Jordan Lee's goal coming into this event was to take some gambles in hopes of winning and earning a Bassmaster Classic berth. He is already qualified for the Elite Series next season based on his second-place finish in the Central Opens.
Lee's big gamble has been running way, way up the Catawba River. Photographer Ronnie Moore, who is familiar with this lake, found out yesterday just how far up the river Lee is fishing.
Moore has been up it to the point where it's a shallow, narrow stream, where cattle can cross.
"I went past the cattle," Lee said, in describing the place where he caught the 5-pound, 14-ounce largemouth that's the biggest bass of the tournament.
There's only so far you can go before you run into the dam at Lookout Shoals.
Needless to say, we will not be on the lookout for Jordan Lee today.
And speaking of Lee, rumor has it that his brother, Matt, will qualify for the Elite Series through the Southern Opens. Matt thought he'd blown his chance Friday with a 56th-place finish here. Unofficially, the word is that he's made the top five in Southern Opens points.
