Fish Catching Travel
It is really nice sitting on the deck at Aaron’s camp looking out over Lake Fork, to bad we are not fishing. It is Saturday and the Big Bass Tournament starts tomorrow, and hopefully the wind will not be blowing 30mph like it is right now. When we started this morning it was beautiful. When we headed back to the ramp at 11:30 there were 3 – 4 rollers and we took a pounding.
Aaron’s camp is on a cove near the dam and it is somewhat protected. There are probably 20 boats in there right now pounding them, one goes out and 2 come in. Those fish are sitting there going there goes a Strike King, there is a Rapala, and wow, that one is using a 1 oz jig head, he must be really serious. It could be a long day for everyone tomorrow, especially for those fish in the protected coves. Just take a number. With probably 600 – 700 boats here tomorrow it should be interesting, and although interesting is not the word I would use, I try to keep the profanity here to a minimum.
We got to fish a couple of hours late Thursday, and it was tough. I think I caught one, and of course it was a perfect under the slot fish that would probably get some bucks on Sunday. Friday we only put 5 in the boat during the day, but did a little better when we did some night fishing. The bite is tough. Thursday it was rough and cold, yesterday was dead calm, and you could tell the fish were feeling it. Our night fishing trip did produce a few good fish. Aaron lost a big fish right at dark, and then put one in the boat later, and they were definitely starting to bite.
This morning when we started it was perfect, and Aaron put another good one in the boat, and we caught several more shallow. Jigs have been the best for us. I did throw a spinnerbait and had a big bite, which of course was a nice catfish. The last month I have had quite a few catfish come over the side on lures, but that was the first one on a spinnerbait. We have some nice fish located, but the wind will be the final judge of our plan for tomorrow. Luckily we have several options, which gives us a fighting chance. He has lots of friends here fishing the tournament and most are finding it tough. Looks like one of those you should have been here last week things.
I do have some pictures to show you, but since I forgot the download cord they will have to wait until I get back to you on Monday. But no matter what I have really enjoyed my first trip here. It does take a little getting used to the amount of fishing traffic, and I thought Falcon was busy, but this place is crazy. Obviously there are some little things that can be done to catch fish here, and lucky for me , he knows them.
Almost forgot to tell you the highlight of the day. I managed to throw my favorite rod and reel in the lake. Nice job Doug. Luckily it was in 4 foot of water and I was able to get it back with a crankbait in about 2 minutes. It has been several years since I managed to do that, hopefully that will be the last of that for a another 10 years. Other than that small episode, the fish we located are catchable no matter what the conditions, so if it does not go well it will be our fault.
So that is the long and the short of it. Having not really fished tournaments in 15 years I forgot this part of it. Weather sucks, to bad, high winds, tough luck. But no matter what I will have a hard time sleeping tonite. It just takes one cast and one bite. Whether it is a big bucks deal like this, or just a quick trip to the creek, it is that anticipation that keeps all of us fishing.
There is one real consolation in today’s weather, and that would be the 12 racks of ribs on his big smoker, along with the cold brew, waiting for his old Air Force buddies who will be here at 7:00 tonite. It will definitely be a case of believe half of what you hear about the fishing, and I mean the small half. Good friends, good eats, and tall tails, does it get any better than that! So thanks for reading my stuff and I should have the pics and the real scoop up by Monday night. If I disclosed the real secret to our fantastic success I would have to kill you!
Good Luck and Tight Lines
