"Ronnie" wrote in message
...
Sunday October 19 - Day 276 - Seven days missed

Met my partner at 7 - we were in the last flight and near the middle
so no hurry. We took off at about 7:30 and ran straight to the drop
where I got the fish yesterday. I have caught some good bass there at
daylight in the past.

Started out on the end and worked in. When I got close to the bank my
partner threw a spinnerbait to some shoreline brush. Suddenly he said
"Fish On' about the time one hit my worm. I set the hook but missed
then netted his 2 pound spot.

We worked around and I missed another hit, then caught a solid 2 pound
spot. He got another one, just a keeper. We fished the place hard for
an hour but no more hits, even out in the deeper brush.

We tried a cove still in the shade with a variety of baits and I got a
13 inch largemouth - non keeper. About 10:30 ran down to the rock pile
where I got two yesterday - not a hit. As I pulled off it another
boat moved in to fish it. We went back to the roadbed where my
partner got two yesterday - a boat was leaving it. We worked it
without a hit. As we left there was a third boat fishing the rock
pile - these fish are getting hammered.

Went out to the ridge where I started yesterday and first cast got a
keeper spot. Fished it to the other end and got another one. Where
were they yesterday? Stayed on it an hour but no hits. Left and
tried to fish another point but a boat was on it. Went to one of my
partner's spots and worked it - no bites.

Ran to the drop for the last hour of fishing. I started throwing an
Old Monster 10.5 inch worm hopling to entice a big largemouth. Felt
some brush then a thump. Dropped the rod tip, set the hook and felt
weight, then slack. Reeled in a bare hook, had stripped the worm off.

Picked up my jig head and threw it to the brush. Got a thump and set
the hook and my line broke at the reel. Guess I had a loop that got
burned without knowing it. Pretty disgusted.

With about 15 minutes left we saw a bass boat headed toward us. We
were fishing about 50 feet inside a green channel marker, sitting in
15 feet throwing toward a shallow water buoy in 3 feet. The channel
is at least 1/4 mile wide behind us.

Three idiots headed right toward us. They came off plane about 100
feet away and turned toward the bank. A guy sitting on the front
platform blocked the driver's view, I guess. I thought they were going
to fish the shallow end of the drop. Instead he got half on plane and
headed toward the shallow water danger marker!

Suddenly he realized it was there and turned and went between us and
it. We were casting to it so we were not far away. I said several
things at the top of my voice as they passed but none of the three
would look at me. I called them several names I won't print here.

It is bad enough when a skidoo or ski boat driver is so stupid or such
an inconsiderate AH they do something like that, but when other
fishermen do it I want to shoot them.

We fished a few more minutes then went in. My three weighed 5.1 -
wished I had more.

When they started calling out clubs they started at 15th. We were
talking and thought we had about 45 pounds. They started at 45 and
went up - we figured we had miscaculated. We had, we forgot to add in
the 1/10 pound bonus for live bass. My club finished 9th overall and
got our entry fee back and qualified for the state tournament. My 13
pounds (with bonus) put me first on the team.

Was amazed it took only 19 pounds to place first - and about 15 to
place 12th. If this had been the big tournament the top 12 would have
been the state team and, as happens all too often, I would have missed
it by about one good keeper fish.

We will be back for the statewide tournament the end of next April.


Congratulations Ronnie. That's the thing about tournament fishing, if
you're doing bad, you think someone, somewhere is loading the boat. AND, if
you're doing well, you're positive that it's not going to be enough. And
then, to make matters worse, if you think you've got a good sack of fish and
will finish in the money, someone absolutely hammered the bigguns!

Sometimes I think that tournament fishing is as much mental as it is
producing fish...

Good job in finishing where you did.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service
http://www.herefishyfishy.com