"In the Boat" presented by Jewel Bait Company |
Tournament: Mr. Bass of Arkansas
April 18th, 2010
Millwood Lake
Anglers: Frank Leone
29th place - 1 bass - 3.18 pounds
Practice: Friday, April 16th - I worked late on Thursday evening and didn't make it to Millwood
until 1:30 PM. I launched at a ramp that I had never been to and started fishing. It didn't take long to
figure out that there was a bunch of fish in the area. The best part was that I was catching them
swimming a jig - one of my favorite techniques. The problem was size, and most of them were in the
15-inch range. I didn't think that would be a big deal - Heck the forecast called for clouds and rain
which would be perfect for the swim jig. Anyways, I felt confident that I had found a good area.
Saturday, April 17th - Andy Case and I headed out at daybreak. Our first stop was Mud Lake. We
caught allot of fish there, but it was crowded, there's too many stumps, and the fish were small.
From there we fished the main river, which was a complete dud. After the river, we decided to go
down to the lower end of the lake. We got to the chosen location and within pretty quick time I
caught two keepers. I felt confident that I had found area number 2. To end the day, we headed
west of Yarborough. We found the fish more than willing to eat a Big Bite Cane Stick, so I now had
area number 3. Although I had found three areas that had fish, I was still nervous about catching a
limit on Sunday.............
Tournament: - We (Brent Kirkendoll - Co-angler and myself) were boat 43 out of 45, but after what
seemed to be an eternity we finally headed out onto Millwood Lake. The wind was blowing out of the
east and we were heading straight into it, making for a bumpy ride. We finally hit the end of the boat
lane and there is another boat idling (we'll call him Boat X) toward my chosen area. Since I knew it
was clear, I shot past Boat X. There was a grass point at the entrance that I had caught a fish off of,
and I just had to fish it. The problem was that boat X then passed me and shot straight to the best
stretch of bank. I was bummed, but figured that he would make one pass and get out of there. I was
wrong! Boat X kept going back and forth through that area all morning long! Anyway we kept fishing
around and it became clear that they weren't on the swim jig. No problem - I would just slow down
and pitch the Cane Stick around. I starting catching fish, but you guessed it - they were short. After
boating my second short, Brent made a cast to the right side of the boat (I was fishing towards the
left) with a tube and boats a keeper. I was glad he had one in the boat. Anyway, we kept fishing and
I boated another short or two on the Cane Stick. It was now about 8:30 AM, and I looked around the
corner to see if Boat X was still on the good stretch of bank. He was still there, so I decided to hit
area 2. I really had a lot of confidence in area 2, so I was more than willing to pull the trigger on the
move. We got to area 2 two through rough seas and started chucking and winding. It turned out to
be a dud. I caught one fish in the 14-inch range and had one other bite but that was it. About 10:30
AM, I got fed up and told Brent we were going back towards area 1. So off we went back across the
lake!!! We got out of the boat lane and I could see that Boat X was still on the hot stretch of bank. I
couldn't believe it!!! I stopped on that grass point that I just had to fish first thing in the morning and
it wasn't long before a fish commode flushes my swim jig! I got the bass in the boat and thought it
might make 16-inches. Not to be - the fish measured 15.75. Bummed, I threw the it back. We
decided to fish a stretch of bank that we had fished earlier and Brent once again decides to fish
right while I fish left. You guessed it, he connects right away with a good keeper. By this time, I'm
getting a little bummed, but the bite seemed to be getting better, so I shook it off. We go another 30
yards and another one commode flushes my swim jig. It felt like a good one, but when I got him in
the boat it's a 15.5 incher. Rats - another short. We keep going and as soon as I put down my swim
jig and pick up my Cane Stick, Brent connects with another keeper - this time on the swim jig. Brent
has his limit and I have zero. I am now getting totally bummed. I knew it just wasn't my day and I felt
destined to zero - It was a sickening feeling. Anyway, we fished around another hour or so and we
see Boat X finally leaving. It was now about noon and I was getting nervous. We made a beeline for
the good stretch of bank and I start chucking the swim jig. It was long before I hook up with what
seems to be another good fish. I boat him and you guessed it, 15.5-inches. Another short and I was
sick! About 1:00 PM we got out of there and headed towards area 3 (near the ramp). We set down
and I started to pitch the Cane Stick to shallow grass. Thump!!! I set the hook and put a 3-pounder
in the boat! I was pumped, because we had gotten allot of bites on this stretch during practice. I felt
I had a shot at 3 fish. It wasn't to be, and I headed to the ramp beaten but happy to have one in the
well..........
Keeper Count: Big Bite Baits Cane Stick (5-inch; Tilapia)
Equipment: Cane Stick - Dobyns 704 C Champion Rod
Swim Jig - Dobyns 734 and 735 C Champion Rods
Final Thoughts: Another bad finish. Luck was not on my side and some of my decisions did not
pan out. On a positive note, Brent finished 4th and got a check. I was happy he caught them and
he's a heck of an angler and person. Maybe I will get them next time.....
See Ya' on the Flip Side,
Frank Leone
April 18th, 2010
Millwood Lake
Anglers: Frank Leone
29th place - 1 bass - 3.18 pounds
Practice: Friday, April 16th - I worked late on Thursday evening and didn't make it to Millwood
until 1:30 PM. I launched at a ramp that I had never been to and started fishing. It didn't take long to
figure out that there was a bunch of fish in the area. The best part was that I was catching them
swimming a jig - one of my favorite techniques. The problem was size, and most of them were in the
15-inch range. I didn't think that would be a big deal - Heck the forecast called for clouds and rain
which would be perfect for the swim jig. Anyways, I felt confident that I had found a good area.
Saturday, April 17th - Andy Case and I headed out at daybreak. Our first stop was Mud Lake. We
caught allot of fish there, but it was crowded, there's too many stumps, and the fish were small.
From there we fished the main river, which was a complete dud. After the river, we decided to go
down to the lower end of the lake. We got to the chosen location and within pretty quick time I
caught two keepers. I felt confident that I had found area number 2. To end the day, we headed
west of Yarborough. We found the fish more than willing to eat a Big Bite Cane Stick, so I now had
area number 3. Although I had found three areas that had fish, I was still nervous about catching a
limit on Sunday.............
Tournament: - We (Brent Kirkendoll - Co-angler and myself) were boat 43 out of 45, but after what
seemed to be an eternity we finally headed out onto Millwood Lake. The wind was blowing out of the
east and we were heading straight into it, making for a bumpy ride. We finally hit the end of the boat
lane and there is another boat idling (we'll call him Boat X) toward my chosen area. Since I knew it
was clear, I shot past Boat X. There was a grass point at the entrance that I had caught a fish off of,
and I just had to fish it. The problem was that boat X then passed me and shot straight to the best
stretch of bank. I was bummed, but figured that he would make one pass and get out of there. I was
wrong! Boat X kept going back and forth through that area all morning long! Anyway we kept fishing
around and it became clear that they weren't on the swim jig. No problem - I would just slow down
and pitch the Cane Stick around. I starting catching fish, but you guessed it - they were short. After
boating my second short, Brent made a cast to the right side of the boat (I was fishing towards the
left) with a tube and boats a keeper. I was glad he had one in the boat. Anyway, we kept fishing and
I boated another short or two on the Cane Stick. It was now about 8:30 AM, and I looked around the
corner to see if Boat X was still on the good stretch of bank. He was still there, so I decided to hit
area 2. I really had a lot of confidence in area 2, so I was more than willing to pull the trigger on the
move. We got to area 2 two through rough seas and started chucking and winding. It turned out to
be a dud. I caught one fish in the 14-inch range and had one other bite but that was it. About 10:30
AM, I got fed up and told Brent we were going back towards area 1. So off we went back across the
lake!!! We got out of the boat lane and I could see that Boat X was still on the hot stretch of bank. I
couldn't believe it!!! I stopped on that grass point that I just had to fish first thing in the morning and
it wasn't long before a fish commode flushes my swim jig! I got the bass in the boat and thought it
might make 16-inches. Not to be - the fish measured 15.75. Bummed, I threw the it back. We
decided to fish a stretch of bank that we had fished earlier and Brent once again decides to fish
right while I fish left. You guessed it, he connects right away with a good keeper. By this time, I'm
getting a little bummed, but the bite seemed to be getting better, so I shook it off. We go another 30
yards and another one commode flushes my swim jig. It felt like a good one, but when I got him in
the boat it's a 15.5 incher. Rats - another short. We keep going and as soon as I put down my swim
jig and pick up my Cane Stick, Brent connects with another keeper - this time on the swim jig. Brent
has his limit and I have zero. I am now getting totally bummed. I knew it just wasn't my day and I felt
destined to zero - It was a sickening feeling. Anyway, we fished around another hour or so and we
see Boat X finally leaving. It was now about noon and I was getting nervous. We made a beeline for
the good stretch of bank and I start chucking the swim jig. It was long before I hook up with what
seems to be another good fish. I boat him and you guessed it, 15.5-inches. Another short and I was
sick! About 1:00 PM we got out of there and headed towards area 3 (near the ramp). We set down
and I started to pitch the Cane Stick to shallow grass. Thump!!! I set the hook and put a 3-pounder
in the boat! I was pumped, because we had gotten allot of bites on this stretch during practice. I felt
I had a shot at 3 fish. It wasn't to be, and I headed to the ramp beaten but happy to have one in the
well..........
Keeper Count: Big Bite Baits Cane Stick (5-inch; Tilapia)
Equipment: Cane Stick - Dobyns 704 C Champion Rod
Swim Jig - Dobyns 734 and 735 C Champion Rods
Final Thoughts: Another bad finish. Luck was not on my side and some of my decisions did not
pan out. On a positive note, Brent finished 4th and got a check. I was happy he caught them and
he's a heck of an angler and person. Maybe I will get them next time.....
See Ya' on the Flip Side,
Frank Leone