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Tournament Update 4/8/09
by Nicholas Wink
Saturday April 5th, 2009
at Blue Marsh Lake: What a difference a week makes. My Dad (Troy)
and I showed up at the State Hill Boat Ramp at 5:15am fully prepared.
After checking ourselves in and having our live wells checked, we put
the boat in the water. I was real excited to get this tournament
underway, because as a team we thought we had a great chance to win. As
always, there was a great turnout for the Izaak, which consisted of a 60
boat field of some great fisherman. After drinking a few coffees and
chatting with some fishing friends it was time to get to our boats. Our
boat number was 24, which means we were in the first flight. As our
number was called we headed to our first area. I started out by throwing
a shad rap, which I used a stop and go retrieve. It did not take long
and the first keeper was in the boat. I landed a 3lb. Largemouth, and we
were pumped up. My Dad started throwing a fluke bait on a 1/4oz. swim
bait hook that our buddy Don Stewart handed to us early before blastoff.
Again, it did not take long and he yelled get the net. He landed a 4lb.
Smallmouth. Four casts later he landed a 4.5lb. Largemouth. I can not
even explain how pumped we were at the time, but by no means did we
think we had enough to cash a check. We did not catch another fish for 3
hours, when all I heard was get the net. We landed another 2.5lb.
Smallmouth.
At this point we figured we
would at least have enough weight to cash a check, but we wanted to come
in with our limit to try for the win. We fished hard the rest of the
day, but we could not manage another bite. By 3pm, which was our weigh
in time, we were both mentally and physically drained. We headed for the
beach area and docked the boat. As we walked up to the weigh in scales
our family and friends were there to greet us, which I must say that we
really appreciate the support. My Dad told me to take the bag of fish to
the scales. While I waited in line to weigh in, I looked at the leader
board and seen that 12.5lbs. was holding 1st. I knew that we
had nice fish, but I was worried. Rick Heckman (weigh master) took the
bag, and told us that we had 13.71lbs., which put us in 1st
place. At that moment I was excited, but yet I had a ton of anxiety
built up, because now the waiting game starts. My Dad had to leave for
his Big Diamond race, which I thought he was crazy for going to. Man was
he tired, but he did end up finishing 9th in the feature. As
I waited for the second flight to come and weigh in, I started thinking
about how we should have caught more fish to lock up the win. You have
to understand that up to this point, the Izaak Walton tournament is the
only Blue Marsh Team Tournament held that neither my Dad nor I have ever
won. This tournament means everything to me, because I know some of the
best fishermen around are competing, and everyone is so competitive.
When it comes to Blue Marsh there are absolutely no secrets.
Anyways, at 3:30pm the
second flight starts to pile in. I see some good anglers getting there
weigh in bags out. As fishermen are weighing in, I can hardly listen to
the weights without getting nervous. Finally, at around 3:45pm, Rick
Heckman (weigh master) declares there are no more anglers to weigh in.
Oh man, am I pumped. The first thing I do is call my Dad and let him
know, we have won the Izaak Walton Tournament, and I could hear the
excitement in his voice. As our name is called to come up to the stage
and accept our check, it hits me that I have finally done it. What
seemed to be and impossible step to make, finally happened. I know you
might think that I have won the Bassmaster Classic with how excited I
am, but that is exactly how I feel about it. In my mind to win the Izaak
is a great honor that not many anglers get to do. You can not win this
tournament by accident. There are so many boats out there, that
sometimes you just want to say, why am I here. I wish that I took more
pictures, but the banks were lined up with boats. As one boat leaves an
area, another comes to take its place. That’s just the way it is with 60
boats on a small lake, period. Anyways, I went up to the stage and
collected the $1,500 1st place check with a smile on my face.
Like I told some of my buddies, I wanted to make a couple of o’ yea fist
pumps, but I held back. Mainly because I know how hard everyone fished,
and how hard the conditions were out on the lake. I am not one to be
boastful, but I was excited! 52 bass were weighed in.
Tournament Recap: I
can not say it enough, but the fishing conditions were tough to say the
least. From the heavy rains we had earlier in the week, there was a mud
line like you would not believe. The wind blew all day, which did not
help, because the mud line stretched even further. We did catch our fish
in the main lake, but earlier in the week, which was before the storms,
we absolutely nailed them up the Tully. We did not get to fish those
spots, because of the mud. For some reason the crankbait bite is on this
spring, although the rains really put a damper on it. I think the mud
really pushed the fish tight to wood, and one cast was not enough. Also,
I heard many anglers had luck with tubes and worms on wood as well. In
closing, I just want to say that I think Berks County has some great
fisherman. It never seems to amaze me that even on a tough day, there
are always anglers that figure it out. I think highly of everyone that
participated. Again, thanks to everyone that supports me, and to
everyone that congratulated us on our win, Thanks!
For Next Week: I do
not have any tournaments scheduled for next week, even though there is a
Berks Bassmaster Buddy Tournament at Blue Marsh on Saturday. I am in the
middle of putting a house on the market, and I should attend to that. I
will fish somewhere this weekend, but check back next week for updates.
NEWS ARCHIVE - CLICK
ANY HEADLINE TO READ THE FULL STORY
April 4th:
Tournament Results
by Nicholas Wink
June 2nd
:
Season
Updates
by Nicholas Wink
May 21st & 23rd :
Tournament Results
by Nicholas Wink
May 10th & 14th :
Season
Updates
by Nicholas Wink
May 2nd :
Tournament Results
by Nicholas Wink
April 19th & 20th :
Tournament Results
by Nicholas Wink
April 5th & 6th :
Tournament Results
by Nicholas Wink
March 29th :
Tournament Results
by Nicholas Wink
March 23rd, 24th : Season Update by Nicholas Wink
March 17th : Season Update by Nicholas Wink
March 7th : Off-Season Preparations by Nicholas Wink
February 28th : Creating a
Personal Tournament Schedule-by Nicholas Wink
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