See ’em, catch ’em, bring ’em to the scales

Sight-fishing again expected to be key on Sam Rayburn

JASPER, Texas – Another bluebird day has dawned here in the piney woods of eastern Texas, and the bright sun shining on the shallows of Sam Rayburn Lake bodes well for sight-fishermen as the second day of the Stren Series Texas Division tournament gets under way Friday.

The fish are moving into the shallows and onto their beds. Locating the big females and getting them to bite is the key.

Heading out in place No. 1 is Charles Bebber of Willis, Texas, who weighed five bass at 25 pounds, 7 ounces Thursday. Just over 2 pounds behind in second place is Russell Cecil, also of Willis, who has 23 pounds, 4 ounces. Third through fifth places also have 20 pounds or more heading into day two, and it’s agreed among these that it will take at least a 17-pound sack today to guarantee a place in Saturday’s final round of 10.

On day one, the top 68 pros weighed five-fish limits, and the total number of pro limits weighed was 148 in a field of 202. So the fish are biting.

It’s not surprising that shallow-water tactics prevailed on day one, when the weather was identical to today’s, but what is surprising is how many anglers reported getting good catches on lipless rattling crankbaits. Among them was Mike Curry of Sam Rayburn, Texas, a four-year pro who started the day in 44th place with 13 pounds, 7 ounces.

“It’s surprising to be throwing one this time of year,” Curry admitted, “but I was picking up keeper fish that were roaming.”

And that was when the wind was blowing, which wasn’t often yesterday. During a mostly calm day, bed-fishing tactics were better, and among those who used them with success was Curry’s day-two partner, co-angler Tyrone Phillips of Little Rock, Ark. He found success with a fluke.

“When I’d see one, I’d throw it in the bed and wait for the bite,” said Phillips, who has competed as an amateur on the Stren Series since 1998. “Usually it took two minutes or less.”

Curry used a Senko for his bed-fishing and, like Phillips, found it worked best when he tossed it on a bed and waited for a bass to pick it up. If the Rat-L-Trap or similar bait is called for again, Curry will go with a bream-colored bait, which he said bass in a protective mode are slamming with a vengeance.

Unfortunately for Curry, he’s sharing his best spot with Cody Bird and Mike Herron, who are in fifth and 13th places, respectively, and the competition for big fish could force a change in plans for one or all three of them.

Phillips, on the other hand, is in a “bring ’em on” mood. “I’m confident I’ll be fishing tomorrow,” he said.

Today’s weigh-in is scheduled to begin at the Umphrey Family Pavilion at 3 p.m. Tomorrow’s 10-boat takeoff will begin at 7 a.m. from the docks below the pavilion.

Also beginning tomorrow at 7 a.m. is the second National Guard FLW College Fishing tournament in the Texas Division. Weigh-in for the college kids is 3 p.m.

Teams registered include Angelo State, Baylor University, Central Oklahoma, LSU, LSU-Health Sciences, LSU-Shreveport, Lamar University, Louisiana Tech University, Northeastern State, Northwestern State, Oklahoma State University, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin University, Tarleton State Texas, Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas A&M-Galveston, Texas State University, Texas Tech University, University of Louisiana, University of North Texas and University of Texas.