FLW shattered their total weight record (which was last set on Champlain in 2002) and the number of limits brought in. For those of you griping about the weights......2 MASSIVE cold fronts, 30 mph south winds on 1 day, and water temps in the 50's and 60's! That's why, if you don't believe me.....too bad. I have pics to prove that if you KNEW how to fish my lake, like a particular guide who shall go un-named, 17-19 lbs a day was certain. Lets just say....when they come back in 2006 I will NOT let $200k slip through my fingers again if it means selling a kidney. And I have 5 reporters, FLW employees, and some pics coming soon to back it up!
Anyhow, day 1:
Beautiful start to the day, and I was expecting a lot bigger weights, and I don't know why they didn't come in. A lot more guys ran south than I thought. One was David Walker who made the top ten and funny enough, my buddy Kenny (tourney partner) was the one who drove Walker back to weigh in and he was fishing the same places and ways that Kenny and I did for our check on opening weekends. Huh, I fished the same ways and places as a top FLW pro.....who'd a thunk it?
The fish were in all phases of the spawn. At least the smallies were. Some were pre, some WERE, and some were post. Largemouth were all either at the end of bedding or totally post spawn.
But my favorite flats were flat out PUMMLED with dozens of boats from 2 weeks prior to the tourney, to day 2.
Day 2, winds out of the south at 25+ MPH. The old boys didn't get to see Champlain at her finest last time, but they sure did this year. It still didn't blow like it did for our Everstart last year, but we had 5-6 footers that were every which way as the wind kept shifting. I saw a brand new 901 with a 200 Opti hanging off the back only by the steering cables and gas connections. Saw another Statos with a cracked transom and the motor barely on....crooked but on. Helped pull Schad Shencks (sp?) 7up boat off the rocks after he ditched it when it stalled. We tore it up pulling it off. Boat was totally swamped, but still didn't sink. That's a 520 for ya. Several other boats got towed in that day. That was why the weights got so small that day.
Got a nice 2 1/2 female a mile from the ramp, and the FLW media guy with me wanted to take her back for some pics. I told him she wouldn't be 2 1/2 lbs when we got back. Sure enough, in that mile, she was down to 2 lbs with 1/2 lb of eggs in my livewell.
Note: CLEAN out eggs from livewells VERY well. They have a sticky substance that gums up your screens and valves!!! LOL
Day 3:
First day for the top 10, my buddy, Charles Pearson (stayed with me during the tourney along with 7up pro Rob Pearson, not related) took 6th place and a check for $7000. He was 1 fish short of a limit. That fish would have put him in contention for sure. I was up with Jeff Schrodeder of FLW, the guy that does Pundit's picks, and Dave Washburn and we fished slightly in from Randy Blaukat. I predicted Randy to lead it that day given where and how he was fishing and he did. I however, outfished him and Jeff made sure to tell him. Not cool Jeff, don't need any enemies on the trail before I even get there! LOL Kidding, Randy was cool about it, but I couldn't share the info as badly as I wanted to.
Day 4: Blue bird skies and flat calm water. PERFECT.....so why didn't they nail them? I just plain don't know. I took Charles out and since he had been in the back of the boat all week, put him on the TM which he loved. He wanted to sight fish so sight fish we did. Randy was up there, but fished too deep and threw a jerkbait. It was just too calm for a jerkbait.
It was an awesome tourney, I took out Dan Johnson of North American Fisherman. He is supposed to do an article on my guide service and another in the fall. That will make it all worth it.
Be sure to catch the FLW recap on OLN to see some of the footage of boats coming clean out o
Anyhow, day 1:
Beautiful start to the day, and I was expecting a lot bigger weights, and I don't know why they didn't come in. A lot more guys ran south than I thought. One was David Walker who made the top ten and funny enough, my buddy Kenny (tourney partner) was the one who drove Walker back to weigh in and he was fishing the same places and ways that Kenny and I did for our check on opening weekends. Huh, I fished the same ways and places as a top FLW pro.....who'd a thunk it?
The fish were in all phases of the spawn. At least the smallies were. Some were pre, some WERE, and some were post. Largemouth were all either at the end of bedding or totally post spawn.
But my favorite flats were flat out PUMMLED with dozens of boats from 2 weeks prior to the tourney, to day 2.
Day 2, winds out of the south at 25+ MPH. The old boys didn't get to see Champlain at her finest last time, but they sure did this year. It still didn't blow like it did for our Everstart last year, but we had 5-6 footers that were every which way as the wind kept shifting. I saw a brand new 901 with a 200 Opti hanging off the back only by the steering cables and gas connections. Saw another Statos with a cracked transom and the motor barely on....crooked but on. Helped pull Schad Shencks (sp?) 7up boat off the rocks after he ditched it when it stalled. We tore it up pulling it off. Boat was totally swamped, but still didn't sink. That's a 520 for ya. Several other boats got towed in that day. That was why the weights got so small that day.
Got a nice 2 1/2 female a mile from the ramp, and the FLW media guy with me wanted to take her back for some pics. I told him she wouldn't be 2 1/2 lbs when we got back. Sure enough, in that mile, she was down to 2 lbs with 1/2 lb of eggs in my livewell.
Note: CLEAN out eggs from livewells VERY well. They have a sticky substance that gums up your screens and valves!!! LOL
Day 3:
First day for the top 10, my buddy, Charles Pearson (stayed with me during the tourney along with 7up pro Rob Pearson, not related) took 6th place and a check for $7000. He was 1 fish short of a limit. That fish would have put him in contention for sure. I was up with Jeff Schrodeder of FLW, the guy that does Pundit's picks, and Dave Washburn and we fished slightly in from Randy Blaukat. I predicted Randy to lead it that day given where and how he was fishing and he did. I however, outfished him and Jeff made sure to tell him. Not cool Jeff, don't need any enemies on the trail before I even get there! LOL Kidding, Randy was cool about it, but I couldn't share the info as badly as I wanted to.
Day 4: Blue bird skies and flat calm water. PERFECT.....so why didn't they nail them? I just plain don't know. I took Charles out and since he had been in the back of the boat all week, put him on the TM which he loved. He wanted to sight fish so sight fish we did. Randy was up there, but fished too deep and threw a jerkbait. It was just too calm for a jerkbait.
It was an awesome tourney, I took out Dan Johnson of North American Fisherman. He is supposed to do an article on my guide service and another in the fall. That will make it all worth it.
Be sure to catch the FLW recap on OLN to see some of the footage of boats coming clean out o
