College: Day Three on the water

The Top 12 collegiate teams fish off for the coveted Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship title.

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Young Harris starts their morning with a topwater and a spoon.
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Cameraman Rick Mason is rolling. 
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A beautiful morning on Chatuge. 
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 Peeler hooks up. 
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An acrobat. 
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A solid start for Young Harris. 
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A little morning exercise is good for you, or so I’m told. 
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AUM work a structure near Chatuge Dam. 
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Frink commented that keeping the bait against the wall was key. 
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A look at Frink casting his jointed rat while Wes Miller captures the action. 
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Frink wakes his rat just beneath the surface…
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… then an explosion erupts. 
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Frink hauls in a giant while Nummy readies the net. 
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Almost there as the bass tries to free itself. 
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In the net. 
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Frink knows this bite goes a long way. 
<p>Starting the morning with a 3-pound lead over second and a 7-pound lead over 4th, AUM more than likely just punched their ticket into the College Classic Brackett that will be held in conjunction with the Elite Series Classic Bracket in late September. The top 4 teams after today advance. </p>
Starting the morning with a 3-pound lead over second and a 7-pound lead over 4th, AUM more than likely just punched their ticket into the College Classic Brackett that will be held in conjunction with the Elite Series Classic Bracket in late September. The top 4 teams after today advance. 
<p>Clutch.</p>
Clutch.
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Barely got the rat but she made it in the boat. 
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Frink loads her in the well. 
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Time to inspect the damage. AUM had to glue to back hook back into the bait after it came out last night. Frink’s glad the glue held. 
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When fishing big baits, you can’t just heave and retrieve. 
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You have to lob the bait…
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… and then stop it right before it hits the water so it doesn’t spook the fish. 
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A little rest for the rat. 
<p>Auburn’s Lee and Powell start the day in 2nd.  </p>
Auburn’s Lee and Powell start the day in 2nd.  
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This one won’t help. 
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Back you go. 
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Auburn focused their efforts offshore this week. 
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 In the distance, Auburn team number two makes a move. 
Dueling dropshots for Lee and Powell.
Dueling dropshots for Lee and Powell.
Lee and Seals work a topwater nearby.
Lee and Seals work a topwater nearby.
Lee lays the topwater aside.
Lee lays the topwater aside.
Pitching a dropshot has helped AU all week.
Pitching a dropshot has helped AU all week.
Seals puts one in the boat.
Seals puts one in the boat.
Not going to help this time.
Not going to help this time.
Back with Lee and Powell.
Back with Lee and Powell.
Lee eases one to the net. 
Lee eases one to the net. 
Keeper number 3.
Keeper number 3.
Glad to have it.
Glad to have it.
Dropshots have been the go to pattern for Auburn.
Dropshots have been the go to pattern for Auburn.
Powell hooks up but it’s another short fish.
Powell hooks up but it’s another short fish.
Lee’s rod loads up with a good fish.
Lee’s rod loads up with a good fish.
<p>This one hangs up in brush and Lee has to break the fish off. </p>
This one hangs up in brush and Lee has to break the fish off. 
Powell hooks up again as Lee rushes with the net.
Powell hooks up again as Lee rushes with the net.
This time the fish enters the boat.
This time the fish enters the boat.
Keeper number 4.
Keeper number 4.
Young Harris having trouble with pleasure boaters.
Young Harris having trouble with pleasure boaters.
Lots of boat traffic on Chatuge today.
Lots of boat traffic on Chatuge today.
More on the way.
More on the way.
Reel in or lose your bait.
Reel in or lose your bait.
Peeler breaking out the big guns.
Peeler breaking out the big guns.
Casting a spoon.
Casting a spoon.
The fan boat has arrived.
The fan boat has arrived.
Big baits on deck for Young Harris.
Big baits on deck for Young Harris.
So far this morning everything has fallen to a dropshot or Fish Head Spin.
So far this morning everything has fallen to a dropshot or Fish Head Spin.
Peeler connects.
Peeler connects.
Almost.
Almost.
Time to cull.
Time to cull.