Sunday November 23 - Day 303 - 15 days missed

Got up and found out one of our team members had been throwing up all
night. Met my partner at the ramp - supposed to be Boat 1. Partner was
pres of Federation. They tried to find an observer for the boater my
team member was supposed to go with but could not. Pres asked if I
would go with him as no boater and he would not fish. At first I said
no but then thought I had nothing to lose. Would be paired up with
Mike, a guy I have known for a long time and a great fisherman. He had
8.5 pounds yesterday and was in top ten.

I got some stuff and got in Mike 's boat. He was the very last boat -
39, same as my number from yesterday. We took off and ran to where I
had fished yesterday. We fished the same area and some of the same
places.

Mike quickly caught several throwbacks and two keepers. Then I got a
short fish. We kept working docks and he got up to four keepers. I
threw by a dock and something behind me splashed. I looked back and
fish grabbed my worm and ran under dock. When I set the hook the line
broke on a dock post.

A few mintues later I picked up my worm and it was moving sideways.
Set the hook on a strong, heavy fish. It made a run of several feet
then turned toward the boat. Mike had the net in the water. It made
another run and pulled off. I guessed around 5 pounds. I was really
snakebit - no thing would go right in this tournament.

Mike got his limit and I caught several short fish, then two keepers.
We kept working docks and catching fish. I got another keeper - three
for me, about eight for Mike.

With 20 minutes left to fish I landed another keeper - four in the
livewell.

At weigh-in Mike had 9.5 pounds and I had 7.1. He ended up second
place overall. I came in 22nd - three pounds off the team. So close
again but no cigar!

I won't forget the big one I lost until the next big one gets off and
replaces it in my memory.

Ronnie

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