cast after cast, Walters skims this entire area keeping his head down looking at his graph. He sees plenty of fish on LiveScope but they aren’t biting. He fishes out this area with no further luck and decides to make a move.
Cast after cast, Walters skims this entire area keeping his head down looking at his graph. He sees plenty of fish on LiveScope but they aren’t biting. He fishes out this area with no further luck and decides to make a move.
At the next spot, Walters is switching between a variety of baits. He is still using the jerkbait towards open water but picking apart the lily pads as well.
At the next spot, Walters is switching between a variety of baits. He is still using the jerkbait towards open water but picking apart the lily pads as well.
Along the way, we see quite a few Bald Eagles.
Along the way, we see quite a few Bald Eagles.
This area includes an abundance of stumps and flooded timber, making a perfect habitat for fish and predatorial birds.
This area includes an abundance of stumps and flooded timber, making a perfect habitat for fish and predatorial birds.
Around 12:00 p.m. I caught up with Austin Felix who is using a similar approach throwing a jerk bait and chasing schools on the graph.
Around 12:00 p.m. I caught up with Austin Felix who is using a similar approach throwing a jerk bait and chasing schools on the graph.
Shortly after my arrival, Felix is hooked up. And it’s a good one!
Shortly after my arrival, Felix is hooked up. And it’s a good one!
Knowing what’s on the line, he fights this fish for a few minutes. He wants to tire the fish out and not risk breaking it off.
Knowing what’s on the line, he fights this fish for a few minutes. He wants to tire the fish out and not risk breaking it off.
The fish is in the boat!
The fish is in the boat!
This one will help Felix’s standings greatly, moving him up several spots on BASSTrakk.
This one will help Felix’s standings greatly, moving him up several spots on BASSTrakk.
The fish goes in the livewell and it’s back to fishing. This fish weighed a little over 3 pounds.
The fish goes in the livewell and it’s back to fishing. This fish weighed a little over 3 pounds.
Felix quickly hooks up on another one, just not quite as big.
Felix quickly hooks up on another one, just not quite as big.
He gets the fish in the boat, and it helps just a little with a cull.
He gets the fish in the boat, and it helps just a little with a cull.
Felix finishes out this area covering a lot of water while chasing schools of bass. The LiveScope is playing a huge role in this area as anglers are able to target specific bodies of fish in open water.
Felix finishes out this area covering a lot of water while chasing schools of bass. The LiveScope is playing a huge role in this area as anglers are able to target specific bodies of fish in open water.