"In the Boat" presented by Jewel Bait Company |
Tournament: Dumas Bass Club-Fundraiser (Buddy)
April 3, 2010
Story by Andy Case
Team: Steven Tew & Andy Case
Background and Practice:
Practice consisted of going out on Thursday night with the Dumas Bass Club, in the first of several
Thursday night events. Weights were not too high at weigh in, but knowing who went where and
caught what, helped more than anything.
BLAST OFF:
I meet up with Steven Tew that morning, and on the way to the ramp we discussed our “plan.”
Compared to most, ours was pretty simple, we picked out a spot and we were going there to just
fish. After the frigid bath from Mr. Roger Hackney (yep HACK ATTACK Sr) we hoped to be one of
the first five or so boats to reach the area. When we got stopped you could see the fish activity
was everywhere. “Tew” and I decided to try different lures till we figured something out, he decided
on a lizard, and I figured I would chunk the Dumas Special Jig ( Black & Blue w/blue sapphire).
About 6 casts into the morning, I pitched to a large stump and “BAM” a fish almost took my rod, I
finally got it in the boat, man a 4.5+ fish first thing that morning, I was pretty pumped. After that fish
hit the box for next hour or so “Tew” and I caught fish after fish after fish. Not all of these would
keep, but by 8:30 we had 4 decent fish…..Then the drought! We flipped, pitched, casted, drugged,
and cussed at everything in the water for that number 5 and nothing. About 11:00 I watched two
other boats in the area catch 3 keepers out deep on what else- - A RATTLE TRAP! As they
cleared the area, we knew we had to do something, and soon. So I picked up a trap (good name
too- it will trap every limb, stump, twig, or vine it goes by) but we needed one more for a limit. About
my third with the trap, all the sudden WHAM! I just TRAPPED a 70 year old stump! That’s how my
trap fishing goes. Our spirits had really gotten down, especially after the morning frenzy. At about
1:00 we decided to make a small move to an area I had fished last year with Jeremy Risley. I had
put on the black neon Mad Paca and hoped to relive last year, when “Tew” had a fish “bite his
blades” on his spinnerbait! We had to pull it together for our #5 fish, if we planned on standing in
the check line. The wind had now picked back up, and so did “Tew’s” giant lizard. He pitched it by
a log and a 15” keeper slammed him. FINALLY number 5!! And just minutes later “Tew” lands
another solid fish that culled one of the barley 15 inchers to a solid 17 inch fish. With the wind, this
spot had turned back on, we landed a couple more fish, but none would help us out. Now it was up
to the SCALES-of-TRUTH!
Final Thoughts:
I am not sure if the VOO DOO hex is gone, but one thing is for sure….. It feels good to FINALLY
catch some fish. It was a great day on the water and for the first hour or so, I don’t think you could
do any wrong and I am glad to have had the opportunity to go. Thanks “Tew” for the invite.
Keep Chunking..Luck Counts
Andy Case
April 3, 2010
Story by Andy Case
Team: Steven Tew & Andy Case
Background and Practice:
Practice consisted of going out on Thursday night with the Dumas Bass Club, in the first of several
Thursday night events. Weights were not too high at weigh in, but knowing who went where and
caught what, helped more than anything.
BLAST OFF:
I meet up with Steven Tew that morning, and on the way to the ramp we discussed our “plan.”
Compared to most, ours was pretty simple, we picked out a spot and we were going there to just
fish. After the frigid bath from Mr. Roger Hackney (yep HACK ATTACK Sr) we hoped to be one of
the first five or so boats to reach the area. When we got stopped you could see the fish activity
was everywhere. “Tew” and I decided to try different lures till we figured something out, he decided
on a lizard, and I figured I would chunk the Dumas Special Jig ( Black & Blue w/blue sapphire).
About 6 casts into the morning, I pitched to a large stump and “BAM” a fish almost took my rod, I
finally got it in the boat, man a 4.5+ fish first thing that morning, I was pretty pumped. After that fish
hit the box for next hour or so “Tew” and I caught fish after fish after fish. Not all of these would
keep, but by 8:30 we had 4 decent fish…..Then the drought! We flipped, pitched, casted, drugged,
and cussed at everything in the water for that number 5 and nothing. About 11:00 I watched two
other boats in the area catch 3 keepers out deep on what else- - A RATTLE TRAP! As they
cleared the area, we knew we had to do something, and soon. So I picked up a trap (good name
too- it will trap every limb, stump, twig, or vine it goes by) but we needed one more for a limit. About
my third with the trap, all the sudden WHAM! I just TRAPPED a 70 year old stump! That’s how my
trap fishing goes. Our spirits had really gotten down, especially after the morning frenzy. At about
1:00 we decided to make a small move to an area I had fished last year with Jeremy Risley. I had
put on the black neon Mad Paca and hoped to relive last year, when “Tew” had a fish “bite his
blades” on his spinnerbait! We had to pull it together for our #5 fish, if we planned on standing in
the check line. The wind had now picked back up, and so did “Tew’s” giant lizard. He pitched it by
a log and a 15” keeper slammed him. FINALLY number 5!! And just minutes later “Tew” lands
another solid fish that culled one of the barley 15 inchers to a solid 17 inch fish. With the wind, this
spot had turned back on, we landed a couple more fish, but none would help us out. Now it was up
to the SCALES-of-TRUTH!
Final Thoughts:
I am not sure if the VOO DOO hex is gone, but one thing is for sure….. It feels good to FINALLY
catch some fish. It was a great day on the water and for the first hour or so, I don’t think you could
do any wrong and I am glad to have had the opportunity to go. Thanks “Tew” for the invite.
Keep Chunking..Luck Counts
Andy Case