Vikings Week 13 Outlook: Apprehensive

This week's game is a huge opportunity.  Beating one of the best teams in football at their place on Monday Night Football would be really nice to see.  I am not getting my hopes up to high.  Russell Wilson is a magician and Kirk's record in big spot games is spotty at best.  It is possible that Zimmer and Stefanski/Kubiak will come up with a stellar game plan.  I certainly expect the Vikes to show more life coming out of the bye than the Cheese did last week.  If the Vikes are good enough to beat Seattle this week I think that will pretty much guarantee us a playoff spot.  It would be a great first step toward winning the Division.  A loss isn't the end of the world provided the team stays healthy, but it would obviously put the team in a more difficult spot. Every game the Vikings play from now on is big.  It has been an exciting season so far and I hope it continues with a strong Vikings efforts every game.  Skol! 

Dude Wipes Dude and Brandon Palaniuk Returning To The Elites

Article Here...

After one year on the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour two of the biggest names in bass fishing are going back to B.A.S.S..  This may or may not be an ominous sign for Boyd Duckett and the boys over at MLF.  Who knows how the MLF FLW take over is going to work out in the long run.  I think going back to B.A.S.S. is the smart bet.  When I lost Outdoor Channel last Spring when we switched to Direct TV my interest level in MLF nose-dived.  In fact, it wasn't until I was doing this post that I looked up The Bass Pro Tour on Discovery Channel which we do have.  I now have the DVR set to record.  I got to do something with my time this winter because with these back to back Thanksgiving week snowstorms it looks like my ice fishing got done before I could even get started.

The Forgotten Frenzy Popper

So I was reading through some old Bass Pundit Blog posts this morning from November 2009 when I came across the one when I talked about the Frenzy Popper being discontinued.  That got me to thinking.  Did I even catch a fish on one this year? 

So I went and checked on Fish Swami to get the answer.  The answer was no I did not.  I was a little shocked by that.  How could it be that I didn't even catch a single fish on a lure I just adore.  I then opened the database query to include all the years down to 2012 when I first started recording my catches with Fish Swami.  I was really shocked by that result.  I figured I had gotten fish every year but  2019 on the Frenzy Popper.   Boy was I wrong.  Here is the result:

 I've only caught 1 fish on the lure in the last 5 years.  Egads!

This proves for a fact that my memory and recall isn't the greatest.  I was totally oblivious to just how neglected the Frenzy Popper has been in my fishing the last few years.  I will have to rectify that situation in 2020.  In fact, I'm going to set a goal of catching at least 25 fish on the Frenzy Popper in 2020.  I caught more than that on the lure in one trip during The Great GOMH Whackfest of 2009.

Trophy Put Into Storage This Week

Dad and I finally got around to putting the Trophy away for the winter this week.

Boom! And Just Like That Bass Pundit Became 15 Years Old

Well, my blogging here at the mothership was down a few more tics yet again this year. A new record low, in fact. I guess I was preoccupied with other things.  But I am still at it and will persist.

Vikings Week 11 Outlook: A Little Bit of Concern

This is a game the Vikes should win.   Denver coming off the bye is probably going to have a few tricks up their sleeve.  Beating us at home would be a real feather in their cap and I expect we will see their best effort and that's what worries me.  Our guys better not have one foot already in the bye when they step on the field tomorrow.  I expect it to be a dogfight. If we don't turn the ball over I think it will be a Vikes victory.

Vikings Week 10 Outlook: I've Got A Feeling

I believe the team and Cousins are pretty pissed off about losing to the Chief's.  I have a feeling that they are going to take that frustration out on the Cowboys.  Feeling pretty good about a win this week. 

What A Bummer Game Man!

"This week's game in Kansas City is quite important for the team to put in a quality performance. I am not a believer in this team just yet.  The O-line has something to prove after last week's game.  I don't trust Cousins to come through when we need him.   And the play by the Defense this year has been mildly disappointing.  I want to see my team beat two quality opponents in the next two weeks on the road."

Instead of a quality performance, I got a wildly erratic one that resulted in a loss.  The Vikings were like Jekyll and Hyde in this one.  It made for an exciting game.  I had a feeling coming in that whether or not Mahomes played that the chances of the Chiefs losing another game in Kansas City were pretty slim.  The Vikes almost pulled it off.  I've got to give the Chief's coaches and players credit; they took some haymakers from the Vikes and managed enough big plays to win in the end.

Kirk was at times brilliant, at other times terrible, and at other times boneheaded (sliding before he got the first down).

The O-Line was at times brilliant, at other times terrible,  and at other times unlucky (the call that went against Bradford for being downfield when he really wasn't).

The O-Coordinator lost the plot at the end of the game going away from the run after it had finally started working well.  I was in disbelief over the play calling on our final two drives.  Run the damn ball when taking time off the clock is called for.  Hopefully, this is a lesson learned for Stefanski.

The Defense was just plain snakebitten.  The ball on the ground twice in the closing minutes with the Chief's recovering it both times after brilliant calls by Zimmer.  That long completion on third down when Everson hit Moore's arm. Dats Amazin good fortune for the Chiefs!  Any of those plays go our way and it's probably a Vikings victory.

Vikings Outlook for Week 9: It Gets Serious Now

The 49ers are undefeated. The Sea Chickens have the same record as the Vikes and the Rams are a game back. The Saints have one loss and Brees is back. The Packers have one loss and just beat the Chiefs, this week's Vikes opponent.  This week's game in Kansas City is quite important for the team to put in a quality performance.  I am not a believer in this team just yet.  The O-line has something to prove after last week's game.  I don't trust Cousins to come through when we need him.   And the play by the Defense this year has been mildly disappointing.  I want to see my team beat two quality opponents in the next two weeks on the road.

Trophy Out For 2019

I held out as long as I dare hoping some warm weather might show up, but it was not to be.  The Trophy is out for 2019.  One more night in the water and it would probably have been a lot tougher breaking her out.

Vikings Outlook After Week 7: Some Optimism Is In Order

I didn't get around to my post week 6 outlook.  I was guardedly optimistic that after the throat punch the Lions got in there loss to the Pack on Monday Night Football would land us a win and it did.  Bravo Vikes!  The O-Line looks like they are coming together nicely and the O is hitting on all cylinders. It's hard to know whether or not Cuzzbuzz is coming into his own or whether this is the same ole say ole of Kirk beating up on inferior competition.  The Lions flat out got ripped off in Lambert last week and that crowd in Detroit was rocking giving the game a playoff feel. 

The Vikes versus the Skins at home should be a win.  But it is a primetime game, a Cousins bugaboo, and we got beat by the Bills at home last year. You can't take anything for granted in the NFL.  Keenum will give us his best shot, but I think the D has something to prove as they can't be happy with their performance versus the Lions.

Outlook: Thumbs Up! 

Challenge Cup On Platte/Sullivan Tomorrow

I would have been fishing two tournaments this weekend, but the cold/windy weather on Saturday resulted in the Snatchers Mini-Bucks being canceled.  The Challenge Cup will be held on Platte/Sullivan on Sunday.  The Challenge Cup is a tournament between the 3 Brainerd area bass clubs. Unfortunately, due to Pete coming up this week, I was unable to get any pre-fishing in by myself.  My boater will be Arnie Farber from the Range Club.  Apparently, he didn't have a particularly good pre-fish, or maybe he was sandbagging to Tuma.  If we are on nothing, I've got a few ideas on where we might be able to catch some fish.

Rods I'm Bringing:
7'4" H Zillion (Jig)
7'4" H Tatula XL (Spinnerbait)
7'4" H Tatula (Swimbait)
7'2" H Tatula (Jig)
7'2" MH Tatula (Chatterjig)
7' H Avid (Craw Tube)
7' MH Mojo (Chatterjig)
7' M Avid (Senko)

Vikings Outlook After Week 5: Still Concerned

The Vikes took a step forward on the road offensively against the Giants, which is a good sign.  This week get a little stiffer test versus the Eagles at home.  If we see continued improvement on both sides of the ball that should equal a win.  Hopefully, Wentz will be running for his life. 

In The Mail Today From All-Terrain Tackle

All-Terrain Tackle sent me a jig assortment for my fantasy team coming in first in their group for the Elite Angler Of Year tournament.

Thank You All-Terrain

My Snatcher Tournament On Leech Lake

2/11 Evergreen Soft Shell Frog

Sarah getting prepared to teach Chuck Steinbauer how it's done.

Beau Wins 4th Co-Angler Challenge of the Year.

Tuma Wins and Got Lunker As Well

Conditions: 37-57℉, Sunny turning mostly Cloudy around 2PM, 0-4mph NE

The Day:
I forgot to bring my sunglasses. Fortunately, my boater had an extra pair in his glove box. Also, drawing a partner with dual consoles was nice, so I didn't freeze on the ride to Boy Bay. We started in the reeds on the North end of Bear Island. I got the first bite of the day on a junebug Craw Tube, but it got off. I thought it was a bass, but my line was frayed, so it could be a pike. I got two other bites in the reeds. The first one dropped it immediately, and the second had me into a reed before I could set the hook. I wasn't able to get either fish to hit again. After an hour of that, we headed for some rice.

We started shallow, working our way along the rice line to deeper rice. Ruff had a couple fish strike at his frog but not hook up. The second fish was 2/3lb bass that jumped completely out of the water but didn't get the frog. Once we got to the deeper rice, Paul put the first small keeper in the boat on a craw tube. I think slightly before that, Dennis showed up and started fishing about 50 yards up or so in the direction we were heading. I took that as a positive sign. Paul got the second fish of the day as well. He only got one more non-keeper for the rest of the day. He had about the same number of bites as me. Over the next couple of hours, I managed to get 4 keepers in the boat on the junebug Craw Tube. I missed a couple of bites on a frog and a few on the Craw Tube. By noon my upper back was sore.

At About 1:30PM, we left the rice for the northern Shoreline of Boy, where we fished a couple of docks, some rushes which transitioned into rice. We didn't get anything. So we went in search of reed beds on that northern shore. Ruff got his short there. After an hour of fishing time, we returned to the rice, and Dennis was there again. We put into the rice about 50 yards away. Paul missed a fish, and I got a keeper on a Green Pumpkin/Brown craw tube. Shortly after that, Dennis motored in much closer to us and informed us we came right in on the juice. He also reported his non-boater Snatcher rookie Jon Notsch was kicking his ass. I asked Dennis what size weight they were using. He was using 1oz and said Jon used a 1/2oz, but Jon said he was now using 1oz as well. I ended up getting bit off, so I switched back to the junebug Craw Tube and upgraded to a 1/2oz weight: I had been using 5/16th. We motored back on the other side of Dennis, and I quickly got my limit fish in the boat. I got a fish that wouldn't help and got bit off two more times. With 20 minutes left, I got two culls on an Evergreen Frog, including my big fish of the day.

The Results: My bass weighed 11/04, putting me in 10th Place out of 20 anglers. 1st Place and Lunker were caught by Keith Tuma (20/02) (4/01). The Co-Angler Challenge was won by Beau Bacon for 4th time this year with a 3rd Place finish out of Tim Benson's boat. Three anglers blanked, and only 8 limits were caught. Tough bite.

I ended up in 9th Place for the year.

My Thoughts: I didn't fish particularly efficiently because I struggled with casting accuracy all day, thanks to a poor night's rest and the long day I spent on the water on Thursday. Other than that, I fished well. We spent at least half the day where there were no fish.   Once again, a kicker fish eluded me.

So Close!

I didn't really follow the Elite Series or any form of Professional Fishing this year.  Thankfully I managed to put together two pretty good line ups for fantasy fishing this year.  The one for Elite Series AOY tournament was probably my best ever.

I picked Seth because it's a smallmouth fishery, duh!  The same goes for Gussy.  I didn't even realize Wendlandt was fishing the Elite Series until I saw his name at the penultimate event, so I picked him for that one.  He didn't do great, but I decided to stick with him.  Jamie Hartman is just a solid angler and always worthy of being picked.

"Big money, small town boy makes sense
So I'm pushin' all my chips on my man Cliff Prince"

Jamie Hartman caught a monster bag on Day 2.  Unfortunately, he was unable to do the same on Day 3 and so my line-up was unable to take the top spot.

Vikings Outlook After Week 4: A Bit Concerned

Seeing as how Chicago was the only team in the Division to win this week our loss to the Bears isn't the end of the world as we are only a game back.  The team just couldn't get out of its own way yesterday.  The penalty on the play Trubisky got injured and fumbled.  The multiple holding penalties and fumbles just doomed us on offense.  The missed bomb to Theilen when Kirk wasn't pressured on the first drive of the game.  Losing Trubisky may have been a stroke of good luck for Da Bears.  I've got to give the Bears credit for shutting our running game down and holding the ball for so long in the first half.  Starting the second half with a pass play was a poor strategic choice in my opinion.  I thought the Vikes gave up on the run to easy in this one.  Well, that is now water under the bridge.  We have got a rookie quarterback to beat next week.

Snatcher Tournament on Leech Lake Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the final Baxter Bass Snatchers tournament of the year on Leech Lake.  I wasn't able to get out to pre-fish.  My boater got out for a little while this week, so we aren't going in totally blind.  The forecast is calling for almost no wind and a sub 40-degree morning with temps only reaching the mid 50's.  Hopefully, the fish will be biting and not shut down.

Here are the Rods I'm Bringing:
7'6" MH LTB (Tokyo Rig Craw Tube)
7'4" XH Zillion (Frog)
7'4" H Tatula (Frog, Chatterjig)
7'4" H Avid X (Swimbait, Toads, Buzzbait)
7'4" H Zillion (Jigs)
7'2" H Tatula (Jigs)
7' H Avid (Texas Rig)
7' M Avid (Neko Rig)

Vikings Outlook After Week 3: Fingers Crossed Thumbs Up

This weeks game in Chicago is of mucho importance if we are going to compete for the Division Title.  Da Bears are playing on a short week, so they will probably be more vulnerable than the Packers were with an extended week of preparation.  If the Vikes don't turn the ball over I think we've got a pretty good chance.

Vikings Outlook After Week 2: Still Thumbs Up!

The Defense had a bad quarter and Cousins performance was atrocious for the most part.  Losing the second game of the season in Green Bay 21-16 does not give me a reason to panic.  The penalty call on the Diggs touchdown was bogus and without it, I don't think Diggs takes his helmet off.    The Defensive performance in the final 3 quarters was steller.  Our running game is solid.  Sure it's tough losing a game that was there for the taking, but it isn't the end of the world.  Cousins play is what it is, which is wildly inconsistent and generally below average when facing good opponents.  On Sunday his play was just flat out poor and it cost us the win.  Hopefully, the coaching staff can find a way to get into Cousins's head and get him to perform better when the lights are brightest.  I don't see us losing versus the Raiders at home and the Bears game is definitely winnable if we can eliminate the turnovers.  My outlook for the team is still positive.

I reached My Goal of 1,500 Bass Caught For the Year

If the weather is good I have an outside shot at getting to 2,000 for the year. 

I don't think I'm going to make it to a 1,000 Pike which was my goal for them.

Vikings Outlook After Week One: Thumbs Up

There are no if's and's or but's about it the Vikes looked like a much-improved team in week one.  Dalvin looked like he is a force to be reconned with.  And the D,  love those turnovers.  Keep it up, boys.

Mille Lacs Closing For Walleye, I'm Not A Happy Camper Right Now

Just last week the word from the DNR was that a closure would not be necessary.  This is complete bullshit.  The lake is healthy and exceeding the quota by a little bit isn't going to change that fact.  This decision really has me steaming mad.

I have written the Governor and my state Rep. and Senator.

Goal Reached: Fishing With Thompson

Got out fishing with Cyb Saturday Night and Sunday Morning

Aug. 17th Gull/Crow Wing River Snatcher Tournament Full Report

Checkbook Won the Co-angler Challenge with 15/4 

Conditions: 81-65℉, Mostly Sunny, 5-15mph South

The Day:
We started at the rice island at the confluence of the two rivers where Bruce got the two bites prefishing.  There was notably no activity going on here while there was plenty of it when we pre-fished.  We didn't get a bite.  There was some activity to the South of us just off of the rice.  When we got down there I had a fish hit my Piranha Chatterjig, but not hook up.  It jolted the rod like a pike.  That was the only bite we got along the rice.  We then headed across to the slop matt which wasn't nearly as well-formed as when we pre-fished; It shrunk significantly.  I saw a fish come out of the water.  I had bruce get me in casting range and I got a hit on the Spro Sprinker Frog but it didn't hook up.  It was a small fish.  Couldn't get a follow-up hit on a swim jig, Piranha, or craw tube.  We worked our way to the South end of the mat.  There was activity there and I was just about to say expect to get a bite when Bruce had a hit on his swim jig.  It got off.  Bruce is pretty sure it was a bass.  A couple of minutes later I had the grub tail get bit off the Piranha.  I replaced it with a Zoom Speed Craw.  We worked back over the point and I directed Bruce to take us into a cut slop.  I got my first bass there.  I was so relieved not to be skunked.  We worked up the East side of the slop mat without any luck.

Next, we went to re-work our starting spot coming up from the NW along the shoreline.  I got my second bass along the shoreline on the Piranha.  Didn't get anything on the second pass.  I think we then went a little way up the Crow Wing to where Bruce got a bass the first day he pre-fished. Bruce got a pike and I got a pike in the rice slop on a 1oz Jig/Craw.  I was so ticked it wasn't a bass.

We then tried a spot in the confluence we hadn't pre-fished and didn't get a bit.  We then ran up the Gull River to a narrow section.  I got my third bass there at the entrance to the narrow section on a white double willow white Strike King Spinnerbait.  We fished a few more spots without any luck in the Gull River.  We went back to the starting spot.  Nothing doing.

We then ran up the river.  Bruce thought he missed a bite.  I got an 11-inch short largemouth.  I thought I missed a bass, immediately threw back to the spot and got a pike that stole my spinnerbait when it came off the Power Clip.  Was not to happy about that.  We ended the day where I got my second fish.
  

Results: My fish officially weighed 6/01 which put me in 14th Place out of 18 anglers. Bruce got skunked and came in last.  The winner was Keith Tuma who set a new all-time record bag for the club with 24/8.  Lunker went to Ruff with a 6/03 mega pig.  Checkbook took the Co-Angler Challenge with 15/4.

My Thoughts:  I got a tough break when I drew Bruce for a boater.  He s an outstanding guy, but he is a novice when it comes to bass fishing.  I think Bruce probably would have preferred if I would have taken charge and run the boat.  If I ever get partnered with him again I'll see if he wants me to do that.  The thing is I enjoy the challenge of fishing from the back end of the boat without having to worry about controlling the boat.  I did do some boat control coaching, which I think Bruce found helpful.  If I would have taken control of the boat I would have thrown a frog a lot more than I did.  A frog was a key bait for Tuma and Ruff.

Thanks to the number of guys that elected not to fish this tournament I am basically guaranteed to reach my goal of being in the Top 10 at the end of the year.

Gull/Crow Wing River Tournament Tomorrow

There has been far too much trepidation about this tournament in my brain.  Maybe the fishing gods will smile on me tomorrow or maybe they won't and it will be a really tough day on the water.  I've just got to fish the best I can and not allow myself to get stressed out if I miss a fish or they aren't biting.  

Here a the Rods I'm Bringing

7'6" MH LTB (Tokyo Rig Craw Tube)

7'4" XH Zillion (Frog)

7'4" H Tatula (Frog)

7'4" H Zillion (Jig)

7'2" H Tatula (Jig)

7'1" MH Tatula (Swim Jig)

7' MHM Mojo (Chatter Jig)

7' H Avid (Craw Tube)

7' M Avid (Neko Rig)

6'8" Avid M (Topwater)

Why I Am Not Drunk The On Purple Kool Aid This Year

Simply put, Kirk Cousins showed he wasn't up to the task when the competition was good and the lights were bright.  That was knock on him coming into last season and he played true to form.  Hopefully, things will go better for Captain Kirk this year.  Maybe our O-Line play and running game improve and things finally click for Kirk against the top of the line competition.  I don't have any faith in Kirk becoming what we need. 

Our defense needs to improve as well.  More turnovers men, more turnovers! 

July 27th Snatcher Tournament @Rabbit Lake

Typical Rabbit 2lber caught Pre-fishing in the Pads

Conditions: 83-65℉, Partly Cloudy, 3-12mph WNW
WT: High 70's

The Day:
We blasted off 4th right behind Chuck Fields and wouldn't you know it he went right to our starting spot as well which was off of the big point on the North of the pit side of the lake.  Darren set us down to the West of Fields and we started working towards him.  I had a 1.91lb bass jump on my 3/8 black/blue jig pretty much immediately.  I got it in the box and it was a repeat performance with a slightly smaller fish.  The fished seemed to shut down on the jig after that. I threw out a Neko rigged Yum Dinger and got a 1.30lber on that immediately.  I think Darren got his first fish shortly after that and I got a short.  We worked back over where I got the fish to start and didn't get anything, Fields worked to the East so we went to where he started and I got 1.70lb fish that hit my jig on the fall.  After maybe an hour and a half we went to our second spot which was in the NE section of the pit lake.  I made the mistake of checking our fish while we were running and I shut the livewell on one of my rod tips breaking it, doh!  I got a 1.19  and my 2/8 lunker to fill out my limit on the jig.  I then culled up with 1.71lb fish on the jig.  Darrin was getting a little better quality of fish on a blue/black craw tube, so I started throwing that and I got a  1.63lb fish on that;  I thought the fish was a weed at first.  We were just about to leave to go fish the pads when I got a 2.05lb fish on the jig next to a dock.

The pads didn't even yield a blow-up for me, but Darren got a couple of fish there and missed some solid blow-ups.  Next, we went out and worked the roadbed.  I think I got a 2.13lb out there along with a couple that didn't help.  We went back to our second spot and I got my last fish of the day there on the craw tube (2.20).

Results: My fish weighed 13/02 with 2/8 big fish which beat Hammers 2/06 big thus putting me in 12th Place.  Darren's fish weighed 14lbs with 3/04 big which put him in 10th Place.  The tournament was won by Jim "Smitty" Smith 17/03.  Lunker weighed 3/14 and was caught by Mick Ziebell.

My thoughts: I don't think I lost any fish that hurt me.  I just didn't have a shot at a kicker that would have put me in the top half of the field.

  

Personal Best LMB

 

6.26lbs/20.25"

I got it on the then forever-to-be-dubbed 6lb Flat. I caught it on a Big Sexy Mad Maxx.

Rabbit Lake Quick Recap

3 out of 4 for Beau Bacon

Had a fun good day on the water with plenty of fish caught. Unfortunately for me, I didn't get a kicker bite. A limit of 2lbers just doesn't get the job done at this lake.  I think everyone that is in my tier of people in the AOY race beat me.  Making the Top 10 this year is going to be a challenge because as it appears there are 15 anglers with a legitimate shot of making the Top 10 this year.  Who I draw for our next tournament at Gull River is probably make or break for my Top 10  hopes.  Reputation is that it is a really tough fishery and not getting skunked should be my number 1 goal for that tournament right now.   

Snatcher Tournament On Rabbit Lake Tomorrow

Rabbit Lake 2lber from Pre-fish

Since 2007, a year before I joined the Bass Snatchers, the Snatchers have fished Rabbit Lake very three years.  So this will be my fourth tournament there with the club.  I've fished a "Mini-Bucks" and an old Excel Bass Circuit Tournament that I finished 3rd in when I first moved up here.  I have a lot of experience on the lake and have fished it with some of the clubs best fishermen.  My boater Darren usually brings in an over 2lb per fish average here.   We had a productive pre-fish.  Hopefully, the weather will be a little cooler and cloudier than forecast.  Feeling good about this one, but know I can't take anything for granted in a tournament.

Rods I'm Bringing:
7'4" H Tatula (Frog)
7'4" H Mod Zillion (Tokyo Rig/Jig)
7'1" MH Tatula (Jig)
7' H Avid (Craw Tube)
7'MH Mod Mojo (Bladed Jig)
6'8" M Avid (Topwater)
6'6" MH GLX 783 (Jig/Texas Rig)

Spin:
6'6" M GLX 782 (Dinger, Neko, Ned)

Snatcher July 13th Tournament at Farm Island Lake

Co-Angler Champion for the Day

What my scale says I had.

Thoughts Coming In:  We had a very good pre-fish.  I was a little concerned because it was a deep jig bite.  While I can catch fish that way I know it is an area of weakness as I miss a lot of bites.  My boater Bill Lundenia is a jig master.  I figured I would see if they would hit a craw tube, which I'm much more comfortable with and switch if Bill was catching them on a jig.

Conditions: 83-66℉, Some clouds in the morning turning sunny, 0-4mph WSW
WT: High 70s

The Day: We went South to start where the fish were bigger on average in pre-fish.  I started by throwing a River2Sea Bubble Walker over the calm lake.  A pike jumped about 5-feet in the air and was my first fish in the boat.  After about 10-minutes it was clear that any area fish didn't want it on top, so I switched to the craw tube and pretty quickly got a 2lber.  I got one other 2lber, but it was not happening so we went to the "Smallmouth Hole".  I picked up a quick keeper as did Bill.  Then Bill had a 3lber throw his jig. I got a couple more 2-pounders on the craw tube.  We then went to a hump and I got 2.66lber on the craw tube.  The sun came out.  We tried one more spot in Farm Island then headed for Little Pine.

Bill got a bass in Little Pine on the jig, so I switched to the jig immediately.  I missed 3 or 4 bites.  Bill was missing bites and getting bit off.  It was dead calm and minnows were skittering around above the milfoil, so I thought I would throw a few casts with the Bubble Walker.  On the second cast, a 3lber took it but immediately jumped and threw the bait.  Bill then had a good fish break off at the rod.  He was looking for his line; The fish he lost jumped and immediately my lunker of the day (3lbs) struck the topwater.  I got a bass that didn't keep on my very next cast.  That all happened in the span of about 6 casts for me.

We went back into Farm Island and fished some docks.  I tried out the Neko Rig like I said I was going to do.  I got one that almost helped me breaking my Techna AV rod in the process. I got a couple of dinks as well.  We went back to everywhere we fished in the morning and I had a few fish pick up a brown/green pumpkin craw tube.  We ended the day watching Checkbook snatch a good one.  Bill only got 5 keepers in the boat.

Results: My fish went 14/8 which put me in 4th Place and allowed me to be the Co-Angler Champion.  The tournament was won by Tim Benson with 16/2 and Tim got "Lunker" with a 3/08 fish.

My Thoughts: A good day for me, some tough luck kept it from being a good day for Bill as well.  I may not switch a thing up for the next tournament at Rabbit Lake.