| Author | Message | ||
| Picou
Lunker Username: Picou Post Number: 1695 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
Thank goodness that is over is about all I can say...  I admit, I think Bass Champs is a great circuit and definately the best paying event in the state. But there is definately something to be said for smaller tournaments. Bass Champs drew 202 teams this Saturday on Tawakoni and it was crazy... Thank God that the people fishing the event are mature, patient anglers. I arrived at the state park gates at 5:30am and once I paid my park fee, I moved about 50 yards forward and fell in line -- a 3/4 of a mile long line. It took me 20 minutes just to get to the first parking lot where I could pull off and walk the remainder of the way to check in and draw a flight number. Oz arrived later and his wait began well outside of the gate. It was daylight before he got to my location where I could put my stuff in his boat and we continued to wait in line to launch. Re-itterating the fact that all anglers were very mature and patient, we all waited in line and made small talk getting to the ramp. Bass Champs and the state park had people directing traffic and guiding you where to park so it really went smoothly -- just took a long time. Once we were on the water we made our way toward the take-off point through the maze of boats.  We hit our fishing spot and it was not long till we were covered with boats. We fished in there for a couple of hours with no bites and moved on over to Rabbit Cove where we saw no less than 15 boats already fishing in there. We decided to fall in and just fish.  Oz started throwing his Ribbit and missed a fish then lost a good one that came unbuttoned after a short battle. I picked up a short fish and then Oz answered the call with another short fish (both between 13 - 13 3/4 inches). We fished all around in there and eventually moved out to the mouth of Rabbit where Oz picked up a sandbass on a spinnerbait and I ended up with 3 sandies and another short fish on a rattle trap. Once we were back into the timber again I picked up a short, followed by a 15 1/2 inch keeper -- Finally a keeper!!!. It was 2:00pm when we caught the keeper so we kept plugging away. I heard Oz whip the rod back to set the hook and he exclaimed -- "Got One!" I started towards the front of the boat with the net, excited about the strong bend in his rod, just to see the fish roll and be identified as a nice channel catfish -- oh well. We ended up with 11 bass caught, 4 sandies, and 1 good catfish. All but one of the short fish was 13 inches or greater but under 14 inches. Pick-up was just as congested as putting in and I think this angler sized it up best...  The winning stringer was just over 20 pounds and they took home a brand new skeeter SX200 w/ a 200HP Yammy. Once the line closed their kids and family kids hopped up in the new boat. When Chad announced the first place winners, their family and friends cheered loudly with great excitement...  Again, BC put on a great event and one of these days I will get use to the crowd. Chad and I need to talk about his expectations because apparently the person who usually takes all the weigh in pictures was not there and he did not tell me so there are no pictures of the winning stringer or big bass. I did go to the lake and take a picture of the winning team in there qualified Skeeter that earned them an additional $5000 in Skeeter bonus money.   Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish
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| Dru
Bluegill Username: Dru Post Number: 133 Registered: 2-2005 Rating: N/A |
Nice recap Mike. I agree about the big tournaments. You need multiple ramps or launch sites. BassZone.com | ||
| Bigun
Hybrid Username: Bigun Post Number: 833 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
Wow that is some people on the water. Mike you are just having trouble getting on some fish this year. Come one man, REPRESENT!!!  Quit being a mad, little bald man! | ||
| Picou
Lunker Username: Picou Post Number: 1702 Registered: 8-2004 Rating: N/A |
That first picture does not show the boats on the other side of the point waiting to take off...  Main problem is, I am not fishing waters that I am familiar with and what little I know about the lake is well known by the other 200 teams... Same thing happens to me in Fork when I fish a big tournament like IBC & Skeeter Owner's -- my spots are full of other boats. One of these days I will learn how to pattern the fish and apply it to other parts of the lake. It would help if I would get out and pre-fish more than a half day I guess. I will be on Lewisville this weekend for the BASS Series tournament as a non-boater and hopefully my boater knows the lake. Oz is fishing the same tournament as a boater so he will be moving around the lake some also (watch me draw him as my boater... ) I hope to get out there 2 more times before the next tournament and figure out the fish on that lake. Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish
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| Ozziefish
Bluegill Username: Ozziefish Post Number: 190 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
Well we did weight a fish so that's positive!! It will get better from here. Lewisville is next, i'll be out there Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That would be a hoot if I drew PQ... OzzieFish "In GOD I trust" | ||
| Texfisher
Crappie Username: Texfisher Post Number: 475 Registered: 8-2004  Rating: N/A |
I think I would get frustrated seeing all those boats as well. It's hard to believe with all the trails going these days that there can be 200 boats in one division of bass champs. You would think TTT and Media would spread the folks out a little. Must be all the skeeter owners. If you're richer than me I think we're related. If you're poorer than me I know we're related. My bass club webpage http://texbass.8m.com/ 
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| Picou
Lunker Username: Picou Post Number: 1706 Registered: 8-2004 Rating: N/A |
It's all about money Mark. They are going where the payouts are big. Second place got a check for $4000 on Saturday and 3rd was $3000... All places above 15th cashed a check for $1000 or more. Throw in the bonus money for Allen Samuels ($2000), Line-X bonus ($1000), Fun-N-Sun bonus ($500), and the Skeeter bonus up to $5000... There is some serious cash available in Bass Champs. The team that tied for 27th place got the Allen Samuels and Line-X bonus, an additional $3000 check + the placement winning of $300 for a 13.66 pound sack of fish. First place not only won the $34k boat, they also got $5000 in Skeeter bonus money cash. Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish
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| Atthewall
Crappie Username: Atthewall Post Number: 484 Registered: 11-2004  Rating: N/A |
Well played PQ and OZ! This scene looks easier than the PGA Tour. | ||
| Picou
Lunker Username: Picou Post Number: 1714 Registered: 8-2004 Rating: N/A |
I wonder what it is going to be like at the Bassmasters Weekend Series on Lewisville this Sunday. I'll be there, camera in one hand and fishing rod in the other -- since I can't have a beer while fishing the tournament...  (Message edited by picou on March 16, 2006) Thank you Lord for my family and the waters I get to fish
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