We launched out boat 20 and headed to the same area we had started on and within a few minutes we had our first keeper. We also had a few big fish follow and bump a swimbait but just not connect. With a few fish in the well we ran our other patterns and areas but the bite just wasnt the same. We caught a few small keepers and had our limit and ended our day where we started which produced a few more bites and a cull or two. We ended our day with a limit of 10.47lbs and needed a big second day, which we knew was possible.
Day 2 we ran to the same area as the previous day and once again had a fish in the boat within a few casts and then finally got another to eat a swimbait, which unfortunately was only a 3.38lb largemouth. After fishing down the same bank and having 10 or so fish follow the swimbait but not eat it we decided to run our steep & deep pattern. We fished throughout the day and our steep drop off bite was gone. We caught a few unders which just made it more frustrating knowing how hard it was in the 100+ heat. We once again finished where we started and caught another keep. We finished the day with 3 fish for 7.53lbs and ended up in 22nd place with a total of 18.00lbs.
Looking back I missed the keys to unlocking the correct pattern. The area we caught the majority of our fish in practice was on the steep cliff walls and points but with the heat the fish left those areas and buried themselves in the deep grass. The area we caught most of our keepers and missed a few bites had good drop offs and deep grass. I failed to connect the dots until it was too late and it cost us a chance at the championship. It is a lesson learned, these Florida strain laregemouth like the grass more than the previous breed we fished for and will be a main focus from now on. I also remembered what it was like to sleep at the Ranger Suite, was a first in a long while.
