So off to Don Pedro, with a stop at the BP shop and pick up some goodies and a new Shimano 300k for swimbait fishing. (Wanted a Tranx, but they only had 200 and 400 models. So off to Fisherman's Wharehouse whereI saw my fiend Wayne and met Hunter. Was able to get a Tanx 300 for the other SB rod and off to Don Pedro to check water level. (see the plan was to have the wife show up prior to weigh in and if the water level was low, drive down the ramp, pick me up and take me to Josh's truck.
)After checking the water level and on the way to the hotel, I pass Josh heading to the lake, flip a youee and catch up to him. Well he's got his motor home and his wife is pulling the boat with the truck. No get this...... she backs that boat in truck into the pad like she's been driving for years. Very Impressive.(anyway I was impressed)
Next morning Josh, his son and I head out to the lake. How did we launch you may ask? We had valet service from Josh's wife.
We as fishermen need more valet services So today we're looking for incoming water. Water temp in the low 50's. It was a great day of experimentation. Josh had pre fished a couple of times and located fish in 25 -30 ft of water. Josh's son handled a baitcaster like he'd been raised with it in his hand. Like us all a few backlashes but all in all very impressive for a young man. (BTW you should see him with a glide bait
)Off to the hotel in Angels Camp. Word of caution, if your staying at the Travelodge, their internet sucks. This is the second time it consistently goes off and won't let you log back in. Also I believe the Indian couple who used to own/manage the place have moved on. The new folks are painting and fixing up stuff.
Don't stay in room 201 though as the laundry is upstairs and the dryer stays on till after 10 pm. But it is pet friendly.
Tournament day:
Guess who's the 3rd from the last boat in the second flight?
But off we go to our first spot. Things are slow, but we see fish on the FFS. AS we round a corner I see some wood in the back of the creek channel and ask Josh to maneuver me so I can get a cast back there. I toss the spinner bait (Nichols Blue shad 1/2 oz with chartreuse trailer) into 6 inches of water an pick up a nice 2 1/2 spot. It's pretty slow we only had 2 fish until about 12:30. Josh is getting followers on the Hud, the darter head is working it's magic as is the stroll bait. (I caught my first stroll bait fish with out FFS) We have a limit and with time running out we head back to our first spot. I pick up another spot on the darter head, and when the angle is right, toss the spinnerbait back into the creek channel and wham! I'm hooked up , when she jumps about 2' in the air, its a 3 - 4 lb largemouth, Jumps again, rod is in the water trying to prevent the jump and up she comes, smiles and thoump spits that spinnerbait right back in my face. What an ending. Would've given us a top 10 finish. Instead we finished in the top 20.But how about Nick and Jordan, with 27.22 a 9.36 kicker to go along with a 6 and a 5.How'd they do it? Drop Shot baby.
No, just kidding......... Swimbait City baby. So how did my swimbait stuff work? Don't know, left it in the hotel, because we didn't use it on prefish day...... can you say DA? I can. Learned a valuable lesson. Second place was Vic and Russ with just shy of 19 and the weights dropped. Next up, Don Pedro again on 02/22.Congrats to all
TL
FE
PS Missed "Pops" and "The Bearded" one.
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