Day 5 with Herren

Steve Bowman shares Matt Herren's final day on Chickamauga Lake.

Matt Herren started his morning on the lower end of Chickamaugua, fishing the mayfly hatch.
Matt Herren started his morning on the lower end of Chickamaugua, fishing the mayfly hatch.
He would quickly switch to flipping, even though a blue heron would not want to give it up.
He would quickly switch to flipping, even though a blue heron would not want to give it up.
Casting a spinning rod is not a typical sight when it comes to Herren.
Casting a spinning rod is not a typical sight when it comes to Herren.
Herren is more known as a shallow- water, big line kind of guy.
Herren is more known as a shallow- water, big line kind of guy.
It’s not long before he’s doing exactly that.
It’s not long before he’s doing exactly that.
And he’s rewarded with his first bite ...
And he’s rewarded with his first bite …
... which he quickly waves bye-bye to.
… which he quickly waves bye-bye to.
This was a common sight all day as Herren kept on the move.
This was a common sight all day as Herren kept on the move.
Sometimes he didn’t move far.
Sometimes he didn’t move far.
And, almost always, it was to a boat dock.
And, almost always, it was to a boat dock.
That’s where he would catch his first keeper.
That’s where he would catch his first keeper.
And on some of the docks he shared water with other anglers.
And on some of the docks he shared water with other anglers.
But most of the time he had them to himself.
But most of the time he had them to himself.
And every once in a while they would produce a bite.
And every once in a while they would produce a bite.
Sometimes they would be decent bites ...
Sometimes they would be decent bites …
... making a nice addition to the livewell.
… making a nice addition to the livewell.
This one put on quite a show ...
This one put on quite a show …
... before Herren was able to get him in the boat.
… before Herren was able to get him in the boat.
His second keeper of the day ...
His second keeper of the day …
... was more to his liking.
… was more to his liking.
At times he fished docks in front of big mansions.
At times he fished docks in front of big mansions.
And some of them would pay off.
And some of them would pay off.
But not enough to go into the livewell.
But not enough to go into the livewell.
Many of them reflected a patriotic spirit on Father’s Day.
Many of them reflected a patriotic spirit on Father’s Day.
Herren would flip them all.
Herren would flip them all.
Even those with appropriate signage.
Even those with appropriate signage.
Those provided decent bites.
Those provided decent bites.
Bites that liked to jump high over a dock.
Bites that liked to jump high over a dock.
And produce a lot of splashes close to the boat.
And produce a lot of splashes close to the boat.
And almost jump into your hands ...
And almost jump into your hands …
... before you could get a handle on them ...
… before you could get a handle on them …
and bring them aboard.
and bring them aboard.
Herren would experience some battery trouble, but with help from Minn Kota Tech Joby Smith, he would switch out a battery and be on his way.
Herren would experience some battery trouble, but with help from Minn Kota Tech Joby Smith, he would switch out a battery and be on his way.
Then he would head back to the docks.
Then he would head back to the docks.
He would often idle from one to the other.
He would often idle from one to the other.
But just as often, he would run from one set to the other ...
But just as often, he would run from one set to the other …
... always pulling up to the docks with the most shade.
… always pulling up to the docks with the most shade.
While setting the hook on a regular basis.
While setting the hook on a regular basis.
This one would be one of his better fish of the day.
This one would be one of his better fish of the day.
This one wouldn’t even get measured.
This one wouldn’t even get measured.
Many times those trips were made with the trolling motor down.
Many times those trips were made with the trolling motor down.
And then he’d be on the run again.
And then he’d be on the run again.
Most often catching short fish.
Most often catching short fish.
Some he skipped across the water.
Some he skipped across the water.
And some he caught behind the docks.
And some he caught behind the docks.
Bringing them in quickly.
Bringing them in quickly.
The other times, he would latch into one that would send him to the seat.
The other times, he would latch into one that would send him to the seat.
This one jumped up and toward Herren.
This one jumped up and toward Herren.
Almost landing in his hand.
Almost landing in his hand.
Before disappearing under the boat.
Before disappearing under the boat.
When it reappeared, it was just out of arm’s reach.
When it reappeared, it was just out of arm’s reach.
Where it started shaking its head.
Where it started shaking its head.
It almost gets to Herren’s hand ...
It almost gets to Herren’s hand …
... then seems to stop and stay in the same place.
… then seems to stop and stay in the same place.
While shaking its head just out of reach.
While shaking its head just out of reach.
Herren looks up to see his line tangled in the camera.
Herren looks up to see his line tangled in the camera.
The fish jumps closer.
The fish jumps closer.
The cameraman untangles the line.
The cameraman untangles the line.
Herren would eventually get his hands on the fish.
Herren would eventually get his hands on the fish.
While cameraman Eric Kaffka throws up his hands.
While cameraman Eric Kaffka throws up his hands.
Herren would boat flip fish the rest of the day.
Herren would boat flip fish the rest of the day.
Including this keeper.
Including this keeper.
He wouldn’t get the chance here. Notice the splash and the straight rod.
He wouldn’t get the chance here. Notice the splash and the straight rod.
The 5- to 6-pound-class fish came off, forcing a scream of anguish from Herren.
The 5- to 6-pound-class fish came off, forcing a scream of anguish from Herren.
Followed by an old-fashioned hat throwing.
Followed by an old-fashioned hat throwing.
And some understandable head-rubbing.
And some understandable head-rubbing.
And the inevitable throwing up of hands.
And the inevitable throwing up of hands.
Herren would catch more fish, but they would all be small.
Herren would catch more fish, but they would all be small.
Occasionally a jet skier would slide by to check things out.
Occasionally a jet skier would slide by to check things out.
The whole time, Herren would be flipping and pitching a Santone 3/8-ounce jig, tipped with a Reaction Innovations Twerk. All of it in green pumpkin.
The whole time, Herren would be flipping and pitching a Santone 3/8-ounce jig, tipped with a Reaction Innovations Twerk. All of it in green pumpkin.
He would spend his last hour casting offshore, hoping to catch the 6-pound fish he needed to win.
He would spend his last hour casting offshore, hoping to catch the 6-pound fish he needed to win.