MANY, La. — He has led for three days running, amassing 57 pounds and 7 ounces of Toledo Bend bass, so there’s no reason Dean Rojas shouldn’t believe he can close the deal Sunday in the Battle on the Bayou bass fishing tournament.
And believe, he does.
“I need one more big bite to finish this thing off tomorrow, and I know I can do it,” he said Saturday after weighing 14 pounds and 9 ounces for a lead of more than 4 pounds over runner-up David Walker, who had 53-6.
Rojas won a Bassmaster tournament on Toledo Bend in 2001, but it wasn’t a Bassmaster Elite Series victory, and that’s what Rojas wants now. It would be his fourth win, and second since 2008. He claims not to be thinking about the instant qualification for the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, and not even about the $100,000 he’d get for a win.
“Right now, I’m just fishing for the win,” he said.
“I’m in position, I’m just going to go for it. I’ve been fishing relaxed the last three days — it’s been really weird,” he said. “Whatever happens, happens. I know I’m doing the best I can do, and I know I’m fishing for the right fish to win with.”
Rojas said his third day of competition didn’t go quite as planned — he wanted one more bass to widen the margin — but it was close. Like Friday, Saturday started slowly for him, with the bite picking up about 11 a.m. He continued to target spawning fish, moving to new areas each day. He has plenty more fish to go to and wrap it up, he said.
“I saw 20 pounds of bass today, just swimming around,” he said.
Four pounds back, Walker is still in range to catch Rojas. On Toledo Bend, 4 pounds is one decent fish. Besides, Walker has already discovered where one break can get you: On Day Two, thanks to a 24-pound bag, he moved from a dismal 53rd place into fourth.
“It was a grind today,” he said. “I tried to not let the demons tell me, ‘You need to go do this, you need to go do that.’ I knew I was doing the right thing to catch the bigger fish, and I stuck with it.”
The “right thing” was flipping, his strength.
“With the wind laid down, I could do it, make better casts. All it takes is one cast — Ish Monroe proved that yesterday (with his 10-15).”
Gerald Swindle improved two places Saturday, from fifth to third with 52-0. He said he stuck with what he did the first two days — throwing a square-lipped crankbait, jerkbait, ChatterBait, and covering a lot of water.
Wind is his friend. He’s been picking out windblown points. More specifically, he’s hitting the section of the point that has the most wind on it.
“A couple of my primary spots, guys are finally figuring out where they are, but there’s nothing I can do about that so I’m having to dig for new water.”
He picked up the pattern and transferred it to new water. “You get the right pattern, you can catch them,” he said.
If the wind quits Sunday, he’ll try bedding fish, he said.
“The water temperature dropped about 4 degrees today, the moon’s full, and that makes for a prime time for a few more fish to move back up,” Swindle added. “It’s a guessing game, but if you got the kahunas to roll the dice, you could land on glory.”
Aaron Martens wrapped up Saturday with the flu, sore muscles and fourth place with 51-10. In fifth was Chris Lane with 51-6.
Only the top 12 will compete Sunday for the trophy. Ish Monroe was last man in at No. 12, thanks to his Friday catch of the event’s largest bass so far, a 10-15.
Monroe’s fish is still in contention to claim the Berkley Big Bass of the Tournament bonus of $500. Saturday’s largest fish was a 6-14 by Steve Kennedy, which helped him into the cut at No. 7.
DAY 3 STANDINGS- TROKAR BATTLE ON THE BAYOU
2011 TroKar Battle On The Bayou - Many, LA PRO 04/14-04/17
Toledo Bend Reservoir, Many La.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, Ariz 15 57-07
Day 1: 5 23-01 Day 2: 5 19-13 Day 3: 5 14-09
2. David Walker Sevierville, Tenn. 15 53-06
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 24-00 Day 3: 5 16-00
3. Gerald Swindle Warrior, Ala. 15 52-00
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 15-11
4. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 15 51-10
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 21-13 Day 3: 5 11-06
5. Chris Lane Guntersville, Ala. 15 51-06
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 18-03 Day 3: 5 16-01
6. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, Okla. 15 50-08
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 5 17-10
7. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 15 50-07
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 9-00 Day 3: 5 21-07
8. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, S.C. 15 50-02
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 15-01 Day 3: 5 18-07
9. James Stricklin Texarkania, Texas 15 47-15
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 17-10 Day 3: 5 13-15
10. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, Ala. 15 47-06
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 18-14 Day 3: 5 13-06
11. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 15 46-14
Day 1: 5 18-11 Day 2: 5 19-00 Day 3: 5 9-03
12. Ish Monroe Hughson, Calif. 14 46-04
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 4 18-14 Day 3: 5 15-09
13. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, Va. 15 45-10 251 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 11-05 Day 3: 5 15-13
14. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 15 45-08 248 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 16-02 Day 3: 5 16-08
15. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, Idaho 15 45-03 245 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-06 Day 2: 5 9-04 Day 3: 5 15-09
16. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 15 45-00 243 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 16-03 Day 3: 5 13-06
17. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 15 44-13 241 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 11-04
18. Marty Robinson Lyman, S.C. 15 44-09 239 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 5 15-14
19. Davy Hite Ninety Six, S.C. 15 44-05 237 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 14-14
20. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 15 44-03 235 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 16-03 Day 3: 5 13-08
21. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 15 44-01 233 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 16-07
22. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 15 43-14 231 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 14-02
23. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 13 43-07 229 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 3 8-06
24. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 15 43-03 227 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 18-06 Day 3: 5 13-04
25. Keith Combs Huntington, Texas 15 42-12 225 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 15-12
26. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 15 42-04 223 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 13-06 Day 3: 5 12-07
27. Paul Elias Laurel, Miss. 15 42-01 221 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 14-02 Day 3: 5 10-13
28. John Crews Salem, Va. 15 42-00 219 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 16-06 Day 3: 5 10-01
29. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 15 41-10 217 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 5 9-08
30. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 15 41-07 215 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 17-09 Day 3: 5 13-02
31. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 15 41-04 213 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 12-06
32. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, Tenn. 15 41-02 211 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 9-00
33. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 15 41-02 209 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 13-11
34. Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 15 40-14 207 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 10-01 Day 3: 5 12-08
35. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, N.J. 15 39-08 205 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 8-10 Day 3: 5 12-06
36. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 15 39-08 203 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 10-05
37. Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 15 39-07 201 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 5 11-05
38. Matt Herren Trussville, Ala. 15 38-06 199 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 13-14 Day 3: 5 9-10
39. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 15 38-01 197 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 11-04
40. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C. 15 37-12 195 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 10-12
41. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, La. 15 37-11 193 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 5 9-14
42. Jeff Connella Bentley, La. 15 37-05 191 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 14-14 Day 3: 5 8-01
43. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 15 37-03 189 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 8-06
44. Jason Williamson Aiken, S.C. 13 36-13 187 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 3 6-01
45. Pat Golden High Point, N.C. 15 36-04 185 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 9-04
46. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, Fla. 12 36-04 183 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 2 4-03
47. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 14 36-02 181 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 9-09 Day 2: 5 20-00 Day 3: 4 6-09
48. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, La. 15 35-05 179 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 8-02
49. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 13 35-04 177 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 15-00 Day 3: 3 5-10
50. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, Texas 14 35-01 175 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 4 5-11
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 96 491 1365-07
2 91 479 1261-12
3 44 239 608-14
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231 1209 3236-01