One of Them Days You Could Fish Anywhere

The water completely covered one catwalk today, and that always means you can fish nearly anywhere you feel like it. I can't speak for anyone else among the 22 anglers in 12 boats, but the fish I was finding today nearly all were in spots where I wouldn't have a prayer of reaching under normal conditions.

At the end of our 8-hour fishing day, here's how the winners' circle looked:

In 1st Place was this team of (from left) Bob Glass and Randy Conkle. They had five fish for a total weight of 12.59 lbs., anchored by a 3.66-lb. bass.

Claiming 2nd Place was this team of (from left) Paul Higgins and Paul Celentano. They had five fish for a total weight of 10.66 lbs., anchored by a 2.86-lb. bass.

Honors for 3rd Place went to this team of (from left) Jared Allbritten and Wayne Hayes. They had five fish for a total weight of 9.88 lbs., anchored by Wayne's big bass weighing 5.04 lbs., which secured the day's Lunker Award for him, too.

Winning 4th Place was the team of Al Napier and Eddie Sapp (not pictured). They had five fish for a total weight of 9.16 lbs., with no big fish. We're lucky and pleased to have had these fellas with us, given their boating mishap last Sunday on the Northwest River.

Walking away with the Mystery Weight Award was the team of Lenny Hall and Gary Coderre (not pictured). They had five fish for a total weight of 5.71 lbs., which was closest to the 7.00 tab that was drawn. They didn't have a big fish.







Here is how all the other competitors finished the day:

     * The team of Bobby Moore and Duane Kessel, five bass, 9.13 lbs. total weight, 2.74-lb. big fish.
     * The team of Nathan and Marjorie Gottsch, three bass, 5.27 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Jim Wilder and Darryl Dunn, three bass, 4.99 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Mitch Portervint and Skip Schaible, two bass, 4.83 lbs. total weight, 3.78-lb. big bass.
     * Ken Testorff, three bass, 4.67 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Jim Sumrell and Cathy Brandt, three bass, 4.65 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Steve Bailey didn't weigh any fish.

Overall, today's anglers weighed a total of 44 bass for a total weight of 81.54 lbs. The average weight was 1.85 lbs.

There were no new names added to the list of those anglers who have qualified for our season-ending two-day Classic.

Congrats to all the winners today, and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our next event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24, from safe light  (about 6:30) to weigh-in at 2:30. I hope you can join us.

I found fish today in the same places I found them this past Wednesday. Finding 'em, however, is only half the battle. Getting 'em in the boat is the other half, and to my chagrin, I was the epitome of poor execution in that regard today.

Meanwhile, my friend, Skip, who also was out Wednesday, told me his "hot spot" had cooled dramatically. He and his partner came away with only one bass from there today, compared to 20 or 25 on Wednesday.

If there was a high point to my day, it had to have been when I set the hook on this healthy white perch, and he came flying out of the water just like his bass brethren. He easily cleared the surface by 2 or more feet, and I'll have to admit I was impressed by the whole thing. Can't say I've ever seen that kind of acrobatics from a white perch before.