Winning the Final "We Fish for Him" TOC (lenghty with wiiners photos)

[Fast Eddie]

The day started with a debate between Rick (my partner) and I as to where to go. Tide was high and outgoing and Rick had found some fish last weekend down south. Well when blast off came we headed to a spot near Cruiser Haven (old river). One pass and nada. Off we went south. Pull up to first spot and throw spinnerbaits along the outside edge of a drop off into 11-15' of water with lots of grass. (Thanks Steve Cooper and Alan Fong) Bang a 2. Then 200 yds down I bang a 1.23. Rick picks up a frog and within minutes we have a 2+. I'm throwing spinnerbaits on the outside and Rick is working that frog. I catch another 2+. Pretty soon we see what we thought were stripers bustin shad on the surface. Having just got back from a week on Shasta (where the whopper plopper bite was off the hook), I throw that plopper where the action is and catch a 13 incher that barely weighs a pound. Limit although small by 9:30. An hour later we go to spot #2 and within minutes Rick picks up a 4+ (which he fails to weigh as a big fish ) So we have about 12lbs, which is what we had at the Dee Thomas Memorial. We both feel we need to get rid of the 1.23. Time flies when you're not catching fish. The next thing we knew it was 1:30. What to do????? We head back towards Holland and stop at our first spot. Tide is flowing in and water is now 2" over the top of the weeds. Frog water all the way down the 300yd stretch. Bang Bang Bang are the duck hunters in the next slough. Finally as we are ready to leave and the boat is in 17 ft of water, Rick hooks up with a 2+. Off goes the 123 to grow up. Its now 2:15 with a 3:00 weighin. One more spot in Rock produces nothing. The Rapala Scale (Thanks to my windy wednesday night partner Josh Lucas for turning me onto this scale) shows 13+. We knew the bite was tough and expected the AOY's to come in with weight. Surprise, Surprise, Surprise as Gomer Pyle would say. Rick came back to the boat and said we were leading. He also laughed and told someone we were the first boat that weighed in. Putting the boat on the trailer and staring to wipe it down Rick came and got me and said we won. All I could hear when presented the trophy plaque was Dee's laugh. Somehow I felt that he guided us to this victory, especially after placing second in his memorial tournament. God Bless you Mr. Thomas.
The disappointing thing was there was no support for Dan's circuit. If someone knows why he wasn't supported please PM me. Entries were reasonable, Holland was a great location, close to Franks, West Delta and Mildred. Dee Thomas once told me Delta Dan's was first on his list of tournaments to fish. 1500 + for 8 boats. Geez, I'll take those odds any time.

Photos all include Delta Dan Mathisen.
3rd Dan and Vince Fonte
2nd Rich and Regan Fonbuena
they also had the big fish of 4.8
Me and Rick.
In closing I'd like to say Thank You to Dan, Roger, Value Plumbings Gary Mullins, Ben Green Insurance Agency Toxic Baits, Diamond, Dan's Shot Shell Labs, (dogs not facilities)and Rob and Rachel over at The Bass Hole for their support.
See y'all on the water
TL
FE

[Fast Eddie]

Well as usual, I screwed it up. The top photo is first place and the photo that says first place is actually 3rd place. Also in the title it's supposed to say Winners not Wiiners. No one was whining.
Oh yeah, and for those of you who follow my boat drama, when I got back to the sturage area, the hydraulic jack decided to not lower. I was using the turn signal on the steering column. It would click but not move. After a few jiggles up and down it finally started to work. Rick said I was a DA because I wasn't pushing the stick down hard enough. I was too tured to argue so I left it for later this week.
Also I forgot to Thank the guy who owns Holland Marina. He was there every tournament I can remember and was always willing to help.
TL
FE