Best 5 Performers: How Shryock, Rojas, Birge, Monroe and Morgan Got on ‘Em
Dean Rojas: 57–11 (15)
Photo by Josh Gassmann - Arizona’s Dean Rojas found himself in last place in his group after one day of fishing. His first day was forgettable, with just two bass for 5-10, but Sunday was one he’ll always remember.
“Today was one of those days you dream about,” Rojas said on MLF NOW! “I only had 5 pounds the first day and today was a dream day. I have so much joy and this shows that anything can happen if you stay positive.”
His day included rallying to sixth place in his group, landing an 8-11, and spending 45 minutes of his day getting two hooks out of his hand. His day had plenty of excitement.
On the fishing side of things, he targeted an area outside of a bridge with both a 1.5 and 2.5-sized squarebill crankbait.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of a fishing milestone that may never be duplicated
For the last few weeks, I have put my attention towards old Bassmaster shows, reading old publications and digging into stories that made me want to be just like those I am reading about.
It's funny how history has a way of repeating itself and how much can be learned from the past. Fishing is evergreen and one of the few sports that we can imitate what we see and put it into practice. Trial and error is the teacher and the fish don’t know any better if it's old or new, so tried and true still holds water.
This is the 20th anniversary of a milestone in fishing that may never be duplicated. The perfect storm of cold, then a rapid warming trend made this a week we will all remember forever — at least Dean Rojas will.
I sure wish one time I would hit this perfect scenario and put into practice what Rojas did on this early spring day on Lake Toho in 2001. The weather aligned perfectly for spawn-ready giant bass to move shallow, and Rojas put the largest single day total ever recorded in a BASS event of 45.02 pounds on the scales.
It is hard to fathom a 10.13, a 10.0, a 9.5, an 8.2 and a 7.9-pound bass in the same bag of fish. Compared at the time to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game, this record may never be matched again in a Bassmaster event.
