I attended the District #46 of the American Bass Anglers tournament on Pool 16 of the Mississippi River this past Sunday June 27. The river was at flood stage and fishing was very tough for most of the field. No fish were caught in the normal still backwater spots as those spots had once again become part of the main river with swift currents running through them.
The river level did make the old Hennepin Canal accessible from the river and this is where 2nd and 3rd place boats were able to find a few fish after removing the windshield to get under a bridge.
Even in tough conditions there is someone that can manage to find them. Normal I have to look on with envy but this time I can say it was finally me. I was able to take 1st place with 11.5lbs and Big Bass honors with 3.75lbs. I think I found the 1st truly perfect spot in my career. The problem is the spot will seldom ever produce as it did that day. Because the water had been high enough to fill an area through a small culvert but was now falling, I lucked up on a spot with clear water flowing back in and covered with lots of baitfish. Bass would come in every so often to feed but there wasn’t an all day bite. I wasn’t sure how long it would produce but I stayed because I didn’t know where else to go.
Well as it turned out it was the right choice. The strange thing was the right side of the culvert looks just like the left in all ways except the eddy turned opposite but I would only catch fish on the right with a River FINatic Spinnerbait, or a Cheater Buzz and I only caught fish on a Shakie Shad Crankbait all from Strictly Bass Lures. Looking back at my day I feel good that I understand the spot and why it produced but I can’t understand why this happend. Any thoughts?
From my memory, Second place went to Mike Killing with about 2 fish 3.5lbs and third place to Jesse Reynolds with 2 fish at 3lbs.