Amazing though it may seem, I actually slept in until 445 AM. I had to shake Cast awake to get him to go outside. The moon was high in the sky and the stars
twinkled revealing clear skies. The 54 degree temperature was cool and there was no breeze at all.
Beth and I Loaded up, hooked up and pulled out of the driveway as a light fog was beginning to form along the Hocking River. As we got closer to the Lake, the fog got a little heavier. The air temperature was obviously colder than the ground and water temperature.
Beth and I arrived at the Lake , launched the boat and visited with our friends. The summer had gone by much to quickly to suit us. Today would bring 25 of us together again. After today, we would have 32 who will be qualified to fish in the Final Fish Off on October fourth. Next week, a few more will have their twelve tournaments in and will qualify.
Blast off was a bit foggy but not enough to keep us from running up the lake. We had planned on using Buzz Baits early. Beth had a small version tied on and I had a larger long shanked one on. We would work them around moss, wood and rocks. Deep, shallow and parallel to the banks. If these failed, then we had cranks and worms and jigs.
At around 9 AM Beth hooked a keeper on a worm. Then about 5 minutes later I got another one, a bit smaller than Beth's but still a keeper. We would boat 3 more fish for a total of 5 but would only have the 2 keepers to show for our efforts at weigh in .
It had been a beautiful day to be on the water. The surface was like glass until around 1030 AM when a fairly stiff breeze blew up. The Sky was blue with wispy white clouds. The heat was not overpowering.
We saw Larry Sali who told us that he had 2, a big one and a kicker. He also told us of a huge catfish that Ron Butler had caught. Larry had a picture of Ron and the fish.
Beth and I headed back to the ramp. A lot of folks were coming off the water early again. Some were finishing out the last few minutes trying to fish around the parking lot area . Beth and I loaded the boat, got the 2 fish bagged and walked to the scales.
Once again it was a disappointing showing. of the 25 Anglers only 12 fish were weighed in. Larry Sali had one that weighed in at 5.36 Pounds. along with his kicker fish , he had a total bag of 6.40 Pounds . That was enough to earn Big Bass and First Place. Gary Barnhouse had 3 Bass for a grand total of 5.34 Pounds. He easily slid into Second Place with that bag.
As for Beth and I , we would rethink our efforts and come back with a plan for next Saturday. That will be our last regular tournament of the season. We hate to see it end. It is such a long winter and we both dread to see the snow and cold come. We will miss the camaraderie of our friends as well. It is a true statement to say that" the older you get the faster time goes". This has really been a fast whirlwind fishing season.
Beth and I Loaded up, hooked up and pulled out of the driveway as a light fog was beginning to form along the Hocking River. As we got closer to the Lake, the fog got a little heavier. The air temperature was obviously colder than the ground and water temperature.
Beth and I arrived at the Lake , launched the boat and visited with our friends. The summer had gone by much to quickly to suit us. Today would bring 25 of us together again. After today, we would have 32 who will be qualified to fish in the Final Fish Off on October fourth. Next week, a few more will have their twelve tournaments in and will qualify.
Blast off was a bit foggy but not enough to keep us from running up the lake. We had planned on using Buzz Baits early. Beth had a small version tied on and I had a larger long shanked one on. We would work them around moss, wood and rocks. Deep, shallow and parallel to the banks. If these failed, then we had cranks and worms and jigs.
At around 9 AM Beth hooked a keeper on a worm. Then about 5 minutes later I got another one, a bit smaller than Beth's but still a keeper. We would boat 3 more fish for a total of 5 but would only have the 2 keepers to show for our efforts at weigh in .
It had been a beautiful day to be on the water. The surface was like glass until around 1030 AM when a fairly stiff breeze blew up. The Sky was blue with wispy white clouds. The heat was not overpowering.
We saw Larry Sali who told us that he had 2, a big one and a kicker. He also told us of a huge catfish that Ron Butler had caught. Larry had a picture of Ron and the fish.
Beth and I headed back to the ramp. A lot of folks were coming off the water early again. Some were finishing out the last few minutes trying to fish around the parking lot area . Beth and I loaded the boat, got the 2 fish bagged and walked to the scales.
Once again it was a disappointing showing. of the 25 Anglers only 12 fish were weighed in. Larry Sali had one that weighed in at 5.36 Pounds. along with his kicker fish , he had a total bag of 6.40 Pounds . That was enough to earn Big Bass and First Place. Gary Barnhouse had 3 Bass for a grand total of 5.34 Pounds. He easily slid into Second Place with that bag.
As for Beth and I , we would rethink our efforts and come back with a plan for next Saturday. That will be our last regular tournament of the season. We hate to see it end. It is such a long winter and we both dread to see the snow and cold come. We will miss the camaraderie of our friends as well. It is a true statement to say that" the older you get the faster time goes". This has really been a fast whirlwind fishing season.

