Category: Triple Hooked Blogs

Final Day on Truman

Day two of Truman classic and last tournament of the year, with points counting towards Angler of the Year, meant this was an important tournament . The day before I caught them really good. So, I was leading with 15.31lbs on a spinnerbait, and most of it came out of the same pocket.

Day two plan was to start in the pocket. The weather was supposed to be sunny and calm, but the two days before the weather was cloudy and windy. I had focused on dirty water throwing a blade. When we got to the pocket, it was still early. My partner hooked up on the first cast. I figured we were going to catch them. Ok, I can do this. Then finally way back in the pocket, there were three trees making a triangle. I cast to the back of the tree. Set the hook on a really big fish. Of course, it swam around the tree the wrong way and got hung up on the tree. We tried to fit through the trees, but the boat was too big. The fish kept jumping, and then the line went slack. I just lost a fish in the 5 pound range. Just blew the tournament and angler of the year. Next 10 casts, I caught two more small keepers. I was not in a good mood.

Finally, I caught a limit, but my only big fish was 15 inches. Not good. We moved to another pocket without any luck. The night before I was studying the map of the lake, and saw a good pocket the wind would be blowing into. We decided to go try the pocket. I noticed right away there were a lot of shad. As we worked to the back of the pocket and started working our we back out, I hooked up with a good fish on the spinnerbait. I wasn’t sure it was a bass. But as it got closer to the boat, I got a good look at it. It was a big bass around 4 pounds. Just want I needed. As my partner netted it, I right away felt I had a chance. Just still wishing I had the other fish. As the day went on, I was able to creel one more time. I had a little over 10 pounds. I was not sure that was going to win me the Classic and Angler of the Year in the club. But after everyone turned in their sheets, I would end up with 25.39 pounds for the weekend. The one big fish of the day got me the win and back to back Angler of the Year in the Club. It felt so good to win a tournament on Truman in the fall. Also, I caught big bass both days. Great finish to the season. Thanks to my non-boater for keeping me focused and calm after losing the big fish.

Twins Win Back-to-Back

The second qualifier of the year was on LaCygne lake. Just before the event, there was a cold front coming through. One big problem with LaCygne, the Florida-strain bass don’t like cold fronts. So going into the event, we knew it would be tough fishing.

We had prefished the Monday before the event. The first spot we stopped, Kyle’s second cast he caught a 5 pound bass. After that, we could never find anymore keepers.

On Saturday the day before the tournament, we decided to go over to prefish. I really don’t like prefishing when the high school is fishing, but we really didn’t have much choice. First spot we stopped at, I caught one keeper right away. I figured maybe the fish are biting. I would catch two more keepers and shake off about three more fish. I was confident we could catch fish Sunday. Only problem, I was the only one catching keepers. So, the boys were not very confident.

Tournament day had 26 teams going out to try to catch fish. First spot, nine teams started in the area we planned on starting. We watched one team catch a keeper on topwater. After fishing 2 hours without a bite, we decided to move. We fished a couple of other spots without even a bite. Just before break, Kyle caught one small non-keeper and broke off a good fish. Nick was able to catch a white bass on a Rattletrap. After break, Kyle was picking out a backlash, and when he started reeling his line got tight. He was hooked up with a fish. I netted the fish and both boys were like “Dad though not a keeper.” I was going to check it anyway. The first time I checked the measurement, he didn’t make it. But the third time he barely touched the line. It was fish number one. I told the boys we will have to check again. They were so excited! They had been fishing very hard and to finally get a keeper was big. We fished a couple of other spots without a bite. Finally, we decided to go back to were we started with 30 minutes to go. I finally adjusted how we were fishing. Nick was watching his line when it moved just a little bit. He slammed back and had to horse the fish out of the cover. It was keeper number two. We had only 25 minutes to go, I put the boat on high and had the boys pitch to anything that moved. I felt so stupid. The pattern the day before showed us the fish, but I didn’t have the boys fish it right. Fishing is like a puzzle when you think you have all the pieces figured out something changes.

On the way to the ramp, I told the boys “Should get a top 10. Getting points is very important to qualify for the state championship.” As we were getting the boat out of the water, we talked to some other teams. Fishing was very tough. There were not very many fish weighed in. As we got up to the stage, found out we were the only team with two keepers. As the fish hit the scale, it showed their fish weighing in at 3.77lbs. The boys had won back to back events. What a great start to the season. The twins fished so hard, never quiting. We tried so many different things in the last two hours: crankbaits, spinnerbait, topwater and soft plastics. You never know when that fish will bite so you should never stop and until it’s over. Two more events to go next spring and the state championship.

2019 First Qualifier of the Year

Kansas BASS Nation Youth Team Series was on Melvern Lake September 8th. There were 22 teams that showed up for the first event of the year. Twins and I were on a really good pattern, and we were hoping that it would continue. We had checked out a spot the day before and had to shake off a couple of really good fish.

The morning of the event, there was a strong storm passing through the area. The Tournament Director decided to delay takeoff until 8. The takeoff was going to be a little different. Once you got your boat in the water, you could drive to your starting point. But, you couldn’t start fishing until 8:30. So, we decided to start on the main lake point. That was the spot we had to shake off the fish the day before. Once we started, the boys were able to catch a limit by 8:50am and also creel once by 9am.

Then after fishing the point for a little longer and hitting another point without any luck before break, Boys decided they wanted to fish the prime spot. I had held off fishing it so far due to the wind. No time waiting to fish the spot. It was time to give it a try even with the wind. As we pulled around the corner, there was another boat on the spot. So, we just pulled behind them. It was an adult team fishing another tournament. As we watched them fish up the bank, we were hoping they wouldn’t catch a fish off the prime spot. There was a little cut between some trees and bushes that the fish use to cut through the point without going all the way around. The whole area holds a lot of fish, but that little spot held some really good smallmouth. As we got near the spot, both boys casted into the spot. Nick hooked up first, but the fish came unbutton. Just then, Kyle hooked up with a really good fish. We would fish the stretch until weigh-in. Creeling three times and losing one big smallmouth in the 4 pound range. It was finally time to go to weigh-in. We had a great day on the water, and every decision we made worked. I knew we had a chance. Only thing that didn’t go right, we lost a couple of good fish. Just as the boys got to the scale, we started to hear that fishing was tough for the field. Nick and Kyle would have the only limit of the day. As the scale stopped, we ended up with 15.97lbs. Nick and Kyle would win the 1st Qualifier of the year. I was so proud of how the boys fished. Even after losing fish, they wouldn’t stop fishing the pattern. I would like to thank the two adult anglers that shared the spot with us. Thanks for showing so much sportsmanship to my boys. Also, I really feel like the equipment helped the boys catch the fish that day. All the fish came on Powertackle PG144-70 rod. The strength and backbone helped the boys hook the fish. Next event will be on La Cygne. There could be the chance for some really big fish to show up at the scale.

SPINNERBAITS

We are coming into the fall season in Kansas. Around October, I always have a Spinnerbait tied on. Spinnerbaits work year round, but there are two times of the year. They work best for me; April and October.

Spring is when I like throwing a really big Spinnerbait with double Colorado blades. I throw two different colors white and white/chartreuse. It gives off a really big thump to help attract bass. Use a very strong rod with heavy action and reel 7:1 gear ration. Prefer to throw 20 lb fluorocarbon.

Fall is the next time I like to throw a blade. The fish are feeding up for the long winter. So, the fish can really be very active and covering water with a blade can help you find fish fast. Since the baitfish can be any size, there are about three different type of Spinnerbait I like to throw. Look around at the baitfish size, and it can help you choose the right Spinnerbait. I like to throw a 1/4oz. small Colorado/Willow Spinnerbait in white. Last year, we had a great time throwing a little bigger Spinnerbait 3/8oz. in White around laydown and standing timber for some really big fish. Twins caught some really good fish last October. If the water is really clear, I prefer to throw a shad color Double/Willow spinnerbait about 1/2oz. You can burn it just below the surface. I throw the smaller or medium size spinnerbait on medium heavy action rod with a 7:1 gear ratio reel. Will throw the 1/4oz. spinnerbait with 14lb fluorocarbon and 3/8oz. blade. I use 20lb fluorocarbon.

One tip when you throw a blade, you can just reel it straight in. I like to jerk or pause the blade. That little bit of action can really entice a bite. I have seen it multiple time on my videos. When I throw a Spinnerbait right when I jerk or pause the bait, a bass will hit.

So this fall choose a spinnerbait you like. You may catch your personnel best bass this fall.