Post by MadWags on Jul 6, 2005 6:53:56 GMT -5
BFL June 25th Detroit River
Pre-Fishing Day 1
I was not able to get out until late Thursday afternoon prior to the tournament to begin my pre-fishing adventures. Several events at home and at work kept me from my usual routine. At home we were in the middle of a move. The week was hectic to say the least. I did not realize we had so much stuff! Who would have thought it would take so many trips. I have been very busy at work as well so I was really looking forward to the fishing tournament as a diversion. My boat was at Sankuer Composite Technologies all week getting a new paint job on the top-deck. Wednesday evening, when I went to pick up the boat, I found myself applying sponsors graphics to get the job done in time for the tournament. Still not done, but that is another story. I had taken my water proof container, that holds my registration and fishing licenses, out of the boat prior to dropping it off earlier in the week. Keep in mind that we moved all week.
So out on the water Thursday evening and I realize I do not have my fishing licenses or boat registration. I returned to the ramp to search the truck and boat thoroughly. Nothing. I call home but it is a hopeless cause. Where to look?
No fish found Thursday.
A lost day in the world of tournament fishing can really hurt.
I hope Friday is better.
Pre-Fishing Day 2
Friday morning I find myself re-licensing. Michigan makes it really easy. Just go to a location where they sell them and tell them you lost your license. They can scan your driver’s license and issue a new fishing license for $3.00.
Now Canada is a different story. The turn around time is weeks.
Well out on the water I go with at least one license.
First thing I attempt to enter Lake Erie to check some spots from last year.
The wind and waves were too much for me to bear so I headed back for the river. I speared two waves at the entrance to the Livingston Channel and completely soaked myself and the boat. I stopped at Duff’s on the Canadian side of the river to get a new fishing license. Costly, but quick. Now I was ready, to go to St. Clair that is.
I made the run to the mouth of the Detroit River in St. Clair and worked the points.
Fishing deep in the morning produced some solid keepers. In the afternoon I was able to get on a jerkbait bite on the flats. This seemed to be opposite of what everyone else was doing. Most boats fished shallow in the morning and deep in the afternoon. I noticed that big smallies where making themselves visible cruising the flats in the afternoon. They wouldn’t even look at a tube but would take a jerkbait on a long cast. I jumped several large ones that threw the bait.
Well for what little bit of time I had and for what I had been through, I would have to be happy to stick with this pattern as I did not have time to develop another.
At the meeting I drew a first timer. I told him specifically what we were going to be doing and what to bring. He had pre-fished Erie with limited luck and was happy to be going to Clair. Me too.
Tournament Day
After we launched on Saturday morning, I started looking for where I placed my new licenses in the boat. I thought I had placed them with my maps. Well….. you guessed it! I misplaced…..or…..lost my BRAND NEW licenses. What a way to start the day. I now had two Canadian Licenses and two Michigan Licenses and nothing to show for them. The stress of the week had taken its toll. Nothing to do but forget about it and fish. We were #75 to take-off which would probably hurt me as I knew I could not be the only one to fish the deep morning spot. When we arrived there was two other boats on the spot and one that was exactly where I wanted to be positioned. I would have to work around it as best I could. The current is strong so you must use it to your advantage and let it take the bait to the fish.
After and hour and a half of trying to get to my fish and only one small keeper each I decided to break from the spot and head to the flat. I had not fished the flat in the morning in pre-fish so I would have to see what would develop. One hour with no bites on the flat and I had lost my confidence. The entire week had caught up with me and I was short on patience. I did not let my co-angler see my frustration but our conversation had dwindled to silence.
I decided that I wanted to stick with my original game plan come hell or high water.
I headed back to the deep current break. When we arrived there was one less boat and I managed to position myself as needed. Over the next hour I boated a limit with a solid 3.5lb kicker. My co-angler boated two more fish and had a good keeper in the well. As afternoon approached I made the call to head back to the flat. As soon as I put the trolling motor down I saw the first cruising smallie. I knew they would be there! My confidence was back. I pulled out the jerkbait and proceeded to land several nice fish over the next hour. I culled twice and now had a good limit. I just needed one more toad for the box and I could possibly claim a check. My co-angler boated another fish. That made four in his well. Another hour passed with no luck. I decided to head back to the deep spot to see if my co-angler could get a limit fish and maybe, just maybe, I could get that toad.
It was not to be. I headed back with time to spare, since I knew the ride under the bridge would be rough. I did not want to hurry and beat up the fish.
I weighed 13lb 6oz for a 35th place finish and a solid start after what was a bad week. My co-angler weighed 8lb 6oz and had a great day of fishing.
Pre-Fishing Day 1
I was not able to get out until late Thursday afternoon prior to the tournament to begin my pre-fishing adventures. Several events at home and at work kept me from my usual routine. At home we were in the middle of a move. The week was hectic to say the least. I did not realize we had so much stuff! Who would have thought it would take so many trips. I have been very busy at work as well so I was really looking forward to the fishing tournament as a diversion. My boat was at Sankuer Composite Technologies all week getting a new paint job on the top-deck. Wednesday evening, when I went to pick up the boat, I found myself applying sponsors graphics to get the job done in time for the tournament. Still not done, but that is another story. I had taken my water proof container, that holds my registration and fishing licenses, out of the boat prior to dropping it off earlier in the week. Keep in mind that we moved all week.
So out on the water Thursday evening and I realize I do not have my fishing licenses or boat registration. I returned to the ramp to search the truck and boat thoroughly. Nothing. I call home but it is a hopeless cause. Where to look?
No fish found Thursday.
A lost day in the world of tournament fishing can really hurt.
I hope Friday is better.
Pre-Fishing Day 2
Friday morning I find myself re-licensing. Michigan makes it really easy. Just go to a location where they sell them and tell them you lost your license. They can scan your driver’s license and issue a new fishing license for $3.00.
Now Canada is a different story. The turn around time is weeks.
Well out on the water I go with at least one license.
First thing I attempt to enter Lake Erie to check some spots from last year.
The wind and waves were too much for me to bear so I headed back for the river. I speared two waves at the entrance to the Livingston Channel and completely soaked myself and the boat. I stopped at Duff’s on the Canadian side of the river to get a new fishing license. Costly, but quick. Now I was ready, to go to St. Clair that is.
I made the run to the mouth of the Detroit River in St. Clair and worked the points.
Fishing deep in the morning produced some solid keepers. In the afternoon I was able to get on a jerkbait bite on the flats. This seemed to be opposite of what everyone else was doing. Most boats fished shallow in the morning and deep in the afternoon. I noticed that big smallies where making themselves visible cruising the flats in the afternoon. They wouldn’t even look at a tube but would take a jerkbait on a long cast. I jumped several large ones that threw the bait.
Well for what little bit of time I had and for what I had been through, I would have to be happy to stick with this pattern as I did not have time to develop another.
At the meeting I drew a first timer. I told him specifically what we were going to be doing and what to bring. He had pre-fished Erie with limited luck and was happy to be going to Clair. Me too.
Tournament Day
After we launched on Saturday morning, I started looking for where I placed my new licenses in the boat. I thought I had placed them with my maps. Well….. you guessed it! I misplaced…..or…..lost my BRAND NEW licenses. What a way to start the day. I now had two Canadian Licenses and two Michigan Licenses and nothing to show for them. The stress of the week had taken its toll. Nothing to do but forget about it and fish. We were #75 to take-off which would probably hurt me as I knew I could not be the only one to fish the deep morning spot. When we arrived there was two other boats on the spot and one that was exactly where I wanted to be positioned. I would have to work around it as best I could. The current is strong so you must use it to your advantage and let it take the bait to the fish.
After and hour and a half of trying to get to my fish and only one small keeper each I decided to break from the spot and head to the flat. I had not fished the flat in the morning in pre-fish so I would have to see what would develop. One hour with no bites on the flat and I had lost my confidence. The entire week had caught up with me and I was short on patience. I did not let my co-angler see my frustration but our conversation had dwindled to silence.
I decided that I wanted to stick with my original game plan come hell or high water.
I headed back to the deep current break. When we arrived there was one less boat and I managed to position myself as needed. Over the next hour I boated a limit with a solid 3.5lb kicker. My co-angler boated two more fish and had a good keeper in the well. As afternoon approached I made the call to head back to the flat. As soon as I put the trolling motor down I saw the first cruising smallie. I knew they would be there! My confidence was back. I pulled out the jerkbait and proceeded to land several nice fish over the next hour. I culled twice and now had a good limit. I just needed one more toad for the box and I could possibly claim a check. My co-angler boated another fish. That made four in his well. Another hour passed with no luck. I decided to head back to the deep spot to see if my co-angler could get a limit fish and maybe, just maybe, I could get that toad.
It was not to be. I headed back with time to spare, since I knew the ride under the bridge would be rough. I did not want to hurry and beat up the fish.
I weighed 13lb 6oz for a 35th place finish and a solid start after what was a bad week. My co-angler weighed 8lb 6oz and had a great day of fishing.