Reed Wins
Big Bass Award
A couple of weeks ago we fished the last tournament in
the Northern Division of Bassbum Solo Trail
(www.bassbum.homestead.com) here in Alabama on Weiss
Lake. This last tournament of the season determined who
got Angler-of-the-year in this division. I had just
missed the Central division Angler-of-the-year title,
placing 3 rd for the year in a tight race. Well, to make
a long story short...I won! I had almost 15 pounds with 5
bass. I also caught a 5 1/2 pound largemouth bass that
got big bass of the day. All bass came on buzzbaits
(first fish of the morning a 4 pounder), culling 5 nice
keepers by mid-morning!
In practice, me and my partner saw this huge bass shake
off a spinnerbait, in a huge tree laying on a flat, all
on Friday at 1:30 p.m. I caught this bass on a buzzbait,
same spot, at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday in the tournament!
After drifting over to the bank and unhooking this big
largemouth, I culled a fish and then went back to
fishing. Right below this root jam was another huge
brushpile. I cast the buzzbait, and a huge Spotted Bass
nailed it! I saw the bass as I got it to the boat and
then the 20 pound test line just broke!
I watched as about 30 feet of line slid out the rod eyes
and then fell in the water. I thought about the
deep-diving crankbait at my feet, grabbed it and quickly
cast it out to grab the line. I got the line, reached
down to grab it and the bass shot under the boat and then
pulled the line from my hands! It looked at least to be
about 6 pounds! A Monster Spotted Bass! At the moment, I
thought it would hurt me losing this trophy spot. Turned
out, I didn't even need it!
Man, what a day! In all, this day netted me a guaranteed
1st place and big bass total of about $1000.00. Plus
Angler-of-the-year gets $1000.00, this weekend at the
end-of-the-year 2-day banquet and Classic on Logan Martin
Lake. In addition, they pay my 2 day entree of $150.00
and I get 5 free entries in next years trail!
Now all I need to do is win the 2-day Classic this
weekend at Logan Martin Lake, that pays about $5000.00,
then I'll be set for Winter! Thanks, tips on the way in
next e-mail! (You may want print this e-mail "true
story" for your readers on your website!) Thanks,
BASSBUM Angler-of-the-year 2000 (again after
Angler-of-the-year in 1998)...Reed.
Reed Montgomery
Producer / Host "Fishing Alabama" Radio Talk
Show
WJOX 690 AM
1805 28 Street
Birmingham, Alabama 35218
Phone (205) 787-5133
Owner / Reeds Guide Service
"Over 30 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and
Stripers"
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
Angler of the Year
After winning and taking Big Bass honors in the
Alabama BASSBUM Solo Trail Northern Division Weiss Lake
tournament and recently winning another BASSBUM Solo
Tournament at Logan Martin Lake in their Central
Division, I was awarded Angler-of-the-year title in the
BASSBUM Solo Trail's Northern Division this weekend at
Logan Martin Lake. This ceremony took place at the 2 day,
end of the season, Championship Finale, featuring 35 of
Alabama's best solo trail anglers, from both the central
and northern division BASSBUM 2000 Solo trails.
What I was hoping for also took place at these awards.
After placing 2 nd Saturday with 5 bass weighing 15
pounds, on the first day of this two day event, my hopes
were high in eventually winning this prestigious annual
BASSBUM solo trail event on Sunday. Trailing a little
over one pound behind the first day leader, who had 5
bass weighing about 16 1/2 pounds, I knew I had a much
better chance at winning this event, than the rest of the
first day's top 5, who were all holding 3 pounds behind
in the 12 pound range.
Although these excellent, and well known anglers could
overtake 1 st place with a good sack of bass, conditions
were tough and many had struggled to even get a limit
Saturday, including me. All I needed was a repeat 5 bass
performance of Saturday and the title of, "BASSBUM
Solo Trail Champion 2000" could be added to my
Angler of the Year title. However, leading any two-day
bass tournament is a title that's hard to defend. I knew
the first place award of $3000 would only go to the
angler that survived this showdown to the end, and not
without that angler having had to work for every bite he
got. It was not going to be easy to catch the first day
leader.
With no fog, (like most recent fishing trips), to greet
us as we launched Sunday morning, the calm, cool air of
dawn, was a relief as blast off took place. I was ready.
Being in second place I took off in that order. As the
first day leader took a right and trailed off downriver,
I headed north. Far upriver, I stopped and made my first
cast of the day with high expectations. As the Zara Super
spook made its enticing walk across the waters surface, I
awaited in anticipation, of the lovable blowup that had
occurred so many times before.
I looked ahead, came up on a stump, the same stump that
had produced my first days biggest bass weighing near 4
pounds. I had also released a big bass here on Thursday,
after it had hit a buzzbait in practice. After taking big
bass honors in the last BASSBUM Solo at Weiss Lake, of a
bass that I really believe I lost the day before, I knew
that big bass were catchable one day later. I awaited an
explosion...that never came.
I seined the area, that had produced the winning catch
Saturday and numbers of quality bass in practice, but had
no bites, not one. We had taken off at 6:30 a.m. and it
was now 9 a.m. and I was getting frantic about even
catching a keeper bass to weigh in. Determined to make
the best of the next remaining 6 hours, I knew I had
better make a good decision soon, especially if I really
was going to win this tournament. Tournaments are won by
good decisions.
I made a move. It was a wise and good one. My first bass
hit the spook at 9:40 it had a big head, long body and
looked to be about 6 pounds, but actually weighed 4 1/2
pounds. I had cast the spook up on a lying tree and a
small bass had rolled on it, I walked it a few times and
unexpectedly the Big Bass had came out and nailed it!
I finished out my limit by 11:30 a.m. fishing
spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and jerkbaits and began thinking
about my BIG bass stump, as time was ticking on. Having 5
bass about 10 pounds, including one very small,
borderline 12 inch bass, I knew I needed to cull one more
bass. At least to be in the running to win this 2 day
solo tournament, that is, if the current leader did not
have as good a day as I was now having.
Saturday, I had fished this fabulous stump at 12:30 p.m.
catching my biggest bass on my favorite lure, the zara
super spook. This bass weighed almost 4 pounds. I decided
that it was time for another move. Tournaments are won by
making the right decision, making the right move, going
to the right place and throwing the right lure for
success. Go with what you know and what works best for
you.
I arrived at the huge stump, just 2 hours before having
to weigh in at 2 p.m. With cloudy conditions, there was
no doubt about the lure I would choose to entice one last
bass. I made a long cast, past the magical stump, that
had recently produced several bass over 3 pounds, it was
a, "Big Bass" hideout. I prepared for the
blowup and it came as expected. However, just like man
times before, the bass missed it!
Like so many blowups before, I knew what would trigger
another strike. I frantically walked the spook, as if to
simulate the baitfish attempting to get away from this
menacing bass. Five feet, from the now simmering circles
of the first blowup, a huge boil appeared right behind
the spook. I stopped it, then immediately continued to
walk the lure away from the obvious trailing bass. That's
when the bass nailed it! My winning bass! I prayed,
please don't come off, and the hooks held strong. Still,
I had a problem, a Big problem!
The bass was determined to escape and had dove to the
roots of the huge stump and got tangled up down below. I
frantically trolled over to the stump, not knowing if the
bass was even still there, for now I felt nothing. I
thought the bass had hung me up and was gone, and perhaps
my chance of winning a major tournament, like so many
times before, were gone to.
I looked down in the clear water and to my amazement,
right next to the stump, was the huge bass, swimming
around down below with the spook hanging out of its mouth
and the line wrapped around the roots. I thought,
"this could be a $3000 bass" and without
hesitation, reached all the way down past my shoulder
actually wetting my I head while running my hand down the
line. I felt the tail of the now played out bass. I
pulled the bass up, cut the line and boated one of the
most beautiful 3 1/2 pound bass I had ever seen. It was
now 12:30 p.m. little did I know, that this was to be my
last bass of the day. Not getting another bite, I culled
the little bass, now having about 12 pounds and headed
in. Was it enough?
When I arrived, the first day leader had rumors floating
around that he had a good limit. BASSBUM Solo trail
emcee, Jim Purdy, announced we would hold they first
day's top 5 till last in the weigh in. It came down to
the wire. Places 3rd, 4th and 5th weighed in, showing it
was a tough day for all. I was very fortunate, weighing
in the biggest 5 bass limit of the day, weighing just
over 12 pounds. Now it was time for the first day leader
to weigh in. Did he have enough to overtake my promising
victory?
He approached the weigh in stand, straining as he
obviously was carrying a lot of water and a bag full of
bass. It looked good, but it was not enough. I had won,
ironically by about 3 1/2 pounds! With 10 bass weighing
27 3/4 pounds!
Perhaps not as prestigious as the Bassmasters Classic and
Angler of the year title, like won by Mark Davis in 1995,
all in one season. But, just as proud, I walked to the
stage to receive my checks, plaques and the honor of
beating some of Alabama's best solo trail anglers, in
BASSBUM'S Solo trail season Championship Finale for the
year 2000 (see www.bassbum.homestead.com for
results)....Thanks, REED MONTGOMERY
Reed Montgomery
Producer / Host "Fishing Alabama" Radio Talk
Show
WJOX 690 AM
1805 28 Street
Birmingham, Alabama 35218
Phone (205) 787-5133
Owner / Reeds Guide Service
"Over 30 Years Fishing Alabama for Bass and
Stripers"
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
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