TBA Teams - December 13th - Bartlett Lake

     This was a last minute decision to fish due to work, but was able to go. The weather was going to play a major factor as it was raining on the way to the lake and supposed to rain off and on all day with possibility of colder temps and hail as the day moved on. My partner and I were going to focus on the same type of bite as a few weeks ago up in the river and hope for the quality bites.
     We started at the mouth of the river and saw some friends there, we had two fish within 5 casts but only one was a keeper. As we were fishing we had the pleasure of watching a friend slip and fall in the lake, he was fine but his pride was hurt. He must have got a good look at what was under water because within a few minutes we watched them catch one of 4lbs and another over 3lbs. We turned around and doubled back over the water we fished and hooked into one on a spinnerbait, it was over 2.5lbs and got us back into it. We moved further into the river and decided to flip the trees with tubes. Second cast and got smoked on the tube and a big fish ran through some trees and broke me off. At that point at least we knew the bite was still there from a few weeks prior. We fished one stretch for the rest of the day and unfortunately we had some fish come off and another big one get wrapped up. We had a good limit but we knew the lost fish were going to cost us, we just didn't know how bad. We finished in 13th place with 9.39lbs, the winners had 12.82 with a 5lb kicker.
We may not have won with the fish we lost, but it would have been very close and we definitely would have been in second if not as they only had 11lbs. Once again 3rd-15th were all separated by less than 1lb. It was another frustrating day due to the lost fish but at least we were on the right pattern and the only ones doing it. We were flipping the shallow trees in a small ditch in 56 degree water while most everyone else was staying deeper. Thankfully the worst part of the weather held off until the tournament was over, but made for a rough drive home through the severe hail and rain. At the end of the day it was just another lesson learned and looking forward to the 2015 season.