"In the Boat" presented by Jewel Bait Company |
Tournament: Mr. Bass of Arkansas
March 22nd, 2009
DeGray Lake
Anglers: Frank Leone
16th place - 5 bass - 9.80 pounds
Practice: March 15th - I got to go to DeGray the Sunday before the tournament and check some
stuff out. I was unimpressed to say the least. I caught one good three pounder on a Jackall Squad
Minnow and that was it. It was cloudy, cold, and there was absolutely no breeze - terrible conditions
for this time of year. Made a long run up the river and caught a couple of shorts. I thought that if it
warmed up during the week the river may fire.
March 21st - We had great weather the day before the event and I think everyone in the area was
on the lake. It reminded me of summer on Lake Hamiton. Anyway, the weather had warmed
significantly and it was time to pull the C-rig out. Although the fish really didn't cooperate, I had a
plan figured out that I thought might work during the tournament. My strategy was to go up the river
and fish shallow the first 3 or 4 hours then return to the main lake to fish the c-rig. I was ready to
go....
Tournament: March 22nd - My partner (no-boater - Jacob Smith) and I made the long run (about
22 miles) upriver to start the tournament. We got to a channel swing bank and I started chucking
the MC/60 around. On the second cast, I hook a keeper 12" Kentucky and put him in the boat. At
this point I thought it was going to be a cake walk - easy to catch a limit. But I was way wrong. The
fish just didn't seem to be biting. About 45 minutes later and I have one eat my Jewel Jig. I boat
flipped him and put him on the board. Unfortunately it was one those that would hit 16" one second
and not the next. It was early and I didn't want to think about that one all day so I chucked him back.
A little later and I put a 12-inch largemouth in the boat (on the Jewel Jig). Jacob commented that it
looked like a "potbellied stallion". I laughed and told him that I now had some new material. Anyway,
we shagged back to the main lake. I kept the C-rig in my hand all day and managed to catch 4 more
keepers. I was satisfied but felt I would be in the middle of the pack........
Keeper Count:
Carolina-rigged Lake Fork Ring Fry: 4 keepers
Jewel Eakins' Jig (Brown; 7/16 oz): 1 keeper
Jackall MC/60 (super crawfish): 1 keeper
Final Thoughts: .
To say the least I was surprised that I was a half pound from check range. That surprise turned into
frustration quickly as I thought about what I could have done differently. The fish I threw back early
was marginal - but would it have went or not? A couple of missed fish here or there - would they
have been good solid keepers? Those are the type of things that go through your head. Maybe
next time things will work out.......
See Ya' on the Flip Side,
Frank Leone
March 22nd, 2009
DeGray Lake
Anglers: Frank Leone
16th place - 5 bass - 9.80 pounds
Practice: March 15th - I got to go to DeGray the Sunday before the tournament and check some
stuff out. I was unimpressed to say the least. I caught one good three pounder on a Jackall Squad
Minnow and that was it. It was cloudy, cold, and there was absolutely no breeze - terrible conditions
for this time of year. Made a long run up the river and caught a couple of shorts. I thought that if it
warmed up during the week the river may fire.
March 21st - We had great weather the day before the event and I think everyone in the area was
on the lake. It reminded me of summer on Lake Hamiton. Anyway, the weather had warmed
significantly and it was time to pull the C-rig out. Although the fish really didn't cooperate, I had a
plan figured out that I thought might work during the tournament. My strategy was to go up the river
and fish shallow the first 3 or 4 hours then return to the main lake to fish the c-rig. I was ready to
go....
Tournament: March 22nd - My partner (no-boater - Jacob Smith) and I made the long run (about
22 miles) upriver to start the tournament. We got to a channel swing bank and I started chucking
the MC/60 around. On the second cast, I hook a keeper 12" Kentucky and put him in the boat. At
this point I thought it was going to be a cake walk - easy to catch a limit. But I was way wrong. The
fish just didn't seem to be biting. About 45 minutes later and I have one eat my Jewel Jig. I boat
flipped him and put him on the board. Unfortunately it was one those that would hit 16" one second
and not the next. It was early and I didn't want to think about that one all day so I chucked him back.
A little later and I put a 12-inch largemouth in the boat (on the Jewel Jig). Jacob commented that it
looked like a "potbellied stallion". I laughed and told him that I now had some new material. Anyway,
we shagged back to the main lake. I kept the C-rig in my hand all day and managed to catch 4 more
keepers. I was satisfied but felt I would be in the middle of the pack........
Keeper Count:
Carolina-rigged Lake Fork Ring Fry: 4 keepers
Jewel Eakins' Jig (Brown; 7/16 oz): 1 keeper
Jackall MC/60 (super crawfish): 1 keeper
Final Thoughts: .
To say the least I was surprised that I was a half pound from check range. That surprise turned into
frustration quickly as I thought about what I could have done differently. The fish I threw back early
was marginal - but would it have went or not? A couple of missed fish here or there - would they
have been good solid keepers? Those are the type of things that go through your head. Maybe
next time things will work out.......
See Ya' on the Flip Side,
Frank Leone