The last day ....

Tuesday morning dawned completely clear and much colder. I actually put on a
jacket for the first time. We were in the last flight and only 8 boats from the
end - I told my partner we would have to look for a place to fish. While
waiting to leave one of the tournament officials told me I was in 22 nd place -
quite a surprise.

We took off at about 7:30 and headed down the lake. Sure enough, there was a
boat everywhere I wanted to fish.

My partner had brought in over 7 pounds the first day but they were his
partners fish, and he was not sure he could find the place again even tho his
parterner had said come on back. It was way down the lake back in a big creek.

When we got where we could see, there were no boats on the roadbed. I tried to
put a marker exactly in the same place as the day before and started casting.
Although we were hitting brush piles nothing bit. I switched to the green
pumpkin green flake Trick worm since the sun was out and it was bright.

After an hour I was getting worried. It was almost 9 and I had not caught a
fish - had my limit yesterday by this time. I headed out to the deepest brush
pile just to see if they had moved deeper, and got a bite at 9:05 - a 15 inch
keeper! It was a start. My parterner asked for one of my worms and I gave him
one.

About 45 minutes later probing that deeper brush I felt a little weight and
set the hook - another 15 inch keeper. We kept working the brush for a stretch
of 200 yards or so. At about 10:45 I felt weight in a brush pile and set the
hook and thought I was hung. Then I felt the fish pulling and kept sawing until
it came free - my biggest of the day - about 2.75 pounds. Again had to retie -
my leader was frayed bad again. Lucky to land that fish.

At 11:30 I caught a 14.5 inch bass out of the same brush as the bigger one. It
had a big sore on its side and did not fight much. 4 in the live well at 11:30
- I had to be in at 2:30 so had over 2 hours to get my final keeper.

Suddenly the wind got up and I had to fight it. At one point I felt weight in
the brush and set the hook, and it felt like a big fish. I fought it to the
boat and my partner was waiting with the net - when the string from the marker
came up! I had hooked it and was fighting it. The line had payed out in the
wind. It was amazing how good it felt pulling on the line, dragging the weight
and unrolling the marker!

We stuck with the roadbed, and I caught a couple of throw backs and my partner
caught 3, but we did not get another keeper. We headed in with a few extra
minutes to spare since the wind was pretty strong.

When we idled up to check in I was surprised that very few people were weighing
fish. I got in line quick with my four and they weighed 7.6. An old friend
that was doing the final check of the weigh-in slip told me I would make the
team with 17 pounds, but when I seemed shocked, he backed off, saying he was
not sure.

My partner got his stuff and I thanked him again for letting me spend the day
on that spot. I went around to the ramp and picked up a club member, and we
went to the campground and loaded up. He headed home in my truck and I went
back to the weigh-in, thinking I might get a check for finishing in the top
25.

A couple of guys I know met me as I walked up and said it was just announced if
you had over 17 pounds stay around. I thought that meant for a check so was
happy. They awarded team prizes and I congratulated the guys I know on those
teams. This was my 25th top six - have missed only one since 1979 when I was
too sick to go - and have made the team twice and got checks for finishing in
the top 25 six other times.

When they called out first place, 31 pounds, I knew I would be way down the
list. Then second was only 23, third 22, fourth 19.5. I thought I was still
way down, then the called 5th 18.9, sixth 17.950. Still a good bit above me.
Then they called my name - I had forgotten bonus ounces for live fish and ended
up with 17.90, tied for 7 and 8 but I had more fish so got 7th. What a great
suprise!

I won $600 in cash, a new troll motor battery, case of oil, two or three tackle
boxes, a bunch of lures and JJs Magic dip and dye, a box of Gulp worms and some
other stuff. But the best prize - a trip to the Southern Regional June 6 - 11
at Paduch, KY.

We are fishing the Ohio, Tennesse and Cumberland Rivers there. Can't lock thru
to KY lake but can go downstream to the Mississippi. Any help there would be
greatly appreciated!

I plan on going up for a week, probably last week in May, to check it out.
Fritz said he might join me. During official practice I can not fish with
non-competitiors, but if anyone in that area would like to show me around in
May let me know!

I almost bought a new boat before the top six. Got some calls out now - will
probably have a new Triton TR21 in a week or so. Surely the wife won't
complain now!
Ronnie

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