FLW Series #4
Clarks Hill Lake
Water Temp: 72

Sorry I didn't post sooner. We're staying at a cabin that's supposed to have wireless internet, but it hasn't been working. We complained and they came and fixed it today. I'll start with my day off waiting for Dusty. I got up around 8am and watched TV until 10. I packed up my stuff and broughht it down to the truck and proceeded to tear it all apart.

I got everything I needed from the boat since I was leaving it in Virginia at the Mare marine Ranger dealership. It was a pain to say the least! After about an hour and a half I had everythinhg organized. I finished up and headed out to get gas. I was meeting my Aunt who lives in DC for lunch and started over that way. I went around a corner and heard a bad noise. Nothing looked out of place so I pulled out and started down the road when I noticed that my right front tire was about sideways and smoke was pouring out of the wheel well. I limped about a 1/4 mile down the road and pulled into a gas station.

The station happened to have a repair shop and they took my tire off for me. I was now running on 3 wheels. I met my Aunt for luch and then we went to see Dusty weigh in. We left as soons as Dusty weighed in and headed straight for the Ranger dealership. It took about 40 minutes to get there. The one tire held up fine and we arrived without incident. I decided after we dropped the boat off that I would drive until we got to the cabin. It was about an 8 hour drive and we arived at about 2am. Dusty decided he was going to take the day off; I had to be up at 6:30 to meet Sam to practice. The fishing was pretty tough and I ended up catching maybe 5 keepers for 8lbs. Sam caught 10 or 12 for probably 10lbs. Most people were going down the grass edges throwing reaction baits. It will be tough for the co-anglers that have to fish this way. Most guys are moving too fast to throw a slow bait and too close to the weed edge to throw what they're throwing. Dusty ended up not having anyone to practice with so he sat on the couch watching TV and napping for 3 days. He did go fishing from shore for about 30 minutes and catch 3 shorts and a small keeper. I'm not sure what to expect fromt this tournament. Dusty and I both drew locals, so anything could happen. Dusty's partner said he's on the fish to win the tournament. Dusty said his draws make no difference, he just fishes hard and doesn't even take time to eat a sandwich, only Snickers.

I finished the day in 13th and Dusty finished in 17th. A strong showing from the CT Co's. I caught all my fish on a homemade crankbait. I think I'll probably throw it most of the day tomorrow. Dusty caught his biggest fish on a king shad and the other 3 on a shaky head. Fishing was really tough, and I don't think it will get much better tomorrow. The weather is supposed to change after tomorrow though, so hopefully that will make them bite better on Friday.

we're watchin fellas, Jess kick the snot out of that punk would you please, I couldn't bear to hear him again all winter!!!!! PS tell him I'm sorry about the VM about drop shot weights,....phone issues and I'll have some for him asap if he needs them,(you as well) I can overnight them at no charge as long as he wears "Team Busch" on his shirt!!! go get'm guys!!!!!

Hope it all works out Jess.
We'll be watching and praying the funds get to you ASAP.

I didn't have the payday I was hoping for. I was only able to catch 2 small keepers the last day. I had a chance at a decent fish on a buzzbait, but it didn't get the hook. I had 3 bites and caught two of them. It's disappointing knowing how close I was. I ended up only 3lbs out of the top 10; and the couple fish I lost throughout the tournament would have had me somewhere around 2nd place. But that's the way it is, I'm sure most people lost a fish or two. I ended up in 20th place and got a check for about $1200. At least I have the gas money to get out to Missouri now. Dusty finished in 48th I think; he also won enough money for gas out to Table Rock; about $1000 I think. He now owes me $100 for beating him in the last 2 tournaments. I'm giving him a chance to win his money back by beating me at the Stren Championship. He's fishing as a Co, but I'll give him that edge. We drove about 4 hours after leaving the weigh-in and stopped at a hotel somewhere off I95 in North Carolina. We left at 7am and started our 10 hour drive. It was a decent ride and we hit very little traffic. I now have 3 days to spend with my wife and kids before Dusty and I head out again. I am definitely not looking forward to the drive out to MO. I think it's about 23 hours.

Dusty wanted me to let everyone know that he didn't say this: "Dusty said his draws make no difference, he just fishes hard and doesn't even take time to eat a sandwich, only Snickers." I took that quote from an interview on FLW with Justin Lucas, a Co-angler who fishes out in the FLW Series Western division. While it sounds like something Dusty might say half jokingly, he realizes that one draw (good or bad) can make the difference between winning and sucking. You can only make so much of a bad draw.