MBC Seniors Tournament - Alamo Lake

I was fishing this tournament solo, my partner was out of town. He gave me full support and I had a pattern figured out so I was going to stick to my game plan of spinnerbaits, 1.5 crankbait, and drop shot all shallow. Well I learned the hard way of the neccessity of having a trailer hook!!! This is a slot lake so only allowed on slot fish (13-16 inches) per angler in the boat and there was a 12 inch minimum in force as well. It was a cold morning but a little warmer than prefish but the forecast called for breeze all day and scattered clouds, weather out here never listens to what they say! The entire day there was hardly any wind until the very end and cloudy almost entire day and definately never got to 70! I started off the morning on a point and working into a shallow cut with grass in the back. I lost a fish a few casts into the morning on a spinnerbait Kept working to the back and caught one on a dropshot in couple feet of water. I continued back out the opposite side of the cut to another point and lost another one on the spinner bait. This would turn into my lesson of the day that I didn't follow even when I thought about it while on the lake. As the day continued I kept switching back and forth between the two and also throwing the 1.5 in shallow grass. I kept catching and losing fish on the spinner bait while landing nothing but slot fish. It was frustrating but I also knew if I was getting bites I was on the right pattern I just need to execute better. With about 30 minutes to go I hooked up with a very very nice over on the 1.5. As it got to the boat I noticed it was barely hooked on the nack hook. About that time it rolled and headshook and I watched as the treble came free and it took off. It was frustrating especially when it was needed after a day of slots and the weights would be close. I decided to make a move after few casts near the ramp in a deep cut. With a few minuted left I hooked into another nice over on a spinnerbait (different color) and same result, lost it just before the boat. It was the end to a frustrating but lesson filled day. I learned the neccessity of a having a trailer hook and a spinnerbait today, I won't throw one again without it and also the importance of staying clear headed if through adversity on the water because never know what will happen next. The two fish I lost, at the end, could have gave me enough weight to be in the top three or even the lead. I look forward to learning more every day on the water I just hope it's not the hard way as often!