The tournament started on the chilly side as we took off using my 8 hp kicker (the lake is restricted to 20 hp max). We ventured just east of Gilley’s creek where Anna and I caught some decent fish prefishing. It was slow but we managed a couple of 1.5 to 2 pound fish on a Carolina rigged blueberry Zoom worm and a producto black blue glitter worm.
The bite slowed and we caught a couple shorts then ventured back east near the ramp. In one of our tried and true spots we caught a nice 3 pound plus fish on the Producto worm on a Carolina rig in about 18 foot of water. The fish was hardly noticeable as it must of swam towards the boat when it choked on the worm.
At weigh in a couple of 4 fish bags were brought to the scales by Billy and Tony as well as Randy and George but no limits. Well guess what, our 3 fish bag took 1st place and big fish. I guess luck was on our side again or Randy and George were feeling a little sorry for the trail and threw back some fish so someone else could win . Anyhow, slow fishing for sure but it sures feels nice when “You’re in the Money”! Thanks Penny and Tom for continuing the trail and if your on the west coast of Florida give ‘em a shout and come join in. Until next month, Tight Lines.
Anna and I decided to take Friday off and prefish on Friday Jan. 6th. We ventured out the main channel out of Clewiston into the main lake being very cautious as our last experience in May 2011 revealed large rock piles as the water was low then. The water was up to normal levels and we planed out between the spoil islands and headed north towards Cochran’s pass.
It has been quite a few years since I made my way to the pass and my new GPS didn’t have the location stored. We started along a reed/cattail line with an extensive pad field south of the pass and proceeded to worm and to try out a Skinny Dipper. I had one follow on the Dipper but no takers. We headed north and found Cochran’s. We flipped, pitched soft plastics, worked rattletraps down the cut as well as shad raps but no activity.
It was time to try something different and we moved a little further north and found a small point of reeds mixed with Kissimmee grass and a lil peppergrass. We started pitching and casting Zoom junebug lizards and got 3 small ones in about an hour. I marked the spot and ventured further north towards the north shore Bird Island area.
On the southeast part of Bird Island we found some beds but only one fish was on and the fish about 5 pounds hit my Watermelon red fleck Sweet Beaver. It shook off and we went up and down all the cuts on the island looking for similar bedding areas. None were found. We tried the entrance to the Monkey box and one small keeper caught on a fluke.
OK, we had somewhat of a gameplan for the tournament and headed in. We stayed at Roland Martin’s and went the “cheap” route by renting the older model mobile homes. They are actually very clean inside and plenty of room with a full size kitchen and boat parking right next to the unit. They go for $65 which is great nowadays in these hard economic times. Doc and Gwen were staying across the street an we had a nice evening with them telling old fish stories.
Anyhoo, we got up on time the next morning and gave Doc a shout to make sure they were up. We ventured down to the ramp and Cary was by himself. Mary couldn’t make it (miss ya Mary). Cary did his normal pretournament meeting and off we went. We stopped at the reed point we found on Friday and I got one about 3 pounds on the lizard. Nice start! Anna cast into the cut on the point and had a very nice fish on. As she fought it I got the net ready. Unfortunately her line found some old braided line that was on the lake bottom. I was moving that braid while she was fighting the fish. I moved the braid out of the way and had the fish about 1/2 way into the net but needed to lean a little more to get the entire fish into the net beore the braid would knock it off. Lean then “sploosh” into the water I went. The 50 something water temp woke me up but the good thing was that I could stand on the bottom. The fish and net were still in my hands as I walked to the boat handing Anna the net. I managed to get back in the boat but I was freezing my butt off. I got the fish into the livewell (close to 6 pounds) and noticed that my cellphone was in my drenched pants pocket. So much for that phone. My nice Maui Jim sunglasses now have a new owner as well, Mr. Okeechobee.
Off the clothes went and i went into the dry rainsuit. I still had my heavy jacket dry so I donned that as well. After I started to warm up we started to pitch, cast and flip and we managed another 1.5 pounder. It started to slow down so we moved to Bird Island to the “bedding” spot.
We ventured into the cut that had the 5 pounder and we saw the beds but nobody was home. We worked the reeds, flipped the hydrilla but no takers. Time to head back but looking for similar points/grass that we caught the fish in the morning on. We stopped in one area and managed a few fish but too small to keep. We went back to our earlier spot and got another 3 pounder in the boat. We worked it hard and caught another small keeper 12″ fish that made our limit. Time was running short and the fish weren’t biting anymore so we went to the Clewiston channel and caught one fish that was big enough to cull the 12 incher. Time was up so off to the weigh in.
At weigh in a lot of nice fish were being brought up to the scales. The winners were Bob and Lorene at 15 and change, Congrats! We edged out Terry and Sue with 14 and some change to take 2nd place! What a day loosing my sunglasses, ruining my cellphone, getting soaked but all in all worth it by placing in the money!
If you are interested in fishing ABA couples check out the link on my site and give Cary or Mary a shout! I’m sure you’ll like the ABA family and enjoy the competition! Until Lake Panasoffkee, tightlines and good fishing!
The last tournament for 2011 was on Shell Creek near Punta Gorda. Anna and I started in the reservoir and Anna hooked up 2 fish in the pads but unfortunately they were shorts. We worked the cuts with Texas rigged worms both using Zoom products, one a blueberry ribbon tail and another a June bug trickworm. The action was steady as we managed 8 fish but out of the 8 only one keeper to weigh in. Once again Randy and George took 1st place honors with 12 + pounds. Congrats for 4 wins in a row!
Windy weather and the FLW federation tournament made the calmer portions of the lake pretty crowded as Anna and I fished the ABA couples tournament. We found a spot in a cove not to far from Southport park where we launched. The fish were pretty small but cooperated and bit well. We caught quite a few small ones that barely kept around the outside of the bulrush. We used junebug trcikworms and small shadraps. At weighin we had 5 and change but it was fun never the less.
Anna and I fished the B’s tournament in November out of Jiggs Landing. The day started slow as we fished the main reservoir then ventured up the river to the 1st canal. Anna hooked up on a nice 2 pounder on the Carolina rig. I tossed the Carolina rigged Blueberry worm and got one over 3 pounds right besides a floating dock. Working the 50 yard stretch we managed 2 more keepers. At weigh in we had 7 pounds plus but plenty of other fishermen had nice sacks. Randy and George won 1st place with a nice limit. Brian got lunker at 6.93 pounds. Nice weather and as always way better than working!
My name is Paul Bruessow also known as the Largemouth Herald. I've been bass fishing Florida lakes for a long time and started a website www.floridabassfishing.us in 2007 as a hobby. Hope to help every enthusiast in catching more bass as it's been my favorite pasttime as far back as I can remember.
. Anyhow, slow fishing for sure but it sures feels nice when “You’re in the Money”! Thanks Penny and Tom for continuing the trail and if your on the west coast of Florida give ‘em a shout and come join in. Until next month, Tight Lines.
