"In the Boat" presented by Jewel Bait Company |
Anglers choice Northern division
Bull Shoals lake, March 20th 7-3
Cloudy with very little wind and a sprinkle of rain
Surface temps 48-50
Water clarity: clear main lake/ clear to very light stain creeks
Lake level: Normal pool @ 654
Team: David Wooten/Chris Richardson
1st place 5@ 11.42
Practice: The only day We ventured out was the Saturday before the tournament. Me and Chris
met up at 125 at day break and put in a long day. It stayed around 40 degree's all day and the wind
flat out pounded and had done so all night. When Chris backed me in the temp gauge settled in at
45 and the water color looked great at 125. The lake was already rolling at day break and We
headed down to the back end of Cedar creek to start our day. We started chunking cranks and
had 4 keepers in the first 10 minutes of our day including 2 in the 4 pound range. These fish were
stacked on a shallow pea gravel point and we continued on with the crank. It was one of those days
Were the fish were just chomping and We covered lots of water and fished from just below lead hill
to down below Oakland the bite seamed steady on the crank everywhere. We also looked for other
options just in case We needed a plan "B" and found a jerkbait bite on the channel swings but the
quality was not as good. We had no chance to try the jig much because of the brutal wind and just
had a fun day on the water. We ended our day having caught well over 20lbs with our best 5 and
feeling good about our fun day. I knew if the tournament was held that day It would have been a
freak show of big bass.
Tournament: The weather man was calling for some nasty weather and possible strong winds and
I knew that our practice would pay off but when I arrived at 125 the wind had not started blowing
and the water color was gone. Not many boats showed but the tournament was still on and I was
hoping the fish would still chomp with all this cloud cover. The surface temps came up around 3
degree's which was good but the color was gone, I mean completely Gin clear! We ran to the back
of Cedar and the color there was gone as well but I still had confidence that We would pick up a few
early on the crank. It didn't take long until that confidence started to fade. We worked the little point
over good then a few boats poured in from another tournament and I knew one of them was
wanting this spot which we gladly gave up. I figured it may have been pounded the day before so
off We go to our other area's. They were much the same and by the time We reached our best
pocket down around Oakland the water was so clear We could see the bottom very good at 20'
and no wind. I knew at that time the fish had pulled off the banks in the clear water and We had to
make an adjustment. We could run to the back of some creeks and continue fishing cranks in the
light stained water/switch over to jigs or go back up the lake and start over with plan "B". I figured
Jimmies creek may not have been as pressured and it was only 10 minutes down from us. So we
decide not to give up on the crank just yet and off We head to Jimmies creek. We run to the back
and it had the light stain We were looking for but after a few more hours We had nothing. We
switched over to the jig but nothing as well. At that time it was getting late in the game and clear to
us that We had to run back up and change to plan "B". We ran back to Big creek and started on a
bluff channel that I had caught a few on in practice and it didn't take long until We started putting
some fish in the boat. I set us out on the main channel from 50-80' deep and would just fish the
deep diving jerkbaits slow around the tall standing timber. It was a slow way to fish but We ended
up with 9 bites and boated 6 all in less than 2 hours. I lost 3 in the 2.5-3 pound range that would
have put our weight up around 13-14 lbs. or more and I have no idea how you can lose fish on a
jerkbait? I use 8lb line so no chance of pulling to hard, It just happens. Our best 5 was only 11.42
but it was enough for 1st place.
Final Thoughts: We ended up making good use of our practice but not good use of our time. I feel
that I was a little stubborn about switching to plan "B" and should have done so much earlier in the
game. Although We still took the win I felt like We should have had a big string of fish and it would
have taken much more weight if the rest of the bunch had shown up. The jerkbait pattern is a great
way to get some big bites but We really only fished 3 places before time was up and I knew several
great places up the lake We could have hit. It was truly perfect conditions for the jerkbait and the
clear water actually helps that bite. I just wish my partner would have pulled my head out of my rear
for me and the day would have been much more productive and fun.
Equipment: 6' 5" g-loomis rod, 8lb seaguar line, Lucky craft 120SP in baitfish silver and
Lucky craft 95SP in Table Rock shad = 6 keepers
Bull Shoals lake, March 20th 7-3
Cloudy with very little wind and a sprinkle of rain
Surface temps 48-50
Water clarity: clear main lake/ clear to very light stain creeks
Lake level: Normal pool @ 654
Team: David Wooten/Chris Richardson
1st place 5@ 11.42
Practice: The only day We ventured out was the Saturday before the tournament. Me and Chris
met up at 125 at day break and put in a long day. It stayed around 40 degree's all day and the wind
flat out pounded and had done so all night. When Chris backed me in the temp gauge settled in at
45 and the water color looked great at 125. The lake was already rolling at day break and We
headed down to the back end of Cedar creek to start our day. We started chunking cranks and
had 4 keepers in the first 10 minutes of our day including 2 in the 4 pound range. These fish were
stacked on a shallow pea gravel point and we continued on with the crank. It was one of those days
Were the fish were just chomping and We covered lots of water and fished from just below lead hill
to down below Oakland the bite seamed steady on the crank everywhere. We also looked for other
options just in case We needed a plan "B" and found a jerkbait bite on the channel swings but the
quality was not as good. We had no chance to try the jig much because of the brutal wind and just
had a fun day on the water. We ended our day having caught well over 20lbs with our best 5 and
feeling good about our fun day. I knew if the tournament was held that day It would have been a
freak show of big bass.
Tournament: The weather man was calling for some nasty weather and possible strong winds and
I knew that our practice would pay off but when I arrived at 125 the wind had not started blowing
and the water color was gone. Not many boats showed but the tournament was still on and I was
hoping the fish would still chomp with all this cloud cover. The surface temps came up around 3
degree's which was good but the color was gone, I mean completely Gin clear! We ran to the back
of Cedar and the color there was gone as well but I still had confidence that We would pick up a few
early on the crank. It didn't take long until that confidence started to fade. We worked the little point
over good then a few boats poured in from another tournament and I knew one of them was
wanting this spot which we gladly gave up. I figured it may have been pounded the day before so
off We go to our other area's. They were much the same and by the time We reached our best
pocket down around Oakland the water was so clear We could see the bottom very good at 20'
and no wind. I knew at that time the fish had pulled off the banks in the clear water and We had to
make an adjustment. We could run to the back of some creeks and continue fishing cranks in the
light stained water/switch over to jigs or go back up the lake and start over with plan "B". I figured
Jimmies creek may not have been as pressured and it was only 10 minutes down from us. So we
decide not to give up on the crank just yet and off We head to Jimmies creek. We run to the back
and it had the light stain We were looking for but after a few more hours We had nothing. We
switched over to the jig but nothing as well. At that time it was getting late in the game and clear to
us that We had to run back up and change to plan "B". We ran back to Big creek and started on a
bluff channel that I had caught a few on in practice and it didn't take long until We started putting
some fish in the boat. I set us out on the main channel from 50-80' deep and would just fish the
deep diving jerkbaits slow around the tall standing timber. It was a slow way to fish but We ended
up with 9 bites and boated 6 all in less than 2 hours. I lost 3 in the 2.5-3 pound range that would
have put our weight up around 13-14 lbs. or more and I have no idea how you can lose fish on a
jerkbait? I use 8lb line so no chance of pulling to hard, It just happens. Our best 5 was only 11.42
but it was enough for 1st place.
Final Thoughts: We ended up making good use of our practice but not good use of our time. I feel
that I was a little stubborn about switching to plan "B" and should have done so much earlier in the
game. Although We still took the win I felt like We should have had a big string of fish and it would
have taken much more weight if the rest of the bunch had shown up. The jerkbait pattern is a great
way to get some big bites but We really only fished 3 places before time was up and I knew several
great places up the lake We could have hit. It was truly perfect conditions for the jerkbait and the
clear water actually helps that bite. I just wish my partner would have pulled my head out of my rear
for me and the day would have been much more productive and fun.
Equipment: 6' 5" g-loomis rod, 8lb seaguar line, Lucky craft 120SP in baitfish silver and
Lucky craft 95SP in Table Rock shad = 6 keepers