Thanks to the 8 guys who made it out. We dodged some bad weather and had a great weekend. I think everyone hung out at our Villa and most brought food and drinks to share. Thanks to Tennesseekeith for the delicious deer meat.
Natchez Trace State Park is a great place. The Villas were clean, and the staff was very accommodating. The restaurant had good food and great service.
Saturday we had heavy threats of severe weather and this is the worst of a Tournament Director. We had no cell service at the State Park so I told everyone if you see lightening get off the water immediately and meet back at the Villa. We were very lucky and only got a constant light rain with very little wind. Saturday we fished for almost 10 hours. This is a 2day five fish limit practicing catch photo and release. All lakes were open to fish (Pin Oak Lake, Cub Lake and Browns Creek Lake).
Everyone caught their 5 fish the first day. Some people caught more than 25 bass the first day so catching was good.
Day 1 Results (5 Fish)
Jeremy Meier 90.75" (16.0", 21.75", 20.0", 15.5", 17.5")
Ron Champion 77.0" (12.5", 18.0", 23.25", 12.75", 10.5")
Keith Herbert 71.0" (12.25", 12.75", 17.0", 13.5", 15.5")
Gage Wetzel 70.5" (10.75", 12.0", 9.5", 16.5", 21.75")
Shae McCord 69.25" (11.75", 13.25", 14.0", 14.25", 16.0")
Sarah Meier 64.25" (10.75", 20.25", 11.75", 10.25", 11.25")
Mike Mclean 58.25" (13.0", 11.5", 11.0", 12.0", 10.75")
Craig Dye 51.75" (11.0", 10.5", 10.75", 10.0", 9.5")
After day one I had a great lead at 13.75", and I felt very comfortable, and figured I would do the same thing Sunday as I did Saturday. My goal was to replace a 15.5", and a 16" fish with at least (2) 17" or 18" fish to jump me up to around 95" because I knew this is where I would need to be. Sunday was only 5 hours of fishing and it was anyones game.
Sunday started off with a drizzle and then the skies mostly cleared and there was no wind, the lakes were like glass. My plan was not going to schedule and I was getting nervous. I herd of some big bass being caught, but just thought it was some false banter to get me worked up. I kept my calm and kept plugging away. I was starting to get worried because all I was catching were 14" to 15" bass and I needed at least one bass larger than 15.5", and another over 16" to upgrade just a little. Well 20 minutes to go before I have to leave the lake and I start catching some bass consistently but nothing to upgrade and then a few crappie so I know I've found fish. Then BAM I stick a good fish and he has my All Pro 7'11 Med action Cranking Blaster bent good and ripping line from my Curado 201G6 spooled with 10lb test. I know I can't muscle this fish in and he pulls probably 15 yards of line while pulling me 20 yards. I finally get over him and get the net ready and clear all debris and gear from my deck because I know I have one shot at this fish. By this time I had planned at being at the ramp and loading my gear and I see Sarah already at the ramp loading her gear. My heart is racing and all I can think about is this fish I have at the end of my line and I'm thinking 25" maybe 26" and it has to be a 10# fish. This could win me the tournament and big bass a good paycheck for plastic boat fishing. He starts to come to the surface slowly and there she is an 11lb 28.75" Blue Cat. My heart drops and it's over no upgrade for the day.
Some of the guys had a great day two and here are the day 2 results
Shae McCord 77.5" (16.0", 21.5", 20.25", 20.0")
Gage Wetzel 44.25" (16.25", 14.25", 13.75")
Keith Herbert 42.25" (14.0", 15.0", 13.25")
Sarah Meier 12.75" (12.75")
Craig Dye 12.25" (12.25")
Mike Mclean 12.0" (12.0")
Jeremy Meier 0"
Ron Champion 0"
Final Results
1st Shae McCord 93.75" (16.0", 21.5", 20.25", 20.0")
2nd Jeremy Meier 90.75" (16.0", 21.75", 20.0", 15.5", 17.5")
3rd Gage Wetzel 82.5" (16.5", 21.75", 16.25", 14.25", 13.25")
4th Ron Champion 77.0" (12.5", 18.0", 23.25", 12.75", 10.5")
5th Keith Herbert 71.0" (17.0", 13.5", 15.5", 14.0", 15.0")
6th Sarah Meier 66.75" (20.75", 12.75", 11.75", 11.25", 10.75")
7th Mike Mclean 59.5" (13.0", 11.5", 11.0", 12.0", 12.0")
8th Craig Dye 54.5" (11.0", 10.5", 10.75", 10.0", 12.25")
Shae McCord won 1st place with 93.75" giving him an 18.75" average. He killed it the second day connecting with a particular pattern, and sticking with it. Sunday in the short time we had to fish he caught 3 fish over 20"
Ron Champion won big bass with a 23.25" absolute slob.
Gage Wetzel finished 3rd and caught his personal best largemouth at 21.75"
I took 2nd with a stellar 1st day, and disappointing 2nd day.
It was a great time with fishing, food, and fellowship.
I have been blessed with such a great family in the fishing community, and Kayak Bass Fishing will continue to grow.
No is where we start working on the 2015 schedule to add more events, we will start taking our events on the road all over the state and out-of-state with different kinds of events. Now to start working on sponsorship packages for 2015, this is something new to us. If anyone has any ideas or thoughts about the 2015 season please share. Right now the schedule is at 20 events for 2015. Throughout the winter I will be working on cleaning up KBFTN, painting baits, cleaning and super tuning reels and then my regular 60hr a week job.
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