"In the Boat" presented by Jewel Bait Company |
Angler: Terrance Narveson
February 20th, 2010
Tournament - Lake Ouachita
BFL Arkie Division
I drew a friend from the Russellville area Hopper Walters and it just so happened that we
were staying at the same place so this was an easy draw and we had plenty of time to
game plan on what we were going to do. I had no pre-fishing before the tournament and
he got about an hour on Friday so we knew it was going to be tough. I figured we could
put something together. I really felt that the warm weather the past few days prior to the
tournament would help out the bluff wall bite and I went on a whim to Hwy 27 bridge area.
Once we got up there it was perfect water color and the water temp was about 44-45.
Well after going up and down one my favorite places and not getting a bite I should have
sat down and thought out a new game plan. We figured since the rock wall bite was not
good we had better move back around the grass and see what we were missing. A quick
run back down to mid lake and we started the grind looking for anything. I fish the points
across from Big Fur, moved to a grass flat in North Fork, ran to some more bluff walls in
North Irons Creek, back down to some pockets in the mid lake area. Nothing was working
and each idea only seemed to be a bad decision. I was really frustrated and confused.
This is one of Lake Ouachita's prime times to be fishing and basically it seemed like every
fish on the lake was either dead or about to die because they had no interest in eating. I
had to go to a confidence area where I have caught fish before. I just knew if I went
somewhere that I have had some success at different times of the year maybe I could
find just one fish that would bite. After fishing along the banks and a couple points, I
decided to hit a stretch of water that had a few lay downs on it and then make my way out
to another pocket close by. Once I got over to that bank, I noticed the water was about
two degrees warmer then the rest of the pocket and lake for that matter. I got to a wad of
laydowns and flipping my Jewel Eakins Jig and dragging it out into deeper water I noticed
a dead weight and a slight tug. HOLY COW a fish! I set the hook and up came about a 3lb
bass and it slammed right into the side of my boat and my jig came unhooked. I could not
believe it all day I waited for that thing and just as fast as I set the hook it was gone. If I
had dynamite at that moment I would have lit it and thrown it right into that lay down and
made sure nothing was coming out of there that day again. It was two oclock and with a
little over an hour left we move to a pocket close by to see if there were any more
hanging around in the brush. Again I flipped my jig into the brush and the bite was so
subtle I could not tell if a fish had my jig or I was dragging a stick or what was going on
but while I was trying to figure it out it came loose and I really think it was a fish swimming
along with me. Time to come in and lick my wounds because the next day I
had a small club tournament hopefully my luck will turn around.
No fish for the day!
February 20th, 2010
Tournament - Lake Ouachita
BFL Arkie Division
I drew a friend from the Russellville area Hopper Walters and it just so happened that we
were staying at the same place so this was an easy draw and we had plenty of time to
game plan on what we were going to do. I had no pre-fishing before the tournament and
he got about an hour on Friday so we knew it was going to be tough. I figured we could
put something together. I really felt that the warm weather the past few days prior to the
tournament would help out the bluff wall bite and I went on a whim to Hwy 27 bridge area.
Once we got up there it was perfect water color and the water temp was about 44-45.
Well after going up and down one my favorite places and not getting a bite I should have
sat down and thought out a new game plan. We figured since the rock wall bite was not
good we had better move back around the grass and see what we were missing. A quick
run back down to mid lake and we started the grind looking for anything. I fish the points
across from Big Fur, moved to a grass flat in North Fork, ran to some more bluff walls in
North Irons Creek, back down to some pockets in the mid lake area. Nothing was working
and each idea only seemed to be a bad decision. I was really frustrated and confused.
This is one of Lake Ouachita's prime times to be fishing and basically it seemed like every
fish on the lake was either dead or about to die because they had no interest in eating. I
had to go to a confidence area where I have caught fish before. I just knew if I went
somewhere that I have had some success at different times of the year maybe I could
find just one fish that would bite. After fishing along the banks and a couple points, I
decided to hit a stretch of water that had a few lay downs on it and then make my way out
to another pocket close by. Once I got over to that bank, I noticed the water was about
two degrees warmer then the rest of the pocket and lake for that matter. I got to a wad of
laydowns and flipping my Jewel Eakins Jig and dragging it out into deeper water I noticed
a dead weight and a slight tug. HOLY COW a fish! I set the hook and up came about a 3lb
bass and it slammed right into the side of my boat and my jig came unhooked. I could not
believe it all day I waited for that thing and just as fast as I set the hook it was gone. If I
had dynamite at that moment I would have lit it and thrown it right into that lay down and
made sure nothing was coming out of there that day again. It was two oclock and with a
little over an hour left we move to a pocket close by to see if there were any more
hanging around in the brush. Again I flipped my jig into the brush and the bite was so
subtle I could not tell if a fish had my jig or I was dragging a stick or what was going on
but while I was trying to figure it out it came loose and I really think it was a fish swimming
along with me. Time to come in and lick my wounds because the next day I
had a small club tournament hopefully my luck will turn around.
No fish for the day!