The final day of the Forrest Wood Cup turned out to be a struggle for most of the 10 finalists. For Randall Tharp, it'll be a day he'll remember forever. The Floridian said earlier in the event that he was starting to get a feel for what he needed to be doing and where.
On Sunday, he stuck to his plan, catching a limit in the morning in a place that was overlooked by most. He then slid back into a pond by the launch ramp and caught a couple key upgrades that carried him to the title.
BassFan followed Tharp on the water the entire morning on the final day, until he pushed back into a pad field where he preferred media or spectator boats not join him.
Here's a look at Tharp's day as we saw it:
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Getting Started
Randall Tharp comes off plane as he reaches the mouth of the channel that leads into the lake that served as his morning limit spot for much of the tournament. (Photo: BassFan)
All Eyes On You
Tharp takes a peek behind him to see several spectator and media boats have followed him up the river. (Photo: BassFan)
Let's Rock
Tharp started down this rocky bank, throwing a square-bill crankbait. The square-bill proved to be a valuable bait in this area. (Photo: BassFan)
That Didn't Take Long
On his second cast, Tharp connects with a bass. Unfortunately, it was too short. (Photo: BassFan)
False Alarm
Not long after he caught the short, Tharp hooks up again and grabs the net, thinking it might be an early kicker. It's not. It's a drum. No need for the net. (Photo: BassFan)
Ice Breaker
After moving across the channel to the wooded shoreline, Tharp boats his first keeper of the final day. (Photo: BassFan)
Target-Rich Environment
Tharp had plenty of cover to throw at in this lake. There were lay downs, overhanging trees, some bank grass and rock. (Photo: BassFan)
No Looking Back
Tharp committed to this area hoping to catch an early limit so he could then go target upgrades in a backwater pond. (Photo: BassFan)
Tree Hugger
Tharp stuck tight to the bank along the wooded side, hoping to coax bites from the shade line. (Photo: BassFan)
Working Every Angle
Here's Tharp's version of kneel and reel. He skipped his frog back under some overhanging branches and had to get low in order to see it on the retrieve. (Photo: BassFan)
Bonus Fish
Tharp hadn't weighed a fish caught on a frog all week. That changed on the final day when he caught four of his weigh fish on a SPRO frog. This was a solid 3 1/2-pounder that got him fired up. (Photo: BassFan)
In The Box
Tharp was pretty jacked up when he deposited this fish in the live well. (Photo: BassFan)
Good Luck Charm
Prior to leaving the dock on the final day, a young fan approached Tharp and gave him this little stuffed animal. On the back, the boy had written, "Good Luck." Tharp kept it on his dashboard all day and brought it with him to the weigh-in, which the boy attended with his father. (Photo: BassFan)
Front-Row Seat
After fishing all the way to the back of the lake, Tharp started back out along the other shoreline, which is dotted with sprawling houses. This gentleman and his dogs were curious on lookers for a few minutes. (Photo: BassFan)
Rock Climber
Tharp continued to work rocky banks with a square-bill crankbait and a swim jig. (Photo: BassFan)
Welcome To The Big House
Another curious homeowner watches Tharp work from his second-floor balcony. (Photo: BassFan)
Number Three
Tharp put his third keeper in the boat at 10 a.m. and touched off a small flurry of bites. (Photo: BassFan)
Fish Holders
While they were only in 3 to 5 feet of water, these docks produced a few fish for Tharp during the tournament. (Photo: BassFan)
Four Score
This was the fourth keeper for Tharp. It wasn't big, but it got him one step closer to five. (Photo: BassFan)
That's Five
Not long after he boated the fourth fish, Tharp pulled out his culling tag after finishing his limit with this fish. (Photo: BassFan)
Great Seats, Eh?
Tharp chatted up this couple and their boys after finishing his limit. He asked if they were going to the weigh-in. They said they couldn't make it as they were heading out of town. They missed a good show. (Photo: BassFan)
Riverdance
After moving out of the channel with a limit, Tharp ran across the river to a little rock jetty and worked the edges with the square-bill. He spent about 10 minutes here without a bite before heading to his next and final spot of the day. (Photo: BassFan)
Money Pit
Tharp ran back into Port Lake where the launch ramp is located and idled back into a pocket just to the north of the ramp. There's a narrow spot where the water's just deep enough to slide in and out. He asked that spectator and media boats stay back so he could have the freedom to fish it thoroughly. (Photo: BassFan)
Calm Before The Storm
Tharp looked exhausted after pulling into the parking lot behind the CenturyLink Center. He said as much. He knew day-3 leader Bryan Thrift had a small bag and you could sense his anticipation of what was about to happen inside during the weigh-ins. (Photo: BassFan)
Top Of The Heap
Tharp has been fishing professionally for 5 years and the Forrest Wood Cup is his second Tour victory. (Photo: BassFan)
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Randall Tharp – Final Day – 2013 Forrest Wood Cup
