TW_Staff
11-14-2008, 11:34 AM
Not much went according to plan at the BASS Federation National Championship last week at Milford Lake in Junction City, Kan.
"With the high winds, we had no business being out there the first day of the tournament," said the Olney, Texas, resident who works as a planner for Air Tractor. "It was hard fishing". "You'd get off your trolling motor and get blown 50 yards in the bat of an eye". "It was probably the worst conditions I've fished in my entire life".
"I was pretty well focused on points," he said. "One adjustment I had to make was due to the wind". "I'd get blown over the areas I was fishing pretty fast so I stayed on my trolling motor just to keep on them to cover the area well enough". "I wanted to throw a spinnerbait all day but just couldn't."
With about 15 minutes to spare before weigh-in, while working a spot a quarter-mile from the ramp, he nailed a 3-14 on a jig that brightened his spirits. All three of his fish came out of 1 to 2 feet of water.
"It was an area that 25 or 30 boats had already been on," he noted. "I'd made up my mind I'd cut it as close as I could before heading in". "After I caught that fish, I only made a couple more casts before going to check in." Little did he know that last bite would be the difference-maker. "Those were the most difficult fishing conditions I've ever been in."
Winning Gear Notes:
Spinnerbait gear: 7' medium-action All-Star rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpageRDCALLSTAR-ASPSCR.html), Abu Garcia Revo STX (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX) casting reel (7.1:1), 17-pound P-Line CXX X-Tra Strong (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PLCXM) (moss green), 3/8-oz. Terminator Titanium spinnerbait (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=T1CW) (chartreuse-and-white shad).
He upgraded to 17-pound for the tournament after he broke off too much in practice with 10-pound. He blamed the breakoffs on the hybrid bass.
Jig gear: 7' medium-heavy Texas Sidewinder rod, same reel, 15-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC), 5/16-oz. Eakins jig (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=JBEJ) (brown/purple-flash), Zoom Tiny Brush Hog (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=ZTBH) trailer (green-pumpkin).
TW Staff
"With the high winds, we had no business being out there the first day of the tournament," said the Olney, Texas, resident who works as a planner for Air Tractor. "It was hard fishing". "You'd get off your trolling motor and get blown 50 yards in the bat of an eye". "It was probably the worst conditions I've fished in my entire life".
"I was pretty well focused on points," he said. "One adjustment I had to make was due to the wind". "I'd get blown over the areas I was fishing pretty fast so I stayed on my trolling motor just to keep on them to cover the area well enough". "I wanted to throw a spinnerbait all day but just couldn't."
With about 15 minutes to spare before weigh-in, while working a spot a quarter-mile from the ramp, he nailed a 3-14 on a jig that brightened his spirits. All three of his fish came out of 1 to 2 feet of water.
"It was an area that 25 or 30 boats had already been on," he noted. "I'd made up my mind I'd cut it as close as I could before heading in". "After I caught that fish, I only made a couple more casts before going to check in." Little did he know that last bite would be the difference-maker. "Those were the most difficult fishing conditions I've ever been in."
Winning Gear Notes:
Spinnerbait gear: 7' medium-action All-Star rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpageRDCALLSTAR-ASPSCR.html), Abu Garcia Revo STX (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX) casting reel (7.1:1), 17-pound P-Line CXX X-Tra Strong (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PLCXM) (moss green), 3/8-oz. Terminator Titanium spinnerbait (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=T1CW) (chartreuse-and-white shad).
He upgraded to 17-pound for the tournament after he broke off too much in practice with 10-pound. He blamed the breakoffs on the hybrid bass.
Jig gear: 7' medium-heavy Texas Sidewinder rod, same reel, 15-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC), 5/16-oz. Eakins jig (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=JBEJ) (brown/purple-flash), Zoom Tiny Brush Hog (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=ZTBH) trailer (green-pumpkin).
TW Staff