August night tournament

Saturday - August 21, 2010 - Day 199 - 35 days missed

Spalding County Sportsman Club August Tournament
Jackson Lake, 7 PM - 3 AM - Hot and threatening storms
Water 91 degrees and green, very little breeze

I started on my usual ridge at the dam right at the ramp. Got some
thumps but figured they were bream - nothing there when I set the
hook. Gave me hope since a lot of baitfish were around. Worked the
area for a couple of hours, including working out to a mid-lake hump
at the end of the ridge right in front of the dam. Tops out in 14 feet
with brush. Not a hit on it tho.

The fish cops have a dock here and I fished near it and watched as
they unloaded a very drunk, very plump woman and put her in the truck.
Sheriff picked her up and they went back out right at dark.

As it got dark I started to move but lightning started flashing to
the West - usually means headed this way. I kept working the ridge -
I won four of five August night tournaments here between 04 and 08.
Last year didn't catch anything here and left, but years I have stayed
all night they hit sometime during the tournament.

Lightning seemed headed toward me so I stayed around ramp. Worked
another point then ran back to the ridge. Didn't see the other bass
boat near there until rangers came up - then I saw his back running
light. Rangers didn't say anything to him about no front running
lights - turned out it was a club member.He had not hooked a fish
either. By the time we talked it was 11 PM.

Since he was working the area I went around the point toward the ramp.
Casting a jig head worm, it felt mushy, like I had picked up a leaf,
then I felt a thump. Figured I had waited too long but a heavy fish
was there when I set the hook. Fought the fish to the boat and
nettted it - figured four pounds. 11:55 - very glad to have a fish,
especailly a good one, in the livewell.

Kept fishing the area until 3 but no more hits. Cranking battery was
dead but I was close at quitting time. I figured it would not hold out
running lights, depthfinder and aerator for eight hours since I did no
running. Boat did crank at 2 AM for a short move and aerator and
lights worked the whole night.

At weigh-in there was one limit and he won with 6.26 pounds. My 4.44
pounder was good for second and big fish. Third was two at 4.32 and
fourth was 2 at 2.52. No one had more than two keepers except
winner. There were 3 zeros. Tough night.

Congratulations Ronnie on another good finish! Sounds like you are
still getting in lots of fishing.
Gary

On Aug 26, 11:55*am, Gary Wilber wrote:
Congratulations Ronnie on another good finish! *Sounds like you are
still getting in lots of fishing.
Gary

I go often, but not like last year - fished every single day last
year, have missed over 30 days so far this year. Slowing down with
age I guess!

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

On Thu, 2 Sep 2010 10:12:11 -0700 (PDT), Ronnie
wrote:

On Aug 26, 11:55*am, Gary Wilber wrote:
Congratulations Ronnie on another good finish! *Sounds like you are
still getting in lots of fishing.
Gary

I go often, but not like last year - fished every single day last
year, have missed over 30 days so far this year. Slowing down with
age I guess!

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

Ronnie, say it ain't so! I need an Iron Man fishing hero!!!

I'll give ya a call next week. Maybe stop by on the scoot on the way
up North.

Dan

On Sep 2, 6:25*pm, danl wrote:
On Thu, 2 Sep 2010 10:12:11 -0700 (PDT), Ronnie

wrote:
On Aug 26, 11:55*am, Gary Wilber wrote:
Congratulations Ronnie on another good finish! *Sounds like you are
still getting in lots of fishing.
Gary

I go often, but not like last year - fished every single day last
year, have *missed over *30 days so far this year. *Slowing down with
age I guess!

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

Ronnie, say it ain't so! *I need an Iron Man fishing hero!!! *

I'll give ya a call next week. *Maybe stop by on the scoot on the way
up North.

Dan

Let me know. I have a couple of trips planned next week for articles
but maybe we can get some time in on the boat.

I hate it but I am not going to Wisconsin this year - the two week
trip to Alaska took too much out of me.

Ronnie

On Fri, 3 Sep 2010 11:00:55 -0700 (PDT), Ronnie
wrote:

On Sep 2, 6:25*pm, danl wrote:
On Thu, 2 Sep 2010 10:12:11 -0700 (PDT), Ronnie

wrote:
On Aug 26, 11:55*am, Gary Wilber wrote:
Congratulations Ronnie on another good finish! *Sounds like you are
still getting in lots of fishing.
Gary

I go often, but not like last year - fished every single day last
year, have *missed over *30 days so far this year. *Slowing down with
age I guess!

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

Ronnie, say it ain't so! *I need an Iron Man fishing hero!!! *

I'll give ya a call next week. *Maybe stop by on the scoot on the way
up North.

Dan

Let me know. I have a couple of trips planned next week for articles
but maybe we can get some time in on the boat.

I hate it but I am not going to Wisconsin this year - the two week
trip to Alaska took too much out of me.

Ronnie

Now it looks like it will be the week after. Things are kinda up in
the air, I'll let ya know as soon as I find out so don't worry. It
may not even be for a couple of weeks on the return trip.

Dan