There was a certain buzz around the lake on Sunday morning.  There were 12 guys hitting the lake with a Legitimate chance of breaking Rojas’ 108lb record.  There was a little wind which will help the reaction bite and calm enough not to interfere with the sight fisherman.   Not too mention Day 3 had just produced the biggest bag of the tournament this far.  We also are inching closer to a full moon, which usually moves more fish onto the beds.

I got into some early fish on Secrtet Weapon Spinnerbaits  and Lucky Craft Pointer 100’s, biggest was 4-12 and my partner got a 5-11 on a Power Jerk Shad .  We hit a mid day lull and then finally found a cove with some fish on beds.  We each caught a couple ranging from 2-4lbs.  Then we saw her!!! She was about 7ft deep on a bed in the middle of small cove, with a male that was about 3.5lbs.  My partner accidentally caught the male, which probably made catching the female more difficult than needed.  It took use about 45 minutes to get her to bite.  She finally fell for a White 8″ Lake Fork Top Dog Lizard .  She measured 25″ length & 17″ girth and tipped the scales at 8lbs 3oz.
 
It was extra exciting, because I caught her just 5 minutes before we had to load the boat and head in for the final day weigh-in.  It simulated a tournament situation.  We made to the weigh area just in time for the national anthem.  The Top 12 were all lined up in their boats.  They made announcement that all 12 anglers had their limits and no dead fish, which amplified the buzz.  One by one they crossed the stage taking turns in the hot seat.  Then Ish broke things open with 23-08 bag anchored by the Purolator Big Bass for the day – 9-00, see picture of big bass lower left.

  
You can also see Ish Monroe hoisting his trophy on the Jumbo Screen.  Ish gave Props to Reaction Innovations and his Vixen Topwater .  They also showed KVD throw his spinning rod in the lake after losing a giant that came unbuttoned sight fishing.  It was very exciting to watch it all happen, much better than what you see on Saturday mornings.  I highly recommend attending a BASS weigh-in if you get the chance.  This is my 2nd, the first was KVD’s E-50 victory on Lake Wissota.  Notice that the top 3 anlgers were all from California, this lake fishes supposedly fishes similar to Clear Lake out in California.  I have more pictures that were taken at the weigh-in and other bass that my fishing party caught that I will post in another post(s). See Tournament Stats Below:
 
Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Ishama Monroe          Hughson, Calif.        20 104-08  310  $103,000.00
  Day 1: 5   25-11    Day 2: 5   21-04    Day 3: 5   34-01    Day 4: 5   23-08  
2.  Fred Roumbanis         Auburn, Calif.         20 101-13  295   $31,000.00
  Day 1: 5   24-04    Day 2: 5   28-13    Day 3: 5   20-11    Day 4: 5   28-01  
3.  Mike Reynolds          Modesto, Calif.        20  99-04  290   $25,000.00
  Day 1: 5   20-06    Day 2: 5   26-00    Day 3: 5   28-00    Day 4: 5   24-14  
4.  Greg Hackney           Gonzales, La.          20  98-05  285   $18,000.00
  Day 1: 5   25-09    Day 2: 5   28-15    Day 3: 5   22-01    Day 4: 5   21-12  
5.  Steve Kennedy          Auburn, Ala.           20  97-03  280   $17,000.00
  Day 1: 5   27-14    Day 2: 5   22-00    Day 3: 5   25-06    Day 4: 5   21-15  
6.  Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, Mich.       20  97-00  276   $15,500.00
  Day 1: 5   27-03    Day 2: 5   22-09    Day 3: 5   27-06    Day 4: 5   19-14  
7.  Alton Jones            Waco, Texas            20  95-06  272   $15,000.00
  Day 1: 5   23-13    Day 2: 5   29-10    Day 3: 5   23-02    Day 4: 5   18-13  
8.  Gary Klein             Weatherford, Texas     20  94-03  268   $16,000.00
  Day 1: 5   25-15    Day 2: 5   26-03    Day 3: 5   19-13    Day 4: 5   22-04  
9.  Ken Cook               Lawton, Okla.          20  93-07  269   $15,000.00
  Day 1: 5   31-10    Day 2: 5   17-01    Day 3: 5   22-15    Day 4: 5   21-13  
10. Matt Reed              Madisonville, Texas    20  91-03  260   $13,500.00
  Day 1: 5   31-08    Day 2: 5   20-14    Day 3: 5   24-06    Day 4: 5   14-07  
11. Edwin Evers            Talala, Okla.          20  87-13  262   $12,500.00
  Day 1: 5   25-04    Day 2: 5   29-14    Day 3: 5   19-00    Day 4: 5   13-11  
12. Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu, Ariz.     20  82-06  254   $12,300.00
  Day 1: 5   27-05    Day 2: 5   25-15    Day 3: 5   18-02    Day 4: 5   11-00  
———————————————————————–

Purolator Big Bass
Day
1   Pete Ponds              Madison, Miss.            10-05  $1,000.00
2   Gary Klein              Weatherford, Texas        10-05  $1,000.00
3   Ishama Monroe           Hughson, Calif.            9-05  $1,000.00
4   Ishama Monroe           Hughson, Calif.            9-00  $1,000.00

Purolator Big Bass of Tournament
     Gary Klein              Weatherford, Texas        10-05    $500.00
     Pete Ponds              Madison, Miss.            10-05    $500.00

Busch Heavyweight
Day
1   Ken Cook                Lawton, Okla.             31-10  $1,000.00
2   Jimmy Mize              Ben Lomond, Ark.          31-14  $1,000.00
3   Ishama Monroe           Hughson, Calif.           34-01  $1,000.00
4   Fred Roumbanis          Auburn, Calif.            28-01  $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1      102       521      1932-00
2      101       517      1938-14
3       49       249       948-07
4       12        60       242-00
———————————-
        264      1347      5061-05

Tight Lines,
Rich
www.richlindgren.com
basstournament.blogspot.com

Sorry for the delay, I was too busy fishing to find time to do any Blogging. 
I got up early and watched the take-off in the boat.  It was cool to hear the Star Spangled Banner echo off the water and canyon walls.  It was very exciting to see the Top 50 all lined up and introduced as they took off in order of their place on the leaderboard.  We attempted to follow KVD, but got lost in the boat wakes and he got away. 

Day 3 proved tougher for some and others made big moves.  The wind was light in morning and non-existent by afternoon.  Our boat got some early jerkbait fish and snooped around the lake observing some of the Top 50 pros & doing a little fishing.  It was also interesting to see several pros who did not make the cut out fishing for fun instead of heading off to get ready for Rayburn.  I watched Brett Chapman catch a 6.5lb bass out fishing with his wife & son.  We talked to him and mentioned he wished he had a swimbait.  I offered him a Storm Wild Eye Swim Shad, he quickly tied it on and hung a 5# bass on his 3rd cast as we drifted along.  His young son then caught about a 3# bass dragging senko with his snoopy pole.  Overall the day was moderately tough, we caught several fish on plastics, Norman DD22 , jerkbaits, etc.    We even caught a few fish off beds, the biggest was probably 4.5lbs.  One of the guys that made the trip with me, caught a 6lb 4oz which was new personal best for him.  I will get his picture in a later post.  He caught that on a brush line on a June Bug Lake Fork Tackle Zig Zag fished Mojo Style.

We got off the lake early to observe the weigh in.  It was quite the show, as big bags continued to poor in.  Ish Monroe made the biggest move with his 34lbs 1oz bag, anchored by a 9lb 5oz Purolator Big Bass.

Photo courtesy of ESPN

It was also cool to see Gerald Swindle give his shirt of his back to a special fan.  The crowds continued to grow each day at the weigh-in despite the unbearable heat.  Mike Reynolds made many new fans with his “Tribute to Armed Forces” wrapped boat that he paid for himself. Today I managed to remember my camera, but my batteries failed me, I vow to produced Day 4 pictures   At this point, none of the Top 12 anglers are out of it and they all have a change at Rojas’ Record, even Rojas himself.

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Ishama Monroe          Hughson, Calif.        15  81-00  305    $2,000.00
  Day 1: 5   25-11    Day 2: 5   21-04    Day 3: 5   34-01  
2.  Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, Mich.       15  77-02  295
  Day 1: 5   27-03    Day 2: 5   22-09    Day 3: 5   27-06  
3.  Matt Reed              Madisonville, Texas    15  76-12  290
  Day 1: 5   31-08    Day 2: 5   20-14    Day 3: 5   24-06  
4.  Alton Jones            Waco, Texas            15  76-09  282
  Day 1: 5   23-13    Day 2: 5   29-10    Day 3: 5   23-02  
4.  Greg Hackney           Gonzales, La.          15  76-09  282
  Day 1: 5   25-09    Day 2: 5   28-15    Day 3: 5   22-01  
6.  Steve Kennedy          Auburn, Ala.           15  75-04  276
  Day 1: 5   27-14    Day 2: 5   22-00    Day 3: 5   25-06  
7.  Mike Reynolds          Modesto, Calif.        15  74-06  272
  Day 1: 5   20-06    Day 2: 5   26-00    Day 3: 5   28-00  
8.  Edwin Evers            Talala, Okla.          15  74-02  273
  Day 1: 5   25-04    Day 2: 5   29-14    Day 3: 5   19-00  
9.  Fred Roumbanis         Auburn, Calif.         15  73-12  264
  Day 1: 5   24-04    Day 2: 5   28-13    Day 3: 5   20-11  
10. Gary Klein             Weatherford, Texas     15  71-15  260    $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   25-15    Day 2: 5   26-03    Day 3: 5   19-13  
11. Ken Cook               Lawton, Okla.          15  71-10  262    $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   31-10    Day 2: 5   17-01    Day 3: 5   22-15  
12. Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu, Ariz.     15  71-06  254
  Day 1: 5   27-05    Day 2: 5   25-15    Day 3: 5   18-02  

Tight Lines,
Rich
www.richlindgren.com
basstournament.blogspot.com

Overall the bite seemed to be a little tougher for most anglers after yesterday’s high winds blew the front though.  Bed fish became a little more finicky and anglers had trouble catching fish on jerkbaits & spinnerbaits in the near calm conditions.  This being said, Jimmy Mize brought in almost 32lbs today and Edwin Evers & Greg Hackney made big charges to lead the field and the pursuit of Dean Rojas’ 4 day total record.  I managed to forget my camera, so no pics this evening. 

There appears to be several patterns available for anglers.  Guys are catching them on deep flats, flippin’ heavy cover, sight fishing and jerkbaits.  Fish are available in all from prespawn to postspawn.

As far as my personal success…..  Got a late start due to arriving into Del Rio in the early morning.  By the time my tackle was prepared and license purchased we only had a few hours to fish.  I lost more fish than I caught, I believe this is due to winter rust of my fishing skills since I have not been out since October.  I boated a handful of small keeper and lost a 6-7lb fish on a mojo rig along with a couple more 3-4 lbs fish.

Check back tomorrow for day 3 results as they cut down to the final 12.

Tight Lines,
Rich
www.richlindgren.com
basstournament.blogspot.com

This morning, the Bassmaster Elite Series has officially kicked off on Lake Amistad in Del Rio, TX.  My plane departs this evening at 7:30pm and I will be on the water with the Pros tomorrow thru Sunday.  Everything points to a very exciting tournament, lots of fish and lots of big fish.  My parents are wintering on Lake Amistad, I always thoughts snowbirds were silly.  Now that my parents are on on the premier bass fisheries in the US, I am becoming much more accepting of the whole concept.  As it turns out, there are several pros staying in the same RV park as I will be staying and Randy Howell’s giant Purolator rig is just a few spots away from my parents.

There is a lot of talk records being broken, but that was before the 30+mph winds that came in today for launch.  It will be interesting how that will effect today’s weights.  I think it will affect many anglers, but a few of them will still crack some big bags.  That just means there will be less people chasing Rojas after the first day.

I talked to a friend who had just talk to former, Classic Champion, Bob Hamilton and he has been on some good fish.  He has had 25lbs bags in prefishing everyday by lunchtime and caught an 8 & 10 lb bass on Monday’s practice.

In the next few days, I hope to Blog on tournament happenings as well as my personal catches.  I plan to take digital photos of both my fish and the tournament and post them in the Blog entries as well.  Check back in the evenings for updates throughout the weekend.

Rich
www.richlindgren.com
basstournament.blogspot.com

The 2006 Bassmasters Classic turned out to be the record breaker ESPN/BASS hoped when it made the decision for the tournament to be held on Toho in the spring.  On the flip side, I am not sure anyone besides Luke himself, thought he would be the big winner.  See Final Standings
Luke caught all but one if his fish on Mann’s HardNose Worm

Luke Clausen joins an elite group of David Fritts, David Hite, Dion Hibdon & George Cochran as the only anglers to notch a FLW Championship & a Bassmasters Classic Championship.  That is just flat out impressive.  He is by far the youngest to achieve that, at 27, he was the youngest competitor in this year’s Classic.  See full story.

So, where is next year’s classic going to be?

Rich
www.richlindgren.com
basstournament.blogspot.com