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2006 Bassmasters Series - Cypress #4 |
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Now the adventure begins. I had to wait Saturday for more than an hour after I thought I would be able to leave Gainesville, Georgia. I had to be in Leesburg, Florida, Sunday morning to meet my partner to fish the last Cypress division one-day tournament. I had made arrangements for Cliff Replogle to deliver my official documents to the Saturday pairings, as I knew I would not be able to attend if I got to fish the third day at Lake Lanier. My Sunday partner called me on my cell phone and let me know where to meet him on Sunday morning. That taken care I drove on and on to Leesburg, Florida. Took me eight hours to get there to my motel ! Got in about 1 AM and immediately set my alarm and went to bed. Dang ! 4:30 came way to early, but I got up and dragged myself to Venetian Gardens in Leesburg to meet my partner. Larry Cahan was my draw. Another great guy, who was from Palatka, Florida ! He said he was on a good pattern and we should do well. He was in eighth place on the boater side in the division and needed to catch fish to stay in the top 30. I was in 21st place in the non-boater standings and needed to get one fish to stay within the top 30. Here's what happened ! We started out throwing crank baits, as that was the pattern that good. I hadn't even retied after the long trip. I did not have a worm tied on. I took time to do that, and got a bite soon thereafter. Larry netted my fish and said "good going". I didn't understand what he meant by that. I measured the fish and threw it back. Larry says, "What did you do that for ? " I told him it was not a legal 14-inch fish. He reminded me that the waiver we had said we could keep 12-inch fish. Big OOPS ! I had not attended the meeting the day before and didn't remember the waiver deal. I was distraught to say the least. Last time we had been to this lake in this Cypress Divisional tournament several months earlier I did not even have a bite. My partner in that tournament WON it. All I needed was a 12-inch fish to finish no worse than 4th. Now I am even more concerned that I had blown a prime opportunity. I finally did catch two keepers using a Carolina rig. My partner caught no keepers and my two fish got me into 32nd place in the tournament. When the dust finally settled and the final tally for the top 30 boaters and non-boaters was read, I finished in 21st place on the non-boater side and qualified for a FREE tournament in Eufaula, Alabama on the first weekend in November. Larry ended up going from 8th place to 32nd place and was out of the top 30 boaters. I heard that one of the non-boaters couldn't make the November tournament and was replaced by the 31st angler. If one more guy drops, then I will see Larry in November. I hope to see him there. Great guy ! The Southern Tour tournaments are done and the Bassmaster Series tournaments in the Cypress division are done, and only the November tournaments wait ! I want to take a few lines to thank Bassmaster and the tournament staffs who put these events together. To Chris Bowes, Lurch, and Mike Whatley, great job of talking with all of the anglers and making us feel like we belong on stage with you guys. I hope I speak for all of us in saying "jobs well done" ! Bassmaster, you have provided me, and us lower level tournament anglers who fish out of the back of someone else's boat, a chance to compete amongst ourselves for some pretty hefty dollars and awards. I had been fortunate enough to win a tournament on The Harris Chain back in 2004, and a 2004 Triton TR20X series boat with a 225 Optimax motor, which I use to compete in my local Clearwater Bass Club. Ray Scott, you started all of this back in 1967. I am so glad you did. You are my hero. Got to go now, and keep my day job at Verizon in Tampa, Florida. You too can do the same. Get out there and give it a try. Thanks again to all who made my dreams reality. God bless and keep you always,
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