Cast and I stepped out onto the front stoop at around 4 AM. The skies were crystal clear and no air was moving. Crickets and I guess tree frogs were
drowning out the sounds of US RT 33. It was warmer than expected. The weather guys on Channel 4 out of Columbus had really missed the mark on this one. Rain,
wind and cooler temps had been predicted.
Beth and I arrived at the Ramp as usual. John and Carol Bircher, Larry Sali, Bud Dotsun and some others already had their boats either in the water or were prepping them. Beth held the flashlight for me as I got our boat ready to dunk. It looked like another good sized crowd was gathering.
A feeling of sadness was obvious as we gathered around John and Carols vehicle. This was our last regular tournament to fish together. It had been a very short summer and most of us were thinking of the long cold winter of snow and ice ahead . With most of us, these little tourneys are a social thing as well as a competition. We had enjoyed renewing old friendships and making some new friends this year. Record numbers of folks had shown up for the competitions this year.
We went to our boats. John Bircher released us and the race was on. The air was cool on our faces as we sped up the Lake. Beth and I noticed an overcast of clouds beginning to form. The sun was barely penetrating and it was still rather dark as we arrived at our spot. Beth began using a micro Buzz Bait and I used a 7 inch Berkley worm. I made first contact with a fish and boated a nice little keeper at 716 AM. We both felt assured that it was going to be just the beginning for us today
As the minutes turned into hours we had tried a number of different baits. No more bites were to be had. Beth finally caught a little 10 inch dink that ended our efforts as it was now time to go back to the ramp for weigh in .
From the looks of things , it had not been a good day for most. Some folks had quit early. The fronts had changed to a cold North wind and a sky full of fluffy white clouds with flat bottoms. A bright blue sky was their back drop. The sun did come out and warmed the parking lot. sweaters and jackets were left on boats or in trucks.
Weigh in commenced with Beth and I weighing in our little guy first. He was 13 and 3/4 inches long and weighed in at 1.62 Pounds. I released him as Beth waited at the Picnic table near the water to get photos of the winners. Larry Sali weighed in a 4 fish bag totalling 4.94 pounds. Larry told us of a whopper that he couldn't keep hooked up with and lost. Ed Irwin brought 3 to the scales weighing in at 4.60 pounds. Gary Harris and L.C. Hatley weighed in 2 fish for a total of 5.38 pounds, their biggest would take Big Bass honors at 4.68 pounds.
It was the end of our regular season. Most of us hated to part in the parking lot. Beth and I stayed until it was almost empty. 26 people had fished today and 16 bass were weighed in. We have high hopes that next week will treat us a little better in the fish count.
Saturday will be our final fish off, or as some like to call it the Lake Logan Classic. 32 people have qualified to fish next week. This has to be a record number of folks. The fish off will commence with a 7 AM blast off and go until 2 PM. Lake Logan will be off limits to the qualifiers for 3 days prior to the event. The purse should be good this year as record breaking numbers of folks have fished these Tourneys. Beth and I will be there, rain or shine , trying to earn a part of it.
Gary Harris Big Bass 4.68 pounds and First Place with 5.38 pounds
Larry Sali 4.94 Pounds Second Place
Eddie Irwin 4.60 Pounds Third Place
Beth and I arrived at the Ramp as usual. John and Carol Bircher, Larry Sali, Bud Dotsun and some others already had their boats either in the water or were prepping them. Beth held the flashlight for me as I got our boat ready to dunk. It looked like another good sized crowd was gathering.
A feeling of sadness was obvious as we gathered around John and Carols vehicle. This was our last regular tournament to fish together. It had been a very short summer and most of us were thinking of the long cold winter of snow and ice ahead . With most of us, these little tourneys are a social thing as well as a competition. We had enjoyed renewing old friendships and making some new friends this year. Record numbers of folks had shown up for the competitions this year.
We went to our boats. John Bircher released us and the race was on. The air was cool on our faces as we sped up the Lake. Beth and I noticed an overcast of clouds beginning to form. The sun was barely penetrating and it was still rather dark as we arrived at our spot. Beth began using a micro Buzz Bait and I used a 7 inch Berkley worm. I made first contact with a fish and boated a nice little keeper at 716 AM. We both felt assured that it was going to be just the beginning for us today
As the minutes turned into hours we had tried a number of different baits. No more bites were to be had. Beth finally caught a little 10 inch dink that ended our efforts as it was now time to go back to the ramp for weigh in .
From the looks of things , it had not been a good day for most. Some folks had quit early. The fronts had changed to a cold North wind and a sky full of fluffy white clouds with flat bottoms. A bright blue sky was their back drop. The sun did come out and warmed the parking lot. sweaters and jackets were left on boats or in trucks.
Weigh in commenced with Beth and I weighing in our little guy first. He was 13 and 3/4 inches long and weighed in at 1.62 Pounds. I released him as Beth waited at the Picnic table near the water to get photos of the winners. Larry Sali weighed in a 4 fish bag totalling 4.94 pounds. Larry told us of a whopper that he couldn't keep hooked up with and lost. Ed Irwin brought 3 to the scales weighing in at 4.60 pounds. Gary Harris and L.C. Hatley weighed in 2 fish for a total of 5.38 pounds, their biggest would take Big Bass honors at 4.68 pounds.
It was the end of our regular season. Most of us hated to part in the parking lot. Beth and I stayed until it was almost empty. 26 people had fished today and 16 bass were weighed in. We have high hopes that next week will treat us a little better in the fish count.
Saturday will be our final fish off, or as some like to call it the Lake Logan Classic. 32 people have qualified to fish next week. This has to be a record number of folks. The fish off will commence with a 7 AM blast off and go until 2 PM. Lake Logan will be off limits to the qualifiers for 3 days prior to the event. The purse should be good this year as record breaking numbers of folks have fished these Tourneys. Beth and I will be there, rain or shine , trying to earn a part of it.
Gary Harris Big Bass 4.68 pounds and First Place with 5.38 pounds
Larry Sali 4.94 Pounds Second Place
Eddie Irwin 4.60 Pounds Third Place
