“My Bass Fishing Friends,”

I was not able to make the meeting because I had to work; not fun because I like the meetings, talking about fishing and where we are going to fish.

Well, the day after the meeting, I headed up to Lake Rousseau, and man did I have some fun. A friend of mine and I went up there and did some fishing and bottom line, we got into plenty of fish. I told my buddy that I was tired, so let’s go in, plus I had a long drive home. We got to the ramp and I was putting the trailer in the water. I decided to shut the jeep off and I handed the key to my buddy as I jumped into my boat. I heard him jump on to his stomach at the ramp, with his hand in the water.

I was not paying attention and was getting ready to start my boat up when he said, “The key is in the river.” I said, “Jump in.” He looked at me like, “What was I talking about !” I said I was serious. We had 5 people dive in but did not find it. I felt bad for all the boats coming in and my jeep was blocking the ramp. It took 4 hours to leave the ramp and get a key made. I learned my lesson and have a floater on my keys now. Even though all that happened, I think we should be going up there next month to Rousseau.

Back to my weekend on Lake Rosalie. I was working the night before and I still made my mind up to get down to the lake Friday morning, which I did. I ran to a spot in the morning that I found on Google Earth and I liked the looks of it ! I caught one dink, but I had some hard hits in there. Then I turned around and fished a couple of other spots in the wind that just beat the crap out of me. Then I decided to run to the other side of the lake, and man it was a lot smoother. I fished over there with no luck though. Next I went back into Tiger Creek and caught another dink off a buzzbait ! That fish hit like he was a pig, I mean not a small one. But after that, nothing. So again, I had come over early and I had no game plan and did not catch any keepers, but still enjoyed the time on the lake.

After getting off the lake, Bob Gwinn was following me back to the hotel, then all of a sudden I look up to see if he was behind me and I didn’t see him at all. I wondered where he had gone. I just kept going and soon after, he pulled in behind me. We walked over to a little restaurant right next door and I was talking to 2 guys over there who where from the Venice Bass Club. They are some characters.

Jerry, Bob, Chuck and I were cracking up at all the stuff they were saying. Don’t get me wrong, this group is “good people.” Jerry and I had made plans to room together. At the motel we ran into a situation but after about 10 minutes of telling the lady, she finally gave us the room we were supposed to be in. We got all settled in and we were telling some fishing stories. Then it was time and we were heading up to dinner, "AT THE SAME RESTRANT,” where we eat every time we are over there. All I hear is, “But they do have some good food.”

Page 2

Back at the hotel, did we have some fun? We were sitting outside enjoying the weather and talking about fishing and telling stories, and then some "culprit" was messing with Chuck’s boat. That person had a banana and cut it in half and put it in Chuck’s livewells, then right before I was going to bed, that "culprit" had caught 2 frogs and put them in his livewells also. I was like thinking to myself, “Thank god it’s not me and my boat, but it was funny." Jerry and I went back to the room and started watching TV, but Jerry hit a button and messed it all up. We just ended up turning it all off and we had a really good conversation. Actually Jerry, sitting down and talking to you, I learn a lot and pretty much get a whole other education from you and learn more from you so, “THANK YOU VERY MUCH."

3:40 rolled around too early and Jerry is up and moving around, so I asked him,"Why are you up so early Jerry ?" He said, "IT’S TIME TO GO TO WORK," I was like, “Come on, this early in the morning, Jerry !” Man I slept so good too, but it was time to get up, I guess. I was sitting in the room having my breakfast and thinking of fishing, and man I was ready to fish. It was “game on” for me.

Bill Coker left really early, still running his mouth in the morning that he was going to win. I said, "Yeah, whatever Bill, we will see what happens," He laughed and headed to the ramp and I was not far behind him. I got down to the ramp and met up with my partner, Norm. We got his stuff in the boat, all organized and ready to fish. I really enjoy having Norm in the back of my boat. He is a really good fishermen and more completion for me. Norm backed me in the water and we are waiting now. Norm is our tournament director and he has to call the list of everyone in the tournament. We got that done and wait a little more for safe light. Norm asked me, “Do you have any spots ?” I said, “One, and that’s about it.”

Norm and I fly over to that spot and in about 10 minutes Norm had 5 small ones in the boat, but no keepers. We keep fishing but the wind got worse and worse with no more bites, so we moved to another spot. I pick up my top water rod with my YUM MONEY HOUND on it and I throw it about 50 yards, bringing it through the weeds, working it back. Well, let me tell you something, man I had one nice fish blow up on this and I mean a nice keeper. You can ask Norm for proof. Only one problem, I don’t have the right size hooks, which was 100% my fault. I learned the hard way. I turned the boat where I could cast in the front, and I asked Norm if that’s OK for him in the back. He said, “Yeah, that’s fine." Well, a second latter, he picks up this chug bug top water bait and throws it out, getting his first keeper on it. I was really happy for him, but hey, listen; I needed to get a keeper too. It would have been nice, but I didn’t get anything in that spot so we moved to another spot. Nothing !!!

Then Norm and I head over by the ramp and we started fishing there. Norm gets another keeper in the boat. Which again I was happy for him, but look and I don’t have anything in the boat and its 1:45 pm, only an hour left. Coker just keeps yelling at me to throw WATERMELLON-RED, and I said Coker, shut up, and right after I said that I caught my keeper. I gut hooked him because I never really felt the bite. Coker said that’s the one he just lost. He seemed like he was crying, but he said Matt that’s OK, I already got 5, I said, “Well good for you.” A little after I boated my first keeper of the day, Norm gets another keeper in the livewell and I was happy for him.

Page 3

Then we head into the weighin and I helped Norm set up the scales. I got my boat all organized and got all our fish in the bag. Kinda complicated but I got it all done and was happy I had a keeper. I heard Jerry say to Steve Hartley to park him in the "loser spot." I laughed hard at that. When we started weighing in the fish, Jerry told me he is not rooming with me any more because I make him lose. I got a laugh out of that too. But it’s all good. I still enjoyed my day on the lake.

The main ones who should have really enjoyed their day on the lake are the ones that caught enough fish to get into the money. Third Place went to one of our new guys; Malcolm Acree, Jr. Malcolm had 5 fish (8.44 lbs.) out of the back of Bill Coker's boat. Second Place went to Scott Ellis who had a limit of 5 fish (8.84 lbs.). Our main winner was Bill Coker with 5 fish at 9.55 pounds and Big Fish (2.93 lbs.). Congrats on that win Bill. I am proud of you for how you back your talk up. After saying all the stuff the night before about you were going to win. Just don’t have a heart attack when you get your money at the meeting. I only had 1 fish and that keeper died on me so I finished 16th place which was not good. I will improve and be back up there soon.

First Place

Second Place

Third Place

Bill Coker

Scott Ellis

Malcolm Acree, Jr.

Pics and May Photo Gallery by " Nick a Noche "