Wendlandt weighs in
To run or not to run, that is the question
In tournament fishing today we often fish large bodies of water – Kentucky Lake, the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain and Lake Okeechobee just to name a few. Oftentimes you can lock through and run as far as your boat will take you. The farthest I ever ran in a tournament was in 2000. It was the FLW Tour event on the Mississippi River out of Memphis, Tenn. I ended up running 180 miles one way, fishing two hours, and running 180 miles back. I checked in with four minutes to spare.
I look back at that trip and think I must have been crazy. Actually I was crazy. That’s like driving from Dallas to Austin, catching a quick movie and driving home. Mind you, I did all of this on the most dangerous river in the United States. So, was it worth it? Well I went on to finish 58th in the tournament and went on that year to win my second FLW Tour Angler of the Year title. In short, the answer is yes. It was absolutely worth it.
But there is also the other side.
Take Randall Tharp in this year’s Forrest Wood Cup at the Red River. He had the choice of fishing close or running over 100 miles and going through two locks. He decided to stay close and that decision, along with his incredible ability to catch shallow bass in heavy cover, gave him the win. He caught many of his creel within sight of the boat ramp!
In every tournament situation you have to ask yourself the question, should I stay close or should I run? Here are some of the factors to consider: wind, how much weight you need, pressure from locals or other anglers, gas stops, rough water, mechanical breakdowns, time you have to fish and standings points needed. You have to put all of these into your minds’ computer and figure out the best way to go.
Out of all these factors, the only one that really matters is fishing time. In other words, can I get enough bites running long distances to make up for the lost fishing time? Oftentimes it comes down to a “gut'” decision – using your intuitive sense to tell you what to do. In all the times I have made long runs, the ones that paid off were the ones when the fishing was clearly better furthest away from the ramp. In other words, when I practiced, I got a lot more bites in areas farther away from the ramp. While it’s definitely not clear cut very often, that is where I usually start my analysis.
Just to address some other factors, it also comes down to trusting your equipment. For me, my Ranger, and my Evinrude will get me there, no doubt. I have confidence in them both, so those variables don’t even play a factor in my mind. However, you do have to take into account your fuel needs as well. And you have to make sure, based on the forecast of how rough the water will be, that you literally have enough in the tank. But that is just common sense.
Really, it all comes down to bites and using your intuition. Your finish depends on it.
Follow three-time Angler of the Year Clark Wendlandt at www.clarkwendlandt.com or on Facebook.