2008 Tournament Results
2007 Tournament Results
FLW Central Divisional, June 10-16, 2007- 3th place team, 79th place individual
Ahhhh!!!! I just absolutely love the Tenn Tom River in Columbus, Mississippi. I have been fortunate enough to fish a few tournaments on this great waterway, and every time I have come away impressed. This tournament was no different, even though I stunk up the place.
I qualified for this tournament through the great organization, The Bass Federation, in cooperation with the F.L.W Tour. I will say that they really know how to put on a tournament, and the staff, as well as the people of Columbus, Mississippi were absolutely outstanding. When I arrived on the tournament waters on Sunday, I had been fishing for 14 days straight, and I was not producing real good results. I did not have much time on the water Sunday, but I hit a few places that I knew from previous experiences, and caught fish right off the bat. The conditions were a lot different from when I had fished here last as the water was lower from the drought, and much clearer in the creeks. Monday, I decided to run down to the Aliceville pool as this is where most of the big bags are caught. Fishing Monday, I immediately got on a small keeper bite in the grass throwing a black War Eagle buzz bait. I was fishing the grass in 2-3 feet of water. As the temps got higher, I moved out of the shallow grass and caught a couple bigger fish on the same bait. The rest of the day Monday was used fishing out on the river with Zoom Baby Brush Hogs in watermelon red. I was able to catch fish very easily on logs out in 12-14 feet of water, but most were small.
On Tuesday, I went back to the Columbus pool and ran all the stuff that I normally fish, and right off the bat, I caught a 5lber on a War Eagle spinnerbait in 2 feet of water. A few second later, a 2lber followed. This was exactly what I was looking for. I finished out the day fishing a hump close to the weigh in that was 4 feet on top and dropped off to 25 feet deep. I did not catch much, but I knew that the fish would use this spot at some time of the week.
On Wednesday, my boater decided to fish the Columbus pool and he had control for the first half of the day. I managed to catch 1 keeper on his stuff, and he zeroed. During my half of the day, I run to my big fish spot, and on my 3rd cast, I lost a 7lber on a Black War Eagle Buzz Bait. The fish just snapped my line. I was not able to rebound the rest of the day and did not boat another fish.
On Thursday, my boater wanted to run the river down to the Aliceville pool, and fish on the river all day. I again caught a keeper fish on his stuff, and he only had two. We ran back to the Columbus pool and fished my hump and he was able to limit out, but I could only manage short fish while fishing a carolina rigged Zoom baby brush hog.
The last day, Friday, all I could possibly do was help the Arkansas State Team move up in the standings, as I was way out of the money personally. My partner from Texas decided to let me run to all of my fish, but he wanted the front of the boat. I was able to have my best day and worst day all rolled up into one. I managed to catch 2 keeper fish on my hump, but I lost several through out the day that were certainly keepers. My boater managed to catch 4 keepers. In the end, the Arkansas State team finished 1 pound out of 2cnd place and I knew that I hurt them. I wish that I had been a boater in this tournament, as I feel that I had the locations to produce enough fish for me to do a lot better than the results indicated.
I must give a huge thanks to the staff of H & W Marine in Little Rock for keeping me on the water again for this tournament. On day before I left on my trip, I noticed that my lower unit was leaking oil. I had hit a log and bent a prop shaft earlier in the month and HW Marine hooked me up on that deal also. Anyway, I called them and told them that I was leaking oil and that my lower unit was full of water. They told me to come up right then... I arrived on a Friday at noon and the service guys went right to work on my boat. They removed the lower unit, found the bad seal, and fixed me right up. The guys even put off their lunch to work on my boat. Understand now, I did not even buy this rig from them..... I had bought the rig before I knew the great people at HW Marine, but I will promise everyone this, MY NEXT RIG WILL ONLY COME FROM AMANDA, or JAMES at HW MARINE IN MAUMELLE, ARKANSAS. Give them a call and you too can get customer service like this.....501-791-2628
Seark Rodbenders Club Tournament, June 9, 2007 6th place
It sounds a lot better than it is. There were only 5 bass weighed in out of 14 boats, and all 5 were caught by different people. The winner was the none boater out of my boat and he caught his fish with 20 minutes left to go into the day 50 yards from the ramp. I was totally flabergasted. The lake was being filled on one end, and pulled down as fast as possible on the other end. This lake, Lake Chicot in Lake Village, Arkansas is used for farm water. The lake was about 2 feet low and the Corp decided to pump it up a little since there was no rain in sight. The previous day of practice, I found fish in a gravel pit that was 14 feet deep. I could catch fish in there swimming a 3/4 ounce football head jig made by Jewel Bait Company in peanut butter and jelly. On tournament day, however, the fish would not cooperate and I immediatly had to scramble. The lake bite was dead due to the water situation and only small fish would be had. Late in the day, a few fish did come up schooling close to the ramp and while I focused on them, my non boater decided to come fish under the school and caught the winning fish.
Flw TBF State Tournament, March 16-18, 2007- 5th place
I was fortunate enough to get to fish as a co angler in the inagural Arkansas State Touranment for The Bass Federation through FLW Outdoors. The tournament, held on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas was one that I was both anticipating and agonizing over. This clear water lake was well known to me in the fact that I had never fished it, but was alway wanting to. I had been on the lake a time or two, but I was in charge of handleing the Pro's for the FLW Championship that was held on the same lake in 2005, and did not get to fish.
I am a member of Seark Rodbenders and club President, Alan Melder, and I decided to pre fish the lake about a week earlier so I could get a little familiar with the lake. During the pre fish outing, Alan and I found plenty of fish on wind blown banks throwing Lucky Craft pointers, and OSP cranks. The water was 3 feet low and the water temp was 52-58 degrees. Alan told me that the water level was due to be at full pool for the tournament and I knew that the warm days we had ahead of us may mean anglers might get to do some sight fishing.
On Thursday, the day before the tournament began, I was able to get on the lake to view the new conditions. As I figured, the water temp was 60 degrees in most of the pockets and I immediatly found some buck bass fanning some beds. Knowing that I would need to find bigger fish, I went to work throwing the OSP crank on the points of the creeks. I found the success that I wanted, but not the size I needed. At the end of the day, I ventured into Little Mazair Creek. Alan and I had looked at this creek during the low water period and found a very nice flat that was out of the water. Now with the water up, that flat was under the water and the water temp here was 64 degrees, Buck bass was loaded up on the flat by the hundreds and would easily eat any shad type bait that was presented.
Tournament day 1, the partner I drew was wanting to fish deep main lake stuff for big females that were awaiting the spawn. We worked his pattern for 2 hours with out a fish, and being close to Little Mazair Creek, I mentioned that I had a limit spot that we could hit and do pretty good in a short amount of time. He agreed to go to the spot, and we both caught a limit within a hour. All of my fish came on a Excalibur Red Eye x78 lipless crank, and a Booyah spinnerbait. We left the hot spot and went back to the lake where my partner and I both culled one time. At days end, I was in 5th place with 7 1/2lbs.
Day 2 greeted us with a cold front and 34 degree air temps. The pro angler that I had drawn only caught one fish the day before, so I made mention of my hot spot. He also agreed to venture into the creek that I now knew so well. When we arrived, I could tell that things were different. No wind, and cooler water temps had the fish off the flat. As I worked the area, I knew that I had to go deeper. I worked the area with a Lucky Craft 100 Pointer and the OSP crank to catch 3 small keeper fish. My partner and I decided to leave the area for some main lake points that I had found in the practice period. Out on the main lake, I was able to finish off my limit with Spot Remover jig heads tipped with a Riverbottom Lures 4" getzum in peanut butter / jelly color. My partner caught a limit as well on the same set up.
At the weigh in, I knew that my limit was much smaller than the day before, but it was enough to keep me in the number 5 spot for the tournament with a total weight for 2 days of 12.46lbs. Since I made the the top six state team, I will get to go to the Divisional Championship on the Tennessee Tombigbee waterway in Columbus, Ms in June. I have previous knowledge of the fishery and have finished very well there before, so I have high expections for that event. As far as this tournament goes, I was very pleased with the outcome and my fishing execution. I did everything as well as I could have and I got to fish my fish my way.
I must offer a huge thanks to H & W Marine in Little Rock, Arkansas and Amanda and James for setting me up with a new Mercury prop for my Mercury Motor. Without them, I could not have fished like I did and they took all the worries off me. Also, I must thank Seark Rodbenders and Alan Melder for letting me be on a great team and helping me learn the lake. Thanks to all who helped make this tournament a huge success.
Crossett Bass Club, February 17, 2007 -4th place
This tournament day greeted us with 32 degree air temps and 43 degree water temps. I had found some fish in a deep gravel pit two days before while fishing a Lucky Craft Pointer Jerkbait. The water in this gravel pit on Lake Chicot is deeper than that of the main lake, clear, and of course, has a hard bottom. I figured that since all of these characteristics were available, the water would be warmer. I was correct. The water temperature in practice reached 49 degrees in the gravel pit, but only 45 degrees in the main lake. I formulated a game plan and a alternate plan for the gravel pit in case things did not go my way.
At the take off, I knew other boats should have found out what I did as regards to the water terperature. I could only hope that I could beat the other boats there and claim my spot. My Triton 21x and Mercury Optimas 225 did an outstanding job. I was the second boat in the hole and the only reason I was not number 1 was due to the other boat being a Triton as well. Man those boats can fly.... I managed to get my spot. The gravel pit is two small round shape pits with a small connecting canal. There are two very distictive points in the first pit. The water fell from 2 feet to 9 feet and then to 15 feet. In practice, the fish were suspended on the point in six feet of water. On tournament day, however, no fish were to be had on the jerkbait. Due to the weather, I had planned a back up pattern just in case the fish did not cooperate. I immediately went to my back up pattern of a Carolina Rig fished with a Zoom Trick Worm in Redbug color. The fish were very slow to bite, but through out the day I manged 4 keeper fish weighing 8.99lbs. I caught several short fish during the tournament as well. I don't believe there was anything else that I could have done to extend my weight. I fished my tournament by what I knew in practice and worked my back up plan to flawless execution. I only missed one bite, and no limits were weighed in during the tournament. All in all, a good tournament.
Crossett Bass Club, October 14, 2006- 6th Place
On Saturday, Crossett Bass Club held its second tournament of the 2007 season. We convened at Lake Enterprise in Wilmot, Arkansas facing cooler than normal conditions. Lake Enterprise in one of many south Arkansas oxbow lakes that we have, but each is very unique in how it fishes. This oxbow is very small and very narrow, lined on both sides with cypress tress and a few docks. Due to low water conditions, most of the cypress trees had very little water on them. During my one practice day, I started pounding what visible cover I could find with fast moving baits trying to entice a reaction bite. During the early stages of fall, the bass are in a transition. The fish have a tendency to move up into the mouth of creeks, and on the points. Since there were no creeks or points in this pond, I have found that the bass have a tendency to just move straight up on the trees, vertically, or into the top of the cover that they normally use. Since most of the available cover is within a short swim of the bank, the bass just hang out until a meal comes along....
During practice I did catch a few fish, however, I felt that I needed to explore other options in case conditions changed. I noticed a ton of fish on my graph. Most were suspended in the open water zone immediately outside the tree line. The Lowrance 332c, which utilizes vivid colors, clearly showed that most of the fish were relating to old cypress stumps in 7 feet of water, however the bass were positioned 3-4 feet above the stumps. I worked this pattern with a variety of baits, putting it right in the bass's face, catching several short fish. I knew I needed to get under the dinks to catch some of the heavier fish that I was monitoring on my graph. The best tool for the job was a Bomber Fat Free Shad Fingerling crank bait in Citrus Shad color. I was using 17lb Silver Thread Fluorocarbon line, so I was able to run the crank bait right down on top of the stumps. I quickly figured out, that most of the better fish wanted the bait to slowly rise up into their face after I came in contact with the cover. It did not take long and I had a couple 4lb plus largemouths. My game was set...
Tournament day, we were greeted with air temps in the mid 40's. I quickly realized that the bass were in a sluggish mood. Most of the hits I was getting, were from fish that were just nipping at the bait. My graph showed the fish to be even more scattered and suspended than on my previous excursion. My only hope was that later in the morning, with the warming sun, that the fish would reposition themselves closer to the cover. After working several locations and a variety of techniques, I knew I must downsize and try to coax the bass into biting a more subtle bait. I rigged my All-Star American Classic Spinning rod and Pflueger reel with a small Yum Houdini, in watermelon/red, and went to work. The drop shot rig proved to be the trick and fish after fish fell to its dance. I quickly mounted a limit of bass working the stumps. As the day went on, the bigger fish never seemed to reposition as I had hoped, but the small weighers were right were they were supposed to be. I finished the day in 6th place with a total catch of 7.82lbs. First place was only about a pound more, and everyone stated that they did the same thing, flipping the trees. I was the only angler to weigh a limit. Although my weight was smaller than that of the top 5, they were only catching 2-3 fish each. I felt good that I had worked a pattern that paid off, but in hindsight, I should have adjusted sooner, and after catching a limit, I should have tried something different to try to upgrade my catch.
B.A.S.S Series, September 24, 2006- 30th Place
On September 24, the Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society came to my favorite lake, beautiful Lake Chicot. I had been really amped for the this tournament for all year. This was my first tournament in the B.A.S.S Series events and it was on my favorite lake.
Practice started for this event actually in the summer. The lake is only 45 miles from my house and I would spend every day I could on the water. South Arkansas was experiencing drought conditions through the summer, so I would hit the lake and mark brush piles and any cover that was now visible on my Lowrance 332C gps. My hopes was that the lake would come up some and the brush that I was finding would be covered up with fresh rainfall. Wrong! Two weeks before the event, I participated in a bass club event on the lake and the water was lower than ever. I had found a ton of fish during my club tournament fishing docks, but most were dinks. Our club tournament was won with 17lbs that came out of a back water area that I had thought was inaccessible. I focused the next two weeks exploiting the area and others similar to it. On Wednesday before the event, I moved over to the lake to stay. I immediately went to my primary backwater area, and caught fish. The problem was, the water was still falling and other boats had heard the news of the fish in this pool, so I decided to write this area off as I figured it would be unproductive with 5 boats in the small area. I then focused my attention on a creek that was very long and had a dam at the end. This creek, Connerly Bayou, had a island in the middle that almost made access to the rest of the creek impossible. I had to blow by this island with my Triton Boat and Mercury Motor at top speed, or I would run aground. What I found when I got back there was untouched water and eager bass. With the water falling, the bass were holding on any available cover. This cover, logs and cypress trees jutting out into the creek, was set up perfect. The creek was 7 foot deep and with fall coming on, the creek held plenty of water and cover, and better still was that the bait fish was coming to them. I exploited the area with Bomber crank baits and Booyah spinner baits. Late in the day, flipping a Booyah Boo jig was the ticket. I felt very good about my chances, and I still had 3 days left to find a back up pattern. Over the course of the week, I spent my remaining time out on the main lake fishing the brush and docks that everyone else was beating up. The pattern on the main lake seemed to focus on water depth. I had to have docks with at least 4 foot of water on the end. There were several of these on the lake, and I would catch keeper bass throwing a Bomber Model A crank bait, however, everyone was doing the same thing and I do not like a crowd.
Tournament day arrived and I felt that I may have a problem. A major storm came through the area and dumped a huge amount of fresh water on us... My creek was extremely muddy. I gave the area a once over and continued to catch fish, but the size changed. All dinks. Most were 14 3/4", but this lake requires a 15" minimum. I worked the area over most of the morning trying to find the larger fish, but it never happened. Time for my backup plan. My partner and I focused the rest of time out on the main lake fishing the docks and cover that I had previously marked. Same story, new location. All the freshwater had scattered the bass. We continued to catch a ton of small fish, but no keepers. I ended the day tied for 30th place. Only 1 limit was weighed in, and yes you guessed it, it came from the first backwater area that I gave up on. It seems that area was a gravel pit and the rain did not muddy it up like the rest of the backwater areas. The new water gave boaters an easier opportunity to access the area. In hindsight, I should have evaluated what the new water would do to that creek and spent my time more wisely. I must thank my sponsors of All-Star rods and Pflueger reels. Triton Boats, Mercury Motors, and HW Marine. All week these items held up to a rigorous week of high winds and 4 foot waves. I was able to feel the cranks easily on the All-Stars and my Triton/Mercury combo made sure I got back to the ramp every day.
Crossett Bass Club, September 9, 2006- 4th Place
This is the first tournament of the 2007 year for the Crossett Bass Club. We start our year in the fall, the year before, due to how the National Tournament is set up. This tournament was on Lake Chicot in Lake Village, Arkansas. I had been pre fishing for this tournament for a couple of days and I had found that most of the fish were extremely tight to cover and extremely shallow. I was surprised to find the fish so shallow since we were coming off a hot summer and a severe drought. I exploited docks and and brush with Cordell Spots and Rebel Wee R's. I rigged my All-Star rods and Pflueger reels with 14lb Silver Thread Line. The fish seemed to be responding to a unseasonably cold front that we were experiencing, by following the shad to the banks.
Tournament day started just as planned. I focused on my best docks, first by throwing a Booyah Spinner bait, then the Rebel Wee R. I was able to catch a limit very quickly and that allowed me to focus the rest of my time trying to upgrade. I never did cull up, but I was fairly with my execution for the day. I finished the first tournament of the year in 4th place with 8.24lbs. The winning stringer came from a backwater area that I thought was inaccessible. In hindsight, I should have tried to get into the backwater area, because I knew the potential the area held.