I liked what I had learned during practice and I fished it hard but just could not get the bite. So I quickly revised my plan to use a technique that I had just been taught coupled with something that I really liked to fish. If they were going to be slow so was I. So I chose a weightless worm covered with Kick'n Bass Crawfish flavor, threw it out, and waited to see if I had any takers. After a few casts I hooked my first keeper.
The winds picked up through the day. They were supposed to get up to 20 mph but we decided after riding 3 ft. swells all afternoon that it was higher than that. If you are wondering how I handled those swells after being sick all night it was partly due to the hospitality of my boater. She had some crackers that she offered and I accepted. They were just what I needed along with a Sprite that I sipped on all day. I still haven't discussed any of this with her. I have no idea if she ever found out. I explained it to her in the thank you note that I sent.
I put my weightless worm down several times because of depth changes and wind, but always found myself picking it back up and doing the best I could with it. I'm glad I did. I was able to weigh-in three fish that day and put myself in 12th place. I had done it. I had made the cut and was going to fish on Saturday and so was my boater.
Day three arrived after a few hours of rest. I had one more chance to try to secure my place in the Championship. I was counting on that weightless worm and a few hungry fish to help me out. I was paired with someone I had never fished with but she seemed to be pretty confident with what she was doing. So off we went to once more fish the grass. My boater picked up the first fish for the morning and then the bite seemed to die. She finally picked up another good keeper around midday and then I picked up one soon after with my weightless worm. It was a decent 14 inches and I was thrilled to have it as well as the points that came with it. It was to be the only fish for me that day, but I was happy. I had not zeroed the tournament.
After all the fish had been weighed in at Academy Sports & Outdoors I found myself in 13th place for the tournament. Remember the pro who Ronnie helped in July? She, too, made the cut and finished in 14th place. The next step was to wait on the checks. Then they would drop our lowest tournament and figure out who qualified for the Championship. They were going to make the announcement there before we left. It would not be long before I knew if all the climbing in the last week as well as the last six months had gotten me to the top - the Top 20.
I was feeling better. After I weighed in, I ate a BBQ sandwich as if it would be my last. I was thirsty and drinking whatever I could get my hands on. After discussing with my husband what had happened to me, we believe that I probably had gotten dehydrated as I have a bad tendency to not eat or drink all day when I fish. I'm sure there was a stress factor added in as well. As I stood there waiting for the announcement, I thanked God for giving me the wisdom to know myself and to know that I could handle finishing the tournament.
So where does the hill and the climb come into play? Obviously, I had just spent a week at "the Hill" as everyone calls it. It was a fairly steep hill at the time. The water was lower than it has been in quite a while. There were weather changes everyday. There was a full moon to factor in. The fish moved everyday. I had gotten so sick in just a few hours that I had found myself wondering if I should finish the tournament. And the overall bite was tough and slow for most of us.
When you put all of those things together you hope that each day is another step up and that you will find yourself at the top after the final weigh-in. When we start our season we all are starting at the bottom of the same hill preparing to make the climb to the Top 20 hoping that each decision moves us forward.
We waited and we waited. They came out and told us that they were rechecking all the points to make sure there were no mistakes. We waited some more. Then our emcee came out with the paper in his hand. It was time. He named the pros first. It was fun to be there with them as their names were called out. But it left me wondering if I would be fishing with any of them in Arkansas.
Then it came time for the co-anglers to be named. He started at the top. I had no idea if I could possibly be on the list, but I had hopes that my last few fish had helped me in some way. He had called out the first ten when my heart began to ache. I could feel the tears begin to form. There were still ten to be named but it also meant my chances were slimmer.
Then I heard him say "Tied for 11th, Susan Dameron!" I'm not sure I can describe my feelings at that moment. Words to describe it might be relief, joy, strength, thankfulness, and maybe even a little bit of disbelief to begin with. One of the greatest joys is being able to say that I have done it. I am going to Arkansas to fish in the WBT Championship! I successfully made my climb to the Top 20.
Now I wonder just how high I can climb from there.
