Georgia Top Six
Dateline 04/19/99
I got back from fishing my 20th Georgia Bass Chapter Federation Top Six Tournament Tuesday night. Each year bass clubs in Georgia send their top six fishermen to a statewide championship tournament. We are competing to make the state 12 man team that goes to the Southern Regional tournament. The top man on that team goes to the Wrangler Federation National Tournament, and one of them from each region qualifies for the Bass Masters Classic. It is the only way an amateur fisherman can go.
During my most recent trip I went from anticipation driving down to Lake Seminole and Bainbridge, GA to despair when I arrived. I had called the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce to make reservations to camp, and was told it was "first come, first serve," but there should be sites available. After a five hour drive we arrived to find all sites full! That was the despair!
After a night in a "fleabag" motel, one where the fan on the air conditioner worked, but not the cooling part, we went back to the Chamber offices. They apologized for the problems, reminded me it was "first come, first serve," and called Jack Wingates Lunker Lodge to reserve a campsite. Although Wingates was 20 minutes away, we would have a place to stay.
Before heading there we rode through the campground and saw a couple preparing to leave! Their campsite was available. We went to the gate, put our money in the box for that site, went to the Chamber office and asked them to cancel our reservations at Wingates, and launched the boat. We then went back to the campsite and found the couple had engine trouble so we parked my motor home beside theirs and went fishing.
Imagine my surprise when we returned that afternoon to find a couple of guys putting up a tent on our campsite! He showed me the card and orange tape someone from the City of Bainbridge had stretched across the campsite, almost blocking my motor home, that said "reserved" in his name! Seems like the first come, first serve rule is not for everyone! He said the same Chamber of Commerce person I talked with had told him who to call for reservations.
The two campers were also in the tournament and agreed to share the site with us, so all worked out ok. They were very nice and it was good to get to know two fellow fishermen, but I was still disappointed in the way I was treated.
In three days of practice I never found a pattern. My partner Carson Browning and I thought we had found a shallow water pattern Friday afternoon but could not duplicate it on Saturday. When my partner for the first day of the tournament suggested we run way up the Flint River and fish for shoal bass on Monday, I was happy to agree.
We were already 25 miles from the dam, and we ran an additional 25 miles north up the river from there! At 12:20 I caught a 4 pound shoal bass on a Shad Rap, the biggest I have ever caught. Then I caught a 5 pounder! I ended up with three at 10.95 pounds for the day and was in 6th place out of over 450 fishermen! That was the delight!
The next day I would not go back to my first day partner's fish, so we tried a pattern that was working for my second day partner's team. I managed to catch only one small keeper, and dropped to 17th for the tournament. Although very disappointed, I still had a good trip. I guess I will try to qualify to go again next year! But the next time I go to Bainbridge, I will insist on campground reservations!!!!
Had any unusual tournament? Any interesting trips lately? Tell me about it. If so, you can also post information about it for others on my message board - you must register to post but can read the board as a guest. Also, if you have thoughts you want to share about this topic, let me know about it at fishing.guide@about.com. for a "Fishtale" or discuss it in the chat room on every night at 8:00 EST. Tell others what you like.
ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEK - 04/20/98
- Bedding Bass
Bass can be caught while they are on the bed, but it is tough!
TWO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK - 04/21/97
- It's Time for Topwater
Tie on a topwater lure and get ready for some heart racing thrills. Bass,
bream, stripers, and hybrids all will addict you to fishing on top.
Check out Coming Next Week - Next week's column topic, contest prize and new additions to the resources lists.
