![](https://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BTS27411.jpg)
We’re not supposed to root for anyone as members of the coverage team, but it’s hard not to be happy for Joey Cifuentes right now. It’s not that we’re rooting for the guy or against anyone else. It’s just been a miserable morning for Cifuentes full of missed opportunities and as an angler, your heart has to go out to him.
Everything about his demeanor has been entirely different since early this morning. He confidently wrestled big ones into the boat the last two days on Bassmaster LIVE. But this morning, he hasn’t even been optimistic when he did hookup times, as if he knew he would lose a big one as soon as it bit. When he hooks up, his knees are bent, his back is taut and he’s been as tense as a guy can get. But… the cowboy finally got a big one in the boat a few minutes ago, for a 5- pound cull. Good for Cifuentes. He loosened up for all of 5 minutes and then lost another. What a roller coaster of emotion.