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Dock Post 4/19/08

April 19, 2008

Sometimes… make that most of the time, I feel like a professional driver who fishes tournaments on the side. I’m on the road again from Lake Fork, Texas to Lake Norman, NC. I just finished up the PAA Texas Classic and I didn’t stick around until the end, but from what I hear, we finished dead last. We really did have a great team though and we had a good practice too webkins. Vandam fished with Jimmy Mason both days and I fished with Paul Elias. Our spoiler was the wind switching from the South to blowing 30 + mph out of the North on the first day of the tournament. It rained and blew all night before the event started and all the places we’d found in practice got really muddy and rough. So we all basically had to start over and believe me, a 4 hour period goes by quite fast. Oh well, what can you do but suck it up and move on to the next one right?

I did have a great time though and was honored to get to be in the boat with Paul. At one point today we were fishing deep crankbaits on a spot and in order to get our baits to touch the bottom we had to do the old “Kneel and Reel”. I was kneeling next to Paul and all I could think about was how I wished I could have a picture of that moment to show everyone. I just looked at him and started to laugh…here I am Kneelin’ and Reelin’ with the Kneelin’ and Reelin’ legend himself. How many people can say they’ve done that…it was cool!

My good buddy Kelly Jordon and his team are now leading the tournament going into the top 5 day tomorrow. I hope they pull it out and win the darn thing. If any of you are thinking about going to a pro bass tournament next year, you may want consider this one. It is by far the biggest, most awesome event of the year and the fishing is tremendous too. The PAA really goes over the top to make that event special and I wouldn’t miss it. It is designed to give the fans an up close and personal look at what’s going on. You would not be disappointed.

As far as Lake Norman goes, this is the first FLW Tour Open, which means the first place payout is $200,000. I was one 3 1/2 pounder away from a really good finish here last year and can’t wait to get there. I will be getting two days of practice in, which actually started today. My wife, Anne is meeting me there tomorrow with the camper and Alton and I will be on the water early Monday morning. So video will start at that time in the “Front Deck”. I think we are going to be hitting this event at the perfect time this year, so it should be a good one. I know I’m looking for a good finish to break out of this slump. It’s been a horrible last few tournaments for me. I’ve been fishing differently, but I’m going back to my old ways since swinging for the homer wasn’t working for me at all. Thanks for all the encouraging words over the last few weeks, I truly appreciate it.

One Response to “Dock Post 4/19/08”

1. stully Says:
   

   Time for the “bassmaster” to kick butt. good luck.

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