"In the Boat" presented by Jewel Bait Company |
Winter Bass-O-Thon
February 6, Bull shoals 7-3
Cloudy all day/ Wind 10-15
surface temps 42-44
main lake clear/creeks light stain
Anglers: Dave and Carl Wooten
23rd place 5@ 12.55
Practice: We practiced one day before the tournament and had not been on the lake
since the last bass-o-thon when the lake was still 17' high. Now that the lake has dropped
down to normal pull the bite has got really good. It took 20lbs just to cash a check in the
mid-central a few weeks back and 15 pounds would have landed you near dead last place.
Jerk and crank baits seem to be the word on the street. I really don't like to practice
much on those baits but We decided that We would head out Wednesday to find some
deep jig fish for a plan "B" just in case. Wednesday was sunny with no wind and We
spent most of our day jigging with only 1 bite. He was a solid 3 pound black out around
25'.
Around 3pm Wednesday the clouds rolled in. We were in Buck creek and decided to try
jerk and crank baits before heading back. It took us about 30 minutes to boat 4 more
keepers. Two of which were in the 5 pound range and the other 2 solid 3 pounders. We
left the water having caught around 19 pounds and knowing that Saturday We would just
"go fishing" with the crank and Jerk baits.
Tournament Day: Our game plan was to start close and move up the lake until We
reached Lead Hill but while we were sitting under the dock getting our life jackets, etc.
Dad says "I think we should just stay on this lower end". I reply "fine with me".
So our new game plan was to just hang close and fish hard. We were boat 12 out of 40
and when our number was called I headed us across the lake to Noal creek. Dad started
with the crank bait in the front of the boat and I fished the Jerkbait from the back.
We moved about 20' when something locks up on my Jerkbait that I can barley move!
It comes to the top almost instantly and We see that I have a drum snagged in the back.
I fight the stupid thing round and round until I finally get my bait back.
Dad catches a short smallmouth then I get 2 more short blacks. Well that kinda sucks I
say as We finish with our first stop. Dad wants to run down to Howard's next and I'm
starting to think this is a big gamble. We haven't fished this area in a long time but Dad
had a good feeling about it. I head us to the back of Howard's creek and We seem to
have the entire creek to ourselves. We fish down the right side of a small cove then
cross over to the other side and Dad hooks up immediately and says this is a big fish. I
hop down and gather the net and stand up next to him when We see this black come up
in the 5 pound range. Then almost on cue the crank bait comes right out of Her mouth.
Oh' hell, Not today Dad says. We lose our first keeper bite. Dad rounds the point and
catches 2- 16" blacks back to back on the wart. We then decide that both of us should be
throwing it and We can cover more water. We fished for about another hour without a
bite then I finally catch another keeper black. He was just 15" and a skinny little rail. We
switch over to the other side of that cove and I hook up with another keeper. It was just a
nice 16-17" black but It came off at the boat. We decide to run back to the first cove
before leaving out and I hook up with a big fish pretty quick. I tell Dad to get the net this
one is huge. I could barley move Her and She was pulling line good. I battle Her for what
seemed like forever and then We get a good look. Oh my god! What a bass I'm saying to
Dad. He replies "don't lose that one" It's a 6 or 7 pounder. She keeps making runs but
they are getting shorter than Here She comes up to the boat. I got Her whooped. She
thrashing Her head back and forth just under the surface about 3' then out pops my
crank bait. I just go numb in disbelief? Dad throws down the net and yells "We may as
well load the Damn boat and go to the house". At that moment I knew it would take a
miracle for us to pull off the overall. We had a 5+ lead but If we couldn't boat our fish We
would be in trouble. We fished a few more coves before running to Jimmies creek. I ran
us toward the back and I hooked up with a nice fish pretty quick and We get this one in
the net. It was close to 3 pounds and gives us 4 around 8-9 pounds. It was around 1:30
When Dad finally hooks up again and He says this is the one We need. It was pulling drag
and heading up the bank then came off. The cursing went to a whole new level at that
time. We move down into the cove and Dad hooks up again and it was a black around 2
1/2 pounds. The fish comes up and out comes the crank bait. I tell Dad "I don't know what
to say"? We have sharp triple grips on and We are still losing everything that bites. Dad
says "It's just not meant to be". Its 2pm Now and We still only have 4 but We are not
giving up. We Hit a wind blown point on the main part of the creek and Dad catches one
around 3 pounds giving us our limit. As He was getting the hooks out of the net. I hook
up and land a 17" black culling the little 15" black from early that morning. We keep
fishing hard and Dad catches a 16" Kentucky at the end of the day that culled a 16" black.
I figured we had around 10-11 pounds but was surprised to find We had 12.55. We
needed some of the top teams to have some bad luck as well to hold on to the overall.
With our 5.45 lead We knew about what the other teams would need. After watching and
holding on the only team left with a shot for overall was the guys in second place. They
needed 18 pounds to take it and as they walked up I knew it would be close.
They had 20 pounds and that ended my hopes of winning the overall this year.
It took 25+ to win the tournament and just under 19 to get in the money, so it was good
for alot of anglers.
Final Thoughts: Fishing is as frustrating as it is fun. We had one of those days that I know
every tournament angler has experienced at one time. My goal was to win the Overall
AOY and we had a good shot at it. We had the fish on to take the AOY and get us in the
money as well, but We just couldn't get them in the boat. This is the second Bass-o-thon
in a row that We have lost 3 big fish and it has cost us in the end. I always learn form my
losses and If I had it to do over I would change lots of things, but at least we hung in
there and grinded out a limit.
Equipment: 7' g-loomis rod, 8lb trilene xl. old style suspend warts all fish (7 Keepers).
February 6, Bull shoals 7-3
Cloudy all day/ Wind 10-15
surface temps 42-44
main lake clear/creeks light stain
Anglers: Dave and Carl Wooten
23rd place 5@ 12.55
Practice: We practiced one day before the tournament and had not been on the lake
since the last bass-o-thon when the lake was still 17' high. Now that the lake has dropped
down to normal pull the bite has got really good. It took 20lbs just to cash a check in the
mid-central a few weeks back and 15 pounds would have landed you near dead last place.
Jerk and crank baits seem to be the word on the street. I really don't like to practice
much on those baits but We decided that We would head out Wednesday to find some
deep jig fish for a plan "B" just in case. Wednesday was sunny with no wind and We
spent most of our day jigging with only 1 bite. He was a solid 3 pound black out around
25'.
Around 3pm Wednesday the clouds rolled in. We were in Buck creek and decided to try
jerk and crank baits before heading back. It took us about 30 minutes to boat 4 more
keepers. Two of which were in the 5 pound range and the other 2 solid 3 pounders. We
left the water having caught around 19 pounds and knowing that Saturday We would just
"go fishing" with the crank and Jerk baits.
Tournament Day: Our game plan was to start close and move up the lake until We
reached Lead Hill but while we were sitting under the dock getting our life jackets, etc.
Dad says "I think we should just stay on this lower end". I reply "fine with me".
So our new game plan was to just hang close and fish hard. We were boat 12 out of 40
and when our number was called I headed us across the lake to Noal creek. Dad started
with the crank bait in the front of the boat and I fished the Jerkbait from the back.
We moved about 20' when something locks up on my Jerkbait that I can barley move!
It comes to the top almost instantly and We see that I have a drum snagged in the back.
I fight the stupid thing round and round until I finally get my bait back.
Dad catches a short smallmouth then I get 2 more short blacks. Well that kinda sucks I
say as We finish with our first stop. Dad wants to run down to Howard's next and I'm
starting to think this is a big gamble. We haven't fished this area in a long time but Dad
had a good feeling about it. I head us to the back of Howard's creek and We seem to
have the entire creek to ourselves. We fish down the right side of a small cove then
cross over to the other side and Dad hooks up immediately and says this is a big fish. I
hop down and gather the net and stand up next to him when We see this black come up
in the 5 pound range. Then almost on cue the crank bait comes right out of Her mouth.
Oh' hell, Not today Dad says. We lose our first keeper bite. Dad rounds the point and
catches 2- 16" blacks back to back on the wart. We then decide that both of us should be
throwing it and We can cover more water. We fished for about another hour without a
bite then I finally catch another keeper black. He was just 15" and a skinny little rail. We
switch over to the other side of that cove and I hook up with another keeper. It was just a
nice 16-17" black but It came off at the boat. We decide to run back to the first cove
before leaving out and I hook up with a big fish pretty quick. I tell Dad to get the net this
one is huge. I could barley move Her and She was pulling line good. I battle Her for what
seemed like forever and then We get a good look. Oh my god! What a bass I'm saying to
Dad. He replies "don't lose that one" It's a 6 or 7 pounder. She keeps making runs but
they are getting shorter than Here She comes up to the boat. I got Her whooped. She
thrashing Her head back and forth just under the surface about 3' then out pops my
crank bait. I just go numb in disbelief? Dad throws down the net and yells "We may as
well load the Damn boat and go to the house". At that moment I knew it would take a
miracle for us to pull off the overall. We had a 5+ lead but If we couldn't boat our fish We
would be in trouble. We fished a few more coves before running to Jimmies creek. I ran
us toward the back and I hooked up with a nice fish pretty quick and We get this one in
the net. It was close to 3 pounds and gives us 4 around 8-9 pounds. It was around 1:30
When Dad finally hooks up again and He says this is the one We need. It was pulling drag
and heading up the bank then came off. The cursing went to a whole new level at that
time. We move down into the cove and Dad hooks up again and it was a black around 2
1/2 pounds. The fish comes up and out comes the crank bait. I tell Dad "I don't know what
to say"? We have sharp triple grips on and We are still losing everything that bites. Dad
says "It's just not meant to be". Its 2pm Now and We still only have 4 but We are not
giving up. We Hit a wind blown point on the main part of the creek and Dad catches one
around 3 pounds giving us our limit. As He was getting the hooks out of the net. I hook
up and land a 17" black culling the little 15" black from early that morning. We keep
fishing hard and Dad catches a 16" Kentucky at the end of the day that culled a 16" black.
I figured we had around 10-11 pounds but was surprised to find We had 12.55. We
needed some of the top teams to have some bad luck as well to hold on to the overall.
With our 5.45 lead We knew about what the other teams would need. After watching and
holding on the only team left with a shot for overall was the guys in second place. They
needed 18 pounds to take it and as they walked up I knew it would be close.
They had 20 pounds and that ended my hopes of winning the overall this year.
It took 25+ to win the tournament and just under 19 to get in the money, so it was good
for alot of anglers.
Final Thoughts: Fishing is as frustrating as it is fun. We had one of those days that I know
every tournament angler has experienced at one time. My goal was to win the Overall
AOY and we had a good shot at it. We had the fish on to take the AOY and get us in the
money as well, but We just couldn't get them in the boat. This is the second Bass-o-thon
in a row that We have lost 3 big fish and it has cost us in the end. I always learn form my
losses and If I had it to do over I would change lots of things, but at least we hung in
there and grinded out a limit.
Equipment: 7' g-loomis rod, 8lb trilene xl. old style suspend warts all fish (7 Keepers).