Tournament of Champions Recap...

 


          As the Flint Hills of Kansas loomed against the sunset, Josh tapped on a Band of Horses song and we sailed south across the prairie. When the sun peeked out the next morning we were approaching the pine and oak forests of southern Oklahoma and by late afternoon we pulled into Lake Fork Marina in Texas.  The waters of Lake Fork had risen considerably since Caleb and I had fished it a year ago. The endless skeletons of flooded trees were now hidden just below the surface. Each one a unique totem pole of snagged lures and prop carvings that tell the tale of the lake.  A bass mecca where anglers go to watch dreams die or come true. No big deal.

       We spent the first evening fishing around the marina and pulled in a few small bass. We were all fairly tired that night but spent a bit of time rigging up our gear and talking excitedly of where we planned to fish in the morning. When it arrived we went searching some open water humps for schooling fish. We located good numbers of smaller largemouth and a bunch of big white bass. By early afternoon we were tired of fighting the wind and moved on to try out some bays. Once again, there were dinks everywhere...showing signs of a good spawn in the spring. That evening I started catching so many white bass that I couldn't even get a crankbait down to the largemouth before it got smacked. I scratched out the area I was fishing in hopes of finding somewhere with less white bass.

    Thursday morning dawned overcast with a bit of rain. The radar was showing thunderstorms so Josh and Caleb stayed back for a bit but Gramps and I followed a couple buddies Marty and Ryan to a protected bay. The overcast weather made for a good bite and we started catching small fish right away. The skies boomed all day but nothing close enough to scare us off the water. By the evening I had caught a nice limit including a couple fish in the 4 pound range.  Meanwhile, Josh and Caleb had moved to an area with a big offshore hump and they had also done well. They caught good numbers of largemouths, whites and Caleb landed a massive drum. Josh also managed a 5 pound bass on the spot.




   Friday would be the last day of prefishing for me as I had to qualify on Saturday. Josh and Caleb were convinced the hump they found would be productive so we decided to head back to that area and check it out a bit more. The weather was clear and windy and the big fish were not biting, the shorts were more than willing. Tournament time was nearing and there was a bit of frustration as we were not real confident that any of our spots would produce a winning card, especially with three kayaks fishing the same general area. There was some heated discussion on how it was going to play out but I finally decided I would return to the bay I had fished the day prior and try to qualify there on Saturday. We picked up some beer and headed back to the hotel to shoot the bull with the other anglers.
   Saturday turned out to be a great day from start to finish. I went to the captain's meeting in the morning to get ready for the launch of the Presidential Access Division only to discover that three directors had registered and that meant I was automatically qualified for day two! This also meant another day of prefishing and a chance to find some big fish. Gramps drove the three of us to a new area just as it was getting light out. The weather was overcast and rainy and the bite was on. Just an hour into the morning I hooked up with a 6 pounder that gently inhaled my crank only to erupt from the water and give a couple dramatic head shakes. She would end up being my big fish for the trip.
 We caught some more very nice fish and for the first time in the week, all three of us managed a nice limit. Our spirits were lifted and we decided to celebrate by taking Gramps to eat at AJ's Fish House. Gramps had been taxiing us around, cooking for us and cleaning up after us all week. We were all looking forward to a hot meal but what was seen at the fish house will never be unseen.  The place was a monument to fried food. Every fried morsel you could imagine piled on a huge buffet table. We dined like kings of the double wide on fried cheese, shrimp, apples and catfish and washed it all down with cold, carbonated, corn syrup beverages. With grease shined lips and slow movements, we crawled back to the hotel with high hopes of crushing the competition the next morning.









    Tournament day came early and it was cold. 91 anglers stood in the dark under a cloud of coffee steam while Beau went over the rules. Soon after, we were racing down back roads in the predawn towards our ramp of choice. As we pulled into the ramp which we'd had to ourselves previously, we saw the parking lot was littered with trucks and kayak trailers. Grandpa panicked and just decided to gun it down to the ramp and swoop in front, blocking the ramp. We had a pretty good laugh as we tried to unload and get out of the way. We hoped we didn't piss anyone off but Gramps was on a one track mission to get his boys to the fish. By legal casting time, we were ready to rock. As the sun came up, I began feeling worried. There was not a cloud in the sky and the temp was 20 degrees cooler than the day before. The fish were still there, bellies on the bottom along the creek channel but the bite had shut down. By mid-morning I had landed a 15.75" keeper while vertically fishing a fluke. I had also manged a bunch of shorts on the crankbait which had been the money bait the day prior. With two hours left I was dissecting a point and suddenly saw a school of shad burst towards the surface. I tossed my crank in the school and an 18.25" bass crushed it and dove under my kayak. Moments later, the fish was measured and released and I was convinced that I could do well with just one more keeper as I imagined the bite was tough for everyone. I was right about the tough bite but I never caught another keeper. The last 20 minutes of the tournament were spent catching fish on almost every cast but all were shorts.
      The ride to the weigh-in was about 15 minutes and I was feeling pretty heavy. I had prepared and sacrificed for this tournament, done pretty well prefishing and only came up with two fish. Caleb had landed one 18.75" fish and Josh had taken a skunking with the majority of the other 91 anglers.
The check in was eye opening. 91 anglers on Lake Fork and only three had caught more than 3 fish with most of the top 10 entering only 2 or 3 fish! The results just go to show how quickly the weather can shut down a bite. Once again, I found myself only a few inches from the money with a 15th place finish, it was kinda heart breaking. On the positive side, I did better than my 16th place finish last year  (heh heh). I'll get my day. Marty Hughes represented Nebraska well finishing in 7th place overall! Not too shabby for two Nebraska anglers to finish in the top 15 out of 91 at Lake Fork. :)
      The trip was again a good one. We met some real neat people and had a fun time reuniting with friends made last year as well. It was also nice being able to meet and hang out with some fellow Hobie Fishing Team members. A big thanks to Beau Reed for all the work it took to make this an exceptionally well run tournament. A huge thank you as well to our grandpa for all the effort and work he did for us on this trip. Also, a big thanks to our ladies back home. Lastly, thanks to all our sponsors...especially Select Sail & Sports for helping us chase the dream. Until next time...



    

Texas or Bust...

         It's almost November and a chill has set in across the midwest. A thin layer of frost covers the windshield in the morning. The hall tree is adorned with Carhartt jackets and beanies. There is still fish to be caught before the lakes freeze but...I'm thinking about short sleeves and big bass. I'm thinking about a lake where dreams come true, half a day south of here. In fact, half of my attention has been lost in thoughts of the lake. My brain has a special file containing maps, fragments of sentences from long forgotten forum posts and highlighted paragraphs in fishing magazines. Sometimes I find it hard to sit still.

  Okay, it is a variety of factors that lead to my dramatized excitement. First, I'm going on a road trip to Texas to kayak fish with my two brothers. Second, Lake Fork produces giant bass and many of them. Thirdly, history is being made across the country with the growing kayak bass fishing scene. There are many great series' to fish across the country. Beau Reed has put together an outstanding event for the best anglers to compete in and a noteworthy check for the winner. Anglers from everywhere get to meet in person and talk as fisherpeople do and along with the camaraderie, fierce competition for a coveted title.
 
   My brother and I attended Beau's first 'Tournament of Champions' last year. It was a typical fishing trip environment. The hotel room was a tornadic scene of fishing gear, water bottles and granola bar wrappers. Prefishing had its ups and downs. I managed to land a 23" bass but we struggled to find many big fish. This changed in the last 15 minutes of the tournament when I stumbled on a school of nice fish. I didn't have time left to take full advantage of the situation. However, it left a burning desire in me to return and capitalize on my opportunities. Lake Fork is like many large bass reservoirs. The fish are big and plentiful but spend their time in 10% of the lake. You must find specific areas and figure out how to catch them once you find them. Still, your chances are as good as anywhere at hooking into a double digit toad.

   I'm taking an extra risk this year because I'm not pre qualified. I must compete in a qualifier the day before the tournament. I will be fishing the 'Presidential Access Division'  which was created specifically for tournament directors to fish since we are directing tournaments instead of trying to qualify in them. I have confidence in doing well but if I fail to qualify then I'll be cheering on Josh and Caleb and doing some fun fishing. You must finish in the top 5 overall of your regional circuit to qualify for the TOC. The winner will be crowned "Kayak Bass Fishing World Champion".

      We will be leaving in just a few days and will keep everyone updated on the trip progress. Amongst the three of us, we'll be representing the Hobie Fishing Team, Select Sail & Sports, Cabela's, Werner Paddles, PowerTeam Lures and the Corn Coast Kayak Anglers as well as our friends at Pig Patrol. We hope at least one of us will make a good showing for Nebraska, we also will have Marty Hughes to bring some fishing magic from the Cornhusker state. For now, it's Texas or bust!

                                              A 23" Lake Fork largemouth bass.
       

Dream Big

   We live in a day of instant gratification. A time when people are distracted. People give in to impatience and knee jerk reactions. People have so much information at their fingertips yet can't figure out why their dreams are so unobtainable. People believe if they adhere to some blueprint for life that someone else has recommended that they will succeed and be happy. However, dreams are achieved through determination, hard work and passion. The essential ingredients are literal blood, sweat and tears. These sacrifices are what makes rewards...rewarding.
   
    You can go buy the gear. You can read every fishing magazine and book. You might get lucky but consistent success on the water is a product of true passion. Only on the water do you learn to read currents, to notice a bait ball dimpling the surface, to connect the dots between what you observe around you. Hours will slip by unnoticed. In the fishing world and especially kayak fishing...the book is rewritten time and again. You can achieve as much as you push yourself to achieve. You can dream and you can make your dreams come true. How bad do you want it?
   
    I've spent hours, days and years waiting for the fish of my dreams. In time, I've caught some fish that made it all worth it. Fish so rare they are sacred. Fish that felt like a gift. Most of them have been unexpected. A possible record flathead catfish that bit after the bait had been soaking for eight hours. A pike in the middle of the night in 35 mph winds. A big bass at high noon on the hottest day of summer without a cloud in the sky. I am confident that if an angler pursues his trophy passionately, that one day he will be rewarded with a heart stopper. A dream come true. A memory burned in the mind forever.
   
   Maybe it isn't a fish. Maybe you want to win tournaments. I've been fortunate enough to win some but there have been many I have not won. Sometimes it was close, sometimes it was not...but I never gave up. All it takes is a moment to change everything in a tournament. The only easy part is giving up.  Sometimes you sacrifice time, money and energy and you win nothing. You do however, walk away with a learning experience. Make it a positive thing, let failure drive you to do better next time. Believe in yourself and believe that you can win every tournament you fish. Don't let the other guys get in your head. Don't let negative thoughts get in your head. Dream big and do it big.

   This kayak fishing is a growing sport that has opened some opportunities to me I thought I would never have. It's not paying my bills but maybe someday it will. For now, it opens the door for lifelong dreams to come true. It makes a difference in my life and the life of others by engaging in a healthy, rewarding sport. I've made great friends and had great times with my family in the kayaks. In a world where everyone wants instant gratification, we learn patience and the value of hard work. When I'm stretching before my lunges, when I'm running uphill and sucking air...I think to myself how I'm going to be ready to pedal my Hobie for miles and make thousands of casts. I'm doing everything I can to win the next tournament, to catch the next big fish...to promote an outdoor lifestyle. I'm making my dreams come true and loving every minute of it. Don't let anyone tell you what you can or can't do, the only one in control of that is you. Don't be among the hordes of people lost in cyberspace and stagnation. Get in your kayak, turn off your phone and tune into nature.  If you chase your dreams with determination there will be many rewards along the way and someday...when that dream comes true, you'll have earned it and it will mean the world to you.

Big Cats in the Kayak

                                                     

                 I've been asked several times for some advice on pursuing big catfish in the kayak. The thought of going for a sleigh ride with an ugly behemoth at the end of the line is appealing to many kayak anglers. For freshwater kayak anglers like me, this is as close as it gets to wrangling sharks, sailfish and tarpon. Chasing trophy catfish in the kayak takes a bit of work and dedication but it might be a goal easier reached than some may believe. In fact, your feline dreams may come true overnight.

            The first step is properly preparing for battle. If you go out under-equipped your outing will likely end in heartbreak. Big blues and flatheads will test your gear to the max. I prefer a heavy rod with a slow action tip. I like the rod to be at least 8 feet long to help gain leverage when that big fish makes a run for the nastiest snag in the lake or river. I like the slow action tip because it helps the hook point find home when using a kahle or circle hook. Most of the time you want to use large baits for large cats so you don't want to 'set' the hook in a traditional sense. A slow, sweeping hook set with a 5/0 to 7/0 kahle hook will often result in a perfectly embedded hook in the corner of the mouth. This is also key for releasing trophy fish alive and well.  I've caught both a flathead and a blue over 70 pounds with the kahle hook, my personal favorite. When it comes to line choice, I won't use anything under 60 pound break strength, often I'll use 80- 100lb. test braided line. While braid can be subject to abrasion, heavy braid is more resistant but if you are fishing in thick snags consider a 60-80lb. test fluorocarbon leader. As far as reel choice goes there are many options. I use a Shimano Calcutta most of the time but I also use a strong surfcasting spinning reel sometimes. You don't necessarily need to make long casts when fishing from a kayak, you should be more concerned with having line capacity for heavy line and the strength to crank in a big fish from snags or current. A bait caster like an Abu Garcia or Shimano Calcutta come with bait clickers which are useful at night for detecting a bite. When I choose a spinning reel it is for situations when I'm after wary fish and I don't want them to feel any resistance when they take the bait, so I open the bail and let the fish run free. Once you have put together a solid combo you'll be ready for battle. In the kayak, it's usually best to use just one rod. Paying attention to having one setup in the right location will equal more success than trying to juggle another line when you hook up with a big fish. You'll find when chasing 50 plus pound fish that simplicity plays an important role. A roomy kayak like my Hobie Pro Angler is the bee's knees for big game. Most nets are too small for big cats and if you need fish grips you might as well stay home. You must be ready to be painted with slime and blood. When that gaping mouth appears next to your kayak, you must be ready to stick your paw in there and grab a fistful of beast.

           Next topic to cover would be bait. Obtaining the right bait is just as important as gear and location. If you think catching big cats involves liver, stink bait and worms then it is time to reconsider the fish you are chasing. Big cats eat a bunch of food and they prefer to capitalize on optimum caloric intake. This doesn't mean you won't catch a big cat on a dinky goldfish or creek chub but bigger is better. With big bait you appeal to a variety of the cat's senses. While the cats might be slurping up shad  you can make a choice that will stand out among thousands of silvery baitfish. I like to use bullheads, drum and where legal sometimes even channel catfish as bait. The stronger and hardier the bait, the better. I've used bait weighing up to two pounds before! Do not be afraid of using big bait! Now, when I talk about live bait I am generally discussing what I use to target flathead catfish. For blue catfish I prefer cut bait. Blues seem to like oily fishes more than anything. Fish like drum, gold eye, skipjack herring and shad all work well. I prefer fresh caught cut bait, sliced vertically and hooked between the skin and flesh with hook point well exposed. If your hook isn't large enough you will often end up with the hook point stuck in your bait instead of the fish's mouth. This is an important detail. I also like a clean cut piece of bait because appendages on your chunk of bait can cause it to spin in current and twist up your line. For live bait, I like to hook my fish just under the dorsal or through the lips as flatheads often take a bait head first. Flatheads will often swallow a soft spined fish quickly but for fish with spiny fins they will usually pick up the bait, swim to deeper water and then wait for it to die in the grip of their jaws before swallowing it. This means if you are using a spiny fish for bait you should wait until the after the fish makes its initial run and pause. When it runs a second time, set the hook. This is especially true when using large bait.

     You might be asking at this point, "how do I rig up for these baits?". Once again, attention to detail in your rig set-up is crucial. For roaming, hungry flatheads I prefer to use a slip bobber with a kahle hook below it. If I am targeting a certain depth, I'll add a free sliding sinker above the hook to keep my bait down. If the flatheads are being aggressive I will let the bait swim free as a big flathead has no qualms plucking a bait from the surface. There are even guys who target topwater flatheads with plugs and swim baits! In most situations, I prefer to use a float that offers the least resistance to a running flathead. This usually means a strong baitfish can pull the bobber under for a bit, this is okay. If you are targeting flatheads that get little fishing pressure try experimenting with adding rattles or flashy spinner blades to your rig. A certain Japanese friend of mine even tried using an unmentionable adult toy to add extra vibration in the water for attracting "big momma flatheads". When fishing creeks and rivers for flatheads, a bottom rig is usually best. There are two that I prefer, one is using a heavy river sinker that slides free above a heavy duty swivel which leads to the hook. This allows a fish to run free without much resistance when it takes the bait. If you are fishing heavy cover however, you might consider a three way swivel with the weight on a monofilament drop line and the main line to the swivel being heavy braid. Then tie a piece of braid from the swivel to your kahle hook. With this rig, the weight breaks off when the fish swims into a snag and you are less likely to lose the fish in the rocks, trees, sunken Chevy trucks, etc. These bottom rigs are also what I generally use for river blue catfish but with my oily cut bait instead of a live fish.

      With an idea now of gear, rigs and bait we are ready to cover when and where to target big cats in the kayak. Big cats make predictable seasonal movements. They can be targeted in spring, summer and fall. Blues and flatheads both do well in some reservoirs. While flatheads remain in wintering holes in early spring, blues will take advantage of feeding opportunities. In lakes with a spring shad die-off, target shallow, wind-blown areas where catfish can easily slurp up dying or dead shad. When it comes to bait, match the hatch as they say. If the shad are floating on top or swirling around mid-depth, employ a float rig. If they are on the bottom, fish on the bottom. Pay attention to your surroundings on the water, there will be cues that hint to the proper set-up. Later in the year, blues will suspend around areas containing the most baitfish. They will roam and follow baitfish, often positioning themselves in areas that funnel food through current generated by the wind... bends in underwater creek channels, humps, jetties, etc. Flatheads start to move heavily when the water warms top to bottom in spring. Reservoir flatheads will hold in a variety of areas but locations containing a mixture of preferred habitat and baitfish will be prime. I like to think 'big' when it comes to habitat. This means big rocks, big trees and other large objects in the water. Flatheads love a feeling of security in their haunts and this means big habitat for big fish. One thing flatheads do not love is current. While they may venture into areas with current to feed, they prefer calm areas. The flathead catfish is equipped with everything it needs to be a fearsome, apex predator. The flathead is a hunter and like bass it hunts on edges where it can pin baitfish in a vulnerable spot and crush it, keep this in mind when positioning your bait. Around June in the midwest, both species begin to spawn, 'big' habitat is once again important to find these fish. Hollow logs, cut-in creek banks and rock ledges all offer prime spawning habitat. After the spawn, the fish are hungry and some great fishing can be had in the normal areas you would fish. A fair bite often lasts all the way to fall when some really heavy feeding occurs before winter. Often times, cats will gravitate towards feeding areas close to their deep wintering holes. The same goes for both blues and flatheads in creeks and rivers. In the first few heavy rains of spring, catfish migrate up into feeder creeks where they will eventually spawn. Sometimes, it's a good idea to concentrate on tiny streams where you would least expect a big fish. These fish are usually unpressured and easy to locate. You would be surprised the monster fish that will be hiding in a small hole in the creek, only eight feet deep. In high water during the spring, blues and flatheads will move up extremely shallow to feed. Otherwise they are best targeted at the front or back of deeper holes. Flatheads once again gravitate towards heavy cover such as logjams in areas with less current. They will move out to flats at night to feast. Blues prefer deeper holes with some current and cover. They will also feed in shallower water at night but both species can be targeted and caught during the day. When you approach creeks and rivers containing catfish try to remain confident, if you follow a basic knowledge of catfish location it can be easier than you think to find the big girls. While big cats are rare compared to the number of small cats in moving water, there can actually be very good numbers of large fish that are simply an untapped resource in many circumstances.

     Lastly, it is important to be safe. A river or even lake at night can be dangerous. Always wear a life jacket and have a variety of lighting options. Always go with a buddy to help you out in a jam or in an instance where a cat is too big to land in the kayak alone. If need be, beach your yak and handle the fish from shore. My largest cat in the yak went 75lbs. 7 oz and required me to beach my yak or I would have ended up in another state or caught in a logjam. My brother landed an 80 plus pound blue cat that required both of us to pull into the kayak, one guy handling the rod and the other handling the fish. Avoid anchoring in strong current. I prefer tying off to a branch, rock or bridge pillar. In a lake, an anchor with a float that you can disattach is very helpful if you hook a big fish. Last but not least, don't forget to charge your camera battery. When you finally wrestle that giant cat in the yak you don't want to miss the chance to preserve your trophy with a picture before you gently let her swim away. I could write for days on the subject but hopefully I covered enough to get you started on a quest for big cats. Tight lines, my friends.

     

Kentucky Lake

          After driving through the night, I arrived on the shores of Barkley Lake as the sun lit up the misty waters. I had a game plan to search for deep ledges along the Cumberland River channel. I had studied topo maps and drawn circles around likely looking spots. A few challenges immediately presented themselves. One challenge was staying focused. Kentucky and Barkley Lakes have 2,000 miles of very fishy looking shoreline. It was tough to spend my time staring at the Lowrance unit when standing timber, boulder piles and pea gravel beckoned in the distance. Another challenge was knowing exactly what I was looking for on the downscan. As the first day of prefishing unfolded, the offshore fish seemed not to exist. Finally, a dink hit my crank bait but there was only one taker. I returned for lunch and decided to try some shallow areas. As soon as I started casting shallow, the spawning channel catfish started biting. I couldn't keep them off the hook. The bass were once again vacant from the spots I tried. In the late afternoon, I pedaled the Hobie Pro Angler 14 to an island I saw on the map. The fish were there. I landed 9 fish in an hour, the largest reaching 17".  There was a bit of relief in simply locating fish but I knew I would need bigger bites to win the Hobie Bass Open.
         On day 2 of prefishing I completely abandoned the area of Barkley Lake I was fishing and moved  to some points on Kentucky Lake. We found an area with some visible current pushing through and started using river style presentations and catching fish. As I floated along, I tried to pay attention to any cues above or below the water that would help me key in on a pattern. The locusts were hatching and the forests surrounding the lake produced a constant roar from the millions of insects. The heat and the screaming locusts seemed to infiltrate my brain waves. Venomous snakes lay draped on overhanging branches and toothy gar nearly four feet in length basked in the warm shallows. I watched as locusts dropped from an overhanging branch and smallmouth bass slurped them from the surface. We caught fish in 20 feet of water. There were plenty of bass around but none of them topped 15" except one. Late in the afternoon a 5 pound bass gulped up my jig and craw combo and tail danced next to the kayak before being brought to hand. With only one big fish for the day it was tough to decide if this location would hold the size of fish needed for a win on Kentucky Lake.
         Day 3 of prefishing was a bit milder weather. We returned to our previous location, hoping to find some big fish in the morning. Once again we caught good numbers of largemouth and smallmouth bass with drum and catfish thrown in the mix. Still, we could not find the size we needed. We moved to some offshore creek channels but couldn't find any fish. After a half day we headed to the marina for tournament registration feeling a bit down about our prefishing strategy. The mental game is as important as anything when it comes to tournament fishing. This would be a lesson learned yet again on this trip. My parents traveled from Indiana to stay with us at Kentucky Lake. They took us to dinner that night at the lodge. As I sipped a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel beer for dessert, I made a decision to keep a positive outlook and fish confidently as the tournament started the next morning.
        At 5:30 a.m. I began casting. The exhaustion of constant driving, fishing and strategizing seemed to vaporize in the excitement of the first day of tournament fishing. I fished hard and confidently. By 7 a.m. I had a full card of 3 fish and was searching for upgrades. A camera boat came by and somebody yelled, "it would be nice if you could catch a fish right now for the cameras". I laughed and sarcastically replied, "sure". However, in that very moment I had a bite and hauled a scrappy largemouth into the kayak. I caught fish all day and actually made it a point to have fun. Several heavy rainstorms blew over and I just kept smiling. When it was time to weigh in I had my 3 fish limit averaging 14.5" on my card. I knew it wasn't a huge card but I had done my best. After comparing results I found I was sitting in 26th place out of 78 anglers. I had done much better than I had assumed but I knew I was going to have to switch spots and gamble on day two if I wanted a chance at victory.
       That evening, Caleb and I sat on the couch staring at a Navionics map, tired as hell. I saw something on the map that jumped out at me. A creek channel next to some main channel ledges. We decided to hit the new area in the morning and let the chips land where they may. As we arrived at the boat ramp in the predawn light, we saw a bunch of kayak trailers. As we pedaled out to the spots we had seen on the map, kayaks dotted the surface of the water. The spots were taken and the other anglers were waiting for 5:30 to start casting. The mental part of the game was now in play. I was angry, not at the other anglers but at the bad luck. We didn't have a back-up plan. I messed around some shoreline rock piles until I noticed the other kayaks all congregating around a single point. I moved out to the spot I had originally planned on fishing and began casting. I threw everything I thought might work but not even a bite. Just as I was about to move out and give up with mental exhaustion taking its toll, I noticed some fish busting shad on the surface. I glanced down at my sonar and the downscan revealed something exciting. A big ball of shad was suspended under my kayak and beneath those shad were the unmistakable marks of feeding predator fish. Just when things seemed bleakest it was suddenly game on! I tied on a new bait I had not tried and on the first drop I caught a bass that was an inch longer than anything I'd caught the day before. I continued catching them all by myself as a whole gang of kayaks and bass boats sat a hundred yards away on another spot. By noon, I was sitting on 50+" with my top 3 fish and Caleb was sleeping in the truck. The mental part of the game had got to him as it had almost finished me as well. However, I had once again been reminded that you must keep trying and the game can change at any time. One of the highlights of the day was when Elite Series Pro Mark Menendez pulled up to the spot I was fishing. We talked about Hobie kayaks and the kayak tournament fishing scene and as we talked I hooked an acrobatic 4 pound bass. The fish was my largest of the tournament. In a class act, Menendez said, "I'll move off your spot and let you keep catching them". I lost a couple 20"plus fish that might have put me in the top 5 but I didn't care. That day was about winning the mental game, about learning to stay the course. I had success that didn't revolve around the final standings. Regardless, I slid up into 10th place. A top 10 finish against some of the best kayak anglers out there was enough to satisfy me. Many of these guys could give the bass boat pros a run for their money. There is always much to take away from a national tournament like the Hobie Bass Open, besides meeting some great people and having a great time with my family, I took away some valuable knowledge that I will have when it is time to compete again. I'll be back again and you can bet I'll be doing my darndest to take that 1st place trophy!