I started this season with some goals. First was to get wood second was to get a new personal best. I did both !!
This tourney I really did my homework. I read every report I was able to find and talked to everyone I knew. I put a game plan together and went for it. When I got to the launch I got confused on which way to go. Made up my mind and went against the tide. I knew that it was a very small tide and it wasn't going to be a tough row. I knew there was a reaction bite so I started throwing a black and brown chatterbait with a gold blade. Nothing for about 30-45min so I started throwing a blade, then a crankbait then senko and jig and. Well you get the point. I had 10 rods and started shuffling through them. I picked the chatterbait back up and first cast got one 12 3/4 inches. Two casts later a 1.5 Couple more casts another about 1.7. Then I picked up a black blue punch rig and started punching some hyecinth nothing. Dropped the same rig in front of the weed line and bam. A 2.3 so I stuck with that a while with no results. I decided to row across and fish an island where Steve was fishing the opposit side. I thought I may be able to find some bigger size and I did. 2 casts in I got nailed a4.5. About 10 Cast later I got another about 2. I had my limit. I alternated between the rocks and tulies and seemed dinks liked the rocks better so I stuck with the tulies. At this point I knew the tide was about to turn and I don't like outgoing tide. I fished a big flat very thoroughly and criss crossed a bunch of casts trying to get every angle. One Cast was parallel with the tulies and bam. Stopped me from reeling so I set the hook and It loaded up. I knew it was a good size but was just weight. Not the fight I expected till I saw the fish and it decided to peel line. Now I'm praying it doesn't come off cause I saw it. It was big. Short fight and in the net. WOOOO !!! Some heard me. Right Steve. He was still on the opposite side of the island. It took every bit of me to not weight it. I didn't want a repeat of Cleat Lake so I pulled out my smallest fish and put the big fish in and Put a bungee on. Thought it was about 10 and was pretty sure it was BF. I had 11.49 and culled a1.5 plus the ten I figured about 20lbs. I wanted so bad to pull the fish out to get a weight but didn't. I couldn't even fish I was shaking so bad. Well tide was dropping along with my confidence. Started dropping a senko through tweed holes and had a bite. Set the hook and immediately started peeling line and popped off. At this point it was about 12:30-1:00. That was the last bite I had until it was time to go.
I had a freakin blast. Was the absolute best tournament of all time for me. Hoping to upgrade on a PB again.