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00:00This week on Elite Fishing Series TV, the tour runs through the border, it's championship time, and that means Lake Charles, Louisiana.
00:10The final stop of the season will feature a purse of over $100,000 for the anglers qualifying and making it through to the Frogtog's Elite Solo Tours National Championship.
00:30Yes, sir!
00:40What a fish!
00:42Look at that fruit, baby.
00:44That's what I'm talking about, huh?
00:47$10,000 more flip, boom!
00:49Hey folks, I'm Pat Malone, host and tournament director of the Elite Fishing Series.
01:02My travels have taken me to a lot of great coastal communities, each one special in their own way, and this week's stop in Lake Charles, Louisiana is no exception.
01:12On the border between Texas and Louisiana, Lake Charles is the epitome of vacation fun.
01:19Visitors can dive into the thrill of casino resorts with exciting games and entertainment, or enjoy a luxurious Lazy River ride before their five-star dinner.
01:29Meaningful museums and local galleries speak to the culture of this unique destination.
01:35And if you're in the mood to party, Lake Charles is the place for you.
01:39There's a lot to do in Lake Charles even for the casual visitor.
01:43But this week is the fantastic fishing in and around this coastal community that's the focus, and the reason we chose Lake Charles as the host to the 2024 Elite Fishing National Championship.
01:57The official launch and weigh-in point for the tour this week is Calcasieu Point Landing.
02:02Anglers head to their favorite spots, hoping to land full three-fish limits of heavy redfish.
02:07And after two days, the top four will move on to Championship Saturday and a chance for a $100,000 payday.
02:14JECCO's marine pro Mark Robison gets us started.
02:18I got one in the boat.
02:19Dang it.
02:2027 and a half.
02:22Louisiana law requires redfish to measure 18 to 27 inches.
02:26Any fish outside that slot
02:29875
02:31must be thrown back.
02:33Gary Marino made several moves before he found the fish he wanted.
02:39Got him.
02:42But this one was too big too.
02:44Perfect Texas redfish, but not Louisiana.
02:48Eight and a half.
02:49Early on, the field battled fish that were too big.
02:54When anglers like Texas pro Daniel Dong did catch fish within the legal size limit of 18 to 27 inches, they were a lot lighter.
03:075'12".
03:08And that's much better than that, guys.
03:11We just need one more that's a little smaller.
03:15But overall, the fishing was good with a lot of fish caught and several 20-pound-plus bags coming to the scales over the first two days.
03:24Got three fish, three alive for 20-14.
03:2822-40.
03:3022-02.
03:3320-81.
03:35Woo!
03:36There we go.
03:37Put your hands together, Daniel, all the way from Beaumont.
03:39We had a full moon and a front blow in a day before the tournament.
03:44But today, it didn't matter because the caliber of guys we have on the tour, we all brought in 20-plus mountain bags.
03:5021-59.
03:51Jack goes Marine Pro, Mr. Mark Robinson.
03:53Well, if I make it tomorrow, I'm going to just go back and keep grinding on what I'm doing and I'm going to expand a little bit.
03:59And I saw some fish getting caught by some other anglers.
04:03And if they don't make it, maybe I'll just get in on their hole.
04:0722-69.
04:0822-69.
04:09Good limit.
04:10Gary Marino finishes qualifying in third.
04:13Found five schools of fish in the first 30 minutes of being in the pond.
04:20And I caught six fish out of those five schools.
04:24Hopefully, it'll be like it was today with a lot of fish and the weight that I need to come out on top.
04:30Travis Land sets in second after two days.
04:33He's got 24-20.
04:34There you go, brother.
04:35Put your hands together and show your love all the way from Seguin, Texas, y'all.
04:38Yeah, we had a great day, too.
04:41You know, the fish ate like crazy today.
04:44I was a little concerned with the way that this front was acting.
04:47You know, were they going to feed?
04:48Were they going to hold off and feed on the third day?
04:50But today was lights out and really looking forward to tomorrow here in Lake Charles.
04:54Coming up right now, Mr. Michael Frenette, Redfish Lodge of Louisiana.
04:58Coming off of 25-66.
05:00He needs 20-68 to get back on top of the leaders.
05:0323-17, your new leader.
05:06There you go, Bubba.
05:08Myself and another guy can walk away with almost a $100,000 paycheck.
05:12So, to me, on a solo tour, that is by far the most money, potentially, that I've had to win.
05:18So, it does mean a lot to me financially.
05:21I'm trying my best to not think of that.
05:23But how can you not?
05:24It's the Elite Redfish Series.
05:25We're fishing against the best of the best and I'm on top.
05:27So, I'm going to ride it while I can, knowing that it ain't going to last for long and maybe I'll get one more day out of it.
05:33Frenette leaves after two days, but wait zero for day three.
05:38To take the win, he'll need to do it one more day.
05:42Congratulations, anglers.
05:44Once again, every fish weighed in this week was released alive.
05:48Stay good.
05:49When we come back, we hit the water for day three at the Elite National Championship.
05:5326 and 3, Cory.
05:54Baby.
05:55Welcome back to the Elite Fishing Series in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
06:00It's day three, championship Saturday on the Frog Talks Elite Solo Tour.
06:05It's exciting and it feels good because you're on fish, but it means nothing.
06:26It's day three.
06:27We're zeroed.
06:28Every single one of us start over today.
06:30It's a shootout.
06:31So, you know, I'm a few pounds ahead over the last couple days, but I need one more day.
06:36With the weather change the way it's been the last two days, today is actually the wind has picked up,
06:41so it's probably going to cloudy up the water a little bit, but we're still going to have clear skies.
06:46The cooler weather has got the fish really chewing, so I look forward to a lot of fish being caught today.
06:54I've come to the conclusion that even though there's a lot at stake here, what we've got to do is just go have fun and go fishing.
07:01And it will work out.
07:03That's what we're going to do today.
07:05I sleep like a baby.
07:09I never show up late for work.
07:13We didn't make it to this launch this morning very easy.
07:16I had a dead truck battery.
07:17Had to take the battery out of the boat, put it in the truck, start it up.
07:21It's been a circus this morning, so it can only get better from here.
07:26Saturday's final four are staged up and waiting for the signal to launch.
07:30The signal is given, a short warning shared, and the pros are often racing to their first spots on Championship Saturday.
07:45It's the final round at the Elite National Championship in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
07:51It's never good to have to turn around, but especially on Day 3 on Championship Saturday at the National Championship.
08:20My glasses on the dash!
08:22With $100,000 on the line.
08:25While Travis retrieves his glasses, his fellow pros are just about to their first spots of Day 3.
08:32The entire field will start their day inside the Cameron Parish Refuge, where the fishing has been great this entire week.
08:40And it won't be long now they'll begin setting up their equipment and making final preparations for the start of Championship Saturday.
08:49Louisiana Pro and the winner of the qualifying rounds, Michael Furnette, is not in any big hurry.
08:55We're not in a rush guys, we got down here, we're all fishing the same general little area.
09:01So I'm taking my time. Let them boys get where they need to get.
09:05Travis gets his glasses and heads back out.
09:08He has the boat to make up time and luckily for him, the fish have been on a late morning to high noon bite this entire week.
09:16So the delay shouldn't hurt him.
09:18Land rejoins the field as he makes it to the refuge and gets his Championship Saturday underway.
09:25I didn't really have time to get prepared this morning so all my stuff's in a cluster up here.
09:32Others are already catching fish, but there's no panic in this guy.
09:36He's an assassin.
09:38Berkeley gulp.
09:39And once he gets going.
09:40Three inch shrimp, that's what I've been throwing all week.
09:42He'll know what to do.
09:44Vietor hooks up and it's a good fish.
09:53If it's not too big, what a great way to start his day.
09:58This may be a nine pounder.
10:00That's more like what we're looking for.
10:03Come up right here.
10:11But it's not to be.
10:13The field has fought oversized fish all week long.
10:1627 and a half.
10:18And this is another one.
10:20And it'll have to go back.
10:23Stay tuned.
10:24We're just getting started at the Elite National Championship in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
10:32There he is.
10:33God dang it, I lost him again.
10:35What in the world is going on up there?
10:38There he is.
10:39He is.
10:40Ah, the drum.
10:41Old Dumb a drum.
10:42First fish of the morning, wrong species.
10:43drum oh dumb a drum first fish of the morning wrong species elite fishing series television
10:52is brought to you by tidewater boats the official boat of the elite fishing series yamaha outboards
10:58the official outboard motor of the elite fishing series frog cogs total outdoor performance gear
11:05mcclain trailers built for the long haul waterloo rods might as well fish the best
11:11check-and-stick measuring systems brecknell scales speedy stop fuel and bolt the silver slipper
11:19casino and hotel and our community partners
11:32come on baby measure one time for me i think he's gonna measure baytown texas pro gary marino
11:38catches his first keeper of the day yes and it's a seven pounder 26 and a quarter seven and a quarter
11:46that's not bad that's one folks
11:52two more to go then we start upgrading
11:56a lot endorsed by them or i'm not supposed to have on them or nothing like that but
12:03i know quite good they're good quality of aid and they work well so if you're redfish we'll get
12:08some redfish radish pair of baits
12:17got one
12:18tony vietor drops it in the open mouth of one right by the boat it's a solid six pounder
12:28and gets tony his three fish limit for the day now he can upgrade
12:33pretty fish not not as big as we want but they give us three in the box uh quick check he's probably
12:45gonna be about 23 24 i think he's up 25 and a half um
12:51he's about like six pounds
13:08first redfish of the morning i went down the entire bank that i've been catching some really good ones
13:13on hadn't got a bite till just now right at the very end of it seems to be a pretty decent fish
13:18fish just got to be real careful with these corks they'll come off a lot
13:33these are fish
13:41about a five pounder long and skinny though not those little short fatties like i've been catching
13:48a five pounder long but target species on the board
14:08they're not thumping it right now is the deal they're just grabbing it you feel like you're on
14:12a snag and you go to kind of like oh that one hit it
14:15the right one sweetheart this fish comes tracing it now
14:31i was reeling it in to make another cast
14:36that's the right one too
14:37get him in the boat let's talk about it come on sweetheart it's all good you're just a red fish
14:49and i just need you today feeling too good don't you break my heart
14:56don't you break my heart didn't that net that's one
15:01that's one that's gonna be the right one right there folks look at that fish
15:05i tell you what your first fish of the day looks like that early it might just be your day
15:15is what you want to see in the final day of the elite red fish series championship here at lake charles so
15:22stick with us guys we'll be right back watch me finish the limit stay tuned for more from lake charles
15:29hills please Swiss slot
15:35that gummit he looks long as well
15:40oh my goodness that fish is money
15:48eight and a quarter
15:50closed captioning provided by mcclain trailers the official trailer of the elite fishing series
15:56Welcome back to Lake Charles, Louisiana and the Elite Fishing Series National Championship.
16:04Day 3 is well underway on the Frogtogs Elite Solo Tour's final stop of the season.
16:13The others are still cruising down the back, that fish helps us a little bit, 5.5 but there's
16:26a 4 pounder in here, we're going to get rid of him.
16:30Travis picks up a pound and a half when he trades out a 4 pounder for this 5.5 he just
16:36put in the box.
16:38Burnett gains a pound when he calls a 6.8 with this 7.8 but the heavier fish is right
16:44on the line and it could get kicked out.
16:46He pulls a 7.23 from the box and it's well short of the line.
16:51This is a tough decision.
16:52What do you think dad?
16:53Which one to keep and which to throw back.
17:01Fishing is an important process in any tournament, but also adds anxiety to the moment.
17:09For Elite Pro Gary Marino, it was a quick decision that left no doubt.
17:16This is National Championship, it's all or nothing.
17:25The decision made for Nett gets back at it.
17:28It's a hands off system, if it fits on mine, it'll fit on his, that's how I'm going to
17:32do it.
17:33Time is running out, but in Lake Charles you're always just one cast away from a fish that
17:38can help you increase your weight.
17:39This fish might help us boys and girls.
17:44This fish is going to help us.
17:48Come on big boy, come on big boy, come on big boy, we need this fish.
17:55We need this fish, oh we need this fish, get your head in there.
18:01All right, that part's done, it weighs nine pounds, yeah 29 inches, story of the day so
18:10far.
18:11And I got him.
18:16Now, yes sir!
18:23If he goes, that's the one, 26 inches.
18:31Oh yeah, almost eight pounds, almost eight pounds!
18:39The fishing in Lake Charles could not have been better, especially on day three.
18:45What a way to conclude the national championship with every pro catching big fish one after
18:52another.
18:53You won't ever see that happen again.
19:00He was behind us boys!
19:01He was behind us!
19:02But as the final fishing period came to an end, the anglers land their last fish, make
19:05their final pitch.
19:06Hey, you want to catch a bunch of redfish?
19:07Get you some snapper slapper lures and go get you something like that.
19:13They've been packing up their gear for the final time this season.
19:19After a quick run out of the refuge and across the lake, the pros have all made it back to
19:26Calcasieu Point for the weigh-in.
19:3319-21.
19:34Travis Land finishes in fourth place.
19:3619-28.
19:37Tony Vietor lands in third.
19:3922-55, Mr. Gary Marino.
19:46He's got to have at least 22-56 to take the national championship.
19:49Three fish, three alive.
19:5122-95, your national champion, Michael Frenette.
19:55It's a clean sweep.
19:57With 22-95, Michael Frenette wins the Frogtog's national championship.
20:02His nine-pounder captures the Check It Stick Big Red $1,500 bonus.
20:07And with the points from this win, also captures the Yamaha Angler of the Year for a total take
20:13of $101,500.
20:16Congratulations, Michael.
20:18And to all the anglers that competed this week, it was great to be in Lake Charles,
20:23Louisiana with each of you.
20:26This is your host, Pat Malone, saying thank you for watching the pros of the Frogtog's
20:31Elite Solo Tour this season.
20:34We'll see you again in 2025 with more exciting action on the Elite Fishing Series.
20:43Man, I wish you were here, Dad.
20:44I love you.
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