It was back out on the lower end of the lake for the last 2 days of practice. Jeremiah's plan was to look for bedding fish in the lower end of the lake because there was far less fishing pressure down there. Spring was in full swing, the flowers were in bloom, and the fish were feeling frisky. Just to let everyone know, I caught allot of flack from Jeremiah when he saw me take that picture of those flowers. He was like "did you just take a picture of those flowers?" I'm sure you can imagine some of the things he followed that up with. I told him it was for my post; I don't think he believed me. I should have come up with something cool like there was a giant largemouth on a bed there that you could just barely make out, but really it was just a picture of some flowers. Anyway, Jeremiah felt like he could find some spawning down on the lower end and then fish docks the rest of the day to fill out his limit. He burned the shoreline looking for beds, finding about 20 during the last 2 days of practice. I, in the meantime, casted to every dock we came across. I ended up catching another 30 fish the 3rd day and about the same the 4th. By the time practice was over I really felt like I could make the cut; even fishing behind someone who was sight-fishing. My only concern was getting paired with that small percentage of people who were running up the river and sight-fishing where there were no docks. I was excited and looking forward to fishing. My day off was a welcomed relief. While all my roommates were out taking NASCAR people fishing, I was fast asleep on the couch. I lounged around and watched fishing on VS for 2 hours and then worked on my tackle. I had 4 rods rigged: shaky head, hollowbelly, skinny dipper, and a Carolina rig. I got paired with Mike Todd, who informed me that we would be running up the river and fishing for bedding fish. I was a little disconcerted when he said that most of the fish he had found were in the way backs of skinny pockets and there would be times when he didn't want me to be casting. He said "I know I can't tell you not to fish, but if you could find it in your heart to not cast in those situations I would really appreciate it". From the start I was already ticked off. I would never tell someone that. I talked to Suggs, Moorehead, and Kindey about it later at the house and they all agreed that instead of bringing it up to the tournament director that I should just go fishing and if I had a problem out on the lake to address it then. I thought about it and decided that was the best thing to do.
"Momma told me when I was young.... Be a simple kind of man, oh be something you love and understand" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
"I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some...." - Jason Mraz
"Give me one moment in time, when I'm more than I thought I could be. When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away and the answers are all up to me" - Whitney Houston
"Im'a be what I set out to be, without a doubt, undoubtably. And all those who look down on me, I'm tearing down your balcony. No if, ands, or buts, don't try to ask him why or how can he..." - Eminem www.go-fish.biz visit my homepage
Oh, for crying out loud Jess, can't you catch a break? I actually felt my forehead start to get heated when I read "I know I can't tell you not to fish, but if you could find it in your heart to not cast in those situations I would really appreciate it". How close were you to telling him to go f**k himself? I guess you have to be ever so diligent out there while building relationships and keeping your reputation clean. Again, thanks for taking the time to post everything, keeping us to date and for showing us the not so pretty side of the sport. Great pictures of the Wisteria. I believe they are non-native to the States and somewhat invasive, too.
Don't doubt in the dark what you learned in the light.
We start off the morning with a long run up to the river part of the lake. We were boat 18 and he was pretty confident that he could get to his fish before anyone else. As we were driving up there we got passed by Gabe, who flew by us like we were standing still; and then a few more passed us by. By the time we got to his spot there were 5 boats there all sitting on fish. He said Gabe was sitting on the biggest 2 in the cove. He had 2 smaller ones that no one was sitting on and he went to try and catch them, without success. Gabe left without catching anything and we went over to see if he had missed anything, which he hadn't. I threw my carolina rig around but couldn't get any takers. It was funny to see the other Co-anglers feeling grouchy as their pro's sat on bedding fish. After about an hour of no fish, he decided to run a little further up the river to an area where he had found some better ones, but they were a little more spread out. We went down the bank and the ones he had found were gone. He continued on hoping to find some new beds. As he's flying down the shore line I see a 5+ sitting on a bed next to a stump. I quietly cast up and feed my line out as we haul on past it. No weight when I reel up. We keep going and I end up seeing another 5, two 4's, and a 3. Unfortunately I couldn't get any to bite in the short time the bait was sitting in the bed. I never told him I saw the fish, I just let them go by. After about 6 hours of unsuccessful bed fishing, he decides maybe he should run back down the lake and try and catch some keepers off the docks; this is the first good news I've heard all day. We get down to the lower lake and in the last hour and a half that we have to fish, I catch 2 keepers and one that took the ride to weigh-in, but didn't quite make it on the bump board. After giving him one of the swim baits that I was using he caught his only keeper. It was a frustrating day, but I never had a problem with where he was fishing. I did my thing like I always do, and caught them when I had the opportunity. Mike was a nice guy, but he should keep his rules to himself unless there's a problem. All I wanted to do was fish docks. There's a million docks on the lake and I get the guy who isn't fishing within sight of one. What are the chances? My two spots weighed in at 2.5lbs, leaving me in 88th place.
"Momma told me when I was young.... Be a simple kind of man, oh be something you love and understand" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
"I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some...." - Jason Mraz
"Give me one moment in time, when I'm more than I thought I could be. When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away and the answers are all up to me" - Whitney Houston
"Im'a be what I set out to be, without a doubt, undoubtably. And all those who look down on me, I'm tearing down your balcony. No if, ands, or buts, don't try to ask him why or how can he..." - Eminem www.go-fish.biz visit my homepage
Great writing Jesse. If nothing else your post about the tourney was great. Flowers are cool your buddy just hasn't evolved that far yet...lol
I've been around awhile and I'm a believer that good things happen to good people (when its time)...I'd bet your time is coming. Thanks for the detailed posts...really feel like I'm there with you...Sounds like you handled things like a pro.......Good fishing
It is the mark of an intelligent mind to be able to entertain an idea without necessarily accepting it.
What you do should speak so loudly that no one can hear what you say."
#1078906 - 05/01/0901:08 PM
Re: Tales From The Trail 2009
[Re: Joe.G]
chris med
No REDTIDE IN PANAMA
Registered: 10/23/05
Posts: 23144
Loc: East Lyme
you guys are glutten's for these bed fishing tournaments,...but you have to take the good with the bad.......I agree with Joe as well,.....as I have said it before,...Good things will come Jess....we all believe!( and you don't have to deal with Dustball this weekend!!!!!)
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE,..DESTROYING FISHERMAN AND THEIR FAMILIES SINCE 1978......... www.ocearch.org
TEAM SERIOUSFISHING TEAM RUMSWIZLER TEAM RED NECK CAMPER TOURS TEAM "NO GUN ZONE" TEAM PANAMA TEAM GEPSIKCEHEHTEREHW TEAM Swizzle
www.joinrfa.com Contact Capt Mike Marro Bluefin Charters, Clinton Ct. 203-245-7742 www.bluefincharters.com As if the colassal middle finger hasn't been jammed up our asses far enough, the NMFS and ASMFC carry on with their daily masterpieces of saving species in peril..........We as recreational anglers serve thanks for all the fine "work" you do........ Fishin Factory III Middletown Ct 860-344-9139 www.fishinfactory3.com www.jigheadlures.com www.castlebaits.com
I got paired with Joe Thomas for the last day of the tournament. He had a very good first day and was sitting in 3rd. The best part was that he was the only one in the top 10 who wasn't sight-fishing. Joe said he was catching all his fish on a hollow belly and shaky worm around docks and around flats. I knew I would have a chance to make up some ground. It's difficult on a lake where there are so many small fish to come from so far back and make the cut; but it can be done. In the first 15 minutes I had my first keeper spot. The bite was much tougher for Joe and he said even though he didn't get many bites the day before, he felt like something had changed. I was able to catch 4 decent keepers for just over 6 lbs. I lost a big one when Joe was flying by a dock and the fish hit after we were past it. The fish got wrapped around some dock posts, started thrashing and ended up jumping off before we could get turned around to get to it. That fish would have probably gotten me into the top 20, but I was still pleased with the day. I went from 88th to 38th. I won some money and added some good points to my yearly standings, moving up to 9th place for the year. It's still possible for me to win Co-angler of the year again; with a little luck that is. My next tournament is at Beaver Lake in Arkansas. I really like the lake; it's allot like a giant Candlewood. My luck has to change at some point, hopefully this will be the time. Beaver is the last open of the year, so winning now would mean $40,000. I could really use the money after the serious rut I've been in. I've been doing carpentry again to make money, but it's very expensive to travel and I'm having to pay my own entry fees again. I'm in the hole right now and need a top 5 finish to get back on track. I told Dusty the other day it must be his fault. I think his bad luck is rubbing off on me.
"Momma told me when I was young.... Be a simple kind of man, oh be something you love and understand" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
"I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some...." - Jason Mraz
"Give me one moment in time, when I'm more than I thought I could be. When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away and the answers are all up to me" - Whitney Houston
"Im'a be what I set out to be, without a doubt, undoubtably. And all those who look down on me, I'm tearing down your balcony. No if, ands, or buts, don't try to ask him why or how can he..." - Eminem www.go-fish.biz visit my homepage
FLW Tour #4 Beaver Lake - Rogers, AR Water Temp: mid 60's Spawn/Post-spawn
Sorry this post is coming so long after the tournament. I've been going non stop for 3 weeks straight. I flew out to Arkansas on Thursday, the 7th. I arrived in Little Rock where Scott Suggs picked me up from the airport. We stayed at his house that night and then headed out in the morning. We pulled into the cabin in Rogers, AR around 5pm. The plane tickets ended up costing about $350 round trip which wasn't bad. Delta wanted $175 each way for me to take my rod tube, so I laughed at them and shipped them fedex 2 day air for $28. I didn't have to pay for a rental car because I was traveling with Scott. I need to save as much as I can when I can. The only problem with traveling with him is he had to stay at Beaver until the Monday after the tournament for a children's miracle network fundraiser. So he did the fundraiser and we left that evening arriving back in Bryant, AR about 7 pm. My flight left Little Rock at 6:05am, so it was yet another early morning for me. I got into Bradley at noon on Tuesday the 19th. As soon as I arrived home in Danbury I started re-organizing my boat. There was a sports writer (Vic) coming in that evening for a 3 day photo shoot with me and Art. After 3 days, Vic had taken 700 photographs and had multiple article ideas. The trip was a success for him, and that means good things for all parties involved. Vic left this past Friday and it was now Memorial Day weekend and I had a full plate of family fun ahead. It's now Tuesday the 26th of May and I have my computer turned on for the first time in 22 days. I have to work while I'm home, but hopefully I'll have the first post of how practice went up by tomorrow.
"Momma told me when I was young.... Be a simple kind of man, oh be something you love and understand" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
"I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some...." - Jason Mraz
"Give me one moment in time, when I'm more than I thought I could be. When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away and the answers are all up to me" - Whitney Houston
"Im'a be what I set out to be, without a doubt, undoubtably. And all those who look down on me, I'm tearing down your balcony. No if, ands, or buts, don't try to ask him why or how can he..." - Eminem www.go-fish.biz visit my homepage
you do........ 
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