TW_Staff
06-22-2009, 02:16 PM
Those who finished near the top of the leaderboard at the Mississippi accomplished that feat with standard shallow-water patterns. Where they were throwing it was more significant than what they were throwing, and with the crowded conditions in the relatively few clearer-water locales, timing and patience were perhaps the biggest factors of all.
Kelly Jordan:
Jordon shared a backwater area in Pool 18 (one lock up from the launch pool) with fellow Texan Alton Jones. Its main feature was an active drainage pipe.
He was all alone in there on the final day when Jones opted not to lock through after receiving a 1-hour penalty. He went deeper than he had been fishing and produced the day's top bag.
When he noticed water coming out of that pipe during practice, he figured he was in business.
"I said, 'I've seen that kind of thing before, and bass go in there," he said. "After that it was just a matter of figuring out how to get them to bite."
Flipping gear: 7' medium-heavy Fenwick Techna AV rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=FTAVC), Abu Garcia Revo STX casting reel (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX) (6.4:1 ratio), 20-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC) or 50-pound Spiderwire Stealth braided line, 1/4-ounce Lake Fork Mega-Weight, 5/0 Owner Wide Gap hook, Lake Fork Tackle Craw Tube (blue bruiser).
Cranking gear: 7' medium-action Fenwick Techna AV rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=FTAVC), same reel, 12-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC), Lucky Craft Flat CB DR (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=LCFCBDR) (chartreuse/black back).
Main factor in his success "I practiced my ever-loving butt off covering as much water as I could because (the Top 12 in the points and qualification for the postseason) was on the line."
Performance edge – "The Craw Tube (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=LFCT). It's the best tube there is and I think I've proven that several times."
Billy McCaghren:
On the strength of a productive area that he had all to himself for almost the entire week, Arkansas rookie Billy McCaghren carried a lead of almost 3 pounds into the final day. But the continually falling water got too skinny on day 4 and his fish had departed.
He found the place during practice as he was looking for areas that were devoid of current (and thus harboring clearer water).
"I spent some time fishing in the current, but I wanted to take a day and try true backwaters," he said. "I found several places like that, but this one was absolutely full of shad.
"It was about an acre or maybe an acre and a half and it had about 20 laydowns."
Pitching gear: 7'3" medium-heavy Powell 734 rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PCR), Abu Garcia Revo STX (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX)casting reel (6.4:1 ratio), 20-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC) line, 3/8-ounce Tru-Tungsten weight (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=TTBW), 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=GOSWG), Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=RISB) (black neon).
Spinnerbait gear: 7' medium-action Powell 703 rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PCR), same reel and line, 3/8- or 1/2-ounce War Eagle spinnerbait (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=WENSDW) (white/chartreuse).
Main factor in his success – "Figuring out that the fish weren't on the ends of the trees where you'd think the would be. They were on the limbs or anything right next to the bank in 8, 10 or 12 inches of water."
Performance edge – "That pitching rod is feather-light and it's just perfect. It's got plenty of backbone, but it also has a soft tip for accurate casts."
Tommy Biffle:
Tommy Biffle was the only competitor to catch two bags that exceeded 13 pounds. His other two were only about half that heavy, however, and he ended up a little more than 3 pounds shy of the top slot.
He was issued the same 1-hour penalty as Jones on day 4 and thus missed some prime morning action. He was in his element all week, though, and made a strong run at this second victory of the season and second at this venue (the first came in 1995).
He flipped for the first 3 days, but had to resort to a crankbait on day 4 when his flipping bit shut off. He shared an area in Pool 18 with Scott Campbell, who finished 9th, and targeted big pieces of wood, small bushes and whatever other type of cover he could find.
Flipping gear: 7'6" medium-heavy Quantum Tour Edition Tommy Biffle signature series (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=QSSCR) flipping stick, Quantum PT "Burner" casting reel (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=QTPVCR) (7:1 ratio), 25-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SLSHF) line, 3/16- or 5/16-ounce Tru-Tungsten weight (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=TTBW), 4/0 Reaction Innovations BMF hook, Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=RISB) (black neon).
Cranking gear: 6'10" medium-heavy Quantum Tour Edition rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=QSSCR), Quantum Tour Edition casting reel (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=QTPVCR) (6.3:1 ratio), 16-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SLSHF), Strike King Series 5 (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SKPMCB) (white).
Main factor in his success – "I like these tournaments that are tough because I get to use my flipping stick. River backwater fishing is what I like to do."
Main factor in his success – "The flipping stick. Quantum let us make those rods just like we wanted them, and it's well-balanced and real light and I can use it all day and not get tired."
Stephen Browning:
Stephen Browning rounded out a trio of Arkansans among the Top 5. Other than winner Kevin Short, he was the only angler to weigh four consecutive limits.
He had a 20-mile stretch of the main river to himself as just about everybody else focused on backwaters.
"On the first day of practice I found a river bite going on and I caught a limit that was very similar to the ones I weighed on the last 2 (competition) days," he said. "On the 2nd and 3rd days I went to the backwaters, but I never found an area to myself or with just a few boats.
"There were boats coming and going and I would've had to fish in a crowd, so I made the decision to go with the main river and see how it panned out."
He stayed in Pool 18 all 4 days and fished a lot of woody stuff, along with jetties and any other type of cover that was available. He caught his fish on a crankbait and a spinnerbait.
Cranking gear: 6'6" medium-action St. Croix Legend Tournament rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SCLTC), Abu Garcia Revo Winch (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRW) casting reel (5.4:1 ratio), 20-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC) line, Koppers Live Target Crawfish (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=KPLTC) (chartreuse/black back).
Spinnerbait gear: Same rod, Abu Garcia Revo STX (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX) casting reel (6.4:1 ratio), same line, 5/16-ounce War Eagle Finesse spinnerbait (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=WEFS) (chartreuse/white).
Main factor in his success – "Past river-fishing experience. I grew up on the Arkansas and the lower part of the Mississippi and the fish I caught, I could just about predict (the location) of every one of them. They were current-related fish and it was textbook stuff."
Peformance edge – "My MotorGuide trolling motor and my Optimum batteries. That 109-pound-thrust MotorGuide was important in that current and the batteries kept it going."
TW Staff
Kelly Jordan:
Jordon shared a backwater area in Pool 18 (one lock up from the launch pool) with fellow Texan Alton Jones. Its main feature was an active drainage pipe.
He was all alone in there on the final day when Jones opted not to lock through after receiving a 1-hour penalty. He went deeper than he had been fishing and produced the day's top bag.
When he noticed water coming out of that pipe during practice, he figured he was in business.
"I said, 'I've seen that kind of thing before, and bass go in there," he said. "After that it was just a matter of figuring out how to get them to bite."
Flipping gear: 7' medium-heavy Fenwick Techna AV rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=FTAVC), Abu Garcia Revo STX casting reel (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX) (6.4:1 ratio), 20-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC) or 50-pound Spiderwire Stealth braided line, 1/4-ounce Lake Fork Mega-Weight, 5/0 Owner Wide Gap hook, Lake Fork Tackle Craw Tube (blue bruiser).
Cranking gear: 7' medium-action Fenwick Techna AV rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=FTAVC), same reel, 12-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC), Lucky Craft Flat CB DR (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=LCFCBDR) (chartreuse/black back).
Main factor in his success "I practiced my ever-loving butt off covering as much water as I could because (the Top 12 in the points and qualification for the postseason) was on the line."
Performance edge – "The Craw Tube (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=LFCT). It's the best tube there is and I think I've proven that several times."
Billy McCaghren:
On the strength of a productive area that he had all to himself for almost the entire week, Arkansas rookie Billy McCaghren carried a lead of almost 3 pounds into the final day. But the continually falling water got too skinny on day 4 and his fish had departed.
He found the place during practice as he was looking for areas that were devoid of current (and thus harboring clearer water).
"I spent some time fishing in the current, but I wanted to take a day and try true backwaters," he said. "I found several places like that, but this one was absolutely full of shad.
"It was about an acre or maybe an acre and a half and it had about 20 laydowns."
Pitching gear: 7'3" medium-heavy Powell 734 rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PCR), Abu Garcia Revo STX (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX)casting reel (6.4:1 ratio), 20-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC) line, 3/8-ounce Tru-Tungsten weight (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=TTBW), 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=GOSWG), Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=RISB) (black neon).
Spinnerbait gear: 7' medium-action Powell 703 rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=PCR), same reel and line, 3/8- or 1/2-ounce War Eagle spinnerbait (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=WENSDW) (white/chartreuse).
Main factor in his success – "Figuring out that the fish weren't on the ends of the trees where you'd think the would be. They were on the limbs or anything right next to the bank in 8, 10 or 12 inches of water."
Performance edge – "That pitching rod is feather-light and it's just perfect. It's got plenty of backbone, but it also has a soft tip for accurate casts."
Tommy Biffle:
Tommy Biffle was the only competitor to catch two bags that exceeded 13 pounds. His other two were only about half that heavy, however, and he ended up a little more than 3 pounds shy of the top slot.
He was issued the same 1-hour penalty as Jones on day 4 and thus missed some prime morning action. He was in his element all week, though, and made a strong run at this second victory of the season and second at this venue (the first came in 1995).
He flipped for the first 3 days, but had to resort to a crankbait on day 4 when his flipping bit shut off. He shared an area in Pool 18 with Scott Campbell, who finished 9th, and targeted big pieces of wood, small bushes and whatever other type of cover he could find.
Flipping gear: 7'6" medium-heavy Quantum Tour Edition Tommy Biffle signature series (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=QSSCR) flipping stick, Quantum PT "Burner" casting reel (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=QTPVCR) (7:1 ratio), 25-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SLSHF) line, 3/16- or 5/16-ounce Tru-Tungsten weight (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=TTBW), 4/0 Reaction Innovations BMF hook, Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=RISB) (black neon).
Cranking gear: 6'10" medium-heavy Quantum Tour Edition rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=QSSCR), Quantum Tour Edition casting reel (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=QTPVCR) (6.3:1 ratio), 16-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SLSHF), Strike King Series 5 (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SKPMCB) (white).
Main factor in his success – "I like these tournaments that are tough because I get to use my flipping stick. River backwater fishing is what I like to do."
Main factor in his success – "The flipping stick. Quantum let us make those rods just like we wanted them, and it's well-balanced and real light and I can use it all day and not get tired."
Stephen Browning:
Stephen Browning rounded out a trio of Arkansans among the Top 5. Other than winner Kevin Short, he was the only angler to weigh four consecutive limits.
He had a 20-mile stretch of the main river to himself as just about everybody else focused on backwaters.
"On the first day of practice I found a river bite going on and I caught a limit that was very similar to the ones I weighed on the last 2 (competition) days," he said. "On the 2nd and 3rd days I went to the backwaters, but I never found an area to myself or with just a few boats.
"There were boats coming and going and I would've had to fish in a crowd, so I made the decision to go with the main river and see how it panned out."
He stayed in Pool 18 all 4 days and fished a lot of woody stuff, along with jetties and any other type of cover that was available. He caught his fish on a crankbait and a spinnerbait.
Cranking gear: 6'6" medium-action St. Croix Legend Tournament rod (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SCLTC), Abu Garcia Revo Winch (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRW) casting reel (5.4:1 ratio), 20-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=BTFCC) line, Koppers Live Target Crawfish (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=KPLTC) (chartreuse/black back).
Spinnerbait gear: Same rod, Abu Garcia Revo STX (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=AGRSTX) casting reel (6.4:1 ratio), same line, 5/16-ounce War Eagle Finesse spinnerbait (http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpage.html?PCODE=WEFS) (chartreuse/white).
Main factor in his success – "Past river-fishing experience. I grew up on the Arkansas and the lower part of the Mississippi and the fish I caught, I could just about predict (the location) of every one of them. They were current-related fish and it was textbook stuff."
Peformance edge – "My MotorGuide trolling motor and my Optimum batteries. That 109-pound-thrust MotorGuide was important in that current and the batteries kept it going."
TW Staff