"In the Boat" presented by Jewel Bait Company |
Tournament: Vince Miller's Arkansas Couples
March 16th, 2008
Greers Ferry Lake
Anglers: Frank and Erin Leone
15th place - 5 bass - 7.10 pounds
Practice: March 15th: I decided to launch at Choctaw so that I could quickly check out the South
Fork. When I headed up the South Fork the water color progressively went from bad to worse.
When I got to the section that Jeremy and I had found fish, I could see it was absolutely chocolate
milk, so I went way up the River. The water looked fishable, but I spent 2 hours up there and didn't
get a bite. South Fork was marked off the list. I spent the rest of the day hitting creeks and pockets
on the North side of the Lake with little success. I had four bites and only landed one fish. The
water temperature in most places was 52 F, so I decided the creeks on the north bank would be a
good backup if Salt Creek (where Jeremy and I had caught some good fish during Super Team)
didn't pan out.
Tournament: Erin and I got a late draw and were boat #30. At least we were in the second flight!
Off to Salt Creek we went! It looked perfect. Cloudy with a good breeze blowing into the points we
wanted to fish. Water Temp was only 48 F, But I figured the fish should be chompin'! They weren't.
We spent 2 hours chucking Megabass jerkbaits, Storm Wiggle Warts, and jighead grubs without a
single strike. We decided to head up the lake and after a brief stop in the Narrows stopped in the
creek where I had caught my only fish in practice. After another hour, we finally had our first keeper
of the day, a 2-pound smallmouth that hit a Jewel Eakins' Jig. Then we hit another lull. We threw
Jewel Jigs, jerkbaits, crankbaits, rattletraps, and Carolina-rigs without a keeper for another 2 hours.
I decided to head towards Devils Fork and fish deep in Eva Turnley Hollow. I started throwing a
jighead Senko in 30 - 40 feet of water and within 5 minutes had our second keeper, a 13-inch
smallie. I thought the deep finesse bite might be on, but we fished for another hour without a bite.
By now it was getting close to 2:30 (we had a 3:10 weigh-in time), so it was desperation time!!! I
decided to go check out the Middle Fork. I didn't check it in practice because I assumed it would be
"chocolate city" like the South Fork (you know what happens when you assume - it makes an a**
out of you and me!). I stopped at the end of a channel swing and the water had a light stain to it
and looked perfect!!! About two casts with a wiggle wart later and I had our 3rd keeper in the boat.
The pace got frenetic. I was casting like a man possessed. Caught 2 more short fish in quick time. I
had my eyes on another channel swing and made a beeline for it with about 15 minutes to go. On
the first cast, I had another keeper spot in the boat. I kept casting like a mad man. Then without a
minute to spare - Bang! keeper number 5!!! I was pumped!!! Although we only had about 7-pounds
in the boat it was a rush catching those fish that quick. We headed towards the ramp and even
though I knew we didn't have enough for a check, I felt like we were victorious.
Frank and Erin's Keeper Count: Storm Wiggle Wart: 3 keepers
Jewel Eakins' Jig (7/16 oz.;Brown): 1 keeper
Yamamoto Slim Senko (4" Green Pumpkin) on a
Reaction Innovations "Screwed up" Jighead: 1 keeper
Final Thoughts: This one was a grind. I really thought the fish weren't biting but was proved wrong
by the quality sacks brought in by the Couples. I wish I would have checked the Middle Fork in
practice because that's probably where I would have spent the entire day. We had a great ending
to the day and as Ike says "Never Give Up"!!!
See ya' on the flip side,
Frank Leone
March 16th, 2008
Greers Ferry Lake
Anglers: Frank and Erin Leone
15th place - 5 bass - 7.10 pounds
Practice: March 15th: I decided to launch at Choctaw so that I could quickly check out the South
Fork. When I headed up the South Fork the water color progressively went from bad to worse.
When I got to the section that Jeremy and I had found fish, I could see it was absolutely chocolate
milk, so I went way up the River. The water looked fishable, but I spent 2 hours up there and didn't
get a bite. South Fork was marked off the list. I spent the rest of the day hitting creeks and pockets
on the North side of the Lake with little success. I had four bites and only landed one fish. The
water temperature in most places was 52 F, so I decided the creeks on the north bank would be a
good backup if Salt Creek (where Jeremy and I had caught some good fish during Super Team)
didn't pan out.
Tournament: Erin and I got a late draw and were boat #30. At least we were in the second flight!
Off to Salt Creek we went! It looked perfect. Cloudy with a good breeze blowing into the points we
wanted to fish. Water Temp was only 48 F, But I figured the fish should be chompin'! They weren't.
We spent 2 hours chucking Megabass jerkbaits, Storm Wiggle Warts, and jighead grubs without a
single strike. We decided to head up the lake and after a brief stop in the Narrows stopped in the
creek where I had caught my only fish in practice. After another hour, we finally had our first keeper
of the day, a 2-pound smallmouth that hit a Jewel Eakins' Jig. Then we hit another lull. We threw
Jewel Jigs, jerkbaits, crankbaits, rattletraps, and Carolina-rigs without a keeper for another 2 hours.
I decided to head towards Devils Fork and fish deep in Eva Turnley Hollow. I started throwing a
jighead Senko in 30 - 40 feet of water and within 5 minutes had our second keeper, a 13-inch
smallie. I thought the deep finesse bite might be on, but we fished for another hour without a bite.
By now it was getting close to 2:30 (we had a 3:10 weigh-in time), so it was desperation time!!! I
decided to go check out the Middle Fork. I didn't check it in practice because I assumed it would be
"chocolate city" like the South Fork (you know what happens when you assume - it makes an a**
out of you and me!). I stopped at the end of a channel swing and the water had a light stain to it
and looked perfect!!! About two casts with a wiggle wart later and I had our 3rd keeper in the boat.
The pace got frenetic. I was casting like a man possessed. Caught 2 more short fish in quick time. I
had my eyes on another channel swing and made a beeline for it with about 15 minutes to go. On
the first cast, I had another keeper spot in the boat. I kept casting like a mad man. Then without a
minute to spare - Bang! keeper number 5!!! I was pumped!!! Although we only had about 7-pounds
in the boat it was a rush catching those fish that quick. We headed towards the ramp and even
though I knew we didn't have enough for a check, I felt like we were victorious.
Frank and Erin's Keeper Count: Storm Wiggle Wart: 3 keepers
Jewel Eakins' Jig (7/16 oz.;Brown): 1 keeper
Yamamoto Slim Senko (4" Green Pumpkin) on a
Reaction Innovations "Screwed up" Jighead: 1 keeper
Final Thoughts: This one was a grind. I really thought the fish weren't biting but was proved wrong
by the quality sacks brought in by the Couples. I wish I would have checked the Middle Fork in
practice because that's probably where I would have spent the entire day. We had a great ending
to the day and as Ike says "Never Give Up"!!!
See ya' on the flip side,
Frank Leone