Tournament wrap up report.

Well, it was quite a spectacle. According to Pstone, there were 258 registered boats. Felt more like 1,258. I saw everything from a 16' Tiller with a 40 HP, to a 21 Foot Lund with a 225. Also, there were 2 pontoons that I know of and one of them was a Tritoon with a 225 that reportedly would do 60 mph.

Never got a chance to look at it, but there was a very large camo tin boat, probably a 2072, maybe an 1870 that had a weird contraption on it stickong out the back. Looked like the worlds largest paddle. I'm sure it was some kind of trolling plate that they put down after they got to their spot, but it was odd looking. Matter of fact, I saw them on Sunday about the Oakland exit broken down with a wheel off their trailer. Would have stopped, but had the family with me and I was headed South while they were headed North. Anybody know what that contraption was exactly.

Congrats to Tlow and Munta - the top finishing C.Cers, but an honorable mention goes to Pstone/Blount, SatDoc and Torch. Not sure where they finished, but Looney/Harris were right in there too.

My youngest was right in the hunt on Saturday, but his pattern fell apart on day 2 due to the change in wind direction. Story to follow.

Here's some random pics from the weekend.

The tournament guys did a pretty good job of trying to nurse the fish back up. I have some issue with the way they went about the weigh in and there's plenty of room for improvement, but the guys at the tank and the release boat worked hard to try and salvage as many as possible. Needless to say, a LOT of fish died, but many lived due to their efforts.

Wannabe...

I guesss they threw the alive fish back in the water all at one location? Where'd they throw them back?

Pstone, Ray and Kent yucking it up. Not sure what Kent's doing flailing about with that arm, but I remember he was telling a story about about whoopin' Ray with a 16' BnM trying to get him to move to spot with big fish in it. That might have been when I snapped the pic. You can tell by the look on Ray's face, he's already heard the story several times.

You can't see it, but Pstone had a Tlow/Munta voodoo doll in his back pocket and when no one was looking, he was hanging 7 itty bitty fish replicas on strings around their necks.

Wannabe...

Naw they said they were scattering em....just cant see how to keep em alive in that long line.

Was alot of dead fish floating yesterday.

They had a pontoon with a big tank and 115 motor on it. I had heard they were spreading the fish around the lake and with the 115, I guess that was possible. During the time I was there - 2 hours, I saw it make 3 trips out and back. Could have been more as I was not really looking for it.

Wannabe...

Here's some final weigh in pics of the top teams. Don't count on me having the right name with the pic, I was way in the back talking with Yikes. Also, don't pay attention to the posted weight. That scale was zipping all over the place and it was pot luck to get the right weight.

I think the first pic is of the winners - Morgan and Watson.

Wannabe...

Next up is Harrison. Then Sandage, then our very own Tlow/Munta.

By the way Tlow, I met Ginger Friday, then saw her again on Saturday. I think she's kind of sweet on me. Anybody that would choose to fish with Munta over Ginger.......well, no wonder you only finished 8th. I told her if I was fishing the tournament, she could be my partner. She hemmed and hawwed for a bit and seemed to be mulling it over. Then I told her I'd spring for minners and diet cokes. Pretty sure that won her over, but she said she'd let me know. Be sure to give her my phone number.

Wannabe...

WB, she'll be the most high maintenance partener you ever had. Can't bait a hook, can't take fish off, can't get wet, does not like the wind blowing thru her hair, very few places she will use the bathroom, alergic to catfish, your boat will probably not have the right smell to it. I wish yall the best of luck. It's gonna feel funny taking my money from you. lol

Tlow, dont feel Funny about taking money from WB, everybody elae he fished against so far has with no problem. FOFLOL

Better take that Bankers money and smile about it

A bankers money for free is the best kind of money there is!

OK now, that ain't right and it ain't funny at all, but I simply must nominate that line "It's gonna feel funny taking my money from you" as champion one liner for September. Dude, you're on a roll.....8th in the Classic and now this. LOL.

Akshually, she sounds about perfect for me. I don't like the wind messing up my hair either. Can't take a fish off - no problem.....at least, not in my boat. Can't get wet - me neither.....just rurns a good hair day. Can't bait a hook......maybe that's what I've been doing wrong - see there boys, I'm learnin from ya'll. Very few places she'll use the bathroom......I should cancel that out-I'll pretty much go anywhere. Allergic to catfish....me too. We always just cut the line and call you to come retie for us.

I think we're a pair made in heaven. I'm pretty, she's pretty. We both like purty boats and good hair dos. And we'd both be so hot in matching tournament jerseys with "Team Purty" embroidered on the back.

Wannabe...

A'ite, here's Gottabe's tournament journal.

He started off pretty slow. Matter of fact, he slept in, did some choirs around the house, ate a light lunch and then decided to go fishing about 2PM and quickly got on a good pattern.

He only managed 8 keepers on the day, but had a nice kicker 2 pounder. That may not sound like a lot in a National Tournament, but considering he was the youngest competitor in the tournament, didn't start fishing until 2PM and he didn't have a boat.


Wannabe....

WB, since you got a new partener for the next fruit jar, I've got dibbs on Gottobe. Deal?

All that, but what I'm most proud of is that he got on a pattern that was completely overlooked by all 258 of his competitors.

He found a strong topwater bite in the shallow water. According to him, the trick was to troll Hot Wheels cars in various colors tipped with Orbit gum using baseball cards as planer boards. Accoring to him, the trick was to trim the cards just right using one of the 6 knives he was carrying. (2 for fishing and 4 for Satdoc if showed up to cause any trouble). He said convertables worked best but the 69 Dodge Charger was his money fish getter.

The fish were ultra shallow as you can see for him shoes. He dindn't get anymore than the bottoms wet.

Unfortunately for him, the winds completely changed on Saturday from N NE to N NW and killed his bite for that day. He only managed 1 and fell out of the standings almost completely.

Wannabe...

Why does that one fish have poo smeared all over it? And, what y'all do scoop up the dead ones from the weigh in?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Filletfrier

Why does that one fish have poo smeared all over it? And, what y'all do scoop up the dead ones from the weigh in?

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Cause a BE picked it up. Ya know they all full of POO and anything they touch gets it on it. And yes those are the dead floaters from the tourney!!!!!!

Yep....I was kind of nervous, cause I wasn't too sure it was legal, but Gottabe was having such a good time and so proud of himself I couldn't tell him to quit. Look at that "check me out" grin on his face in those pics.

I decided to let him go at it, considering they were going to go to waste anyway. I did make him throw 3 back that were still flopping though.

He must have run 4 miles of shore looking for that kicker though. LOL.

He was hacked about the wind on Saturday too. I could see a bunch of fish 50 to 75 yards out, but no way for him to get at 'em....although he must have asked me 10 times if he could "wade" out there and get them. "C'mon Dad, it's probably not over my head". LOL.

Wannabe...

Did any body hear about Wally Marshall getting DQ'd? I heard there was quite a story....Can anyone validate?