Table Rock Lake summary:

 

I went into the tournament, thinking the fish were going to be doing the same thing as last year. Started in same creek up White River and caught some fish pretty quick. Water was in mid to hi 50's and lower in some areas, as low as hi 40's. We didn't have rain like last year and the water was MUCH clearer than 2004. This hurt me in the type of structure I was fishing. I wanted to catch them on bluff banks in creeks with jigs, but they weren't biting a jig real good in that clear water.

 

I went way up a creek into some ultra clear water and SAW about 200 bass the 1st day of practice. It was wild, and the water was like 47. I saw plenty of 2-3lbers swimming around and thought as the week went on, and if it would rain and stain the water, it would surely help. It didn't and the water stayed that clear.

 

I checked out some other creeks in mid lake area and did catch a 7lber on a jig, but nothing consistent. That same day (2nd day of practice), I caught a 4.2lber on a Wiggle Wart and another keeper Spot on a Luckycraft Pointer 100. Good day but all fish were caught doing different things, which gives you no real confidence in a pattern.

I never checked lower end much in the clear water where I think most guys ended up catching them. I have never swam a grub through trees and things like that, so I didn't even know how to do it but heard they were catching some doing it.

 

Tournament came around and I didn't have enough going, so I decided to fish the same area I saw those fish on day 1. They were there and spooky. My partner caught one 2.5lber and I caught about 14-15 bass all day but never landed a keeper!!! This was the first time in a long time I didn't weigh in a bass in a professional tournament. Very humbling.

 

Day 2, I ran back up there again because I had nothing to go to. Got up in the clear water and actually landed 2 bass that went about 4 1/2lbs. I was catching them on a Yamamoto twin tail spider grub in a watermelon color and dipping the tails in orange to match the crawfish. I was using a 3/16 oz. Owner sledhead hook and 10lb. Sunline Sniper flourocarbon.

 

THEN, mental error (this is what happens when on the road for a month and a half)....I was due in at 3:40. I am coming back from about a 35 mile run and look at my watch coming to where the White and the James rivers meet. The watch says 3:33, so I think I have SEVENTEEN minutes to get in.....YIKES...suddenly, I think I am due in at 3:50....SOOOOOOOOO, I stop at a point I've never fished, throw out a Luckycraft Pointer 100, which I hadn't been throwing since practice and on the first cast, catch a 2 3/4lb. SMALLMOUTH BASS!!! Awesome...my partner can't believe it....I'm all pumped up (though there was nothing on the line, no Classic chance, no good finish chance, just fun)....and I keep on fishing not realizing the time.

 

I fished for about 3 or 4 more minutes and then took off....I am running around a bend and look at my watch and it says: 3:40 and 42 seconds....it dawns on me that I am do in....I freak and then just laughed and thought, O' well....

 

We got in 3 minutes late and if I would have just left after catching that fish, I would have made it in. I weighed in 7-8 and had a 3 minute penalty for 4lb. 8oz....for about a 125 place finish I think.

 

Tough tournament, disappointing season on the BASS Tour and after starting out with two money finishes, this made 4 in a row of no money on the BASS events. That's not a good weigh to end, but I thank God I had the ability and strength to endure it all.

 

Next event: FLW Tour-Beaver Lake