"In the Boat" presented by Jewel Bait Company |
Tournament: Monticello Bass Club
August 16, 2008
Pool 2 of Arkansas River
Anglers: Jeremy Risley
Place: 8th place – 5 fish – 6.08 pounds
Practice: I didn’t get to have a good practice for this tournament because I already knew what I was
going to do.
August 16: Derby day began with a short run up river because it was raining. The first jetty I pulled
up to had so good current on it. I worked it with ol’Tommy Lee. At the end near the bank, I had a 12
inch spot hammer ol‘Tommy. So I had my first keeper in 15 minutes. Then it started raining harder
so I just fished a couple of areas near by. I was able to catch a couple of short fish but no keepers.
When the rain finally quit, I made a run up river to a jetty that normally holds good fish this time of
the year. I started with a topwater lure. I had a gar hammer it and get a bunch of hooks all in its
mouth. A couple casts later I had a short fish hit my topwater. I then put the topwater down and
started fishing with a black and blue Eakins jig. I noticed some baitfish scattering, so I pitched my jig
in that area. I had a 2 to 2 ½ pounder hit my jig. I set the hook and fought it a little ways. It then
jumped about 2 foot in the air and threw the jig. At this point in the year, I am pretty much use to
losing fish in the Monticello Bass Club tournaments. I then ran to the next jetty just above that jetty
and caught a 12 inch keeper spot on the jig. I just started fishing all the jetties in the area. I found
one that I thought should be holding fish. So I went up and down it four times. On the last trip, I had
a blow up on a topwater lure but the fish missed it. I threw back in there with a jig and I caught that
fish. It was a 13 inch spot. I fished for a few hours and struggled to even get a bite. So I headed
back down river. I stopped at the jetty that I lost the fish earlier. I was able to catch a 15 inch
largemouth and lost another one just after hook-up. I fished a few more spots but time was winding
down and I only had 4 keepers. I ran to a short jetty with 15 minutes left. I felt a tap on my jig and I
set the hook. It was a 12 inch spot. I threw it in the livewell and called it a day!!!!
Keeper count:
Jewel Eakins' Jig (5/16 oz; Black/Blue Flash: 4 keepers
Reaction Innovation Vixen: 1 Keeper
Final thoughts: Well the river handed it to me on this day. I struggled all day to even catch fish.
On a normal year, you can catch 30 -50 fish in the river during this time of the year. My shallow fish
had moved and the channel side had to much current. Even though my limit weighed a mighty 6.08
pounds, I was proud to hammer out a limit on such a tough day!!!
See ya’ at the next tournament,
Jeremy Risley
August 16, 2008
Pool 2 of Arkansas River
Anglers: Jeremy Risley
Place: 8th place – 5 fish – 6.08 pounds
Practice: I didn’t get to have a good practice for this tournament because I already knew what I was
going to do.
August 16: Derby day began with a short run up river because it was raining. The first jetty I pulled
up to had so good current on it. I worked it with ol’Tommy Lee. At the end near the bank, I had a 12
inch spot hammer ol‘Tommy. So I had my first keeper in 15 minutes. Then it started raining harder
so I just fished a couple of areas near by. I was able to catch a couple of short fish but no keepers.
When the rain finally quit, I made a run up river to a jetty that normally holds good fish this time of
the year. I started with a topwater lure. I had a gar hammer it and get a bunch of hooks all in its
mouth. A couple casts later I had a short fish hit my topwater. I then put the topwater down and
started fishing with a black and blue Eakins jig. I noticed some baitfish scattering, so I pitched my jig
in that area. I had a 2 to 2 ½ pounder hit my jig. I set the hook and fought it a little ways. It then
jumped about 2 foot in the air and threw the jig. At this point in the year, I am pretty much use to
losing fish in the Monticello Bass Club tournaments. I then ran to the next jetty just above that jetty
and caught a 12 inch keeper spot on the jig. I just started fishing all the jetties in the area. I found
one that I thought should be holding fish. So I went up and down it four times. On the last trip, I had
a blow up on a topwater lure but the fish missed it. I threw back in there with a jig and I caught that
fish. It was a 13 inch spot. I fished for a few hours and struggled to even get a bite. So I headed
back down river. I stopped at the jetty that I lost the fish earlier. I was able to catch a 15 inch
largemouth and lost another one just after hook-up. I fished a few more spots but time was winding
down and I only had 4 keepers. I ran to a short jetty with 15 minutes left. I felt a tap on my jig and I
set the hook. It was a 12 inch spot. I threw it in the livewell and called it a day!!!!
Keeper count:
Jewel Eakins' Jig (5/16 oz; Black/Blue Flash: 4 keepers
Reaction Innovation Vixen: 1 Keeper
Final thoughts: Well the river handed it to me on this day. I struggled all day to even catch fish.
On a normal year, you can catch 30 -50 fish in the river during this time of the year. My shallow fish
had moved and the channel side had to much current. Even though my limit weighed a mighty 6.08
pounds, I was proud to hammer out a limit on such a tough day!!!
See ya’ at the next tournament,
Jeremy Risley