Back from Dardanelle

[EJHick]

Wow is all I can say. Myself and three other members of the UofL bass fishing team competed in the Arkansas Tech University Invitational on Lake Dardanelle last Friday and Saturday. My partner and I practiced Wed and Thurs and had a ball. This lake is filled with fish, big fish, and it is beautiful down there.

On the first day of practice we were mainly trying to learn the lake and hit a lot of areas using lots of baits to figure the fish out. Our best 5 went around 18 lbs, anchorded by two 5 lbers I caught on a trap. We caught most the fish on trap and jig that day.

Day two was a little tougher, we had around 15 lbs anchored by a 7lber caught on a jig. We hit all new places and once we caught a keeper or two we left out of there.

Day 1 of the tournament we had 5 that went about 14 lbs, but we were happy. Caught them on frogs...totally different then practice day. Lost three fish that would had put us up to the 20 lb mark. We hated the no net rule!

We were sitting in the top ten, which we were happy with since all the other schools in the top were either 2 minutes from the lake to an hour from the lake.

Next day we found the fish, big fish, but we did not capitalize. Came in with a wopping 4 lbs something with 2 keeps and lost our limit twice that day. We found them in a foot of water, mixed in with lilly pads and last years stalks, 66 degree temps way back in a bay. We caught over 100 fish and this was one of my greatest fishing trips ever.

We got a police escort to the meeting, pretty funny when everyone pulls over like it is a funeral procession. I was intervied three times and our other team was intervied a couple times out on the water by FOX. Eventhough we didn't come out with a win, it was a great time and experience in my book. Can't wait to go back.

Oh and does anyone plan on fishing the UofL fundraiser this weekend at Nolin? Man we would sure appreciate the support from any of you guys on here. If you have any questions or anythings shoot me an email at [email protected]
C'mon guys, come out and fish!

Eric Hickman Jr.
The L-Raisin' Anglers of UofL
Vice President
[email protected]
http://www.freewebs.com/ejhick01/

[mhall]

That's what I'm talkin about, good job Eric.

[artcarney_agr]

It was a great time down there. That lake is loaded with fish! My partner and I got in on the frog bite pretty good on Wednesday, and Thursday push poling in last year's lilly pads. The water started dropping little by little on Friday and Saturday so our spot started to go sour during the tournament. We had a two day total of only 17.5 lbs, but the most frustrating part was after the weigh-in on the final day.........we went back out and whacked'em! In three hours we had caught a good 40 fish with our best five totalling 16.5 lbs, all off of one bank! If we had taken what we found and applied it elsewhere, there's no telling what we could have had!

The lake, the town, and the people were great! I believe the WBT is there fishing this week. I look forward to seeing how they do, because the fish should be on the beds for certain now and the sacks should be HUGE! I'd recommend a trip there to anyone, because it is awesome! The good bass are in the good grass down there!

Regards,

Scott Brown - President
The L-Raisin' Anglers
University of Louisville

[firekracker50]

Yeah i second that... I would definately reconmend it to anyone...
It was the best lake i have ever been on.... and beautiful suroundings and scenery.

The coolest part of this lake is that anyone from anywhere i believe could find familiar water on this lake...

It have everything from bluffs with deep clear water, to grassy flats, ledges, muddy creeks... i don't care what kind of water you are looking for i guarentee somewhere on it you can find it.

I just wish me and Eric would have found that 1 foot hot water with pads on it sooner. We got desparate in the last 30min before weigh-in and took off our flag pole and started pushing ourself back over this mud bar, but it was about the best move we could have made, we probably caught 20 fish in that half hour. I lost a good 3-3.5 pounder swingin her into the boat. The Frog popped out, she fell, i dove after her, she hit the side of the boat, and right back into the water. But that is one of about 4 or 5 that we lost back there that would have easily got us a nice sack.

[Tim_T]

Good job to all of you guys. I have heard great reports about that lake from a friend who lives in Beebe, AR. I may try and get there someday.