A 17-degree temperature drop between yesterday and today wasn't enough to drive away any of the 20 Classic contestants in 13 boats, except for one fella who wasn't feeling well this morning. The anglers weighed a total of 90 bass for the two days, yielding an overall total weight of 155.44 lbs., with an average weight of 1.72 lbs. per fish and an overall average weight per boat of 11.95 lbs.
The list of those competitors who won prize money today included the following:
Here's how all the other anglers fell into line:
* The team of Rob Peppers and Don Carter, two-day total of 10 fish, overall total weight 15.30 lbs., no big fish either day.
* The team of Mark Ingram and Bob Clarkson, two-day total of nine fish, overall total weight 13.43 lbs., 2.77-lb. big fish.
* The team of Steve Bailey and Dennis Dean, two-day total of 10 fish, overall total weight 13.15 lbs., 2.44-lb. big fish.
* Jim Calhoun, two-day total of seven fish, overall total weight 10.92 lbs., 4.12-lb. big fish.
* Bobby Moore, one-day total of five fish (did not fish Day 2), overall total weight 6.80 lbs., no big fish.
* The team of Wayne Hayes and Ken Testorff, two-day total of six fish, overall total weight 6.73 lbs., no big fish.
* The team of Rob Chatham and Craig Jones, two-day total of one fish, overall total weight of 1.82 lbs., no big fish.
Congratulations to the winners and to all those who earned their right to participate in this annual event by fishing a minimum of six qualifier tournaments.
Southwest winds at 15-25 mph with higher gusts Saturday, followed by northwest winds at 15-25 mph with higher gusts today made for some tough casting and boat control...on that point, I think we all would agree. The only truly anxious moment, however, I had these past two days occurred yesterday, as Wayne and I were headed south.
As is always the case this time of the year, there was a throng of big boats headed south for the winter yesterday. My partner Wayne and I also were headed south in his Ranger bass boat, en route to our first fishing spot.
Neither of us, however, were looking for what was about to happen. We were maneuvering over the wakes of a line of these "big boys," as well as another bass boat, when Wayne's Ranger suddenly slipped into one of the deep troughs being created. Without warning, we both looked up just in time to see a wall of water coming over the bow. All we could do was brace for the drenching that we knew was as certain as the fact the sun will rise in the morning.
I have to admit we took some degree of satisfaction in the fact that Saturday's air temperature at that time of morning wasn't half bad, compared to what we had this morning. We indeed were lucky, since both of us stayed wet all day long yesterday. If that incident had happened this morning, given the air temperatures that greeted us, we both might have had to throw in the towel and head home for a change of clothes.
(With thanks to Gabe for the above photo, which he captured while Wayne and I were taking some of our final licks Sunday in "dry" attire.)
As Wayne took care of cinching down the bow strap of his boat yesterday afternoon, he left the o/b motor running and asked me to jump in the driver's seat. That way, I'd be ready to mash on the hotfoot a bit if needed to hold the boat snug against the roller.
While this was going on, Rob Chatham snapped the accompanying photo, showing just how out of place I would look at the helm of a Ranger. Given the price tag on a boat like this nowadays, I can assure you there is absolutely no chance of that ever happening.
Besides, I don't mind riding in a boat capable of speeds in excess of 70 mph, especially when I know the experience and skills of the driver, but just the thought of my doing that gives me chills up and down my spine.
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