"In the Boat" presented by Jewel Bait Company |
Tournament: Mr. Bass of Arkansas
February 24, 2008
Lake Ouachita
Angler: Frank Leone (Amateur Division)
38th place - 1 bass - 1.64 pounds
Pairing Meeting: The first tournament of the year looked like it was going to start off great. I
was paired with Billy McCaghren, one of the best anglers in Arkansas. To my surprise, he said he
wasn't on any fish. I wasn't disappointed though, as anglers of his caliber often find a way to
catch fish during the tournament even though they have had tough practices.
Tournament: Our number was called and Billy took off like a bat out of you know where. He has
a brand new BassCat Cougar paired with a Mercury Pro XS 225 and let me tell you it is FAST!!!
We made a short run and started fishing in a creek. My third cast with a Jackall crankbait and
bang! A keeper! I was pumped! But that was it, not a single keeper the rest of the day. Billy
caught 2 keepers on a DLN for about 3.5 pounds. We both struggled all day long. I threw
crankbaits, rattletraps, Jewel Jigs - nothing produced. Billy was in power fishing mode most of the
day, but he did spend 15-minutes trying to get a hair jig bite going, but nothing panned out.
Frank's Keeper Count: Jackall Muscle 10+ Crankbait (Red Crawfish) 1 keeper
Final Thoughts: It was a tough day on the water, but I enjoyed fishing with Billy. I've tried to
reflect about what I could have done to put another keeper or two in the boat, and the only thing
that comes to mind is that I should have slowed my retrieve down. With water temps ranging from
44 - 46 F, the fish were lethargic. Maybe I will get them next tournament...........
See ya' on the flip side,
Frank Leone
February 24, 2008
Lake Ouachita
Angler: Frank Leone (Amateur Division)
38th place - 1 bass - 1.64 pounds
Pairing Meeting: The first tournament of the year looked like it was going to start off great. I
was paired with Billy McCaghren, one of the best anglers in Arkansas. To my surprise, he said he
wasn't on any fish. I wasn't disappointed though, as anglers of his caliber often find a way to
catch fish during the tournament even though they have had tough practices.
Tournament: Our number was called and Billy took off like a bat out of you know where. He has
a brand new BassCat Cougar paired with a Mercury Pro XS 225 and let me tell you it is FAST!!!
We made a short run and started fishing in a creek. My third cast with a Jackall crankbait and
bang! A keeper! I was pumped! But that was it, not a single keeper the rest of the day. Billy
caught 2 keepers on a DLN for about 3.5 pounds. We both struggled all day long. I threw
crankbaits, rattletraps, Jewel Jigs - nothing produced. Billy was in power fishing mode most of the
day, but he did spend 15-minutes trying to get a hair jig bite going, but nothing panned out.
Frank's Keeper Count: Jackall Muscle 10+ Crankbait (Red Crawfish) 1 keeper
Final Thoughts: It was a tough day on the water, but I enjoyed fishing with Billy. I've tried to
reflect about what I could have done to put another keeper or two in the boat, and the only thing
that comes to mind is that I should have slowed my retrieve down. With water temps ranging from
44 - 46 F, the fish were lethargic. Maybe I will get them next tournament...........
See ya' on the flip side,
Frank Leone