Oct 5-7 Barkly Club Tournament report

I found useful information here before my tournament, so I thought I'd return the favor.

We had a club tournament the 6th & 7th of Oct with pre-fish on the 5th. Fish were scattered. We caught the occassional 14.5" fish in secondary bays and flats, and a rare keeper. Spotted bass seemed to be on their typical main rocky point pattern - didn't seem to hold many keepers there either. Toward the end of the tournament, I found what seemed to be a reliable smallmouth pattern (getting my partner 2nd place). They were on medium length (longer than 100', but not overly long) steeper rocky banks (not large rock and not pea gravel, but somewhere in between - fist sized rock or slightly bigger). These banks were just off or on main channel swings near deep water and near northern third of Barkley on east side (didn't try west side). Most of the fish were right on the bank all the way down to 8-10' and schooling. Use fineness jigs in craw patterns.

Thanks to everyone who posts openly and honestly here! Great site!