Linda and I got home from her cruise at 9:30 PM Labor Day and I was on the road to Rhinelander, Wisconsin the next afternoon at 1:30.  I really did not have time to get everything together and just kinda threw stuff into the truck and boat, hooked up the boat and took off.  My only worry was that I had not checked the wheel bearings and was leaving on a 2500 mile trip.

I drove until 3:30 AM Wednesday morning, stopping at a motel for a few hours of sleep.  The next morning I left and headed north again, arriving in Rhinelander about 3:00 PM and checked into the motel.  I soon met some of the other guys that had arrived and we went out for dinner together.  Fritz was already in town and we planned on fishing together the next day.

The next morning we gathered for breakfast and then went to a local sporting goods store for license and supplies.  Fritz and I headed to the ramp and went to an area I had caught fish the year before.  After trying several baits I picked up a little 1/8th oz jig with a Zoom Tiny Chunk on it and caught a 13 inch smallmouth on my first catch - the first fish of this year up there.  I caught two more, including a 15 inch keeper that day on the jig. 

We fished some shallow water and Fritz caught a keeper largemouth out of grass and I had what looked like a keeper look at my trick worm. We though we had two places to try during the tournament the next day so we were fairly confident.

One strange thing happened that day.  I had bought some SOSpenders to wear as my lifejacket and bought the automatic kind so they would protect me if I fell overboard while by my self.  These inflatable life jackets have a CO2 cylinder that will inflate them if you pull a cord or if they go under water.  It was raining that day and suddenly Fritz and I heard a strange sound and the SOSpenders inflated on their on while in my boat  seat.  Not much use if you can't wear them in the rain!

The next morning was cloudy and rainy and Fritz and I headed to the spot where I had caught my keeper smallmouth the day before.  We fished that area hard without catching any keepers although some small bass hit. Later in the day we also tried the shallow grass and checked out several more spots without catching anything.  At weigh-in there were five bass brought in by 3 different fishermen so we were in the majority.  

The next day I was paired with the first day leader and Fritz was paired with a fisherman who was not able to fish the first day.  I went back to the place I had caught a keeper in practice and landed a 17,5 inch smallmouth.  On the very next cast I broke my line on the hook set - was so excited that I did not check it.  We fished there for a while but my  partner wanted to go back where he caught his fish the day before and we did.  He caught another keeper, guaranteeing him first place, and I caught several short fish.

At weigh-in  my smallmouth was big fish for the tournament.  Fritz brought in two nice largemouth and won second place.  My partner took first.  We had a great meal and awards ceremony at Steve's house that night and Fritz and I left the next day for Diamond Lake and Weekend X.