2nd Tough Competition in a Row

Had a decent prefishing day last Sunday and thought we had a game plan that might work to our advantage today, but as is often the case, two different days bring two entirely different sets of conditions, and hence, your best-laid plans often evaporate right before your very eyes. Some of the sting, however, quickly vanishes when, as happened today, you hear all your fellow competitors singing pretty much the same sour song at weigh-in. It's a known fact: Misery loves company.

My fishing stunk so badly today that, during weigh-in, my partner even tried to swap me to another angler for his partner, who just happens to be his wife. I'm joking, of course, but can't say I would blame my partner if he really wanted to swap me for someone else. After boating three 2-plus-pound bass last Sunday, the best I could muster today (when it counted) was one 12-inch bass and a white perch...which is pretty pathetic, I have to admit.

All kidding aside, the final accumulative tally on our tournament day was eight boats, with 15 anglers, who brought a total of 32 bass to the scales, for a combined total weight of 55.96 pounds. That figure equates to an average weight per fish of 1.74 pounds.

Money-winners in today's tournament were as follows:

In 1st place was the team of (from left) Don Carter and Rob Peppers, with a five-fish limit weighing 10.48 pounds. Their big fish weighed 2.46 pounds. They also laid claim to the side pot.

In 2nd place was the team of (from left) Dave Anderson and Skip Schaible, with a five-fish limit weighing 9.93 pounds, and a big fish weighing 3.32 pounds.

In 3rd place was the team of (from left) Wayne Hayes and Ken Testorff, with a five-fish limit weighing 9.02 pounds, and a big fish weighing 2.88 pounds.

Here is how everyone else finished the day:

     * The husband-wife team of (from left) Diana and Andy Morath had five fish weighing 9.01 pounds, and a big fish weighing 4.26 pounds, which earned them today's big-fish pot.
     * Mark Ingram had five fish weighing 7.90 pounds, with no big fish.
     * The team of Bobby Moore and J. P. Twohig had four fish. Their total weight after a 0.50 penalty for two dead fish was 4.94 pounds, with no big fish.
     * The team of Rob Chatham and Craig Jones had three fish weighing 4.18 pounds, with no big fish.
     * The team of Jim Crist and Eric Killian failed to make it back in time for weigh-in and thus were disqualified.

Four more competitors fished their fifth tournament of the current season today and thereby became eligible to fish the one-day Class tournament in October. Today's qualifiers included Dave Anderson, Rob Peppers, Don Carter, and Diana Morath.

Congratulations to all of the winners and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. For planning purposes, our next event is an open tournament out of West Neck Marina on Saturday, July 15, from safe light (about 5:30 a.m.) to weigh-in at 2 p.m. You will need to have signed in, paid your fees, launched your boat, and be standing by in the boat basin no later than 5:15 a.m.

Current Overall Statistics

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