40 / 52
Whilehewasstartingthedaywithasolidlead, theLeevilewaterwayisthekindoffisherythatcanreadilyproduce
aBulRedthatcouldhavepotentialyrubbedoutanykindofleadacrosthetop10.
Weatherconditionsondaythreewereagreatimprovementoverthefirsttwodaysofcompetitionwithareturntothe
kindofconditionsexperiencedduringthePreFishSesions. Clearskies, temperaturesaround60ºF(16ºC) andlight-
erwindsof10mphfromthenorthmadeforconsiderablyeasierstarttotheday.
However,thecoldfrontthathadpasedthroughduringtheprevioustwodayshaddroppedthewatertemperature
considerablymeaningthattheanglerswouldstilbefacedwithchalengingconditionstryingtoatractthebiteof
thetargetspeciesthathadseemedtochangefeedingpaterns.
Lesardwentintothefinal dayofcompetitionwiththepresureofhavingatargetonhisbackaswelastheaddi-
tional presureofbeingalocal, Louisiana, kayakfisherman. Intheendthoughitwaslocal knowledgethatplayeda
handinhisresult.
“Yesterday, Ijusthungonfordearlifebuttoday, withthisweathercomingthroughitwas‘PlanC’. IknewtodayIjust
hadtogettwofish. I felbacktoawinterpatern, I foundalitleisolatedareawithstilwaterthatwasdeepandcold.
Imanagedtopulasurprisinglygoodtroutearly.IwasthenabletomovearoundtosomepylonstopulaRedFish
thatwasakeeperandatthatpointthepresurewasofandI couldrelaxandgoRedfishing. I ranintoRonaldTras
andhelpedhimtakeaphotoofhisfishandhewasmyluckycharm, Ithenwentaroundanothercornerandcaught
anotherRedfishandInewIhadagoodscore.”
Somerton,the2013WorldChampionandcurentHobieBreamSeriesAustralianChampionsetoutwithaplanof
atackandaverycleargoal.IknewIhadmyworkcutoutformewith10
”
tocatchup.
“Iwentoutwith,theBirthdayBoy,MitchKingandAaronWiliamsandwedecidedtochasetroutfirstupbutdueto
thecoldtheywereshutdownsowewentlookingforRedfishbackatsomespotswehadworkedpreviously. Ipicked
upa27”RedfishandthenIlefttheguystogoinsearchoftrout.Iranintoabunchofguyslaterandtheywereal
catchingtrout,Chrislandedone,Modspuledone,somanypeopleweregetingtroutaroundmeandIwasgeting
nothing…IntheendtheclockwasrunningdownandI saidtoModsthatthiswasmylastdriftandasIkesays‘Never
GiveUp’ onmylastcast, puledmytrout, measureditandtookofhomewithafewminutestospare.