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We got there and launched at 4:30 AM. There were already several guys there. They had everybody launch and prepare for a 6:00 AM shotgun start (in a no wake zone ) As we sat waiting for all the boats to launch, I got bored and wanted to test my equipment so I tied on a spinner and took a cast about 15 or 20 minutes prior to start time... Wham bass on You should of seen all there stairs, had to make sure everyone clearly seen me release that one... And the small pike I hooked on the next "early" cast That was about the time my partner Lee insisted I stop before they kicked us hillbillys out of the tourny. We got our boat to drift about a quarter mile from the ramp while we waited, but at about 5 minutes to 6, the man made us come back over to listen to the rules. Kind of funny that everytime he said a rule he was pointing at our boat, or stairing at us.
Anywho, the whistle blew and we were off. This was an important tourny for us, I had a dinner bet with the Gran Cracker, and we all know how much Dan likes to open the wallet. So we flew over to the 1st spot we had chosen and within 5 minutes it starts pouring rain and Lee hooks into a good pike. After a bit of a fight he gets it landed. 26 3/4 long. Before the rain can stop I nail a good bass. Into the live well and keep movin....
I was also hammering alot of very close, but undersize fish. Then after the rain in the next spot I hit a bigger bass. 17 1/2 Lee just kept complaining about all the bites he was getting but couldn't hook anything. After 3 1/2 hours Lee checked the fish and we had troubles, the live wells pump and airaitor had gone out and the big bass was not looking good. I performed CPR while Lee raced back for the docks to get them measured and released. We get there and the official measure dood is out somewhere on the lake and we had to wait for him (During prime fishing time ) Everyone was given his cell phone number so he could go to them to keep em fishing. But, no the hillbillys don't have a cell phone Soooo, after over an hour waisted, we were off to win the contest.
As were were "flying" thru the no wake zone I noticed a boat go write past us going very slowly with two men stairing at us. as it turned around to come up behind us I noticed it said "LAKE PATROL" on the side of the boat... Turned out Lee had forgoten to register his boat for the last "several" years. The guy was a good guy and he left us off the hook with a couple warnings ( Like, NO Lee, you can't have the life jackets locked in a compartment where they are unaccessable ) Anywho there goes another 45 minutes ...
So Lee says the tourny is almost over lets get to the other end of the lake and we need to pick up one more fish.. Agreed. We get there as a huge black cloud roles over and the lightning starts to crash down all around us. Just moments before the the heavy downpour begins Lee makes a discovery. He holds up the lure he has been getting all the bites on and no hook ups ever since he caught the big pike and says look at this, that pike must of bit off the hook
So with the water dangerous and only an hour left, we head for the dock. By the time we got there the rain stopped so we pulled off to where lee had got the big pike and thought we would get one last try in. We pounded until we only had a 1/2 hour left, but Lee insisted we push it right to the buzzer. We almost got disqualified for getting back late (thanks Lee) By the time Lee had gotten the boat parked the awards were already over. We came in 8th place with cash prizes paid out to 5th. Not bad for only fishing for 1/2 the tourny.
There is always next year...
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Dan Infalt
Once saved a dead puppy with just a smile
WWW.BLOODBRO.COM
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