Today our club had our first tourney of the year on Percy Priest. The weather forecast was sketchy at best, but by the time we launched at 6:30 am, the rain had stopped, and it was pretty much perfect weather for fishing. The fish would definitely cooperate.
We ran down lake to a major creek and fished some shallow points with a mix of chunk rock and pea gravel with crankbaits. We caught about 15 fish in the first hour and a half with one of them being a 21" pig that had already spawned. We left the first spot and hit a flat in another major creek downlake. The fishing was a bit slower, and this hole seemed to attract half of our club. We did catch 6-7 fish in there on a mix of cranks and jigs.
By now it was around 10:30, and it was time to fire the Yammyhauler and head up lake. We hit on spot around an old roadbed and landed a couple, but we did not find the mother load here.
It was now pushing 11:00, and the clock was ticking fast toward our 12:30 check-in time. We went to a transition point and flat behind a major island, and it was on. We chunked the little crankbait, and the fish were smacking it. We sat in that area for about 45 minutes and caught around 13 more fish, including a fat pre-spawn 18" largemouth. By now I had culled to a limit of around 13 lbs, but I knew I needed to catch one more good one to win the deal. We had around 30 minutes left, and we would spend our last few casts chunking and winding a rattle bait on some major flats near Four Corners. No takers, so we headed in.
Turns out I was right. If I could have culled out one fish with another 4 lb class fish, I would have won it. I finished third with just over 13 lbs. First place was almost 15 lbs and second place was just over 14 lbs. I tied for the big fish award of the day.
All in all it was a really good day with over 30 over the rail and two solid big fish.
Next, it's off the Center Hill for a Team Trail event and club tournament. I'll report back.
Tight lines,
RBK
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Spring 09 breaking wide open...(3-09)
Last week, I headed down to Guntersville with a freind in my club for some fun fishing at Guntersville. The water temps were in the mid 50's to around 60 in some areas, and the fish were moving up to make little bass.
Thursday we had a guide and ended up with 31 on the day with around 15 keepers. Our best 5 would have weighed around 24 lbs. I had the big fish of the day which was 7.5 to 8 lbs (no scales in the boat). The big fish cme on a main river island ledge in the afternoon on a chrome rattle trap in about 5 ft of water. Most of the fish were caught on clay banks with stumps and grass mixed in in 1-4 ft on rattle baits, craws, and 8" lizards.
After the guide trip ended, we went back to the cabin and grabbed my boat. We stayed around the State park and caught 7-10 more fish before dark with 5 being keepers for around 13 lbs. Total for the day was around 40 fish and 20 keepers.
Friday, a major front pused through bringing with it 25 MPH North winds. We only caught 2 fish all day, and the wind ran us off early.
Saturday was nicer weather wise. We ended up with around 12 fish and 4 keepers for around 13 lbs. with the big fish of 5lbs caught on a grass / clay flat in 4 ft on a trap.
It was a great trip, and if not for the front that slammed us it would have been exceptional.
Sunday, I got back and the wife and kids had plans out of the house all afternoon, so I went to Preist for around 4 hours to try my luck there. The fish were shallow and fairly active. I caught 2 big hybrids by accident and around 14 bass with 3 keepers. Big fish of the day was a healthy 5 lb pre-spawn largemouth caught in 5 ft of water on a crankbait. The key was fishing shallow staging points near deep water and also near shallow spawning flats. bait was a real key too, as if I found bait, the fish were there.
All in all, it was a great 4 days on the water, and it will only get better over the next two-three weeks.
Tight lines,
RBK
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