Healing Heroes: Horton, Zaldain on the water

Timmy Horton idles away from the bank with Grady Rakestraw on Lake General Tire, where the two would compete together in the Optima Batteries Healing Heroes in Action presented by General Tire.
Timmy Horton idles away from the bank with Grady Rakestraw on Lake General Tire, where the two would compete together in the Optima Batteries Healing Heroes in Action presented by General Tire.
The two quickly started catching fish in the 6-hour derby that included Edwin Evers and Chris Zaldain each partnered with a Purple Heart recipient.
The two quickly started catching fish in the 6-hour derby that included Edwin Evers and Chris Zaldain each partnered with a Purple Heart recipient.
Zaldain would be paired with Tyson Scott on Lake General Tire, while Evers and an amateur team, Chuck and Doug Wells, would fish on nearby on Lake Optima.
Zaldain would be paired with Tyson Scott on Lake General Tire, while Evers and an amateur team, Chuck and Doug Wells, would fish on nearby on Lake Optima.
Both lakes were more than 30 acres each with some parts holding standing timber. While the lakes are utilized for irrigation of more than 400 acres of pecan trees, they are full of largemouth bass.
Both lakes were more than 30 acres each with some parts holding standing timber. While the lakes are utilized for irrigation of more than 400 acres of pecan trees, they are full of largemouth bass.
Actually full of big largemouth bass.
Actually full of big largemouth bass.
All the anglers were quickly reeling in fish. Zaldain and Scott would catch this one.
All the anglers were quickly reeling in fish. Zaldain and Scott would catch this one.
And almost at the exact moment, Horton and Rakestraw would be hooking up on the other end.
And almost at the exact moment, Horton and Rakestraw would be hooking up on the other end.
And the fight was consistently strong.
And the fight was consistently strong.
Horton almost boat flipped this one.
Horton almost boat flipped this one.
But after a better look, decided against it.
But after a better look, decided against it.
Instead, he headed to the driver’s seat to get a handle on it.
Instead, he headed to the driver’s seat to get a handle on it.
After a long reach.
After a long reach.
He gets a handle on it and starts pulling out a lunker.
He gets a handle on it and starts pulling out a lunker.
This would be the heaviest of their morning.
This would be the heaviest of their morning.
But would actually be culled a few times by the end of the day.
But would actually be culled a few times by the end of the day.
The rules of the derby allowed a three-fish limit, with only one of those coming from the professional partner.
The rules of the derby allowed a three-fish limit, with only one of those coming from the professional partner.
But that didn’t stop all the anglers from getting bit on a regular basis.
But that didn’t stop all the anglers from getting bit on a regular basis.
Part of the attraction for the warriors in the event is getting fishing lessons and spending a day on the water with a pro. Rakestraw gets some pointers from Horton during the early going and was soon catching them.
Part of the attraction for the warriors in the event is getting fishing lessons and spending a day on the water with a pro. Rakestraw gets some pointers from Horton during the early going and was soon catching them.
It was the same in the other boat, as Zaldain and Scott would stop for a moment and pose with a nice one.
It was the same in the other boat, as Zaldain and Scott would stop for a moment and pose with a nice one.
Scott would soon be boat flipping fish.
Scott would soon be boat flipping fish.
And follow that up with a big fish that blew up on a frog.
And follow that up with a big fish that blew up on a frog.
This hefty fish would definitely be one of the two that Scott would weigh in.
This hefty fish would definitely be one of the two that Scott would weigh in.
And it put on a good show coming to the boat.
And it put on a good show coming to the boat.
It was the type action that the warriors would say was definitely “healing.”
It was the type action that the warriors would say was definitely “healing.”
Zaldain would go to the deck to help get the fish in the boat.
Zaldain would go to the deck to help get the fish in the boat.
And they would pose again with what they hoped would be a winning fish.
And they would pose again with what they hoped would be a winning fish.
The catching was constant early, with all the anglers throwing a topwater bait.
The catching was constant early, with all the anglers throwing a topwater bait.
And the fish on Lake Optima ready and willing to eat and pull hard.
And the fish on Lake Optima ready and willing to eat and pull hard.
...
This one needed a little less line as Scott boat flipped it.
This one needed a little less line as Scott boat flipped it.
And in the excitement almost lost his balance.
And in the excitement almost lost his balance.
Nearby Horton would put another in the boat.
Nearby Horton would put another in the boat.
And Rakestraw would follow it with one of his own.
And Rakestraw would follow it with one of his own.
Horton would offer a helping hand.
Horton would offer a helping hand.
And the fish would come aboard.
And the fish would come aboard.
Scott, a former U.S. Marine who earned his Purple Heart in 2006 during an Iraq mortar attack, was soon casting like a pro.
Scott, a former U.S. Marine who earned his Purple Heart in 2006 during an Iraq mortar attack, was soon casting like a pro.
While his pro partner, Zaldain was reeling in a bream.
While his pro partner, Zaldain was reeling in a bream.
Scott would one-up him with a decent largemouth.
Scott would one-up him with a decent largemouth.
And again boat flip the bass.
And again boat flip the bass.
While Zaldain moves to help, Scott would start to lose his balance again.
While Zaldain moves to help, Scott would start to lose his balance again.
And this time, fall in the boat with the bass.
And this time, fall in the boat with the bass.
Behind him, Rakestraw would be hooked up and Steve Wright captures the action behind him.
Behind him, Rakestraw would be hooked up and Steve Wright captures the action behind him.
Like many of the fish, this one put on an aerial show.
Like many of the fish, this one put on an aerial show.
Its size and aerial acrobatics even impressed Horton.
Its size and aerial acrobatics even impressed Horton.
Horton would give a helping hand, while Rakestraw would look at Scott as if to say, ‘’all on a day’s work.”
Horton would give a helping hand, while Rakestraw would look at Scott as if to say, ‘’all on a day’s work.”
This would be one of the larger fish Rakestraw would catch.
This would be one of the larger fish Rakestraw would catch.
But it would actually get culled an hour or so later.
But it would actually get culled an hour or so later.
Zaldain would say how humbled he was to be able to fish with guys who were “heroes to me.”
Zaldain would say how humbled he was to be able to fish with guys who were “heroes to me.”
And he would have an excellent fishing day as well.
And he would have an excellent fishing day as well.
Which was obvious by him trying to decide which of these two would cull.
Which was obvious by him trying to decide which of these two would cull.
While he was doing that, Scott would keep casting.
While he was doing that, Scott would keep casting.
And once the cull was over, Zaldain would hook up with another one.
And once the cull was over, Zaldain would hook up with another one.
This one forced a little teeth grinding on Zaldain’s part.
This one forced a little teeth grinding on Zaldain’s part.
And would eventually come aboard.
And would eventually come aboard.
Once aboard the two would shoot some selfies.
Once aboard the two would shoot some selfies.
And Scott would capture an image of Zaldain with the lunker.
And Scott would capture an image of Zaldain with the lunker.
On the other end of the lake, Horton would be hooked up in similar fashion.
On the other end of the lake, Horton would be hooked up in similar fashion.
And like so many of the fish would put on a jumping show.
And like so many of the fish would put on a jumping show.
It was quickly obvious this fish would make the cut for Horton.
It was quickly obvious this fish would make the cut for Horton.
He quickly gets to the back of the boat.
He quickly gets to the back of the boat.
And brings in his largest of the day with Rakestraw close by for moral support.
And brings in his largest of the day with Rakestraw close by for moral support.