Harlan County Reservoir Bass Tournaments

Harlan was steady as expected this weekend, though results were a little less than anticipated.  Overall weights were affected by the post-spawn as many of the fish were thin, but still as good as any lake in the region.  Patterson Harbor hosted the Western Nebraska tournaments this weekend and the tournament directors did a fantastic job running the event.  You can see more photo's on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patterson-Harbor/101707373362

Saturday was a tough day for everyone, although a lot of fish were caught.  35 plus mph winds from the northwest make Harlan a rough ride.  Boats were greeted with large rollers (waves) leaving and entering the launch cove.  You know it's going to be a battle when the large Walleye boats are struggling in the surf!  Cold front winds, cloud cover (some light rain) and cooler temps hampered the bite, but the anglers found the fish.  The dock talk after weigh-in had most anglers reporting a solid spinnerbait bite.  Weights were down a little, but first was just under 19 1/2 pounds.  My good buddy Cort and I finished second with 18.90 lbs and it took 17 to get a check.  Pretty good fishing if you ask me, despite the tough conditions.

 

Harlan County Day One Results
1. T Miller S Pavelka             19.52  BAXTER BIG BASS  5.27    
2. D Padgett C Heimsoth      18.90
3. M Leibehart T Williams    18.10
4. A Cochran A Wright        17.80
5. T Sadd B Gregory              16.96
6. R Ellis Jason Frink             16.38
7. B Pavelka G Pavelka          15.66
8. P Cordova J Jordan           15.65
9. J Williams A Deets            12.59
10, M Wagner D Willis         11.00
11.T King H King                  10.70
12. K Gloe M Burke                9.02
13. C Armstrong C Stroup     8.49
14. D Kohl C Cottam               7.84
15. B Bank J Smidt                   3.74
16. C Graff T Powell                 2.74
17. J Kohl L Barrientes

Sunday offered much better weather with light winds and sunny skies, although cold temps in the morning hampered the early bite.  While the active bite was sporadic (productive for some early), the day was mostly dominated by flipping to targets.  We had a slow start as it took a couple of hours to get the sun out, but once it did the bite improved throughout the day.  We culled throughout the day catching 15 to 20 keeper size bass flipping Moman Tubes, ending the day in first with 22.96 lbs.  Many of the fish would have been a pound heavier if the tournament was pre-spawn, but overall the lake is still producing well. 

Harlan County Day Two Results
1. D Padgett C Heimsoth         22.96
2. T King H King                    17.14
3. A Cochran A Wright           16.87
4. J Jordan P Cordova             16.81  BAXTER BIG BASS 5.99    
5. D Nichols K  Propp             16.52
6. T Sadd B Gregory               16.35
7. C Cochrane R Collins         14.66
8. F Strong J Strong                14.60
9. K Gloe M Burke                 14.04
10. T Miller S Pavelka            12.85
11. Al Deets J Williams          12.46
12. R Ellis J Frink                   11.53
13. M Wagner D Willis            9.98
14. M Leibehart T Williams     9.32
15. M Vollmar A Christ           7.71
16, R Zogrow B Pavelka G Pavelka C Armstrong C Stroup

Next up is the Nebraska High School State Tournament July 27th.  The kids should have a good tournament, although I'd expect weights to run much less as it will be mid-summer and the kids are not as experienced.