A New Kind of Hoarder???

One easily could get that impression by looking at the front deck of Carl Jocumsen's bass boat.

But, alas, as reported by Jay Kumar in his latest issue of BassBlaster, "If'n yer upgradin' from a 14-foot johnny boat to a 21-foot glass rocket, and you're a fearin' like it'll be like drivin' a Suburban after lotsa years in a dang Corolla, Carl Jocumsen has a solution fer you: Just crowd the front deck with all the gear you can find and--bing bang zoom--it's just like yer a-feeshn outta your little rig!

"Word is Carl plans to install a mini-fridge, wet bar, and filletin' station next... . HAHAHA Carl! Dang, son! Gitcha tap dance on... ."

For the Week Ending Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018

Monday, Oct. 29 (from Ron)...Today's trip to Milldam marks the third trip since Thursday, when I only caught one dink. Will shift efforts back to the salty waters. Was a beautiful evening, but bass had lockjaw, and I haven't caught a panfish in ages.

Tuesday, Oct. 30 (from Ken)...After a couple weeks of recuperation from our Classic tournament, I was ready to get back on the water. Launched about 9 o'clock and fished until about 2 o'clock. I stayed in West Neck and fished the area above the bridge. Hit it with a chatterbait, couple of crankbaits, a topwater, and a jerkbait. Only the latter worked for me, and it even went dead after about 11:30. Managed to catch a couple of bass, the biggest a 1-1. Also lost a fish that hit just a few casts after I started using the jerkbait. It was a quality fish--probably a decent striper, based on the way it acted. Really smacked the jerkbait with authority and then took off on a dead run for open water. The lure eventually pulled out, but it was fun while it lasted. Water temp when I started was a tad over 52, but forgot to check it when I came in. Talked to Rob Peppers and Dave Anderson on the water. They said they had caught a few small ones. Also exchanged info with Ray Scott when I came in. He had two, both about the same size as mine. The gorgeous day more than made up for the lack of bites. Too bad I have commitments for the next two days, or I would be back out there again, trying to improve on today's number.

Wednesday, Oct. 31 (from Ron)...Fished HRBT last night from 2100 to 0100 and didn't get a tap. Shifted gear and went for a quick trip to upper North Landing this evening in hopes of a bowfin or bass. Found a nice striper that was out trick-or-treating. Gave a good fight (treat), and I released him to grow a bit more.


Sunday, Nov. 4 (from Ray)...Fished Albright's today. Caught two small bass in the first half hour, then didn’t get another bite the rest of the day. The water temperature at launch time was 59 degrees, but it had edged up to 62 by quitting time. Thought it would be a good day but was wrong again. White spinnerbait was the lure of the day.

So, What Are Ya' Doin' for Halloween?

If nothing else is on the menu, why not take the advice of Jason Christie to grab a Spook and head for the nearest water?

For this two-tour pro, a Spook comes into play virtually anytime. During the post spawn and again in fall, however, when shad congregate near the surface, it's his go-to lure. Many times during fall, it's his all-day lure. "The Spook often performs best in the middle of the day," he said.

"I think people sometimes make a mistake by fishing a Spook early in the morning and then putting it down," Christie added. "Sometimes, the fish won't hit as well early this time of year. Toward the middle of the day, when things warm up a little, bass really get on that Spook bite."

Christie acknowledges that there are subtle differences in the various Spook models that make one the right lure to maximize your catch for all occasions. Here's his advice on when to use each one:

Zara Spook. Every variation has its own appeal, but sometimes it's tough to top the original. In Spook parlance, it's often referred to as the "sweet size."

Chug'n Spook. When you need a chugging splash to imitate bass running baitfish and a steady walking motion to make fish follow and attack, this model is the only way to go. "I like the Chug'n Spook when it's really windy, creating a chop, and I need that extra splashing to draw the fish," he said.

Super Spook. Use this model when the shad are extra large, or when you know you're fishing around heavyweight bass.

Super Spook Jr. This model comes into play when the forage is smaller, or the fish are a bit fussy.

Feather-Dressed Super Spook Jr. A difference-maker in clear-water settings and when the fish are relating heavily to shad.

One Knocker Spook. Really shines when the topwater bite is strong, and a lot of fishermen are walking Spooks.

Rattlin' Spook. Draws fish from distances and entices strikes from fish that won't attack a silent walker. It's also effective in murkier water.

Wounded Zara Spook. The addition of props fore and aft allow the angler to create a big commotion without the bait moving too far away from the fish or promising cover. Key times to use this lure are the early prespawn, when bass are targeting bedding bluegills, or any time they are holding tight to specific cover or structure.

Zara Puppy. Ideal for fishing a smallmouth stream or fishing small ponds with light tackle.

Super Spook XT. Armed with super-sharp, heavy-duty, saltwater-grade hardware, this bait's primary application is for bass in tidal waters and when any given attack can come from redfish, jack crevalle, or other saltwater fish. Also good for targeting voracious predators, such as muskies and peacock bass.

How Many Calories Do You Burn During a Bass Tournament?

According to one study I found, professional anglers burn 4,300 or more calories during a typical tournament day.

Nutrition coach Scott Herkes thus recommends that anglers eat more regularly. "Eat breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, a mid-afternoon snack, dinner, and then something right at bedtime (something like cottage cheese). Eat protein and carbs with each snack, and stop the sugary sweets and soda."

Herkes further encourages anglers to make sure the following foods are part of their normal diet: lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. He also suggests trying to reduce simple sugars.

Anglers, particularly those waiting for a tournament to start, often are observed grabbing a bottle of juice to drink. While the juice admittedly has some good vitamin and phytonutrient content, it's almost 100 percent sugar. "You would be better off to eat the raw fruit than to drink the juice," explains Herkes.

Not eating healthy can result in poor performance or even worse. Some experts equate the effects on your body as resembling what happens when you don't charge your batteries or fill the gas/oil tanks on your boat. If you're dehydrated or haven't taken in enough calories, mental acuity is reduced, and, physically, your body will fatigue, leading to physical and mental mistakes. As a minimum, you may miss bites and execute poorly. In severe cases, you even may become dizzy, light-headed, and unstable in the boat.

Healthy eating is only one piece of the puzzle. Exercising is another. Adding some form of daily exercise and a stretching program to your lifestyle is extremely valuable when it comes to improving your ability to fish hard all day long. The most important thing is to do something physical to help your cardiovascular system and overall physical well-being. Just don't get carried away and do more than your body is ready for.

As FLW Tour pro Tom Redington explained, "You don't need to bench press 350 lbs. to cast a 1-lb. rod and reel or set the hook on a 2-lb. fish, but building up your core muscles really helps prevent injuries and fatigue. Most guys concentrate on big arms and chests to look good in the mirror, but abs, back and leg muscles really help the bass fisherman a ton.

"We have to balance in choppy water on one foot, while running the trolling motor, all the time making crazy-angle sidearm and backhand casts to get into the honey hole or bending down to pick up a different rod," Redington continued. "Four-day tourneys, with several days of practice are a grind, especially in the heat. Having a strong core, plus good cardio conditioning, really pay off after a few days.

"You have the extra energy to keep pushing late in the day, plus you keep a better mental outlook because you feel fresher and stronger. Pros in fishing have also caught on to proper nutrition for fishing. With the competition at the pro level being stiffer than ever, guys are looking for every possible edge, and fitness and nutrition are an aspect that most are pursuing."

In conclusion, Redington noted that "you don't have to be ripped like a UFC fighter to be a bass angler, but the better your physical health, the better your body will perform, both on and off the water."

For the Week Ending Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018

Monday, Oct. 22 (from Ron)...Back to my old Milldam haunt. Have not fished freshwater since Sept. 28. Had a short window from  5 to 6:30 p.m. About 5:30, I found 'em, and it was on. Caught seven bass in quick succession; also had a few misses. Can't remember a time when they were all so healthy and fat. Even the smallest one was 1-2. All were between 1-2 and 2-10, and they were in great shape. T'was near perfect...all clean lip hooksets and all on swimsenko or Zoom U Vibe worms. Had a few swipes at topwater but no hookups. Very refreshing to be back in the fresh, away from the crowds. It was a picture-perfect evening.

Tuesday, Oct. 23 (from Ron)...Visited another ol' haunt this evening: upper North Landing. The area has disappointed all summer long but thought I would target bowfin for a change. Glad I did. Had several on that threw the hook or got a poor hookset (hookset shy?). I decided to let this one run a bit longer before setting the hook, and it worked. After a pole-bending, all-out super fight, he weighed in at 9 lbs. 14 ozs. and an even 30 inches. A torn-up tail normally is indicative of spawning activity, but that isn't supposed to happen until spring. Last spring, I couldn't find any in upper North Landing. Makes me curious. Not sure what tomorrow has in store.

Wednesday, Oct. 24 (from Ron)...With the low gauge and high winds, was kind of limited on launch options. Opted for Lovitt's vicinity of Back Bay. Started slowly, throwing worms and spinnerbaits. Caught a crooked 2-8 bass on the spinner and shifted to U Vibes. Lost a couple and caught a couple. Had an attack as the worm broached the surface, so tried a Pop R. Caught a couple more, and the topwater bite turned on just as it got dark. Headlamp died, and I wasn't going to mess with Pop R trebles in the dark, so called it a night. Caught a total of seven bass, mostly between 13 and 16 inches, all pretty healthy. The ol' adage is "one is none, and two is one." I always should carry two headlamps.

Saturday, Oct. 27 (from Ron)...Thursday evening, fished 2.5 hours for one dink. Saturday morning at Blackwater, fished 3.5 hours for one dink. Saturday evening, went to HRBT, and the striper bite was on. Had a near-24-inch keeper after only 5 minutes at the bridge. Also got three shorts, then had a monster breakoff that got tangled in the pylons. Conditions went south with wind and washing-machine chop and had to get outta there.

For Having a Brain the Size of a Pea, A Bass Does OK

I perhaps never would have pursued this topic if it weren't for the two days I spent in the company of my friend, Skip, and that jar of Smelly Jelly he kept dipping into. I finally have quit smelling that stuff, but I don't think I'll ever be able to forget its horrendous odor. And that, my friends, is what got me to digging around on the Internet the last several days.

Back when I started out bass fishing, there were some scents on the market, and I dabbled with a few but never achieved a degree of success that made me feel like they were much help. That, coupled with the fact I had recurring problems with spilling liquid versions in my boat, was enough reason for me to chalk up bait attractants as a bad idea. Consider that I came to the same conclusion about those jumpsuits everyone--especially club members--wore back in the day.

Imagine my surprise, however, when, during this latest research, I learned that the reported annual sales from fishing scents now run in the neighborhood of $40 to $50 million. I also learned that more than 50 manufacturers have, at one time or another, marketed scent products.

One can only assume, from these numbers, that fishermen, as well as manufacturers, have been keeping up to date with the work being done by research biologists. A few years ago, for example, a study was conducted on the taste and smell of a bass in a tank of 100 gallons of water. In this study, the bass was found to be able to taste (or smell) 1/200th of a drop of a substance in the 100-gallon water tank.

And tests by the late bass researcher Dr. Loren G. Hill (the same fella who invented the Color-C-Lector way back when) showed that bass can detect a preyfish odor source at a distance of 25 feet. Only the bass's sense of hearing is capable of greater range under normal water-clarity conditions.

A bass has a pair of nostrils, or nares, on each side of its head, between the eyes and upper lip. Each nostril has two openings, separated by a bridge of skin. Water circulates continuously through these short passages, where microscopic, hair-like cilia detect odors. At no time during this process, though, does water enter the throat.

As a bass swims about, water movement is enhanced, and the nostrils are constantly in use. A membrane tissue, called the olfactory epithelium, consists of complex folds that line the nostrils. This membrane greatly increases the total surface area and the bass's receptive scenting powers. Within the epithelium, odor molecules activate millions of olfactory receptor nerve cells, which send a message to the olfactory centers of the bass's brain, where the odor is interpreted.

As a bass ages and grows larger, the number of olfactory folds increases. It has been found that young, 4-to-6-inch largemouth bass have five or six folds. A 12-inch bass may have 10 folds, while one 20 inches in length may have as many as 20 folds. It also has been found that the diameter of the olfactory organ itself grows with age. Most scientists thus conclude that older bass have a better developed sense of smell.

I reckon that explains why so many anglers are buying so much fish attractant nowadays. As many of them will tell you, though, it's not just a matter of finding something to appeal to the fish's senses. It's also a matter of finding a scent to mask the human odor. That's why some anglers I read about in this most recent research advertised for applying scents directly to your fingers and rubbing it onto the first 4 or 5 feet of fishing line.

It's hard for me to imagine anyone having the constitution to follow that advice with something as potent as Smelly Jelly, but I suppose there are a few hardy souls out there. I just hope I don't ever run into any of you.

The whole premise, after all, is to find something pleasing to the bass's sense of smell, so that he'll hold on for more than just one or two seconds. Good scents, according to what I read, will cause bass to hang on for as long as 30 seconds--long enough, generally speaking, for even the slowest of hooksetters to score.

For the Week Ending Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018

Saturday, Oct. 20 (from Ron)...Been chasing the speckled trout for a couple weeks. Getting a few close to 20 inches, as well as 20, 30 and more 12-inchers. Found a nice 19-incher this morning and also caught a much needed anchor. Have always wanted one. Snagged it, and after some struggle, pulled it up, cleaned it off, and now have an anchor for those windy days. Saw a fella in a boat land a huge speck. When I passed, I asked about length, and he said it was 27 inches!!! Certainly looked that long. Gotta keep trying!

Sunday, Oct. 21 (from Ron)...Fought serious wind today (gusting over 30) to find some speckled trout. Oddly, I didn't see anyone else out there! Fought through a few small ones before finally finding one like I was after: a 21-incher. Feeling the head shake and listening to the drag is a great feeling. When I got back to the parking lot, there were no other cars...what wimps! The launch and transit was tough. Fought wind until I hit the the western shore, then it was calm and protected. Didn't consider the return trip, which took every ounce of effort I could muster to make about a half-knot.

OMG! There Goes My Rod and New Reel!

That's the thought I had last Saturday as I watched my 6-6 BPS Rick Clunn signature series IM8 graphite rod with new Ardent Apex Elite baitcast reel go over the side of my boat. I just knew the combo was going to the bottom.

Imagine my great surprise--not to mention my relief--however, when I looked over the side and saw the same thing as bass pro Chris Lane is looking at in the accompanying photo.

That's right, my combo was floating in a horizontal fashion, exactly like Lane's combo is here, and I guarantee you that his combo cost a lot more than mine...or so I would surmise.

Information I found online indicates that Lane primarily uses BPS Carbonlite rods and reels. In this case, he was trying to flip a 5-inch Whopper Plopper when he accidentally hit the water with the lure before he flipped it. He subsequently lost his grip on the rod and could only watch as it went over the side.

My rod has an all-cork handle, and the reel only weighs 5.9 ounces, but whether those factors somehow figured in my good fortune is anyone's guess. All I know is that I still have my rod and reel, and it works as well now as it did before the splash occurred.

Reckon maybe I'll have to change one of my favorite sayings. I've oft repeated that "if I didn't have bad luck, I'd have no luck at all."

A Sure-Fired Cure for Your Sinus Problems

"Take the advice from a dumba$$ like me; do not test smell this product."

That was the advice of a customer who, AFTER opening a jar, mistakenly stuck it under his nose and took a deep breath of what he would later describe as "the most vile product I have ever smelled.

"It burned my nose, I gagged and nearly vomited for half an hour afterward," he said. "My wife smelled it in the other room (after a few minutes, the smell just migrated across the whole house). My dogs went crazy, trying to find what stunk."

This gent went on to compare the smell to what you probably would get if you "put a hundred dead fish in a garbage can, set it out in the hot sun for about a week, then removed the lid. "I can't believe any living creature would be attracted to this stuff, but the bass absolutely love it.

"It stays stuck on the lure for seemingly forever," he continued. "Even after removing the product, the lure still stinks. Glad I have small plastic bags to keep lures in, but they really don't keep the stench out."

So what is this product that I became all too familiar with last weekend while fishing our Classic tournament with my buddy Skip? It's called Smelly Jelly Scents. According to what I read online, these scents are among the most popular fish attractants on the market today.

"Smelly Jelly has taken the essence of each forage species and concentrated it before mixing it in a jelly base (with the consistency of Vaseline). You can use it to mask your scent after handling lures and as an attractant to bring fish to the bait," noted one advertisement.

"Try it on a jig, worm or hard bait and experience a bass that won't let go," urged another advertisement. "Choose your favorite scent, and see if it doesn't produce more bites. The Bass Feast is probably the strongest scent and one of the best sellers. Other favorites include Crawdaddy and Crawfish Anise. Try Nightcrawler on your worms and Shad Glitter on swimbaits and hardbaits."

I've smelled my share of fish attractants over the years, many of which had a strong odor, but I'm here to tell you that Smelly Jelly stands head and shoulders above all the rest. And that odor lasts...and lasts...and lasts. I never touched Skip's jar one time last weekend, but even until today--a whole week later--I still have periods when I detect that unforgettable smell. And each time, it's just as though I'm still sitting on the backseat of his boat, watching him smear on more Smelly Jelly with a cotton swab.

If you want folks to smell you coming well before they ever see you coming, just dip your finger in a jar of this stuff. I wouldn't advise it, though, if you have any intimate plans...for the next year or two.

It's Official: Our 2018 Tournament Season Is Over

Can't speak for the 15 other Day 1 (Oct. 13) participants or the 14 other Day 2 (Oct. 14) participants (e.g., one fella couldn't make Day 2), but this angler is glad to see the 2018 season come to a close. My spirits soar in knowing that all the way from now until late March, there will be no more 2 a.m. Saturday rises, with sleep not coming again until, in most cases, midnight Saturday night.

That being said, however, now comes the time when I tell the whole world how our two-day season-ending Classic tournament turned out. For openers, the 16 anglers in 10 boats brought a grand total of 88 bass to the scales over the two-day period. Total weight for these fish was 180.18 lbs., or a 2.04-lb. average weight per fish.

Those anglers who went home with a payday included all of the following:

Chris Napier led the field all the way, finishing the tournament in 1st place with a total weight of 27.73 lbs. He also claimed the tournament's big fish, with a 5.15-lb. bass that he caught on Day 1.

Eddie Sapp finished the two days with a solid 23.66-lb. tally, which propelled him into 2nd place. His big fish for the tournament, caught on Day 2, weighed in at 3.84 lbs.

Claiming 3rd place with a score of 22.71 lbs. of fish was the team of (from left) Don Carter and Rob Peppers. Their tournament big fish came on Day 1--a 3.53-pounder.

The seasonal-lunker award, for the biggest tournament bass weighed all year long, went to this team of (from left) Jim Crist and Eric Killian. Back on April 21, they weighed a fish that tipped the scales at 7.68 lbs.

The year's Duane Kessel Memorial Award, an all-new award for the highest single-day total weight, went to these young guns, (from left) Eddie Sapp and Stan Krason, who, back on April 28, brought these five big 'uns to the scales. The fish weighed a total of 23.87 lbs. For their efforts, Eddie and Stan will each receive a plaque, honoring our long-time fellow-tournament angler Duane Kessel, who passed away Jan. 29, 2018.

And the final mystery-weight award of the year went to this team of (from left) Wayne Hayes and Al Napier. They brought five fish to the scales on Day 1, weighing 8.32 lbs., but didn't weigh anything on Day 2. That 8.32 lbs. was closest to the drawn weight of 7.45. The mystery-weight prize for the Classic was a new Lew's baitcast reel, provided courtesy of Rob Chatham.


Here's how all the other Classic fishermen finished the two days:

     * Stan Krason, 9 fish, 22.29 lbs. total weight, 5.04-lb. big fish.
     * The team of Jim Crist and Eric Killian, 10 fish, 20.95 lbs. total weight, 4.73-lb. big fish.
     * The team of Steve Bailey and Bobby Moore, 10 fish, 18.71 lbs. total weight, 4.33-lb. big fish.
     * The team of Gary Coderre and Andy Morath, 10 fish, 15.37 lbs. total weight, 2.53-lb. big fish.
     * The team of Skip Schaible and Ken Testorff, 9 fish, 11.80 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Jim Wilder (only fished Day 1), 5 fish, 8.64 lbs. total weight, 4.44-lb. big fish.

My heartiest congratulations to all the winners throughout the whole season, and thanks to those who supported the effort to keep the memory of Dewey Mullins alive by participating in his namesake tournaments. I can't help but feel that, somewhere, Dewey is nodding in appreciation of what we're doing with one of those oh-so-familiar big ol' smiles of his.

One Last Cast

How can you tell when you're getting old? There are lots of different ways, but one that was ever so telling this past Saturday morning was when four or five of the Day 1 competitors showed up in shorts and shirt sleeves. It blew me away seeing them standing out there on the bow of their boats in those 60-degree temperatures, while I was bundled up in a long-sleeved shirt and jacket, and my partner was decked out in some of his typical hunting gear.

By Day 2, however, when the early-morning temps had dipped into the 50s, nearly everyone had joined us old(er) folks by adding pieces to their attire, starting with long pants. And Skip and I felt much more like one of the gang as we moved among the other anglers.

Another way to tell when you're getting old is, as weigh-in time on Day 2 draws near, your partner turns to you and says, "I've had it. I'm not sure I can make another cast." Somehow, though, both of you keep chunkin' and windin' for that fifth fish of the day until a few more minutes has passed, and it's finally--thankfully--time to head for the dock.

There's an old song that starts off with these words: "You gotta have heart, all you really need is heart." But friends, I'm here to tell you, and I'm pretty sure Skip agrees, that you gotta have more than heart. My heart is fine...it's the rest of me that has trouble getting across the finish line.

The Scenery at West Neck Is Gettin' Readjusted

Didn't know what to make of this picture from ol' "Gadabout" (otherwise known as Skip) when I first received it from him a little earlier. But as he has responded to my question, that mess in the upper middle of the photo is a chunk of land (somewhat resembling a giant duck blind) that broke free at some point today. No way of knowing how long it will be there, but it certainly got my attention, and I decided to share it with everyone.

For the Week Ending Sunday, Oct. 14

Tuesday, Oct. 9 (from Skip)..."West Neck whoppers"...that's what Skip called these fish. I had one more, but he wiggled, and I subsequently dropped him overboard. Got out around 9:30 and quit at 2. Lost four or five flukes, hook and all, to some toothy critters. Cut that braid just as clean as a whistle.

Wednesday, Oct. 10 (from Skip & Ken)...Skip wanted to get in a second straight day, and I had some free time, so we joined forces and hit the water this morning about 9 o'clock and fished upper West Neck Creek until about 3 p.m. The day was slow until the last 45 minutes or hour, and then we both were getting bit consistently. Ended the day with a total of 10 bass between us, all running about the size of the one in the accompanying photo that Skip took. Plastic produced all the day's action. Now we're both locked down until the season-ending tourney this weekend. Just keeping our fingers crossed that Michael gets out of town without leaving a lot of calling cards.

Getting Ready for a Brutal Test of...Manhood???

Not sure whether to call it a test of manhood or plain ol' survival. For some of the younger ones, I feel certain it will amount to nothing more than a walk in the park. But for us old curmudgeons, it indeed will feel like we have been challenged to our very core.

What am I talking about? None other than the two-day Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Classic that is set to take place this next weekend, Oct. 13-14.

I've been thinking about this event since our first qualifier tournament way back in March. Then, I yet had months to prepare. Now, though, it's nipping at my heels, I'm still not prepared, and there's no way out. And I don't have a single doubt but that, by the end of Day 2, I'll be a leading candidate for the local corps of zombies. Oh, what I wouldn't give just to be...let's say 57 again, instead of 75.

Suffice it to say: You can fool a lot of people about a whole lot of things, but not so much when it comes to Mother Nature. Those years are very telling, and anyone who believes otherwise is in for a rude awakening somewhere down the road. And that, my friends, you can take to the bank.

Nevertheless, I will be among those 17 or 18 (one fella has to wait and see what his work schedule will be) gathering at West Neck Marina next Saturday and Sunday morning. Day 1 likely will find me with a bit of spring in my step, but by Day 2...well, let's just say that little bit of "spring" I had likely will have "sprung."

Here is a look at the whole cast of characters who will be taking part in this annual contest for 2018 (UPDATE: As of 10/8/2018, Bobby Moore and Chris Fretard have withdrawn from this event):

The team of Jim Crist and Eric Killian









The team of Steve Bailey and Bobby Moore









Skip Schaible










The team of Don Carter and Rob Peppers

The team of Wayne Hayes and Al Napier

The team of Dave Anderson and Ken Testorff

The team of Gary Coderre and Andy Morath

                                                          Jim Wilder

Chris Napier

The team of Eddie Sapp and Stan Krason

Chris Fretard




If you're interested in finding out who's standing tall...as well as who's not standing at all...at the conclusion of this event, you'll have to tune in to this same spot--maybe next Sunday night, or very possibly Monday, Oct. 15. I'm not making any promises I may not be able to keep.

Qualifier Tournaments Done for the 2018 Season

The turnout today included eight boats with 11 anglers, who collectively weighed a total of 39 bass, with a total weight of 101.82 lbs. and an average weight of 2.61 lbs. per fish. Seven of the eight boats weighed five-fish limits.

Now that the 2018 competition for Angler of the Year has concluded, I am happy to announce the winner of this year's title is Dave Anderson (pictured left), who finished with 185.77 points, a new record for this competition. The first runner-up was Rob Peppers, with 180.72 points. The second runner-up was Jim Wilder, with 168.11 points.

Claiming 1st place today was the team of (from left) Chris Fretard and Mike Miller. Their limit weighed 20.36 lbs., anchored by a 5.47-lb. big fish, which took the lunker award.

Taking 2nd place today was the team of (from left) Joshua Overton and Stan Krason. Their limit tipped the scales at 17.02 lbs. Their big fish weighed 4.54 lbs.

Today's mystery-weight award went to Gary Coderre, who brought four fish to the scales, weighing 4.97 lbs. That weight was closest to the drawn weight of 3.90 lbs. Gary didn't have a big fish.







Here is how everyone else finished the day:

     * Rob Peppers, limit, 16.22 lbs. total weight, 4.69-lb. big fish.
     * Wayne Hayes, limit, 13.76 lbs. total weight, 4.30-lb. big fish.
     * Jim Wilder, limit, 10.92 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Eddie Sapp, limit, 9.32 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * The team of Dave Anderson and Ken Testorff, 9.22 lbs. total weight (after 0.25 penalty for one dead fish), 2.99-lb. big fish.

One more angler, in the person of Stan Krason, joined the list of 17 other anglers who now are qualified to fish our season-ending two-day Classic contest scheduled for next Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 13 and 14. We will be fishing from safe light (about 6:45 a.m.) to weigh-in at 3 p.m. both days.

Congratulations to all of today's winners and thanks to everyone who came out and participated.

One Last Cast

My friend, Skip, called and warned me yesterday that I was likely to see and/or hear duck hunters today (first day of the season), and he was spot-on. Dave and I hadn't even cleared the channel this morning before we started hearing the pop from hunters' guns. And it kept up most of the morning.

We worked hard and had a limit in the boat by 12 noon. Upgrades, however, were nearly non-existent. We kept plugging away, though, right up to 2:45. As is always the case, some of the fellas found some nice fish, as evidenced by five bags that were in double digits.

With only the Classic left on our schedule this season, I'm already starting to look forward to my winter break to rest up and regroup. Plan to take a couple of months off before I even start thinking about what I want to do with the tournaments next year.