My Personal Best

I have been fishing all my life. My dad spoiled me when I was little by taking me to a catfish farm. I was guaranteed to catch a fish and I usually caught more than my dad wanted me to. And I was hooked.

When Frank started tournament fishing, I didn't go. I had a baby to raise and really didn't want to go spend all that time in the sun. It was either too hot or too cold. I just didn't want to go.

Frank finally talked me into joining CAST. I really didn't want to. He promised me that if I didn't want to fish, I could read, sleep, eat, whatever I wanted. He also promised no yelling on the boat. He had problems at times keeping that promise, but he did it. I didn't fish much at first, but the more I went the more I would fish.

After fishing with him for about five years I finally caught a fish over five pounds. As exciting as that was, it still wasn't fun. I thought I was hung up while learning to fish a Carolina rig and Frank had to help me reel her in.

That was about tn years ago. I had decided that I would never catch a fish that weighed more than three pounds. Not only did I have trouble reeling in anything bigger, I really have trouble setting the hook.

This past Saturday, we fished our last tournament of the year with TBC NW. Up at 3:30, we headed to Miller Creek. We love that little lake. It is not very big, but it is a nice lake. Frank did real well last week when he pre-fished. He caught about 18 pounds of fish with the largest being over nine pounds. We were ready to do some fishing.

Things didn't start out to great. Around 7:30 I lost a pretty good fish. Again, I didn't set the hook. It didn't even penetrate the fluke I was fishing with (although, I still blame Frank for not getting her in the net! LOL). Another big fish lost because I can't set a hook.

Later in the morning, Frank set the hook and reeled in a really nice four pounder. Things were looking up. About three cast later, I felt the tug and decided this one was not getting away. I set the hook hard enough that Frank thought I jerked her lips off!

I could tell it had some weight to her, but didn't realize how big until we got her in the boat. 7.28! MY PERSONAL BEST! I was so excited, but I really think Frank was more excited than I was.

She wasn't huge, but I proved to myself that I could catch something bigger than a three and get it in to the boat.

I am so ready to go again just to see if I can do it again!

Where Have I Been?

Wow, from the looks of this poor little fishing blog, it seems I haven't been fishing. But I have, that's just it, fishing, not catching!

Instead of making excuses and trying to back track all we have done in the past months since I have posted on this blog, I'm just going to start fresh and with what we did yesterday.

We had our fourth tournament for the year with TBC at Twin Buttes in San Angelo. We started at 6AM to finish by 2PM, trying to beat some of the heat. Even though Frank and I just came back from our week long vacation with Mattie May down on the Gulf, we were ready to head out. It was not the most productive day we have had on the water, but fun none the less.

We started the morning throwing buzz baits, Frank lost two fish, I caught one that was one inch short! We moved back to the area we like out in front of the ramp and started with drop-shot. This has not been one of my favorites because of the spin cast reels. But my sweetie Frank bought me a new rod and reel with a reel I can crank with my right hand. This makes all the difference in the world.

Not long after Frank's second cast I felt him set the hook. When I looked at him, I didn't even have to ask if he needed the net. If that rod had bent any further, it would have broken! Great fish! 7.07 lbs! Not a hog, but the best he/we have had in a while.


We never could come across any more fish but we were feeling pretty good about big fish until the Wallace's came to weigh in. He had a 7.16 and knocked Frank out. Oh well!

This Saturday we will be fishing TBC Northwest at Lake Ft. Phantom right here at home. So not only do I get to sleep in my own bed, I don't have to get up quite so early! Wish us luck. We had some really good rain while we were gone last week and they have been scalping water off the Brazos, so the lake is really full! Hope you come out and join us.

Have a great week and Go Fish!

"Hold on Just a Sec While I Take My Fish off the Line!"

It's Friday, a beautiful day after a night of thunderstorms and tornado all around the state. The wind is just blowing very lightly. The sun is shining. What a beautiful day and I am stuck in the office!

My dad, on the other hand, is at the lake! I talked to him at lunch and what does he say to me? You guessed it "Hold on! I caught a fish and have to take it off!"

(Heavy sigh) One of these days I will be retired and can head out to fish whenever I want.

I guess you are wondering where I have been. I've been here. Our tournament season started back in March. I was bad. At our West Region tournament, I didn't take any pictures. I was upset because the weather didn't cooperate and I didn't get to fish as much as I wanted. I had not been released from the doctor from the wreck and he gave me very specific directions on what I needed to do to keep from re-injuring myself. We did catch fish and got some points, it would just have been nice to fish when I wanted and not when I could.

Our first Northwest Region tournament was also in March. Due to extremely high winds, I didn't even leave the house. Frank fished by himself, so again no pictures. I think he had one fish, I just don't remember. I'm loosing my mind like that you know.

This past weekend, we had our second West Region tournament at Lake Hubbard just outside of Breckenridge. I will say, even though the conditions left a LOT to be desired, I was in the boat all day. Cold and rainy weather with more extremely high winds. Most normal people, meaning non-fishermen, would have used their common sense and stayed home. Not us, we were out there fighting for fish. Frank eventually made me sit down and rest. I wasn't catching any fish and I was getting real sore real fast. He would have probably done better if I had not been there. He always worries about me instead of fishing. We had three fish that went 5. o7, I think. Remember, I'm loosing my mind. I did take some pictures, most of them you can see if you click the Texas Bass Couples logo in my right side bar.

Tomorrow, we will be fishing at Oak Creek with the Northwest Region. I hope this weather holds out. It will be a long day because we are not staying the night. We will get up and make the drive in the morning. Maybe Frank will let me sleep on the way (LOL).

I hope you get to get out and fish this weekend. Let us know how you do!

Fishing is done for 2010 Classic - Now on to Weigh In!

Frank and I have kept up with the 2010 Bassmaster Classic all weekend thanks to ESPN.com. We have read blogs, watched the leader board change up to the minute on BASStrakk and Friday we watched the weigh in live on espn360. We had Mattie May last night and we didn't get to watch it live.

I have one friend that was having trouble logging in to espn360, so I am linking it here hoping if anyone else is having trouble you can get to it that way.

It looks like my favorite KVD may take this one, but everything we have been watching is unofficial but I can certainly hope!

CLASSIC!!!

The Bassmaster Classic is officially underway and I am still in Abilene instead of Birmingham due in part to this. But all is well. I am able to keep up with it thanks to technology! And Frank is able to keep up with it thanks to his sweet, loving wife and technology. I have been texting him updates as often as I can.

If you are like me and stuck somewhere other than Birmingham, you can keep up with changes too. Most of you know that you can see BASSTrack and the live blog. Just in case you need help, you can click on either one of those and it should take you there. They should both update automatically but it is as simple as clicking your refresh button to get the most recent update.

I am really missing getting to see all that is going on at the outdoor expo. That was a lot of fun last year! We got to see and meet a lot of people with the highlight of the entire trip (for me) was getting to talk to Hank Parker. I am so sure it would be just as exciting this year as it was last. I have read that the Classic is to be in New Orleans next year. I have already told Frank that we are going so he better start saving up!

Last time I checked, KVD was in third with 14.8. Not to shabby! He has already culled 6 fish this morning! WOW! I feel blessed when I can just catch 6 fish in one day!

The first broadcast on ESPN2 will be at nine in the morning. I know some of you (Frank) are still not to good on the computer and are relying on the TV to get your updates. LOL. Maybe I will be able to make a couple of updates between now and then!

Everyone have a great weekend and I hope you get to GO FISH!

First Tournament of 2010

Saturday February 6 was the first Stillwater tournament for this year and was held at one of our favorite lakes, O.H. Ivie. I didn't get to go (read about that at my other blog) but Frank did. He fished and fished and fished.

That was all he did. He never had a bump, bite, or hit! He was miserable all day. Very high winds and pretty chilly weather! He threw everything imaginable, even some you would never think of.

So very glad I didn't go. I so don't like those conditions!

Our next tournament is on Saturday March 6 (I think). I don't know if I will get to go to that one, but I certainly hope I have more to post about at that time.

Blessings to all.