Rojas leading at Toledo Bend
Category: Tournament
May 3rd, 2014 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified May 3rd, 2014 at 12:00 AM
Pressure is a given at a Bassmaster Elite Series event. There is always pressure on the anglers to perform. There is also some additional pressure from spectator boats, especially on the weekends. However, the anglers fishing the Elite Series on Toledo Bend Reservoir out of Many, LA, felt a different type of pressure today. Hundreds and hundreds of additional boats, all fishing.
That said, Yamaha pro Dean “The Machine” Rojas stepped it up as he is known to do on Toledo Bend (he’s won here twice in the past). Rojas put a whooping on his piscine opponents to take the lead heading into Championship Sunday, weighing 17 pounds, 14 ounces today for a three-day total of 62 pounds, 11 ounces.
In second heading into the finale is Livingston Lures pro Jacob Powroznik with a three-day total of 60 pounds 1 ounce.
Rounding out the Top 5 are in third Shimano pro Jared Lintner weighing 59 pounds 12 ounces. Fourth heading into Sunday is Halo pro Randall Tharp with 58 pounds 6 ounces. Fifth is held by Skeeter pro Todd Faircloth with a weight of 57 pounds 4 ounces.
T-Bend magic for Rojas
“It just seems to be magic when I come here,” said Rojas. “Toledo Bend has been so good to me over the years. I’m very happy and I feel so fortunate.
“I’m just fishing out there. I’m not doing anything special. I just know what to do when the bass show up.”
Rojas was fishing with Big Bite Baits soft plastics including a Warmouth.
Tough day for Powroznik
“My morning shad spawning bite went away,” said Powroznik. “There were hardly any shad up there today.
“Today was a first for me. It was the first day I ever fished in a forest fire. The fire on shore dropped ash in my boat. I could hardly see three feet in front of me. Tomorrow, I plan on fishing the shad spawn in the morning again. If it is on, it is a great way to catch a big bag of fish.”
Less bites for Lintner
“There was a lot of boat traffic out there today,” said Lintner. “I mean, it was great to see all the people fishing. Seeing a bunch of kids out there bream fishing. All that fishing pressure made it mentally tough on me. Probably the toughest day mentally I’ve had in a tournament.
“I wasn’t getting a lot of bites. There are still big fish out there. I saw them come to the bait and not bite. I think the area I’m fishing can produce 25 pounds. I’ll go out tomorrow and try to get them.”