> Day 3: 5, 21-01 (15, 59-07) Rojas knows next week is going to be exciting being able to compete in his backyard at Lake Havasu, but he’s not quite done with the Sacramento River just yet. This is his second straight 12-cut and assured himself a sixth straight Top-20 finish going back to the Cayuga Lake tournament last year.

After catching 16-12 Thursday, he’s put together consecutive 21-pound days that have him within spitting distance of Lucas, especially after seeing how some of the leaders gave ground today.

“I’ve not been sight-fishing,” he said. “I’m just fishing around. The tide is getting progressively worse for sight-fishing every day and with the tide getting later every day, that’s when those guys are seeing them the best.

“For me, I have a couple areas that I’m going back and forth on. I know they’re bedding in there. I just can’t see them. I’m fishing the points and pockets and edges, everything really.”

His kicker was an 8-03 that came flipping.

“I was just fishing around and I picked up on it and it got heavy,” he said. “Those 8-pounders really help. That’s what I’ve been focused on. I had one big one on day 1 and two yesterday and that one today. Without them, you’re just catching 2- and 3-pounders.”

He knows he’s not out of it with the kind of potential that swims in the water around the Delta.

“I just need a big bag tomorrow,” he said. “Where I’m fishing at, the fishing is evolving every day for me so if I can big ones, I have a shot.” Read more