Grant County Open at Prairie.

This weekends fishing was for some awful and for others wonderful. I guess understanding what the fish do in high water makes all the difference in the world.
A special thanks to Gordon at RC Tackle. His wisdom is much appreciated.

Sundays events played out like a James Patterson novel. Some how I drew boat number 1 while Thad Takes drew boat number 2. The morning was pleasant and the temps more closely matched conditions I am accustomed to. This being said and the fact that I was with my father for what we like to call our “Fathersday” Tourney, We were undoubtedly bound for success. We measure success in laughter and soda’s. –grin-

Well 90% of the field went south out of prairie while myself and Thad decided to head north. We fished within 200 yards of each other all day and I was pleasantly affirmed in his ethics. We allowed each other thee own areas and did our best without infringing in the others space. Around 8:30 I say Thad and Harold shake hands assuming that just finished the 8 fish limit. Having 7 in the boat at this time I knew we were in a shoot out. We both stayed home and fished the type of tourney experienced anglers fish and managed to fill out livewells with our best catch. Honestly I knew it would be close. All the fish in this general area were the cookie cutter 2-3 lb fish.

Now its around noon and we decide to head back through the lock to we make our way down to the landing and fish around there a while with nothing to speak of. One really neat thing did happen and that is we boated a DogFish. The fins and entire belly of this fish were the brightest chartreuse I have ever seen. It was surreal. Anyway, back to the story. At weigh in I say the fish they were pulling out of there livewell. They were dandies! My stomach sank a little as I watched what I though was the winning weight.
Thad weighed in first, remember he is boat number 2 and I was boat number 1. He had 23.14 with a 3.9 kicker. As I make my way to the weigh in I bring my pile of fish to the bucket. I notice he has a look of concern… As I weight my big fish it is 3.9. huh, I though to myself. This is really going to be close as I started to feel a little better. We finally dumped the rest in and the scale is reading 23.10 , 23.12. 23.13 and stops on 23.14
What are the odds. We had the exact same weight, exact same big fish…
We tied for first and second and spit the money. We drew boats 1 and 2….

Quick somebody call Guinness.

Anyway, we tied for first so in my book that means we won yet another. I have been blessed more than I deserve this year but I am thankful nonetheless. Next year I recommend this tournament to anyone. Very laidback and a great group of guys…
Thanks Grant County Bass!
Jc

How ’bout if I just drink a Guiness instead?

Congrats to you and your old man, couldn’t have been easy with the high water.

Good job, JC. How many boats ended up in the tournament? I really wanted to do it, but prior commitments wouldn’t let me. I saw that the BFL had a ton of boats, of course the early ones usually do. I really struggle finding fish in the high water.

Thanks guys.
It was a small tourney. 30ish boats. The high water seems to have scared off a few fisherman. The waters were very quiet for this time if year especially considering the weather.
jc

You buy’in?
I’m in.
jc

CONGRATS JC,
My guess is that even if you took dead last BUT had a great day with DAD it would have been time very well spent!
You Da Man

Awesome recap JC….thanks for sharing it with us !!

I’ll pick up a pack of the nitro-wege cans and head over to Crocodile lake.

It may not be much for fishin’, but it sure is a nice place to have a beer and a burger!

When can I expect you?
I can already taste them… The lake of a great fishery if you abandon all the “traditional” methods of taking bass and use a little creativity. This lake of plum full of bass. Just ask any bank angler using 2″ sunnies as bait. -grin-
jc

You’ll have to school me on non-traditional methods. Whenever I go out there, I can see the buggers, but they’re just too tight-lipped to jump in my boat. It’s probably the only lake nearby where you can actually sight-fish, and I swear when they’re not cooperating it’s the most frustrating thing

As far as when, I’ll chat with the wife and PM you.

Gianni, You might not like to use live bait, but I’ve had some really good luck sight fishing in situations like you describe using a crawler without a bobber or a crappie minnow. I think the fish get conditioned to people shore fishing with bobbers and the clear water gives them too good of a look at artificial lures at times. I’ve also done well early and late with small topwater baits and small tubes and jigs. The key seems to be downsizing and trying to present the bait as naturally as possible.