Three Things by DD: Kentucky Lake
Darrell Davis looks back at Walmart FLW Tour stop No. 5
(The writer's opinions and observations expressed here are his own, and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, policies or positions of FLW.)
Kentucky Lake did not go the way I intended. I was pumped and ready to rock out a top-20 finish. I had great expectations of myself, but nothing seemed to come together. Practice was dicey, but I thought for sure I could put something together to make the cut. That was until day one came, and the whole vibe of my day instantly went from eager to agitated.
Let’s get right to it! My three things about Kentucky Lake are woefully brought to you by my day-one mistake of shutting the truck door with my keys in the ignition and the truck running. Newsflash people: Auto-lock results in your keys being locked in your running vehicle. Kicker to this story is I was already late to the ramp, and now I needed to find a truck and leave my running truck behind. What else is a guy to do?
Fortunately, thanks to a co-angler, I did find a truck and was able to make it. However, there was one other thing I forgot about. You’ll see it below as I recount the three lessons learned at Kentucky Lake.
1. Pay attention.
I might have been half-asleep, but that is still no excuse for shutting the door with the truck running and the keys in it. This also goes for other things we anglers overlook, such as lifting your Power-Poles before taking off, forgetting to strap down your rods before taking off, and the all-too-famous launching the boat alone with the winch disconnected from the boat and … off goes the boat with no one manning it.
2. Double or triple check everything
Understanding your boat mechanically and electrically can be helpful, however, basic boat maintenance is a huge part of any angler’s life, not just us pros. Check your oil, check your jack plate and prop bolts, and make sure your battery is charged and that your charger lights all light up. All of these things and then some are needed to ensure that your boat is not going to cause trouble while on the water. Or you could be like me and close the door on your truck while going to see if there is enough oil in the boat, only to turn around and realize that you not only locked the keys in the truck but the oil is in there too. I am guessing my co-angler had stories to tell at dinner that night after the run we made without oil.
3. Tackle, tackle and more tackle.
If y’all follow me on social media you will recall that one time I drove all the way out to my first spot in practice and forgot my Denali rods. It was bound to happen with all the traveling we do. Our equipment is constantly in and out of the boat. I guess in my infinite wisdom I thought I could just hand-line all day. This goes along with bait, snacks, life vests, sunglasses and all necessary items for tournament days. It wouldn’t make for a good tournament to run 40 miles to your first fishing spot only to realize you don't have anything to fish with, but I suppose it would make for good television!
Bottom line: Be prepared. It’s as simple as that. Most of these learned lessons could be prevented with just a simple check the night before or even the morning of. I am not sure where my head was that day, but I can promise you it wasn’t all there.
I want to give a shout out to the young lady at the Bel Air Motel for helping me during my bad day. We all have them, and not every tournament is guaranteed to be the best. I have learned a lot from my forgetful moments, and I hope you take something away from them too. I am looking forward to the three things I will discover on Lake Champlain. What will it be? Stay tuned!
