Cumberland is TOUGH righ now to say the least. Largemouth bite on the lower end of the lake must be tough. Here is a short journal of my experience in my first FLW as a co-angler. In the first 2 days of the tournament, I've drawn out with pro's that were bed fishing the lower end of the lake. And I knew what to expect, and wasn't looking forward to it at all. Most of these guys found some big sacks of fish on the bed 2 weeks ago during practice, and most were gone when they got back. Best I can tell from observing (which is what your basically doing when you get a draw and the boater is bed fishing) is that most of the largemouth have laid out, or the water has came up about 3 feet since practice. These fish are very hard to see, and virtually impossible to catch. The guys catching them sight fishing have their game on for sure. I got a few lessons in bed fishing, and the main one that I learned is when the fish are hard to catch, its better to look for another one, or go to plan B, or C, or just go fishing, lol. Most of the spotted bass that my pro's had located were spookey, left the nest, or they just couldn't get them mad enough to bite at all.

My day 1 partner was Curt McGuire, and he had some real nice spots located. Just couldn't get them to bite at all. He fished about 5 different places, and didn't look for any other fish. So that basically means I had 5 areas to fish on day 1, and what I could cast too was about it. One of the areas had submerged bushes, and thats my game. I scrambled to get my flipping stick, and first cast I really wasn't paying attention till I saw about a 2 pound spot roll over in the bush. I had no idea the fish had eaten my jig, I quickly pulled up the slack just in time to have her blow it out. My luck, lol. Maybe this isn't my game after all.

I couldn't get her to bite again, but did manage to get a 12" spot out of another small laydown that was in about 6 feet of water. Never been so glad to set the hook in my life! Didn't kiss it or anything, but it sure felt good to be on the board.

When Curt said we were headed to the point just ahead to see if a largemouth he had found was still bedded in front of a submerged bush, I noticed a small sycamore tree on the other side of the pocket half submerged. I managed to get the jig into the tree, and fed it line as the boat gained speed. When I picked it up, it was tight, but with the boat moving what do you do? When I say moving, I mean 36Volt 100% hold on moving, lol!

Is that a fish?

I managed somehow to get about a 2 1/2 pound spot semi-hooked in that tree, and she came off as I tried to pull her out. Nothing I could do, everything happened so quickly I just didn't have time to think. Didn't feel her bite, and basically never even set the hook. That one hurt my feelings to say the least, lol.

That was about it for day 1, and my boated ended up with 1 good spot, I ended up with a 12" fish weighing in at a whopping 1 lbs 5 oz.

Now all of this observing really has me wishing I could draw out someone who is catching fish the way I caught fish during the 4 days of practice. And when my day 2 partner Mike Hicks told me we were headed down, and he was bed fishing, I thought I would cry, lol.

So off to the races we go, 70 miles down the lake. He has 2 fish located in a pocket, and I can only fish behind the boat while he fishes for them. His boat is right against the bank, the only place he can be too see this fish. I actually don't mind, there is a laydown in reach, a shelf off of a the wall about 6 feet deep, so I'm fishing. Broke off 3 or 4 jigs, hung 3 or 4 floating worms in the trees, lost 2 spot removers, yea, its going to be a good day, lol.

Fished the same area over and over for about 45 min, then decided to just to once again be an observer.

Mike fished for that 3 lbs spot for the first hour, then decided to try the 2nd spot located just ahead, and after watching him fish for this fish, I knew I couldn't make her bite either, but he said have at it.

Not a very good bed fisherman when there not locked on tight, so that went just as I expected. He foul hooks his other fish by accident, quickly throws it back and said lets just go fishing. Best thing I have heard in 2 days!

Fished a shakey head jig, and floating worm for aobut an hour without a bite. I asked him around 11:30 if he would be willing to fish for the fish I had found on Monday. Much to my surprise, he said lets go.

After a long run, and lots of zig zagging around floating logs, we arrived, and the fishing was tougher, but much better than the clear water for me. I managed to catch my limit for the day (1 fish, lol) and he managed 2 nice keeper LM, and lost a good fish. All this in a couple of hours, so my pattern is still working, but slow. I had 2 other bites, and had one of them on for a few seconds, but just came undone. Was a nice fish, and would have helped me quite a bit.

My fish weighs 1 lbs 5 oz again, so I have a grand total of 2 lbs 10 oz for 2 days. The sunburn was thrown in for free!

My day 3 Pro is Rock Monteith, from Columbia SC. Being from SC, I figured we were headed down the lake to fish for bed fish tomorrow, but he explained that he wasn't catching any fish, and his engine is acting up. Going to have to stay near the ramp tomorrow, and I'm tickled pink. I have quiet a few areas near Burnside that I fish on a regular basis, and should hold fish. Most on that end are off the bed, so thats a plus.

I fished 2 spots near the launching ramp last Saturday, and had about 12 lbs on one of them in about an hour. So if they are still there I might be able to catch a couple. I feel I only need about 4 lbs to secure a check, and a miracle 16 lbs to win, lol.

Fishing is tough to say the least. I'll just be glad to go fishing, and have a full 8 hours of opportunity.

I really enjoyed my day on the water today, Mike is a good fisherman, and geat to talk too. Curt is also a great guy, but with him having all of his fish located, and fishing only for bed fish, its a tough day for anyone in the back of the boat.

Looking forward to tomorrow. Who knows, miracles have happened before! Its only 5 bites right!

I'll post again after this weeekend, Co-Anglers are finished tomorrow, but Saturday I think I'll head down to Dale.

Don