"In the Boat" presented by Jewel Bait Company |
Tournament: Monticello Bass Club
May 24, 2008
Pine Bluff Pool of Arkansas River
Angler: Jeremy Risley
Place: 5th place – 3 fish – 8.78 pounds
Practice: I was able to practice two times for this tournament. About two weeks before the
tournament, my dad took a week vacation and we fished everyday. In between trips whacking them
in the Dumas Pool, we made it up to the Pine Bluff Pool. I had only fished this pool three times
before this point.
The first day we focused our attention on the Island Harbor area and adjacent areas. We also
made it up into the Pecan Grove, but were unable to make it across the fence. You will see why I
mentioned that in just a second. We got into the Island Harbor area and I missed one on the swim
jig in alligator weed and Dad caught a good fish on an Out of Production Jewel Spinnerbait. We
then went out in the harbor and I caught one on an Jewel Eakins jig deep on the rocks and Dad
caught one on the spinnerbait. We then thought we would try the Island Harbor area, again. I
hooked a “Gorilla” that had to be over 6 pounds on the jig. On this day we had 4 fish that might
have went 14 pounds.
The next time we made it up there it was raining a little and there was a slight breeze which is
PERFECT for topwater. I tied on ol “Tommy Lee” and we started to parallel the reeds in the harbor.
About my third cast, I had a good one blow up on ol’ Tommy. Dad throws his spinnerbait in there
and catches that fish. The next point of weeds, I catch a good one on a Sammy topwater. Then the
next point I catch another “Gorilla” on the Sammy. I’m thinking we are on them now! Then we began
to struggle. I catch another good keeper on a jig on the rocks and Dad catches a spotted bass
there as well. Then on our last bank, we fished a small island in the back of the harbor. I had a
good one blow up on ol’ Tommy and the very next cast I caught another good one. On this day we
had 5 fish that went around 17-18 pounds.
The Wednesday afternoon before the tournament, Andy Case and I try to get into the Pecan Grove
and almost get stuck. We then ran around and eliminated water.
May 24: Derby day began with me being a little nervous because I knew the water was dropping
and there was going to be lots of pressure in the harbor. I run to my topwater spot and nothing is
firing. I then run to an area that has some barges where the shad were spawning on them. I was
able to catch about 5 or 6 short fish as long as my topwater was hitting the barges as I worked it in.
About that time, the buffalo gnats were eating me alive. I looked in my “Circle of Five” and called the
“Medicine Man” Andy Case who had some miracle cure vanilla extract. Once I sprayed that on me, I
was ready to go. I then watch Andy catch a keeper and then I missed one on a Sammy. After that I
throw the Sammy for a while and only caught a small striper. I then went to the rocks and started
throwing a Bandit 200 crankbait. I caught a short fish on the Bandit and then put it down and start
throwing the jig. About 10:30, I make a long beautiful cast. While the jig was sinking, at solid 3
pound keeper eats the jig. After fighting it to the boat and about time to lip it, the fish throws the jig.
I continue to fish down the bank and finally have enough with the Harbor. I head out to fish the
river. I get to a series of jetties and start catching short fish left and right. Finally, I pitched my jig on
the side of a current break and I hook my first keeper, a 15 incher that had a tag which was good
for $10. I run to the next jetty and hook several shorts. I continue this pattern on to the next jetty.
Then I make the round again. On one pass, I pitch my jig into the middle of area that had water
flowing over it and I hook the “baby cub” a 4.34 pound fish. I am really pumped then. I continue
fishing for a while on the jetties and still catching short fish. Then it happened. The most important
time of a tournament occurs, which is making the right decision. During this particular instant, I
made the WRONG decision. I knew of jetties just like those up the river so I run up there and they
are all still under water. During this same time, Caleb starts whacking them on those jetties. After I
make my way back down, I stopped and fished the jetty at the mouth of harbor. I catch several short
fish and then I threw up on some rocks and get hung up. I get my jig undone and about that time I
see a big “commode flush”. A 2 ½ pound “toad" spotted bass eats my jig. That was the last fish I
caught that day.
Keeper count: 5 /16 Black and Blue Jewel Eakins Jig: 3 Keepers
Final thoughts: Well it came down to making the right decision and so far this year I had been
making the right ones; however, there is always those times when you don’t make the right decision
and this tournament was one of those times. My hat goes off to Caleb for making the right decision.
He found a pattern within a pattern and he deserved the win!!! On a good note, I am finally in the
top ten in the standings and hope to continue moving up in the standings during the next few
tournaments.
See ya’ at the next tournament,
Jeremy Risley
May 24, 2008
Pine Bluff Pool of Arkansas River
Angler: Jeremy Risley
Place: 5th place – 3 fish – 8.78 pounds
Practice: I was able to practice two times for this tournament. About two weeks before the
tournament, my dad took a week vacation and we fished everyday. In between trips whacking them
in the Dumas Pool, we made it up to the Pine Bluff Pool. I had only fished this pool three times
before this point.
The first day we focused our attention on the Island Harbor area and adjacent areas. We also
made it up into the Pecan Grove, but were unable to make it across the fence. You will see why I
mentioned that in just a second. We got into the Island Harbor area and I missed one on the swim
jig in alligator weed and Dad caught a good fish on an Out of Production Jewel Spinnerbait. We
then went out in the harbor and I caught one on an Jewel Eakins jig deep on the rocks and Dad
caught one on the spinnerbait. We then thought we would try the Island Harbor area, again. I
hooked a “Gorilla” that had to be over 6 pounds on the jig. On this day we had 4 fish that might
have went 14 pounds.
The next time we made it up there it was raining a little and there was a slight breeze which is
PERFECT for topwater. I tied on ol “Tommy Lee” and we started to parallel the reeds in the harbor.
About my third cast, I had a good one blow up on ol’ Tommy. Dad throws his spinnerbait in there
and catches that fish. The next point of weeds, I catch a good one on a Sammy topwater. Then the
next point I catch another “Gorilla” on the Sammy. I’m thinking we are on them now! Then we began
to struggle. I catch another good keeper on a jig on the rocks and Dad catches a spotted bass
there as well. Then on our last bank, we fished a small island in the back of the harbor. I had a
good one blow up on ol’ Tommy and the very next cast I caught another good one. On this day we
had 5 fish that went around 17-18 pounds.
The Wednesday afternoon before the tournament, Andy Case and I try to get into the Pecan Grove
and almost get stuck. We then ran around and eliminated water.
May 24: Derby day began with me being a little nervous because I knew the water was dropping
and there was going to be lots of pressure in the harbor. I run to my topwater spot and nothing is
firing. I then run to an area that has some barges where the shad were spawning on them. I was
able to catch about 5 or 6 short fish as long as my topwater was hitting the barges as I worked it in.
About that time, the buffalo gnats were eating me alive. I looked in my “Circle of Five” and called the
“Medicine Man” Andy Case who had some miracle cure vanilla extract. Once I sprayed that on me, I
was ready to go. I then watch Andy catch a keeper and then I missed one on a Sammy. After that I
throw the Sammy for a while and only caught a small striper. I then went to the rocks and started
throwing a Bandit 200 crankbait. I caught a short fish on the Bandit and then put it down and start
throwing the jig. About 10:30, I make a long beautiful cast. While the jig was sinking, at solid 3
pound keeper eats the jig. After fighting it to the boat and about time to lip it, the fish throws the jig.
I continue to fish down the bank and finally have enough with the Harbor. I head out to fish the
river. I get to a series of jetties and start catching short fish left and right. Finally, I pitched my jig on
the side of a current break and I hook my first keeper, a 15 incher that had a tag which was good
for $10. I run to the next jetty and hook several shorts. I continue this pattern on to the next jetty.
Then I make the round again. On one pass, I pitch my jig into the middle of area that had water
flowing over it and I hook the “baby cub” a 4.34 pound fish. I am really pumped then. I continue
fishing for a while on the jetties and still catching short fish. Then it happened. The most important
time of a tournament occurs, which is making the right decision. During this particular instant, I
made the WRONG decision. I knew of jetties just like those up the river so I run up there and they
are all still under water. During this same time, Caleb starts whacking them on those jetties. After I
make my way back down, I stopped and fished the jetty at the mouth of harbor. I catch several short
fish and then I threw up on some rocks and get hung up. I get my jig undone and about that time I
see a big “commode flush”. A 2 ½ pound “toad" spotted bass eats my jig. That was the last fish I
caught that day.
Keeper count: 5 /16 Black and Blue Jewel Eakins Jig: 3 Keepers
Final thoughts: Well it came down to making the right decision and so far this year I had been
making the right ones; however, there is always those times when you don’t make the right decision
and this tournament was one of those times. My hat goes off to Caleb for making the right decision.
He found a pattern within a pattern and he deserved the win!!! On a good note, I am finally in the
top ten in the standings and hope to continue moving up in the standings during the next few
tournaments.
See ya’ at the next tournament,
Jeremy Risley