Post by scubasteve on Mar 11, 2015 17:38:47 GMT -5
I have started fishing a new bass series called the KBS. It is sponsored by Manley Rods and the guys that run it are pretty cool. The first tournament of the year was held on Lake George in Florida in January. It was awesome. The weather was cold and fronts had been moving through non stop. I had planned on fishing the main lake from all of my research, but you know how quick a gameplan can change. The bass were wanting to stage for spawn, but had gone shut lipped. I showed up on Friday and had only one day to pre-fish. I was talking to guys that had been there for a week and they hadn't caught 3 fish total the whole time they were there. That was pretty big because the tournaments are a 3 fish limit. We were able to go anywhere on the Saint Johns River so I started looking at the maps. I eventually found a small lake about 20 minutes from the main river that was super shallow. The whole thing was only 3-4 foot deep. I headed out and pulled out the trusty wacky worm. I started working the shorelines and grass. Nothing. I then found the only three docks on the whole lake. Cast, fish on. Cast, fish on. Cast fish on. In the 3 docks I caught 5 fish for a total for 51 inches out of my best three. I decided to leave the docks so hopefully there would be some left for the next day. I ended up catching 4 more fish on the shoreline and noticed that all of them came from small clumps of timber with no grass around them or on the shoreline. I had found a pattern. I left the lake and headed back for the captains meeting. I started talking to some of the other guys there and told them how I had done. They were impressed. Nobody had caught a limit all week long. My hopes were up.
The next morning was tournament day and I was up and ready by 5:30. First cast was at 7:00. I was sitting on the water at 6:45 and realized I had left my net in the truck. Do I head back and get it or not. I decided NO. Wrong decision. At 7:00 I was at my first dock. Nothing. Second dock. Nothing. Third Dock. First cast. Fish on. It hit my wacky worm, I set the hook, and I knew it was a good one. I got it up to the kayak and I was right. It was about 6 pounds and a good 26 inches. Remember when I said I decided to not bring my net? I reached down to grab him and he came off. Words were said, choice words. I gathered my composure and cast into the same area again. Fish on. A nice 17 incher. I landed, took my pictures, and loaded them to my iAngler tournament app. This thing is pretty cool. You take your picture, load it to the app, fill out the size section, and send it in. Instant scoring. Tournament officials look at the photos live and judge if it is good or not. Has to show the face no pinched tail, and I.D. wrist band. People can also watch the tournament leaderboard, live on the internet. Fish one in. I cast again into the same spot. Fish on. A solid 16 incher. Photo taken and sent in. I then fish for about another hour and not a bite. I finally came up on a small pocket of trees and fish on. I get it to the boat and again no net. He comes off at the kayak. He wasn't big but his 14 inches would have been huge. I am now kicking myself in the rear end. Have I lost this tournament by net bringing my net. Just then I start getting phone calls. My family and some friends were watching the leaderboard. I am leading the tournament. I am leading by like 18 inches. Awesome. I packed up and then decided to head to a second spot I had yet to fish. It was a gamble. The age old saying is don't leave fish to find fish. Screw it i'm doing it. I get to my second spot and I miss a couple bites and finally hook one. He was short. Only 11 inches, but it stretches my lead. At 1:00 the live leaderboard is shutdown. I am still leading. I fished for a while more and nothing bites. Last cast of the tournament is 3:00. At 2:56 I know I need a bigger fish. I can feel it in my gut. I pulled up to a seawall on the main river with a bunch of lilly pads around it. I have a flipping rod with 50 pound braid on it. What do I pick up without thinking about it. My finesse rod with 12 pound test on it. Cast, bite, Shock. I hook into an 8 pounder. This thing is big. Tears, tears and regret follow. He snaps my off in the pads. I pack up my stuff and head back. I can feel it. I lost gave away the tournament with the first fish, and lost it on my last one.
I get back to the boat ramp pack up and head to the weigh in. The top eight people are paid. 8th not me. 7th not me. 6th not me. The top 5 are called up for a live photo weigh in. My name is called. There is a big screen t.v. behind us, and all of a sudden pictures of fish come up. They are not mine. 5th, im still in it. 4th places pictures come up and there I am. I ended up placing 4th. I was happy. I was disappointed, but I was happy. It was hard fishing and I came through with a solid placing. After going through to first place I realize either of the two fish I lost would have won it. The weigh in gets over and then the door prizes start. The prizes are awesome. Anywhere from free rods, clothes, kayak lighting systems, and gift cards. The two big door prizes, a micro anchor and a Jackson big tuna. I ended up winning a hand paddle, a shirt from body glove, some rod sleeves and a few other small things. Awesome. Needless to say I came out well at the end of the day.
The next tournament is at Guntersville on the 21st of this month. I am headed up there with high hopes, and big expectations. I am more of a finesse fisher, and from what I have been hearing is the crank bite has been hot. Tournament last week went 35 pounds to the winner. Looking forward to some big fish. If anybody has fished it and has any tips, they would be greatly appreciated. So, it you are free next weekend and need a few minutes to do something. Look up the KBS iAngler leaderboard. You never know, I just might be on it.