"In the Boat" presented by Jewel Bait Company |
Tournament: Monticello Bass Club
September 27, 2008
Morgan Point Bendway
Anglers: Jeremy Risley
Place: 13th place – 5 fish – 8.12 pounds
Practice: I went out to the lake the weekend before the tournament to try and put something
together. All I managed to do is really STRUGGLE!!! I was able to catch a 12-inch keeper on a 10-
inch worm and a Zoom Brush Hog. I was also able to catch a 15-inch spotted bass on a Black and
Blue Flash Jewel Eakins jig. That was all the fish I caught that day. One came from the upper,
middle and lower end. So I had no pattern going into this tournament. I knew there were some
people that were on them and I also knew there was a good early morning bite.
September 27: At the ramp, I had to listen to people saying they were on fish and good ones at
that. One guy had caught a 7 pounder earlier in the week. Andy Case and I were fishing the same
area. So at blast off, we both ran just a little ways down lake to a large flat with standing timber and
brush. I go one way and he goes the other. I knew the morning bite was going to be critical if I was
going to do well in this tournament. I fish my way to the bank with a white spinnerbait. The first cast
toward the bank, I have one explode on the spinnerbait. It gets wrapped up on a stump and comes
off. Then a couple casts later, I boat my first keeper. In about a 1 ½ hour stretch, I catch 6 keepers
and lose two fish. Just after catching my 6th keeper, I ran into Andy. Talking with him, I found out I
went the wrong way because he ended up with a 5 pounder and an 11 or so pound sack. I was
thinking just my LUCK!!!! So I fish on with nothing not even a bite. Then a couple hours later, I run
into Andy again. We are fishing toward a brush pile from different directions. I ask him if he had
caught anymore since the last time I talked to him. He said he hadn’t even got a bite. Then I watch
him pitch into the brush pile and catch a 4 pounder. I’m thinking DANG IT!!!!! So I then run around
fishing brush with no luck. I run up to where I started and lose one on a brush hog. Then I run into
Andy again but this time I hook up with a fish but it came off. I missed a couple of more fish in the
area. Another angler was fishing in the area and was heading to the brush pile that I got my eye on
to catch a good one. He pitches into the middle of the brush pile and sets the hook. The brush
starts to move and the water explodes. It was a toad!!! Unfortunately, it jumped and came off. At that
point, I was thinking I would be better off fishing out in the middle away from everyone because I was
a good luck charm to everyone except myself. I ended up breaking off another fish and ended the
day missing 5 or so fish after catching all my keepers early.
Keeper count:
White Spinnerbait: 6 keepers
Final thoughts: Well it was a typical Morgan Point tournament for me. I seem to struggle when it
comes to this lake. I was fortunate to capitalize on the early bite. That is how it goes sometimes in
tournament, some can be a struggle but the good thing is there are always more tournaments to
come!!!
See ya’ at the next tournament,
Jeremy Risley
September 27, 2008
Morgan Point Bendway
Anglers: Jeremy Risley
Place: 13th place – 5 fish – 8.12 pounds
Practice: I went out to the lake the weekend before the tournament to try and put something
together. All I managed to do is really STRUGGLE!!! I was able to catch a 12-inch keeper on a 10-
inch worm and a Zoom Brush Hog. I was also able to catch a 15-inch spotted bass on a Black and
Blue Flash Jewel Eakins jig. That was all the fish I caught that day. One came from the upper,
middle and lower end. So I had no pattern going into this tournament. I knew there were some
people that were on them and I also knew there was a good early morning bite.
September 27: At the ramp, I had to listen to people saying they were on fish and good ones at
that. One guy had caught a 7 pounder earlier in the week. Andy Case and I were fishing the same
area. So at blast off, we both ran just a little ways down lake to a large flat with standing timber and
brush. I go one way and he goes the other. I knew the morning bite was going to be critical if I was
going to do well in this tournament. I fish my way to the bank with a white spinnerbait. The first cast
toward the bank, I have one explode on the spinnerbait. It gets wrapped up on a stump and comes
off. Then a couple casts later, I boat my first keeper. In about a 1 ½ hour stretch, I catch 6 keepers
and lose two fish. Just after catching my 6th keeper, I ran into Andy. Talking with him, I found out I
went the wrong way because he ended up with a 5 pounder and an 11 or so pound sack. I was
thinking just my LUCK!!!! So I fish on with nothing not even a bite. Then a couple hours later, I run
into Andy again. We are fishing toward a brush pile from different directions. I ask him if he had
caught anymore since the last time I talked to him. He said he hadn’t even got a bite. Then I watch
him pitch into the brush pile and catch a 4 pounder. I’m thinking DANG IT!!!!! So I then run around
fishing brush with no luck. I run up to where I started and lose one on a brush hog. Then I run into
Andy again but this time I hook up with a fish but it came off. I missed a couple of more fish in the
area. Another angler was fishing in the area and was heading to the brush pile that I got my eye on
to catch a good one. He pitches into the middle of the brush pile and sets the hook. The brush
starts to move and the water explodes. It was a toad!!! Unfortunately, it jumped and came off. At that
point, I was thinking I would be better off fishing out in the middle away from everyone because I was
a good luck charm to everyone except myself. I ended up breaking off another fish and ended the
day missing 5 or so fish after catching all my keepers early.
Keeper count:
White Spinnerbait: 6 keepers
Final thoughts: Well it was a typical Morgan Point tournament for me. I seem to struggle when it
comes to this lake. I was fortunate to capitalize on the early bite. That is how it goes sometimes in
tournament, some can be a struggle but the good thing is there are always more tournaments to
come!!!
See ya’ at the next tournament,
Jeremy Risley