"In the Boat" presented by Jewel Bait Company |
Tournament: Bass Cat Owner's Invitational
May 13th and 14th, 2010
Norfork Lake
Anglers: Jeremy Risley/Frank Leone
19th place - 10 bass - 19.73 pounds - $300
Practice: Jeremy got to sneak in a hour of practice on Tuesday night. He didn't like what he saw, as
he threw topwater the entire time and never even got a blow-up. This was disturbing because when
we found out that Bass Cat was in the middle of May, we started to "lick our chops" in anticipation. We
both love to throw topwater and it should be prime time. Anyway, Jeremy's practice on Wednesday
was mediocre at best. He did get some blow-ups and even caught a keeper or two, but it was tough.
We went into the tournament with little confidence.........
Tournament Day One: Thursday morning dawned partly cloudy and breezy. The forecast was for
unsettled weather, so we figured the topwater bite might be on. We were boat 21 out of 481, so we
didn't have long to wait before we blasted off onto Norfork Lake. We headed to our starting location, a
secondary point in a creek arm, and pulled out our most trusted topwater bait - the one we call ol'
Tommy! We were pumped and it didn't take Jeremy long to hook-up with our first keeper of the
tournament, a 15-inch smallmouth. Things were looking up and it looked like the bass were too!!! The
breeze seemed to be generating bites, as we had a few more blow-ups and landed one more keeper.
But then the breeze died and so did the topwater bite. Dejected, we finally decided to slow down and
fish a jig. Although it was a grind, Jeremy had them figured out. Throwing a Jewel Eakins' Jig, he
proceeded to save our day by catching 4 more keepers, including a couple of good largemouth.
Although our bag was small, it kept us in contention to get a check. We ended day one sitting in 53rd
place with 9.07 pounds........
Tournament Day Two: Friday morning dawned cloudy with a slight breeze, perfect conditions for a
topwater bite. Since we were boat 21 on Thursday, we were boat 460 on day two. Our strategy for day
two was to start with topwater and immediately switch to a jig if we didn't get any blow-ups on our first
point. After what seemed like an eternity, we finally headed to our starting location. We pulled Tommy
out and you guessed it, we didn't have a single blow-up. We switched to a jig and it was a slow go. We
both caught a short fish or two, but it just seemed different. After about an hour, Jeremy decided to
head back to our starting location. It was just a secondary point like many others in the area, but this
one was holding fish. I decided to dig out the Jewel "Rock" Carolina-rig, and tipped my hook with a Big
Bite Baits Kriet Kreature. Jeremy decided to tie on a Jewel Football Jig, so I hopped up to the front of
the boat. We were right on the point when I felt pressure at the end of my rig. I set the hook and called
for the net. It was a 16-inch smallmouth and we were on the board! We kept working around the point
and again I was hooked up on the Carolina-rig. This time it was a really good smallmouth! We got the
fish in the boat and I was starting to get pumped! Anyway, we were still fishing around the same point
when Jeremy and I started talking about the 2006 Bass Cat Invitational. During the 2006 event,
Jeremy caught all of our keepers on day one and we were way up the standings. On day 2, I caught
our only two keepers - and Jeremy zeroed. We ended up down the standings and didn't get a check.
Anyway, I told him I promised that although the circumstances were looking eerily similar, that the
same thing would not happen this year. As soon as I got those words out of my mouth, Jeremy sets
the hook! It was our third keeper and things were starting to happen for us! We continued working the
rig around different areas in the creek with little success. We finally got back to our point and you
guessed it, Jeremy catches another keeper. Number 4 was on the board and it was time to get 5!!! By
now we had figured out that this point would be our savior. We kept working around it and I again felt
pressure on the end of my rig. I set the hook and it felt like a mule!!! After a tense fight, we got the 2.5
pound largemouth in the net. I was pumped!!! I just sensed that this fish might put us in check range.
We finished out the day going around the point, and Jeremy was able to get us a slight upgrade late
in the day. We went to the weigh-in with our fingers crossed..........
Keeper Count: Jewel Eakins' Jig (5/16 oz.; Brown/Purple Flash): 4 keepers
Carolina-rig with Jewel "Rock" Weight and Big Bite Baits Kriet Kreature (4-inch; Watermelon Candy): 3 keepers
Carolina-rig with Netbait Mad Paca (4-inch; Green Pumpkin Candy): 3 keepers
Reaction Innovations Vixen topwater: 2 keepers
Gear: Jig - Dobyns DX 703 C Champion Extreme Rod
Carolina-rig - Dobyns 704 C and 734 C Champion Rods
Topwater - Dobyns 705 CB Champion Rod
Final Thoughts: The Bass Cat Invitational is a unique event. You almost have to have a good bank
or two, because running a pattern with 500 boats on the pond is a difficult task. Fortunately, we had a
point that was producing for us and were able to get a check. Versatility was also key for us. Although
we wanted to fish a topwater all day, we realized that it just wasn't happening and adjusted with jigs
and Carolina-rigs. We fished "the moment" well this time and it paid off............
See ya' on the flip side,
Frank Leone
May 13th and 14th, 2010
Norfork Lake
Anglers: Jeremy Risley/Frank Leone
19th place - 10 bass - 19.73 pounds - $300
Practice: Jeremy got to sneak in a hour of practice on Tuesday night. He didn't like what he saw, as
he threw topwater the entire time and never even got a blow-up. This was disturbing because when
we found out that Bass Cat was in the middle of May, we started to "lick our chops" in anticipation. We
both love to throw topwater and it should be prime time. Anyway, Jeremy's practice on Wednesday
was mediocre at best. He did get some blow-ups and even caught a keeper or two, but it was tough.
We went into the tournament with little confidence.........
Tournament Day One: Thursday morning dawned partly cloudy and breezy. The forecast was for
unsettled weather, so we figured the topwater bite might be on. We were boat 21 out of 481, so we
didn't have long to wait before we blasted off onto Norfork Lake. We headed to our starting location, a
secondary point in a creek arm, and pulled out our most trusted topwater bait - the one we call ol'
Tommy! We were pumped and it didn't take Jeremy long to hook-up with our first keeper of the
tournament, a 15-inch smallmouth. Things were looking up and it looked like the bass were too!!! The
breeze seemed to be generating bites, as we had a few more blow-ups and landed one more keeper.
But then the breeze died and so did the topwater bite. Dejected, we finally decided to slow down and
fish a jig. Although it was a grind, Jeremy had them figured out. Throwing a Jewel Eakins' Jig, he
proceeded to save our day by catching 4 more keepers, including a couple of good largemouth.
Although our bag was small, it kept us in contention to get a check. We ended day one sitting in 53rd
place with 9.07 pounds........
Tournament Day Two: Friday morning dawned cloudy with a slight breeze, perfect conditions for a
topwater bite. Since we were boat 21 on Thursday, we were boat 460 on day two. Our strategy for day
two was to start with topwater and immediately switch to a jig if we didn't get any blow-ups on our first
point. After what seemed like an eternity, we finally headed to our starting location. We pulled Tommy
out and you guessed it, we didn't have a single blow-up. We switched to a jig and it was a slow go. We
both caught a short fish or two, but it just seemed different. After about an hour, Jeremy decided to
head back to our starting location. It was just a secondary point like many others in the area, but this
one was holding fish. I decided to dig out the Jewel "Rock" Carolina-rig, and tipped my hook with a Big
Bite Baits Kriet Kreature. Jeremy decided to tie on a Jewel Football Jig, so I hopped up to the front of
the boat. We were right on the point when I felt pressure at the end of my rig. I set the hook and called
for the net. It was a 16-inch smallmouth and we were on the board! We kept working around the point
and again I was hooked up on the Carolina-rig. This time it was a really good smallmouth! We got the
fish in the boat and I was starting to get pumped! Anyway, we were still fishing around the same point
when Jeremy and I started talking about the 2006 Bass Cat Invitational. During the 2006 event,
Jeremy caught all of our keepers on day one and we were way up the standings. On day 2, I caught
our only two keepers - and Jeremy zeroed. We ended up down the standings and didn't get a check.
Anyway, I told him I promised that although the circumstances were looking eerily similar, that the
same thing would not happen this year. As soon as I got those words out of my mouth, Jeremy sets
the hook! It was our third keeper and things were starting to happen for us! We continued working the
rig around different areas in the creek with little success. We finally got back to our point and you
guessed it, Jeremy catches another keeper. Number 4 was on the board and it was time to get 5!!! By
now we had figured out that this point would be our savior. We kept working around it and I again felt
pressure on the end of my rig. I set the hook and it felt like a mule!!! After a tense fight, we got the 2.5
pound largemouth in the net. I was pumped!!! I just sensed that this fish might put us in check range.
We finished out the day going around the point, and Jeremy was able to get us a slight upgrade late
in the day. We went to the weigh-in with our fingers crossed..........
Keeper Count: Jewel Eakins' Jig (5/16 oz.; Brown/Purple Flash): 4 keepers
Carolina-rig with Jewel "Rock" Weight and Big Bite Baits Kriet Kreature (4-inch; Watermelon Candy): 3 keepers
Carolina-rig with Netbait Mad Paca (4-inch; Green Pumpkin Candy): 3 keepers
Reaction Innovations Vixen topwater: 2 keepers
Gear: Jig - Dobyns DX 703 C Champion Extreme Rod
Carolina-rig - Dobyns 704 C and 734 C Champion Rods
Topwater - Dobyns 705 CB Champion Rod
Final Thoughts: The Bass Cat Invitational is a unique event. You almost have to have a good bank
or two, because running a pattern with 500 boats on the pond is a difficult task. Fortunately, we had a
point that was producing for us and were able to get a check. Versatility was also key for us. Although
we wanted to fish a topwater all day, we realized that it just wasn't happening and adjusted with jigs
and Carolina-rigs. We fished "the moment" well this time and it paid off............
See ya' on the flip side,
Frank Leone