Fishing the Day After a Full Moon Sucks

If you think I'm kidding, just consider the stats from today's tournament. Ten boats, with 16 anglers, managed to bring only 43 bass to weigh-in, with a total weight of 70.22 lbs., an average weight per fish of 1.63 lbs., and an average weight per boat of 7.02 lbs. If there is but one positive for the day, it's that at least no one got skunked.

Finishing in 1st Place was the team of (from left) Dave Anderson and Gary Coderre, who weighed five fish, with a total weight of 14.21 lbs., and a big fish that tipped the scales at 3.20 lbs.

Claiming 2nd Place was the team of (from left) Steve Bailey and Dennis Dean, who weighed five fish, with a total weight of 9.35 lbs. (after a 0.50 deduction for one dead fish). They also took the day's big-fish award with a 3.32-pounder.

Holding down 3rd Place was the brothers team of (from left) Allen and Chris Napier, who weighed five fish, with a total weight of 8.66 lbs. They didn't weigh a big fish.








Here is how the rest of the field stood at the end of the day's competition:

     * The team of Mark Ingram and Bob Clarkson, five fish, 8.64 lbs. total weight, 1.99-lb. big fish.
     * The husband-wife team of Andy and Diana Morath, five fish, 7.57 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Rob Peppers, five fish, 5.40 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Rusty Girard, three fish, 5.08 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Wayne Hayes, five fish, 5.04 lbs. total weight, no big fish.
     * Ken Testorff, three fish, 4.47 lbs. total weight, 1.76-lb. big fish.
     * The team of Fred Crawford and Gabe Himmelwright, two fish, 1.80 lbs. total weight, no big fish.

Four more anglers became eligible to fish our season-ending two-day Classic, including Dennis Dean, Steve Bailey, Mark Ingram, and Rob Peppers. For everyone's planning purposes, there are seven more Classic-qualifying tournaments remaining on this year's calendar.

Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our next event is scheduled for Saturday, July 3, from safe light (about 5:30 or 5:45) to weigh-in at 2 p.m. Here's hoping you can join us.

One Last Cast
It wasn't bad enough that we had to deal with the matter of last night's full moon. I also learned that a minimum of three anglers today (yours truly included) ended up with broken fishing rods. And then, about 1 o'clock, we all were treated to raindrops...falling not only on our heads but everywhere in general. They still were hanging around when I departed the marina about 3:30.

Early this morning, I once again learned a lesson about one of the hazards of using a slow-speed reel. While using a 4.7:1 oldie but goodie with my topwater bait, I had a strike in which the lure disappeared, and when I tried to set the hook, I realized the fish was running straight at the boat at breakneck speed. I did my best to catch up all the slack and try another hookset, only to have the fish leap and spit the topwater bait directly at me.

I came up two fish shy of matching my total number from a fun day of fishing last Thursday. However, the quality of today's seven fish paled considerably when compared to the nine from last week.

Perhaps next Saturday's tallies will look more like the norm. I feel pretty certain we're all keeping our fingers crossed for a better outing than we had today.