Tuesday, July 20, 2021

My Snatcher Fishtrap Lake Tourney Recap (July 17th)

 

2/14oz R2S Bully Wa 2 (Little Allen)


What my scale said
Conditions: 65-86℉, Sunny to MC and hazy, 0-4mph E
Water Temps: High 70''s

The Day: We started a little way to the South of Access Bay, just outside of some slop. I thought I had something pick up my jig under a dock, but when I set the hook, there was nothing there. We ended up working a weedline outside of the slop bay, and Mick got his first bass on a craw tube. From there, we ran to a point with a hazard marker buoy. Stuff was getting busted on the top, and I got several dinks on Bubble Walker. Mick got a quality fish on the craw tube. We then ran to a weedline that I had fished before in a previous tournament; Mick was unaware of that fact at the time we arrived. I got a pike on a black/blue Hack Attack Jig and then got the skunk out of the boat on my very next cast. We then went to the small island outside of Access Bay. Mick got his third keeper on a craw tube, and I had my Hack Attack Jig get a bit off. Mick caught a long skinny pike. I think we then went back to the point with the hazard buoy working some docks before we got to the point then heading north. I got my second fish on a Neko Rigged Yum Dinger. We moved around to some other spots catching a few dinks under 12-inches.  It was turning into a long day. With an hour left, we went back to our starting spot. Fortunately, Mick came in close enough to the slop that I was able to make some casts to it, and sure enough, my big of the day inhaled my frog. So we worked the junk. Mick lost two bites, and I got #4, pitching the Hack Jig to the pad edge. We reworked the small bay a second time, quickly not getting any bites. With about 20-minutes to go, we ran to the Access Bay, and Mick picked up two more keepers, and I got my last fish on the Bully Wa 2 Frog with 5-minutes left to go. And just like that, time was up. If we had 15 more minutes, I think chances are pretty good; both of us would have caught our limits.

Results: The last-minute rally ended up giving both Mick and me the same weight for the day at 10lbs 9ozs. I won the tiebreaker and finished in 8th Place. Chuck Steinbauer got back into the Winners Circle with 18/12, and he had the 4/04 Lunker. Darren got 2nd with 17/7, and The Hammer got 3rd with 16/3. Todd Lewis won his first Co-angler Challenge. 

My Thoughts: For the second time this year, I was able to rally in the final hour to save myself from a disastrous finish. The lake was fishing tough with only 7 limits boated. It is pretty amazing to me that I was unable to get more than 1 keeper on the Neko Rig for as much as I threw it. I had little fish picking at it constantly, and I caught several dinks. One more keeper, and I would have beaten Dennis. Instead of my season being trash, this result gives me some hope for finishing in the Top 10 for the year; currently, I sit in a tie for 14th.

 

Saturday, July 17, 2021

Congrats To Seth Feider 2021 Bassmaster Angler of the Year

 

Fellow Bloomington Kennedy Alum Seth Feider capped off a phenomenal season-winning Bassmaster Angler of the Year yesterday, one of the most coveted crowns in the bass fishing world. 

Friday, July 16, 2021

Snatcher's at Fishtrap, My Plan and Rods

 

The Plan: I didn't get out and pre-fish and my boater Mick reported the fishing for him was slow, but quality fish. My guess is it all comes down to whether or not the fish are turned on or not. The weather will be during a warm stable trend. The fishing could be good or it could be poor.

The Rods I'm Bringing: 
7'4" H Tatula (Frog, Jig)
7'2" H Tatula (Craw Tube)
7'2" MH Tatula (Topwater, Chatterjig)
7'H Avid (Worm)
7'H Mojo (Jig)
6'8" M Avid (Topwater)
6'6" MH Loomis 783GLX (Jig)

6'6" MH Veritas (Dock, Neko)

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Feeling Good About the End to Fantasy Fishing 2021


 
3rd Place Result at Lake Champlain

My Fantasy Fishing Season was a trainwreck to start, but I have righted the ship. My result at Champlain got me into the black over at BBC and I'm feeling good about my line-up for the St. Lawrence this week.



Saturday, July 10, 2021

Frog Fishing With Mallory and Todd




 It was a warm July night and the fish were snapping in Inlet Bay. The goal was to get Mallory her first-ever topwater frog caught bass. She got quite a few opportunities and even had a fish hooked, but it hung her up in the reeds and pads. Todd got big fish of the night with the 3.46lber.

Sunday, July 04, 2021

2021 June Recap


 The weather in June started out unseasonably warm, turning Platte Lake into a bathtub with slow fishing.