A New Season

The alarm went off at 3:45 AM.

As I was jolted out of bed, I tried to think why on earth it was going off so early. 

Oh yeah, we start a new fishing season with TBC today!!

On the road by 4:30AM.

Light rain.

We both need new rain gear, and Texas needs the rain. 

If it stays a light rain we'll be ok.

Temperature is 48 supposed to warm to almost 60. 

It's going to be a great day!

TBC West Lake Ft Phantom - 06-19-11

This is a very deceiving picture!

Oh! It is a beautiful sunrise,
the temperature was nice,
and at this point the wind wasn't too bad.

And it was Father's day.
What a great way to spend it.

With my hubby,
fishing.

My dad first took me fishing,
years ago,
to a catfish farm.
What better place to start a child fishing!
A place where you're guaranteed to catch fish.
I loved it.
His pocketbook did not!
And then there was the crappie fishing!
He is the one that instilled the love of fishing in me!
Thank you Poppa!

But these pictures tell the true story of the day.

Look at those waves!
And that towel on his seat!
(and yes! Ft Phantom IS REALLY that color!)

So you think I just captured it just right?
Here's another shot,

OK. So that one doesn't look so bad either.

Let me show you a little film I took...

W - I - N - D - Y!!!

That is what today was. It was terrible!
It was one of those days when being air born on your trip across the
lake was the norm.
The days I hate.

We started out at some docks across from the spill way
with no success,
so it was time to move over to our favorite stick ups.
Thank goodness for our new trolling motor!
It had to work hard to keep us there.

Frank boated an under
(Ft Phantom has a 16" minimum on Large mouth)
and then broke off what we are pretty sure was a decent fish.

Then we moved back over to the docks.
He started catching lots of unders and
I actually boated one too,
but I soon succumbed to the heat and wind
and told Frank I was just going to be his netter the rest of the day.

He caught two nice keepers in this area and we stayed here the rest of the day.
He did break off again on a fish that he said he couldn't turn his head.
Fishing around the docks has it's drawbacks.
He was fishing under some stairs when he had the hit
and the fish swam under them and it cut his line.
So we went to weigh in with just two fish,
but that was better than some others!

Mattie May got to meet us at the ramp

so she helped Grumpy with weigh in!

Making sure they weigh them right!

We ended up with 5.54 and about 4Th place...

and that put us (unofficially) in fifth place for the year!
YAY US!!
Really yay Frank!
He does the majority of the work!

Our Championship tournament is
September 24 & 25
at
Lake Limestone

And our top six tournament will be
October 29Th
at

SAM RAYBURN!!!

We are very excited!
We haven't fished Big Sam in years
and are very ready to go back!

Until next time,
God Bless!

Sweetwater Lake Texas Bass Couples West 05/22/11

While his girls ran around San Antonio, Frank spent the weekend alone so he could fish our TBC tournament on Sunday.

I don't have a great report and of course absolutely no pictures, but he seems to have done well. I know it was hot and his nose got more sun than it would if I had been there to keep sunscreen on it, and he says the wind blew, but not to bad.

He caught fish all day but could not find more than five fish that was not in the slot. He had two fish over 18" and three under 14", but he was busy all day catching fish in the middle. He had one fish that weighed more than six pounds but was short and stocky. As a matter a fact, another fisherman that was nearby brought his board over to measure it just to make sure. He saw Frank fixing to put it back in the water and couldn't believe it was too short.

But that's just how our fishing goes. He ended up with five fish weighing 12.8. And that moved us into the top six. Yay, Frank!

Our next TBC tournament is close to home at Lake Ft. Phantom and there is no karate tournament that conflicts with it. Thank goodness. I've missed my allowable two tournaments so I have to show up next time! Now championship weekend, that's a different story! We'll figure something out!

Until next time, God Bless!

Hubbard Lake Texas Bass Couples West 04.17.11

Here it is a week later and I just realized I never posted about our last tournament. Probably because there wasn't much to report.

Due to extremely high winds, Frank and I decided it was best for me to stay home on this one, and after hearing all the reports I am so very glad that I did.

Frank only had one fish that weighed in at a whopping 3.04. He fought the wind all day and finished the tournament by being plopped on a rock! The trolling motor took the brunt of the hit and would not work. Thank goodness it was late in the day and he could head to weigh in.

It could have been worse and I am so glad he didn't want me to go. I am not a fair weather fisherman, but I really don't do well in the wind. And this wind was way past "breezy"!

So not much to report. Just waiting on the repairs to be made so we can get back on the water.

Next tournament - Lake Sweetwater in May.

God Bless!

OH Ivie Texas Bass Couples West 3.27.11

Good Grief! I am not sure who ordered the cold weather and they certainly don't want me to find out! It was down right cold all day! Well until about 2:30. When Frank tells you he is shivering so hard he can't tie on a new lure, IT"S COLD! This tournament was out of Kennedy, so we had to get up and over there to get in the water in time for live well check. Frank wanted to hit a place by the dam early and that's where we headed. We actually thought it was going to be a good day. He boated a 3+ on about his fifth cast. And then there was nothing. We didn't stay there much longer, nothing was hitting and the wind was killing us. It wasn't a heavy wind, just cold. We went back to flipping the hardwoods with the same worm. Had a bit of productivity, but no size. We had 4 fish in the boat early, but we needed a kicker over 18" and we just couldn't get it. Late in the afternoon we decided to head to the ramp and fish in that area until weigh in. I am so glad we did. Not only did the clouds finally break, we upgraded lots of fish. I was so glad to get rid of that little guy that weighed less than a pound. We ended the day with four fish going 7.57. I told you we would be wanting the fish we had the day before! Even though we froze it was a good day! Any day is a good day when I'm on the water with my honey! Love ya' Frank and thanks for putting up with my antics on the boat!

OH Ivie Bassin' Bunch Special Olympics Open 03.26.11

What a beautiful day. But man, did it ever start early! We usually fish this tournament but we had not planned to this year. We were not able to fine a room and with the price of gas (diesel) it just didn't make sense to drive there and back on Saturday and then do it again on Sunday for TBC. Luckily, Michelle was called that there was a cancellation at Concho Park and they invited us to stay with them on Saturday night. Yeah! It was cool Saturday morning when we headed out but bearable. We Got to the lake in time to meat up with Russell and Michelle and have some coffee and breakfast before hitting the lake.

We fished a lot of places we haven't fished in a while, holding our regular places for Sunday's tournament. We flipped worm's in the hardwood most of the day, but I did find time to throw my spinner bait.

Frank's biggest fish weighed almost 3 pounds and was just over the 18" minimum. He caught in in less than a foot of water! We were fishing very shallow and most of the time fishing muddy water because the trolling motor was kicking up a lot of mud. With two smaller fish hitting the 14" slot, he had a total of 5.94. Nice little stringer but certainly not anywhere close to putting him in any money.

I had two fish that barely met the 14" minimum with a total weight of 3.17.

It was a beautiful day, warm and a bit of wind. And we would be wishing for that nine pounds of fish on Sunday.

Oak Creek March

Well, my day certainly didn't go as planned.

Stillwater Bass Club's tournament was last Saturday, but due to circumstances beyond mine or Frank's control, I did not get to go. I got up and started getting ready, but we both decided I should stay home and he headed to the lake without me. I should say, this was not his choice, he wanted to stay with me but I sort of blackmailed him into going.

As the day wore on, he was really glad I didn't go. It was extremely windy and he stayed cold most of the day. And we all know, if he was cold, I would have been miserable.

He did end up with three fish (remember, this is a 3 fish tournament), but fell a bit short. My understanding is there was a pretty good stringer that won, somewhere in the 20 pound range! WOW is all I have to say.

Hopefully, I will be out there with him again on March 27. That is our next TBC tournament. And if things really go well, we may get to fish the Bassin' Bunch Bass Club's Open Bass Tournament the day before. Remember, this tournament benefits Special Olympics! Both tournaments are at O.H. Ivie. Maybe it will rain before then!

O.H. Ivie Feb 27, 2011

Sunday found us back at O.H. Ivie Reservoir fishing with Texas Bass Couples West Region.

The morning started out great! Extremely light wind, cool not cold. The lake is lower than I remember ever seeing it. Thank goodness for GPS and Frank knowing the lake as well as he does.

The trip up the Concho took a little longer than normal due to the water level, but we made it safely. We fished mainly around the bridge having pretty good luck. Frank alternated between a crank bait and spinner bait. I stuck with my spinner bait. We left the ramp about 7:00 AM and we had boated our first fish by about 7:30. Always makes me happy to not have to fish with that smelly skunk all day! We had four bass in this area, 1 over and 2 under.

The wind finally hit at about 9:30 AM and the fishing was downhill from there.

We moved closer to the mouth of the Concho around 10:30 and started flipping a worm, Hag's Tornado, red something (I know I should be better at remembering these things.) It took about an hour and Frank caught another one over 18". He kept flipping and I would alternate between flipping and throwing my spinner bait.

About 12:30, we moved closer to the ramp at Concho Park and continued flipping and throwing spinner baits. The wind seemed to be getting worse and the fish had completely quit biting. At one point, Frank had the trolling motor as high as it would go and we weren't moving. It was a definitely a battle with the wind and the wind was winning.

Around 1:30 we decided to count our losses and think about safety. We were loading the boat by 2:00 and it took awhile. That cross wind was a killer. We hung around the ramp, Frank helping some other couples get loaded and then headed over to weigh in.

Even though we could never come across a fifth fish, we still ended up in 3rd with a total bag of 11.08. I think Frank pulled his fish instead of mine for big fish. Tommy weighed it at 3.90 and I weighed mine at 4.04 on my de-lier. Tommy's scales always weigh heavier than mine! But it wouldn't have mattered. Russell and Michelle had big fish at 5.99! Way to go McGuire's!

Our next tournament will be with Stillwater this Saturday March 5 at Oak Creek, unless Frank has to work. I love fishing, but that guaranteed money from work is better!

If we miss this one, our next TBC tournament is back on Ivie on March 27th. As they say "Same bat time. Same bat channel!"

Until then, good fishing and God Bless!

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.

Happy New Year!

We have made it through another year (Yippee!) and I can't believe how fast it has gone! Just like a roll of toilet paper!

We have been looking forward all week to our annual trip to the Duda this week. I can't wait to get off work so I can head that way. Frank left earlier today and Mom and I will be leaving as soon as we can this afternoon. A cold front has blown in so maybe we will get snowed in and will have to stay longer! I am sure my boss would love that!

Our last trip to the Duda seems like such a long time ago but it really wasn't. Click here to see pictures from our trip last new years and here to see last our trip in September. I just love this place. I have never been much for living in the boonies, but I think I could really get used to this real fast!

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe new year's. God bless you all in the coming year!

READY FOR SOME FISHING IN 2010!

End of day one Barry & Janice Bennett lead 22 something! Way to go Bennetts!

Final results tomorrow!!

Almost Time

The end of this week will take us back to Del Rio, Texas to fish on Lake Amistad again in the First Annual Texas State Bass Couples Open Tournament. It's not to late for you to join us either. Just click the link in my right side bar and that will take you to all the information you need to know. We found out last week that the Chamber of Commerce will be treating us to dinner on Saturday night so that will cut a little of the expense from the trip. We are really hoping for a great turnout from couples all over the state. Remember, you don't have to be a member of any club, this is an open tournament, you just have to be a couple of one man and one woman! That could be husband & wife, boyfriend & girlfriend, brother & sister, father & daughter, or mother & son! You could even fish with a complete stranger as long as it is a male and female fishing together!

We really hope to see you there! If you do show up, please come introduce yourself and let me know you read all about in on my blog! I love meeting new people especially if they are fisher people!

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Better Late than Never (again!)

Well, it has been weeks since the TBC Championship Tournament at Lake Amistad in Del Rio. Back then I promised pictures and results. Sorry! I've been busy farming and baking (all my FB friends understand!).

If you want to see all the pictures, click here.

If you want to see the results, click here.

You can also click the link in my right side bar to go to the main page of Texas Bass Couples and find your region on the left to get the new schedules for 2010.

And don't forget to join us at the First Annual Open Texas State Couple Championship which will be held November 7 & 8, 2009 on Lake Amistad in Del Rio! It is going to be great! Click here to get the registration form and all the rules!

Looking forward to seeing you then!

$13,555 Total Winnings!!!!

No, that's not what Frank and I did! But that was the total payout for the Texas Bass Couples Championship that we have been attending this week. This is an amazing total for our club for several reasons. This is the forth year for this circuit. Tommy and Pam have really worked hard to get this club up and running. There are tournament trails that have been around for years that that are still not having that large of a payout.

Also, this is a small circuit. We only had 37 couples fish for the championship! That's right!!! 37 couples! Seven places were paid out so you do the math! That is an awesome amount for total payout!

Congratulations to Tim Reneau and Judy Churchill who won it all with 42.60 two day total!

We have lots of stories to tell and more winners to tell you about but right now we are all sitting in the little country store sharing more stories and eating some breakfast. And I am using Tommy's laptop and I am really slow on it. Frank bothering me to hurry up is not helping. Hopefully I will get the rest to you tonight. Until then,

God Bless you all.

We have some results (unofficial, of course) for day one!

Tim Reneau & Judy Churchill 21.40
Charles & JoAnn Bradley 17.58
Ronnie & Jeanne Wallace 14.84
Jay & Kathy Driscoll 14.08
Barry & Janice Bennett 12.72
Waylon & Karla Bullard 12.70
Floyd & Tonya Kaerwer 12.56

Also, Meghan O'Bryant and her dad Jerry are sitting in 8th place. This is very exciting because she is twelve years old and caught 3 of their 5 fish that were brought to weigh in! Way to go Meghan!

Frank & I did officially have the smallest legal stringer today which makes us winners of some hard cold cash! Yeah us!

We plan on having a great day on the water tomorrow, and are so thankful we have been blessed with such great friends!

I will post official results tomorrow as soon as I can.