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For the week before I knew it was gonna be a good draw and tournament for me. Didnt prefish and Eric Thoss and I got up there Friday morning. At the draw, I got Dave Rush the first day and Charlie Myer the second. Day one, Dave and I are boat #16 out. Dave said he had a 4#er locked on and we got to that spot pronto. Looked over and theres a club tournament fisherman on Daves spot. We were pretty bummed so we went over to the other side of the cove. We were flipping willow trees and I think I was putting some smelly jelly on my worm when Dave whispers, "dont move". So Im frozen like a statue for about 2 minutes as he casts to this fish. Looked like a 5. This fish was locked on big time. We get a better look and now she looks like a 7. So we move around and get another angle and start the assault on her. We throw everything in the book at her. I recommend something and Dave gives whatever I suggest a try. That was pretty cool. Dave is a really awesome and funny guy. Anyway, we throw grubs, swimbaits, jigs, senkos.......etc. for about an hour and a half. Than Dave asks me to tie him a dropshot rig with a 4" rainbow senko about 10" up. I finish tying the rig up and start to hand it to him and all I see is the swooping hookset then he says "get the net, get the net". He fights her for about 20 seconds and as SOON as I can, I net her on the first scoop. Perfect scoop (thank god). As we get her in the boat, the hook falls right out of her mouth. We do a little hootin and hollerin and hugging for about 5 minutes. We were thinking 8,9 or maybe 10 and we pretty much knew we were set. First fish in the livewell at 9 a.m. and shes a toad. Now we just have to fill out our limit so we pretty much just flip and pitch into willow trees all day in coves. Dave flips another 3 largemouth and I get a decent 2 something spot to go along with two 13 inchers. We weigh in at 17.35 with the big girl going 10 and some change. Good enough for first. I talk to my day 2 partner, Charlie Myer and Sieg Taylor about the next day. Sieg is kinda messing with Charlie telling him not to mess it up for me. Anyway, Charlie says we need at least 8lbs for me to get a check. We start off in the morning and Charlie has about 8 before I get any, but no keepers. We keep going back in the canyon towards the creek and the better fish start hitting. Me throwing a one ton jig and Charlie a senko. We get a quick limit, but eventually cull all the fish in the next few hours. Its getting towards the end of the day and we're thinking we have about 7 lbs. We're heading back towards the ramp and Charlie sees a shady point (thats where the majority of the fish were coming off of) and we pull over. Im stuffing my mouth full of beef jerkey and not fishing and I tell myself what the hell am I doing?? We need another good fish to ensure a check. I throw out my one ton jig and get hit. I can tell its a better fish and when Charlie sees it hes like "YEAH, thats what we need" THe fish goes about 2 1/2 lbs. Get back to the scales and weigh in 9 lbs exactly. Anyway, I BARELY missed first place, but I got a nice check anyway. Im just glad I could draw two AWESOME partners. I hear so many horror stories about bad partners, but this year Ive drawn nothing but good guys. Mike
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