After 2 weeks of warm weather a front decided to come in Friday and drop rain off and on all weekend. The week coming up to the event I watched the front online and all I could think about was the swimbait bite should be good and there could be some huge bags. I expected the fish to pull out of there spawning areas and be in a position to eat really well. Gee didn't I say that Friday night :)

Day 1: I drew The Keys Day1 and Redbud Day2. I wanted to put myself in a position to have the chance to catch 5+lb fish and didn't expect that to happen inside the keys. So I oared across from the keys and fished from the mouth all the way to the opening at Rattlesnake island. I soon arrive at my starting spot, throwing a blade and a swimbait for about the 1st hour and a half and didn't get touched. I switch up and flip a kreature, started catching 2-3lb type fish regularly and have a small limit by 8:30am. In between the deep flipping pockets I continue to throw a swimbait and not once do I get bit or even see a follow. I work my way up around to the rock piles on the south side of Rattlesnake and continue to flip a fish here and there culling ozs. I am pretty far out and figure I should work my way back. The flip fish were totally predictable on the way up but all the good holes didn't have fish like the way up so I so make some changes. 1st I start working deeper in the cover and that doesn't work. Then I switch to a chrome blue trap and get thumped pretty quick and cull more ozs. The shad population in this lake can bring the fish out of the cover as they chase the school and I have a feeling that is what has happened. I catch a few more on the trap but no good ones. I went back through the same area with a swimbait and don't get touched, damn I need a swimbait fish. I basically fish all the way up to the last second on Day 1 throwing the kreature, trap and swimbait and never had a chance at a good one. Ended up with 11 and a half lbs, 16lbs is leading it.

Day 2: aaaawww ol Redbud. I expect there to be a big bag out of this area by someone and I know I need a good bag to do well after my small limit Day 1. Myself and about half a dozen others all race to the pump house, I get there second and nose right up to the south side and start out right away with the swimbait. Minutes later the rest of the gang shows up and I get thumped on the swimbait. Sweet, 2.5-3lbr in the net. Not even 3 casts later same spot, slack line bite, smack, better one. This fish trys to get airborne right next to me so I grab her with the net. This fish was totally lit up, not what you want in a kickboat for sure. 4+lbr in the well, I have caught the Day 1 leader. I fish the point for a while longer and don't get touched. I make a few casts with a blade as well and nothing. I make a loop around the whole island with the swimbait and nothing. By this time there is quite a few Kickboats in the area all fishing the offshore rocks. I go in tight and flip the Kreature and make about 3-4 loops around the island catching 6-7 keepers from 1.5-2.5lbs and fill the limit and cull. Limit by 7:45am, cool. I still need more swimbait fish and make a couple loops around the island and cant get touched. I then decide to put the flipping stick down and fish from the island to the ramp and back as many times as I can with the swimbait. Weaving in and out of the senko draggers and dropshotters..lol..I finally get thumped on the swimbait. Sweet, fish goes almost 5lbs. I try and try to get just one more, that I feel will make a big difference for me right now, but cant get it to happen. I weigh in at about 16.5lbs giving me a little over 28lbs for the weekend. Lucky enough to squeak out the win by about .25lbs. Over Chris Zaldain, good job bro. Thanks to Paul, CZ Steve and Mitch for putting on a great show. Also special thanks to Sieg Taylor and the Misty Girls for stopping by the Raffle. Thanks to Swampy and Deren for the rides to my locations. It was fun hanging out with Deren, Bill and family as well, thanks guys. Congrats to CZ for 3rd and Steve for a nice 6.15 big fish.


Next stop WON Bass Clear Lake in 2 weeks.