The temperature was high, the wind was low, the bugs were everywhere but the fish were biting and the eighteen teams that participated in the next to last tournament of the year were happy to be there. Many teams reported catching multiple limits, with bass being caught all day and some of the largest fish coming later in the day. The day started out, as usual, with a good supply of donuts, blueberry pies and various sweets provided by Lloyd and Jennifer. Thanks a lot.
Strangely there were no altercations at the ramp, everyone arrived on time, no mechanical failures and Jack didn't have anything to yell about. Very strange indeed. The only thing that happened on the water seems to be Bill Groseclose falling out of his boat, again, and Brian Wical's live well pumps went out.
The biggest days problem was the dead fish (14) and the weigh-in procedures. The FWC permit is very specific about the time fish can be in a weigh bag, two minutes unless supplemental aeration and/or water exchange is provided. Due to the high temperatures, the weigh-in procedures will have to be modified so that the club can minimize the lost of bass. We will need to call up individual teams to the weigh-in scales to minimize the loss of bass due to long weigh-in lines, so at the Lake Washington tournament be patient and the club offices will get it done in a efficient manner.
Buddy Perry and Preston Humphries took first place with one of the largest bags of the year at 22.73 pounds. The mega limit included a 7.53 pounder that Buddy caught and easily claimed the Big Bass of the tournament prize. They reported catching multiple limits on crankbaits or was it top water or maybe rattle traps but what ever it was it was working great. Congratulations on the big bag and especially with no dead fish.
Second place was almost as lucky as first but with two dead fish and a good bag weighing 20.81 pounds, Mark Williams fishing with alternate Charlie Antitamaso claimed the prize using Mega speed worms.
Third place finishers, Mike Calloway and William Flood, narrowly took third place with 19.52 pounds and two dead fish. Flippin pads with a sweet beaver and Last Cast skirts along with a variety of other baits and some last minute culls made the difference.
The Lake Washington tournament will be filled with a lot of club business for the ensuing year as we will be voting on club officers, select the lakes to fish and discuss any changes to the club by-laws. There will be hamburgers and hot dogs served at the pavilion (five dollar donation) after the weigh-in has concluded thanks to William Flood for making the arrangements. The club president will announce the top ten teams along with the wild card for the classic and there will be a selection of the lake to be fished and any special rules that the club sees fit to put in place for the Classic tournament.
Good Luck and see you there.
