Yup, I'm still here. Life these days is good but a bit hectic. Somehow I need to find a way to make the days just a few hours longer. Anyway, I'm back from our 3rd tournament of the year at Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tn. This was my first experience on this lake and it was GREAT....up until the fish decided to do the Houdini disappearing act. After a very successful practice I just knew I would weigh in at least 15 pounds a day.
Day 1 -
Feeling more positive going into the first day than I had at any tournament this year I was pretty astounded when I only had two keeper fish that first day and a dozen or so short fish (just under the 14 inch limit for Largemouth Bass). I also had some problems with my GPS unit which I have to thank our Lowrance support technician, Cheryl Spencer, for trying to get it up and running for two days. Unfortunately, after all her hard work I still didn't have GPS and couldn't position myself on the many waypoints I had made during practice. This kept me from fishing many of my key spots. No matter, I knew I was still on good fish. Not only were the fish I had good size but toward the end of the day my co-angler, who hardly had a bite all day, caught 3 fish in 30 minutes....the largest went almost 5 pounds. I felt good, knowing what I needed to do the next day and finally I would have GPS. That evening Cheryl replaced the GPS module and got it working so I had my underwater eyes back.
Day 2 -
Sitting down on my first spot my co-angler had 3 keepers in the first hour...all Spotted Bass however. Hmmm, things have changed, where were my big Largemouth Bass....and why wasn't I getting bit? I was using the same bait and technique my co-angler was. Oh well, we had a lot of time left and many great spots to hit. Moving to all of my fishing holes I became more and more concerned I wasn't going to catch any keepers. This is when, as a tournament angler, you have to keep your head straight and stay positive. Finally, I boated a keeper Spotted Bass and just knew my day was about to change, knowing that Spots run in schools. Well, again things didn't go as I expected. Not another keeper was to be found. Anyway, going away from this tournament quite disappointed but as it is with every tournament I fish I learned a boat load.
Oh and if you are ever in Hendersonville, TN you must have breakfast or lunch at Mallards and dinner at Steamboat Bill's. I would drive 3 hours just to eat at these restaurants again! The hospitality and food were top notch!
2008 Season in review
Tour Stop #1 - Lake Lewisville, Dallas, TX - Thank goodness we get to drop one of our tournaments. This tournament was more of a break in than a tournament for me. I had recently gotten my new Honda Engine and Triton Boat which I didn't have much time on the water with and just a few weeks prior had the truck and boat wrapped at H2O Hydro Wraps in Hendersonville, Tn. So needless to say I was still organizing my tackle in the boat at the tournament. After 4 days of 20-30 mph winds and boat traffic that would make any seafarer sea sick I started the tournament out with hopes that fish would be where I caught a 7 pounder in practice. Well, it didn't happen and I didn't have one fish to weigh in. Zeroing the first tournament of the year will definitely humble a person...or make them even more hungry for the next tournament.
Tour Stop #2 - Lake Neely Henry, Gadsden, Al.
Wow! What a great tournament. I had a pretty rough practice and had to find the fish during the tournament....and that is just what I did. The first day I had a small limit putting me into 33rd, the second day I had one of the best days ever. I caught my limit by 7:30 AM and caught fish all day, culling throughout. I ended up the second day in 9th place. Of course during the final day, as usual, the WBT comes to town and the weather turns funny. The areas I was fishing got a lot of rain the evening before and my water not only dropped 6 degrees but rose 6 inches. I found fish early shallow and when the water temp finally got up to the 80's I thought for sure the fish would show back up. Well, they did but only the small ones. I ended up the tournament not too bad, 14th which I am very proud of. This was one tough tourney for many.
Currently, I am sitting 44th and have high hopes for the next tournament at Clarks Hill Reservoir, Ga in September. It is anyone's to win and there is no reason it cant be me.
Jeff and I are working hard to make things happen. Our current sacrifices are necessary for our long term goals....keep an eye out for LadyFisher. There are GREAT things to come!
LadyFisher LLC
My life as a professional angler has taken on a life of its own, it has become a business so the next step was to form an LLC.
Well, there are so many other things going on but I am sure you are like me...limited on time so I will let you go for now. Hope you are doing well. Keep your hooks sharp and your lines tight and the fish will bite.
Until next time.....
Jo Dee
Thanks to my sponsors; Honda Marine www.hondamarine.com; Coca-Cola Birmingham Bottling Co. www.cocacola.com, Academy Sports & Outdoors www.academysports.com, Concept, Inc www.conceptprint.com, Smith's Marina & Drydock, G&G Milow, Triton Boats www.tritonboats.com, L&L Marine www.landlmarine.net; Carolina Lunker Sauce www.lunkersauce.com,Pinnex Group www.pinnex.com, Team Daiwa www.daiwa.com, Mustang Survival www.mustangsurvival.com, Sierra Chemical www.sierrachemical.net
