SCLakes.com

IT WAS TOUGH!!! No wind to speak of...blue bird skies...clear water...that's not a good recipe.

There was only 33 boater and 29 nonboater (2 boater-boater pairings).

Winning weight on the boater side was 16.18 (Daniel Ritchey) and the big fish was 6.23 lbs (also by Ritchey).

Winning nonboater weight was 6.58 lbs (3 fish limit) by Steven Walker. Big fish was 4.31 lbs by Kieran Daly.

I only caught two keepers (caught one short fish as well). They were two solid spots totalling 4.15 lbs. Caught the first fish (8:30) on a 3/16 oz Jymsu Shakyhead in green pumpkin with a Jymsu finesse worm. Caught the second keeper (12:15) on a 1/4 oz Fish Stalker Pro Shad Spin tipped with a Jymsu fluke. I finished 13th but had a decent points day...I would've preferred a check day though.

All in all, Russell turned out to be inhospitable and quite challenging for this angler during his first trip to the lake. I don't know whether to take it personal and attempt a rematch or just go home and lick my wounds. But hey, it could've been worse...at least I was fishing.

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If the boat's rockin'...GET THE NET!!!

It was tough...Dan said he caught 7 fish and had 10 bites all day but hey, 16 lbs and a win is a real attitude improver
It looks like most of the BWS in SC & SC West have been around 30-40 boats, with 5 grand guaranteed for 1st....those are the best odds of any trail for 5 g's.

Congrats Dan!

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PeanutMan

Good Catch....they bit good early but you{I had to} had to fish slow and really FEED them the bait.

Ran into Mr. Whaley.....even caught a 3#+ off the part that ain't his! LOL CYA

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Jojo-SC Team One Lake Wonder Make'n Hawgs look like Keepers..it's Just what we do.

LMMFAO @ JOJO! HA!

I agree with Jo-jo that you really had to "force feed" the bait to them. My boater missed at leat ten fish in the first hour. He was fishing a shakyhead and one time I watch him literally let the fish swim from the left side of the boat over to the right side of the boat before setting the hook and he STILL didn't hook up.

All of my bites except for one were real subtle and not aggressive at all...except for one. The fish I caught using the Fish Talker Pro Shad Spin nearly jerked the rod out of my hands...he absolutely hammered it. I was "yo-yo'ing) the bait along a shallow "wind-blown" (even though the wind never really blew) point in about 9 feet of water. When I went to "yo-yo" the bait a second time he nailed it on the way up and nearly got my bait AND my St. Croix rod AND my Quantum PT real.

But again, it was a real tough day for me and my boater...especially my boater. You really had to work hard to get the bites. (I know...I'm whining)

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If the boat's rockin'...GET THE NET!!!

fished sunday in a small club tx and had a little over 8 lbs thought windy points would be the key but that didn't work for me did catch most on a carolina rig in about ten feet on the back side of the points in protceted water with little wind. A couple fish came on the gulp. really thought it would be a better day.