Several different kinds of weather expected this week.  On the first day of two days of pre fish, it was sunny and calm, which allowed the water to warm a little bit in the afternoons.  Right now, (8:30 cst) the wind is blowing big time, as they expect wind today up to 35 mph!  We are of course expected to get our traditional tour stop rain storm through here tomorrow and Friday, with clear sky and wind again on Saturday and Sunday. 

Fishing for me has been good.  I had a 20 pound limit the first day, no kidding.  I am throwing a jerk bait, I am cranking and I am also throwing a secret lure that I would rather not disclose, let's just say it's an "underwater lure."

Table Rock is so big,  there are thousands of cuts and little bays, and pockets and arms.  I have seen very little boat traffic, which is nice.  Something else that is interesting to me is that it seems like every time I go into a new pocket, the fish are on something different.  It makes establishing a pattern difficult, but the good news is that they are biting!

Based on that fact, I imagine I will have six rods on the deck of my boat, ready to use when each of about 6 or 7 different situations come up during the day.  Again, the good thing is the fish are biting.

My fish are biting better in the afternoon which is typical for the Spring.  The water warms a bit with the sun beating down, and the fish get a little more active.  There is a ton of shad in the areas that I am fishing, and it seems like when ever I do get bit, there are several fish in the area.

I am optimistic about my chances.  I even have caught some fish on a jig, swimming it along the bottom.  I feel that I have about four solid things I can do.

Frustrating day today.  I caught 30 or so fish, only two measured 15."  It is a typical spotted bass thing.  The fish are so fat, that when you lay them on the board, the roundness of their bellies keeps them from fully stretching out.  As as result, I had to throw back several in the 2 pound class today.  That is everyone's story as well, it is tough to know that a two pound spotted bass, won't quite make 15."

I made one critical error today, I hooked a 3 1/2 pound large mouth on a jerk bait, worked him over near the boat and tried to bounce him on the deck.  When I swung the fish out of the water, he turned at the last second and broke me off.  That one really hurt.  In this tournament, 3 1/2 pounds would have given me eight or nine pounds for the day and would be in the top 40.

I caught one keeper on a jig today and the other came on a rip bait.  I will go for broke tomorrow, I have nothing to hold me back.