Central Circuit Pro Solo Division Saturday June 6th Tournament Run Down

With the last points event for the Solo Pro division on Saturday June the 6th I was on the fence to fish or not. I had no time to practice due to work, a wedding, and life in general.  So I adjusted my normal game plan and went into the event with a Hero or zero mentality. It almost worked out!! I figured the check cut weight would be around 11 pounds and I thought I could catch a limit on topwater baits, but not being over there in a month. I wasn't in the know where the bigger fish would be. So left Saddle, Arkansas (Home) at 2 am Saturday morning. After I pulled into the Mill Creek Ramp at 5:15, I paid my entry and was in the water by 5:30. Game plan was pretty simple Topwater for the first hour or 2 then make a run to long creek and flip every piece of cover I could get to. My hope was that with all the extra water in the lake that would be my only chance to win.  After 1 non keeper on top and 3 swing's and misses I was literally out of there!! I was Long Creek bound about 8 am. With so much rain lately there was logs, trees, and all kinds of trash floating everywhere. I really had to pay attention to not tear up the lower unit. I caught my limit by 11:45 and my biggest was a 4.11.  After I caught my limit I caught several more keepers that didn't help. So I ran back through the flooded debris (mine field) and also the enormous amount of weekend recreational boat traffic in my hopes to get back early.  Mike and his crew where ready and waiting for us.  I ended up in 2nd place overall and 2nd Big Bass for the tournament.  A good end to a great series of tournaments. Maybe I should have used that game plan all along.  Kinda solidifies my idea of not prefishing for a tournament.
We all are truly blessed with this sport and it's people. A great Tournament Director and staff are always a good sign to a great tournament series. First place for the tournament was a local High School student who is on the high school fishing team. Now that's is definitely a team sport I wish they had when I was high school. If you got a child, relative, or know of a kid in your neighborhood who likes to fish, please take a kid fishing, you really can change a life. They learn many life lessons from ethics, to backing down a ramp,  to common courtesy (which some of us lack at times-me included). In the end it really isn't about the amount of the check or 
how big the fish was.  It's about what we leave our kids and our Grand-kids and so forth.  We only live so long on this place called Earth.  Enjoy your time in Gods creation .

Thanks to all of my sponsors who help keep my dream alive.

Basscat Boats, Bullshoals Lake Boat Dock, Denali Fishing Rods, French & Hardin Farms,  Fin to Fur, Jennybugs Plastic Baits, Macs Custom Crankbaits, Mercury Outboards, Motorguide Trolling Motors, Pure Fishing Products, and Underbite Custom Tackle