larger females would pull back and i targeted that first deep water, near flats and spots that were relatively steep, gradual staging spots - those highways really close to deep spots that they go to ready to ease into the transition zone. i had picked out these transition zones mentally on my final day of practice and put together my own milk run. i went back the next day and caught fish quick; but they were small. i picked up a couple of good ones and then i got a 7.9 and i knew it was going to be a great day. When i weighed in with 24-lbs, i was leading. i didn’t know what to do with myself. Something that my travel partner tom Shimabukuro said to me really registered. He said he thought i needed to cover more water and make more casts. That last day was crazy. The first half hour i didn’t get a bite and i was fighting all kinds of urges to panic. i started catching fish and feeling better; but not until that last one did i feel confident. My final fish was almost six and that’s when i thought - i got a shot.
WB: How intense was it waiting for that final day’s weigh-in? Daniels: That was nerve-wracking crazy! We had a check in and then we had an hour drive in a caravan to the weigh site. We had to wait and we weren’t allowed to talk, wink, signal or anything. everyone had on their premiere poker face. The guy that was in second - behind me - weighed in without a limit. i started doing the math and knew that i need only 12-lbs to win and in my mind i knew i had it. it was the greatest feeling. i feel like it was my time. looking back, from the time that i was leading on day two until i was holding the trophy, i had an ever-calming feeling come over me. it was almost spiritual.
Mark Daniels Jr. claimed his victory with a three-day total of 62-04. As part of the win, Daniels heads to Nickajack Lake in tennessee for the All-American BFL event June 27 - 29. He expressed his appreciation to Rippin’ Lips Hit Squad, BANC and Hi’s tackle.
summer 2013
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