"In the Boat" presented by Jewel Bait Company |
Tournament: Dumas Bass Club-Fundraiser (Buddy)
May 1, 2010
Story by Andy Case
Team: Dwight Armstrong & Andy Case
Practice:
Left up to Mr. Dwight and what he found on Thursday night.
BLAST OFF:
Mr. Dwight and I meet up early that morning and the main topic was the weather and would it hold
off till later in the day. Once at the ramp, we had another surprise, the water had jumped a bunch
since Thursday, so Mr. Dwight made some changes and we went to our new 1st spot. While other
boats were roaring past, Dwight lands a solid keeper. As we continued, to fish this area, we had
few more blow ups but did not connect on any. With the weather breaking, we decided to move to
our second area. Man the water was beautiful. Mr. Dwight was throwing a TX rigged swim bait and
I was determined these fish wanted to eat my swim jig. As we fished around, I had not had a single
hit and Mr. Dwight was catching a few short fish so I figured it was only a matter of time. Well that
time, turned into hours with zero bites. About 10:30 Mr. Dwight got a phone call that a storm was on
the way, by the time we got the slicker suits on it was here. It started raining more than the bilge
pump could pump out! Then just like that, no more rain (for the moment). After throwing the kitchen
sink, I rigged up an 11” Netbait C-Mac red bug worm and decided to drag it around. It was not long
and I had set the hook on a keeper fish, man was I glad to contribute to our cause. Well just
moments later Mr. Dwight swings and lands a short fish then I too hook a short fish. Something was
going on in this little 50 yd circle. With the high wind, we try to get back around on the circle, and
about that time, Mr. Dwight connects with our #3 keeper of the day. Still dragging the big worm, I
felt one hit it hard! A solid 2 ½ lb fish that was #4, now we needed the hardest one of the day, #5.
We figured it was about time to move then I felt the boat move and see Dwight had swung and
SNAP! His line broke. Man was that #5? I picked up the big worm and cast out and caught his line,
he started pulling it in and the fish was still on there! Coming up short this bass did not help us, but
it was still pretty cool. Just as we decide to move to a finger in the Sac, “round 14” of the rains
came down, then just like before it was over. We fished around, but never did land a keeper. As a
last ditch effort we ran back to the #1 spot looking for #5, by this time the wind had gotten really
high and keeping the boat in position was nearly impossible and feeling a bite was even worse.
Suddenly, Mr. Dwight’s rod bends in half, and up to the surface comes a nice looking Kentucky that
comes un-buttoned right at the boat. At that point with zero trolling motor power we figured it best
to tuck tail, and go to the scale.
Final Thoughts:
With the severe storms, thankful everyone in the Dumas Bass Club Event and the other tournament
that was at the ramp made it back safely. We did not finish in the money, however we did catch a
lot of fish, however most of them had the Head to Tail Disease (from the head to tail would not
measure 15”)
Keep Chunking..Luck Counts
Andy Case
May 1, 2010
Story by Andy Case
Team: Dwight Armstrong & Andy Case
Practice:
Left up to Mr. Dwight and what he found on Thursday night.
BLAST OFF:
Mr. Dwight and I meet up early that morning and the main topic was the weather and would it hold
off till later in the day. Once at the ramp, we had another surprise, the water had jumped a bunch
since Thursday, so Mr. Dwight made some changes and we went to our new 1st spot. While other
boats were roaring past, Dwight lands a solid keeper. As we continued, to fish this area, we had
few more blow ups but did not connect on any. With the weather breaking, we decided to move to
our second area. Man the water was beautiful. Mr. Dwight was throwing a TX rigged swim bait and
I was determined these fish wanted to eat my swim jig. As we fished around, I had not had a single
hit and Mr. Dwight was catching a few short fish so I figured it was only a matter of time. Well that
time, turned into hours with zero bites. About 10:30 Mr. Dwight got a phone call that a storm was on
the way, by the time we got the slicker suits on it was here. It started raining more than the bilge
pump could pump out! Then just like that, no more rain (for the moment). After throwing the kitchen
sink, I rigged up an 11” Netbait C-Mac red bug worm and decided to drag it around. It was not long
and I had set the hook on a keeper fish, man was I glad to contribute to our cause. Well just
moments later Mr. Dwight swings and lands a short fish then I too hook a short fish. Something was
going on in this little 50 yd circle. With the high wind, we try to get back around on the circle, and
about that time, Mr. Dwight connects with our #3 keeper of the day. Still dragging the big worm, I
felt one hit it hard! A solid 2 ½ lb fish that was #4, now we needed the hardest one of the day, #5.
We figured it was about time to move then I felt the boat move and see Dwight had swung and
SNAP! His line broke. Man was that #5? I picked up the big worm and cast out and caught his line,
he started pulling it in and the fish was still on there! Coming up short this bass did not help us, but
it was still pretty cool. Just as we decide to move to a finger in the Sac, “round 14” of the rains
came down, then just like before it was over. We fished around, but never did land a keeper. As a
last ditch effort we ran back to the #1 spot looking for #5, by this time the wind had gotten really
high and keeping the boat in position was nearly impossible and feeling a bite was even worse.
Suddenly, Mr. Dwight’s rod bends in half, and up to the surface comes a nice looking Kentucky that
comes un-buttoned right at the boat. At that point with zero trolling motor power we figured it best
to tuck tail, and go to the scale.
Final Thoughts:
With the severe storms, thankful everyone in the Dumas Bass Club Event and the other tournament
that was at the ramp made it back safely. We did not finish in the money, however we did catch a
lot of fish, however most of them had the Head to Tail Disease (from the head to tail would not
measure 15”)
Keep Chunking..Luck Counts
Andy Case