Amistad in Review - Day2

Alright, let's get this wrapped up.  I have had issues getting the video loaded as my internet is pathetic.  I am at .8 Mbps and that's it.  The price for living rural.  I will add the video next week when I'm in the office, no issues there.

Staging for launch on day 1

Now, back to Amistad.  Day one was very challenging, but I felt I still had a punchers chance.  The big fish that I found in practice were still there, and the forecast for Friday was 60 and sunny.  I decided that I would go for the big sack and commit to the run regardless of the outcome.  I don't know if it was gut's or stupidity, but either way I felt I needed 20 pounds to get back in contention.  Cow Creek was the only place I found that gave me that chance.  I put 20 pounds in the boat in less than an hour in practice, and I was only searching! 

After arriving in the creek, I noticed the water temp was still similar to Thursday, hovering at 49.  Within the first hour, I stuck number one on a Picasso bait ball swimming the rig through suspended fish on the side of tapering point.  I could see the fish suspended in 15-25 feet of water near suspended baitfish.  I keyed on them by positioning out and casting to the edge of the drop or ledge, slow rolling the rig off the drop.  I spent the majority of my day moving back and forth between the two arms, keying on drops that had suspended fish.  I did manage to hook up a large Tilapia (foul hooked) and two large Stripers.  Unfortunately, Stripers don't count and the Bass never responded.  I finished the day relocating to a creek channel swing and trying to get bit on a football jig.  One bite on the jig, but I failed to get a hook up.

Cris Bowes is gracious to allow us to thank sponsors

Winner's Patterns:

In retrospect, I had found the same thing the leaders had found.  Creek channel's with baitfish and a defined ledge.  The leader's; however, had a slightly different approach.  I had keyed into the fish relating to the ledge, and positioned my retrieve to fall with the drop.  The leader's keyed on the channel bottom, casting into the channel at the base of the ledge, letting their rigs get to the bottom and then slow rolling the rig along the bottom.  So often, you can get 99% figured out and miss the 1% key detail that closes the deal.

Am I disappointed?  Of course, but I also know that my research was correct, my practice was good, and I had found what I needed.  Execution was the key to my finish.  I am not; however, disappointed in my decision to go for it.  Yes, I could have used the points with a higher finish and a check would have been satisfying.  However, if you don't roll the dice, a win is difficult to obtain.


I want to again mention MoMan Lures, Okuma and McKinney Custom Tackle.

If you are in need of Tubes, jigs, custom painted baits or rods and reels, check out their gear.

Thanks, God bless and good fishing.

Amistad in Review - PreTournament and Day1

First, let me apologize for the tardiness of this post.  I have been swamped since getting back and have had no time to get this out.  I have a ton of content, so this will be post one of several.  I want to start out by thanking everyone for the well wishes.  My phone went nuts on Facebook and texts (that is a good thing), and I appreciate all the comments.  Also, I was unable to get anything posted from Del Rio, but that was more a factor of the poor internet.  The WiFi was unstable and the data (Verizon) was practically non-existent.

Secondly, I want to mention MoMan Lures, Okuma and McKinney Custom Tackle.

Check out the products.  I have been fishing Moman Tubes since the nineties, save the last two years.  I am really excited to have them available going into the next two opens as they will have an impact there.  Chris at McKinney Custom Tackle can put together anything you want.  His jigs are top notch, and he'll build your design with hook choice, head style, skirt material and colors, etc.  If you can think it, he'll build it.

 PRE-TOURNAMENT PERSPECTIVE:

 As for the tournament, this was a mixed bag of emotions.  I prepared well, and my plan worked as expected.  It started out rough as I had a gas tank issue.  I lost the first day and a half getting a temporary fix.  I want to thank Manuel and his son at Amistad Lake Sports.  When everyone told me they couldn't fix it, Manuel said they could get me on the water and keep me there safely through the week.  

PRACTICE:

He was right, although for precautions I half-tanked it.  This did limit me as I stretched 15 gallons a day as far as I could, but it prevented me from going farther or running to much.  I targeted the first deep water adjacent to spawning areas.  My best area was up Cow Creek where I found 2 ditches that transitioned onto a flat.  I caught fish from keepers up to a nine.  I spent the next day trying to duplicate this around the lake, then the remaining days finding main lake backup areas that I could fall back on for a keeper or two.  We caught fish every day, I say we as my son pre-fished with me and fished the tournament on the co-angler side.  I had a solid pattern, had located the right fish and really thought the weather would help.  What I didn't expect was the severity of the cold front. 

DAY ONE:

The water temp dropped 5 degree's by the first morning and I fought ice (like everyone else), having to de-ice my reel and guides every cast until 2 PM.  Who would think the high for the day on the Mexico border would be 32!  Brrrrr!!!!!!  My primary water was shut down, but I tried everything from downsizing to slowing down and going deeper (maybe not deep enough).  I did scramble at the end of the day to manage a 7lb 12oz beauty.  That was good enough for 30th place after day one and a solid position, only 3 - 4 pounds out of the cut.  That fish was caught on a Picasso bait ball with Zoom Swimming Fluke Jr's. on the last channel swing outside a large spawning flat.  

My son had a great first day as he was paired with a pro, Cody Greaney, that had found a spring with stable water temps.  He worked a McKinney Custom football jig for a 3 fish limit that put him in 6th.  I really want to thank Cody as he embodies the ideal professional angler.  We as professional anglers need to remember that our co-anglers are not competing against us, but they are competing.  Cody gave Justin opportunities by positioning the boat in a manner that benefited Justin as well as himself.  Equally, kudo's to Justin for adjusting to the moment and changing tactics to get his fish. 

So that is Pre-tournament and Day 1.  I will expound upon this in future posts.  I also will mention that I was really impressed with the Tournament ZX rods from Cabela's and the Krios reels from Okuma.  I will add a review in the near future.

Note:  I have video available and will edit this post when I can get it loaded.  I am having issues with bandwidth and loading large video files.

God Bless and good fishing!

David