08-23-2010, 09:00 AM
Saturday - August 21, 2010 - Day 199 - 35 days missed<br /><br />Spalding County Sportsman Club August Tournament<br />Jackson Lake, 7 PM - 3 AM - Hot and threatening storms<br />Water 91 degrees and green, very little breeze<br /><br />I started on my usual ridge at the dam right at the ramp. Got some thumps but figured they were bream - nothing there when I set the hook. Gave me hope since a lot of baitfish were around. Worked the area for a couple of hours, including working out to a mid-lake hump at the end of the ridge right in front of the dam. Tops out in 14 feet with brush. Not a hit on it tho.<br /><br />The fish cops have a dock here and I fished near it and watched as they unloaded a very drunk, very plump woman and put her in the truck. Sheriff picked her up and they went back out right at dark.<br /><br />As it got dark I started to move but lightning started flashing to the West - usually means headed this way. I kept working the ridge - I won four of five August night tournaments here between 04 and 08. Last year didn&#39;t catch anything here and left, but years I have stayed all night they hit sometime during the tournament.<br /><br />Lightning seemed headed toward me so I stayed around ramp. Worked another point then ran back to the ridge. Didn&#39;t see the other bass boat near there until rangers came up - then I saw his back running light. Rangers didn&#39;t say anything to him about no front running lights - turned out it was a club member.He had not hooked a fish either. By the time we talked it was 11 PM.<br /><br />Since he was working the area I went around the point toward the ramp. Casting a jig head worm, it felt mushy, like I had picked up a leaf, then I felt a thump. Figured I had waited too long but a heavy fish was there when I set the hook. Fought the fish to the boat and nettted it - figured four pounds. 11:55 - very glad to have a fish, especailly a good one, in the livewell.<br /><br />Kept fishing the area until 3 but no more hits. Cranking battery was dead but I was close at quitting time. I figured it would not hold out running lights, depthfinder and aerator for eight hours since I did no running. Boat did crank at 2 AM for a short move and aerator and lights worked the whole night.<br /><br />At weigh-in there was one limit and he won with 6.26 pounds. My 4.44 pounder was good for second and big fish. Third was two at 4.32 and fourth was 2 at 2.52. No one had more than two keepers except winner. There were 3 zeros. Tough night.<br />