MBC Seniors Tournament - October 22nd 2011

Today I learned the neccessity of keeping an open mind and never giving up. I prefished last week and the bite I found was steady enough that I knew my game plan. I had a limit in under 30 mins and weight near 9lbs on crankbaits on steep ledges. The pattern worked great in three different spots so I was set, or so I thought. I fished with my partner, Fred Szatkowski, in the MBC Seniors Series and we started in the spots I found in prefish. We caught a few fish there, including a catfish, but nothing of size. The fish went from a limit for 9lbs to 2 fish that barely measured and a few short fish. We decided to make a move and try another spot from prefish. The first cast there produced another fish so now 3 in the livewell. A few casts later heartbreak as we breakoff a decent fish. After another hour plus and we only have another short fish to show for our efforts. We make a move only to come up empty. Decided to head back to starting spot, catch few more shorts and miss a short strike and now frustration is setting in. Its amazing how one day to the next can be so different. We made the long run to the Tonto side of Roosevelt and decided to change up and try the flip bite. Second cast and my partner hooks up with a nice keeper, 4 fish now and a few hours to go to finish out the limit. Hours go by and nothing. To know you need that last fish and no matter what you do you cant seem to figure it out is the hardest part. Fishing truly is a mental sport. We decided to head back to spot one since its close to weigh-in and its produced fish. We have a little over an hour left and the frustration is truly setting in. We fished there for awhile and we made another mode down river. We now only have about 15 minutes left and need one fish to make the tough day a little better. I usually give my partner some grief about throwing a dropshot all the time but it works for him and we needed a fish so I decided to follow right behind him pitching some small bushes for the last few minutes. He gets a strike but sets and misses, he told me to throw back there and I do and nothing but decided to throw back in the tree again since it worked earlier. It was the last cast and sure enough got the bite, fought the fish in and it happened to be our big fish of the day. We literally tossed it in the livewell, buttoned everything down and took off for the weigh-in, we had about 6 minutes to go and a 5 minute ride! We made it in time and the pressure and frustration seemed to disappear. Its amazing how little it takes for things to change. I learned never give up no matter what and not to rule anything out. Its not always as easy as it seems out there but I love it no matter what. I want to give a thanks to my partner Fred as well as Paul with MBC and all my sponsors