"In the Boat" presented by Jewel Bait Company |
Tournament: Fisher’s of Men Arkansas South
April 18, 2009
Arkansas River- Pine Bluff
Anglers: Adam Starks and Philip Starks
Place: 2nd Place- 5 fish- 16.41lbs
Practice:
I got to practice the day before the derby. Let me tell you, I explored everything. The river has
been fluctuating so much in the last few weeks that I knew it would have the fish messed up. They
were pulling water hard practice day and the water level had dropped a few inches throughout the
day. I found one area that had fish and prayed for a good boat draw so we could get a crack at
them. Hopes were not too high for this one.
April 18:
We drew out boat number 5 and were hopeful to catch a few keepers quick on topwater in the
canals where I found the fish. We pulled up into the first canal and much to my surprise we were
the only boat there till we left. I caught two shorts on a Chug Bug and missed a good one. Finally
about 8:30 I told Dad that we needed to go check out the other canal because I saw more fish up
shallow in it and it was a bigger area that would hold more fish. I fished about three quarters of the
way back in the canal and only manage two non keepers. As we get towards the back of the canal
there a two other competitor boats in there. As I am passing one of the boats I have a 3 to 4lber
annihilate the Chug Bug, she missed it. I fired right back in there and she hits it again, I stick her
and am fighting her to the boat and she comes unbuttoned. Out of frustration I fire right back in
again and she slams it again but doesn’t connect this time. Once again I toss the Chug Bug in and
she blows up on it again but much to my avail….no hook up. Crazy that she hit it 4 times. We
continue down and that is when the magic begins. I catch a keeper on the Chug Bug, then another
and then another. I catch several short fish on the Chug Bug as well. Then Dad finally kicks into
gear and hangs keeper number 4 on his trusty ol’ Paca Craw. We keep going back and forth this
little one hundred yard section of the canal. I don’t know how to explain the day but it was magical.
I hook up with keeper number 5 and throw it in the box. Then we start the culling process. I caught
about 15 more keepers when it was all said and done and we culled about 7 more times. With
about an hour and a half remaining I left the magical one hundred yard stretch and ran up river to
another little canal to try and get a kicker bite. No luck as the rain starts to pour so we run back to
the weigh and let the scales decide our fate.
Keeper Count:
Storm Chug Bug: 19 Keepers
Net Bait Paca Craw: 1 keeper
Final Thoughts:
What a day!!! Any day you can fish topwater all day and catch them like that is magical. After it
was all said and done we probably caught close to 50 fish on the day. I was amazingly surprised
that the area just kept reloading like it did and even more so we didn’t see but two boats in there all
day and at one point had it to ourselves for about 3 hours. Happy to wind up in second especially
after the brutal practice. Until next time….
Fish Hard,
Adam Starks
April 18, 2009
Arkansas River- Pine Bluff
Anglers: Adam Starks and Philip Starks
Place: 2nd Place- 5 fish- 16.41lbs
Practice:
I got to practice the day before the derby. Let me tell you, I explored everything. The river has
been fluctuating so much in the last few weeks that I knew it would have the fish messed up. They
were pulling water hard practice day and the water level had dropped a few inches throughout the
day. I found one area that had fish and prayed for a good boat draw so we could get a crack at
them. Hopes were not too high for this one.
April 18:
We drew out boat number 5 and were hopeful to catch a few keepers quick on topwater in the
canals where I found the fish. We pulled up into the first canal and much to my surprise we were
the only boat there till we left. I caught two shorts on a Chug Bug and missed a good one. Finally
about 8:30 I told Dad that we needed to go check out the other canal because I saw more fish up
shallow in it and it was a bigger area that would hold more fish. I fished about three quarters of the
way back in the canal and only manage two non keepers. As we get towards the back of the canal
there a two other competitor boats in there. As I am passing one of the boats I have a 3 to 4lber
annihilate the Chug Bug, she missed it. I fired right back in there and she hits it again, I stick her
and am fighting her to the boat and she comes unbuttoned. Out of frustration I fire right back in
again and she slams it again but doesn’t connect this time. Once again I toss the Chug Bug in and
she blows up on it again but much to my avail….no hook up. Crazy that she hit it 4 times. We
continue down and that is when the magic begins. I catch a keeper on the Chug Bug, then another
and then another. I catch several short fish on the Chug Bug as well. Then Dad finally kicks into
gear and hangs keeper number 4 on his trusty ol’ Paca Craw. We keep going back and forth this
little one hundred yard section of the canal. I don’t know how to explain the day but it was magical.
I hook up with keeper number 5 and throw it in the box. Then we start the culling process. I caught
about 15 more keepers when it was all said and done and we culled about 7 more times. With
about an hour and a half remaining I left the magical one hundred yard stretch and ran up river to
another little canal to try and get a kicker bite. No luck as the rain starts to pour so we run back to
the weigh and let the scales decide our fate.
Keeper Count:
Storm Chug Bug: 19 Keepers
Net Bait Paca Craw: 1 keeper
Final Thoughts:
What a day!!! Any day you can fish topwater all day and catch them like that is magical. After it
was all said and done we probably caught close to 50 fish on the day. I was amazingly surprised
that the area just kept reloading like it did and even more so we didn’t see but two boats in there all
day and at one point had it to ourselves for about 3 hours. Happy to wind up in second especially
after the brutal practice. Until next time….
Fish Hard,
Adam Starks