Once those strong winds kicked in this morning, you didn't dare take your foot off the trolling motor for very long, or you quickly found yourself in extremis. The man-and-wife team of Nathan and Marjorie Gottsch suffered a busted trolling motor when the wind blew their boat into a stump. Fortunately, they are OK, but they'll have to replace the motor.
As if misery loves company, there were 21 of us in 14 boats doing battle with the wind and the bass today. Here are the winners:
1st Place, the team of (from left) Mark London and John Goodman. They weighed five bass for a total weight of 20.39 lbs. Mark had big fish for the tournament at 7.14 lbs.
2nd Place, Rob Peppers. He weighed five bass for a total weight of 15.66 lbs., anchored by one that tipped the scales at 4.06 lbs.
3rd Place, the team of (from left) Gary Coderre and Lenny Hall. They had five bass with a total weight of 12.91 lbs. Their kicker fish weighed 3.14 lbs.
Mystery Weight Winner was Jim Wilder, who weighed three bass with a total weight of 3.88 lbs., which was closest to the 2.15-lb. tab that was drawn.
Here is how all the other contestants finished the day:
* The team of Bob Glass and Randy Conkle, five bass, 12.70 lbs. total weight, 2.78-lb. big fish.
* The team of David Dozier and Nelson Anderson, five bass, 12.44 lbs. total weight, 3.73-lb. big fish.
* Paul Celentano, five bass, 11.88 lbs. total weight, 4.16-lb. big fish.
* Steve Bailey, five bass, 11.69 lbs. total weight after 0.25 deduction for one dead fish, 4.08-lb. big fish.
* The team of Wayne Hayes and Sean Vitovich, five bass, 9.98 lbs. total weight, 2.97-lb. big fish.
* The team of Mitch Portervint and Skip Schaible, four bass, 9.36 lbs. total weight, 5.10-lb. big fish.
* Al Napier, five bass, 8.47 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
* Ronnie McLaughlin, four bass, 7.07 lbs. total weight, 2.78-lb. big fish.
* Ken Testorff, three bass, 6.86 lbs. total weight after 0.25 deduction for one dead fish, 2.96-lb. big fish.
* The team of Ronnie and Marjorie Gottsch had some fish but couldn't weigh them because they trailered their boat beforehand.
Overall, today's anglers weighed a total of 59 bass for a total weight of 143.29 lbs. The average weight was 2.42 lbs.
Congrats to all the winners, and thanks to all those who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our next event is scheduled for Saturday, April 2nd, from safe light (probably about 6:30 a..m.) to weigh-in at 2:30 p.m. Hope you can join us.
As happened during my practice day this past Wednesday, I had a topwater bite today. I boated a total of four bass, but only three were keepers. I also had one come unbuttoned en route to the boat, and two more short-striked. Having three keepers in my livewell by 9:30 persuaded me to blow off my original plan today and quit a couple hours early, so I could get my boat trailered and returned to my storage building before the promised raindrops arrived. Fortunately, the serious rain held off until after I had backed the boat into its shed.
I also want to express my thanks to our generous benefactor from last season who handed me $200 today to defray the cost of another season-ending cookout at West Neck Marina, following the second day of our Classic contest on Sunday, Oct. 16. This year, everyone who fishes at least one of our regular contests is invited to participate in the cookout. As last year, the benefactor again wishes to remain anonymous, so I'll gladly honor his request. In coming weeks, I'll be getting with Steve to work out the details of this event. Watch for updates.
Last but certainly not least here, I would like to say a few words about the fact the gang who fished today set a new collective record for the Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Tourney Series. The 21 participants in 14 boats weighed 59 bass for a grand total of 143.29 lbs. In checking my records, dating back to 2012, the first year I started keeping a running tally of such totals for all of our tournaments, I learned that we eclipsed the old record set on Aug. 23, 2014, when 25 competitors in 16 boats weighed 75 bass for a grand total of 140.18 lbs. As I told the gang in a separate email, "If ol' Dewey were still alive, I can assure you he'd be doing cartwheels about now."
Last but certainly not least here, I would like to say a few words about the fact the gang who fished today set a new collective record for the Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Tourney Series. The 21 participants in 14 boats weighed 59 bass for a grand total of 143.29 lbs. In checking my records, dating back to 2012, the first year I started keeping a running tally of such totals for all of our tournaments, I learned that we eclipsed the old record set on Aug. 23, 2014, when 25 competitors in 16 boats weighed 75 bass for a grand total of 140.18 lbs. As I told the gang in a separate email, "If ol' Dewey were still alive, I can assure you he'd be doing cartwheels about now."
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