For once, I was actually on the water when we got the go-fish call at 6:20. I planned to throw a blade early and mix it up later between a dropshot and a senko. Five minutes into the day I got a small keeper on the spinnerbait right off the end of the island. Cool, I won't get skunked. Made my way towards the dam throwing the blade and a brush hog with no more bites. Get to the beginning of the riprap and decide it's time to dropshot. Rob Linden is there and has one fish and is getting some bites. On my first cast I get a loop out of my line and when I take up the slack I have a 3 lber on and he goes in the box. A few minutes later I get another one close to 2 lbs. Work my way back and forth along the riprap and get what feels like a good one on the dropshot. Get it in the net and it's about 4.25 lbs. Got my limit and it's not even 8:30. Move back towards Rob and he breaks off a good fish. I feel a little tap and it's a 2.5 lber that culls my little blade fish. Rob decides to give up on the spot, but before he can leave he gets a fat 2+lber. Right after he rows off, I get another one but it's only 1.6lbs and doesn't help. It feels like we've worn out the spot so I move on. Working along the dam I pick up a few more fish that won't cull. At the end of the dam is a dad fishing with a little kid who is throwing big rocks in the water. I wonder why his dad isn't catching any fish? They are ruining a really good spot at the corner of the dam but what are you gonna do? In the next little cove Zaldain is looking for beds and says he's got a limit of around 10 lbs. Pick up a dink or two and a small keeper on the points of the cove. Pitch the dropshot up by a tree near a dock and get nailed by another decent fish that goes 3.4lbs on my scale and culls a 1.9 lber. After the dock is a steeper bank that gives up a 2.6lber that after much weighing and re-weighing culls a 2.5lber. When I get to the far end of the lake there is a bank fisherman who tells me he can see some nice fish hanging out in shallow water. He's really cool and tells me since I'm in a tournament to throw back there and try to catch them. I toss the dropshot a few times and finally get a 2.8lber that culls the 2.6lber. I get out to answer the call of nature and spot a big fish that is at least 7lbs just hanging out but I don't see a bed. After I get back on the water I keep throwing at where I thought it was for quite a while but no luck. Zaldain comes by and sees a one-eyed cruiser that is at least 9 or 10 and wets his pants. He hasn't picked up any more fish which is good news for me. It's after 2:00 so I head in the direction of the weigh-in and pick up a couple more little ones that don't help. I think my chances are good after talking to a few other guys. Paul Fontes says he has 3 decent fish which are probably over 3 lbs. At weigh-in they turned into two 4's and a 5 for 14-2 and he beats me by 7 ounces. x( I weigh in 13-11 and get 2nd. My best 5 fish would have been over 16 lbs but 4 fish is the rule thanks to DFG. Congratulations to Paul for the win and getting the quality bites. Good job Rob for big fish and third place and thanks for sharing the spot with me in the AM. I had a blast catching fish on the dropshot all day and hope we come back next year.

Doug