Cypress # 1

Fishing friends,

     Fished Sunday with the Bassmasters in the first of four Bassmaster's Series tournament held on four Sundays this year. It was held at Lake Toho out of the city of Kissimmee.

     Drove over Saturday to attend the mandatory meeting and to check in. I checked into my motel, and went to the check in site almost next door. As an added bonus there was an antique car show in the same area, so we got to see all the old Mustangs and Chevelles on display.

     When we check into these events, we have to show a valid fishing license, and fill out a form provided by the Bassmasters Organization. That happens between 3:30 and 6:00 PM, then we are free until 7:00 PM when the rules are read and the tournament pairing are divulged. This takes about an hour.

     The tournament officials provide three "goody" bags, and hand them out to people who have BASS decals on their trucks. Last year I did not get drawn in the six tournaments I attended. This time I was the first one drawn. Got a duffle type bag with an assortment of stuff valued at about $60.00. What a surprise. Good omen.

     Speak of déjà vu or something to that affect, I got drawn with the guy who gave me my test ride in the Triton I won in 2004. He works for Power Source Marine. He had the Triton Dealer Demo boat for our ride. TR 21 X series with a 250 Mercury Verado on the transom. What a quiet ride that was. His name is Cliff Replogle. Great guy and an awesome fisherperson ! We were the 20th boat out Sunday morning.

     We left the ramp and went a short distance to his fishing area. That's all I'm going to say about where we went. I caught the first two keepers and watched Cliff miss a couple of bites. He then began to dissect the water and bring in three keepers.

     We all know how some get away, no matter how good we are, or, in this case, how good Cliff is. He lost a big one while throwing a Rat-L Trap up around some docks. That is how stuff goes.

     Cliff ended up with three fish weighing 3.7 pounds, and I had two fish weighing an even 3 pounds. This is not sour grapes or anything of the sort. We fished hard, caught what we could, and did the best we could for that day. The co-angler gets to share weight with the angler, but the angler does not get to share back. To show you how tough a day it was, Cliff came in 26th and I came in 16th. I drew a check for $129.00 because of that.

     It was a real funny bite. Some of the fish hammered the baits, but most were a bit sluggish and only half-heartedly hit our baits. The old saying goes that someone, somewhere, somehow will always catch the fish. True in this case too. The winner on the angler side had over 15 pounds of fish, and the co-angler winner had over 17 pounds of fish.

     The format afforded by this type of locally centered, but big name sponsored, tournament provides anglers like myself a chance to see how the "big boys" angle, and whether or not we are capable on going on to the next level. In my case it comes at a time when sponsorship goes to younger folks who are upcoming potential candidates for bigger and better things. I am just amazed that I am able to compete as a co-angler both in local tournaments, and with the Bassmasters, and can learn so much from these wonderful anglers and share a laugh or an experience few will get to be part of.

     To whomever reads this ! I urge you to take time out from your busy schedules, if you have time, and come on out and do this thing. It will open your eyes to new fishing experiences and a new level of knowledge, ability, and enjoyment in the bass fishing community. I am having a blast doing this, and am a better angler for doing so. If you think you might be embarrassed by the experience, then you'll have to top this one.

     I fished my first tournament with B.A.S.S. in 1996, in November, at Richard B. Russell Lake, out of Elberton, Georgia. That is the granite capitol of the world. I threw that in for free. I was fishing the third day of the tournament with O.T. Fears III. There was no pedestal seat on the aft deck (Navy talk) that I could hold onto, and I fell out of the boat and into 40-degree water. I don't think you could ever be more embarrassed that I was that day. Well, can ya ? I don't think so.

     Point is this ! Nobody will remember stuff like that unless you bring it up yourself. I'm not proud of what I did, but do you think O.T. remembers it ? No way, Jose ! It's just a moment you'll store away, and smile about it when something similar happens.