Powroznik on Niagara

Posted on
Jacob Powroznik’s day started slowly. He was the last to leave the ramp with tournament official Trip Weldon and Bassmaster cameraman Ben Oliver.
Jacob Powroznik’s day started slowly. He was the last to leave the ramp with tournament official Trip Weldon and Bassmaster cameraman Ben Oliver.
By the time Powrzonik got to his first spot, the official fishing time had started. He had spent part of his morning helping Koby Kreiger work on his trolling motor.
By the time Powrzonik got to his first spot, the official fishing time had started. He had spent part of his morning helping Koby Kreiger work on his trolling motor.
Powroznik had said many times that he wanted to help his friend and travel partner on the Elite Series make the Classic. Early on, it looked like he was going overboard with it. He was catching more algae than anything.
Powroznik had said many times that he wanted to help his friend and travel partner on the Elite Series make the Classic. Early on, it looked like he was going overboard with it. He was catching more algae than anything.
But he was mixing in some small fish.
But he was mixing in some small fish.
They would progressively get larger, but not big enough to keep.
They would progressively get larger, but not big enough to keep.
The keeper would come after several small ones.
The keeper would come after several small ones.
In this format the fish would be weighed in the boat. And then immediately released. This fish would weigh one pound.
In this format the fish would be weighed in the boat. And then immediately released. This fish would weigh one pound.
Then Powroznik would get back to catching dinks.
Then Powroznik would get back to catching dinks.
The slow conditions created a few head-scratching moments.
The slow conditions created a few head-scratching moments.
And even more dinks.
And even more dinks.
Most of them too small to even consider.
Most of them too small to even consider.
Midway through the 3-hour period, Powrzonik would hook up with a fish he knew was a keeper.
Midway through the 3-hour period, Powrzonik would hook up with a fish he knew was a keeper.
And give those around him a smile that seemed to say “finally.”
And give those around him a smile that seemed to say “finally.”
As Trip Weldon moves out of the way, Powrzonik prepares to boat flip the fish.
As Trip Weldon moves out of the way, Powrzonik prepares to boat flip the fish.
And a second later, the fish was over the gunwale.
And a second later, the fish was over the gunwale.
The process of weighing commences.
The process of weighing commences.
And double-checking for every ounce would take a minute or two.
And double-checking for every ounce would take a minute or two.
While Kevin VanDam and his crew would speed closely by.
While Kevin VanDam and his crew would speed closely by.
Powrzonik, though, would virtually stay with a small area of the river, watching his line more than looking for other places to fish.
Powrzonik, though, would virtually stay with a small area of the river, watching his line more than looking for other places to fish.
He would gain a Falcon as a spectator.
He would gain a Falcon as a spectator.
And Weldon would keep a watch on BassTrakk.
And Weldon would keep a watch on BassTrakk.
Powroznik would hook up with another good fish.
Powroznik would hook up with another good fish.
This one would launch about three feet in the air.
This one would launch about three feet in the air.
Practically sending a spray of water across Powroznik’s shins.
Practically sending a spray of water across Powroznik’s shins.
And somewhere on the trip back to the water, it would come unhooked.
And somewhere on the trip back to the water, it would come unhooked.
Powroznik would shrug it off.
Powroznik would shrug it off.
The next hour would turn slow, prompting Weldon to joke around with the photographers as if he were taking a nap.
The next hour would turn slow, prompting Weldon to joke around with the photographers as if he were taking a nap.
But in the last 45 minutes of the period, things started picking up.
But in the last 45 minutes of the period, things started picking up.
This would be Powroznik’s third keeper of the day.
This would be Powroznik’s third keeper of the day.
The 2-pound class fish put him about 3-pounds behind Kreiger.
The 2-pound class fish put him about 3-pounds behind Kreiger.
After the weighing process, Powroznik would get back to work.
After the weighing process, Powroznik would get back to work.
And a few minutes later hook up with his fourth keeper.
And a few minutes later hook up with his fourth keeper.
This one would put up a fight.
This one would put up a fight.
It would eventually come aboard and put Powroznik a little more than a pound out of the lead.
It would eventually come aboard and put Powroznik a little more than a pound out of the lead.
With a little more than a minute left in the period, Powroznik hooked up with keeper number five.
With a little more than a minute left in the period, Powroznik hooked up with keeper number five.
Powroznik wasted very little time in getting it close to the boat.
Powroznik wasted very little time in getting it close to the boat.
And with about 45 second left, jerks the 2-pound class fish in the boat.
And with about 45 second left, jerks the 2-pound class fish in the boat.
This fish would fill his limit.
This fish would fill his limit.
But more importantly, give him a 1-pound cushion with a day left.
But more importantly, give him a 1-pound cushion with a day left.