Land of Lincoln / Rend Lake
Mount Vernon, Illinois
PVA Bass Tour / May 21-22-23, 2004
Team Division - 36th Place - 4.14lbs
Open Division (Disabled Angler Only)
Tied 21st Place - 89.5 points - 5.14lbs
I showed up at Rend Lake four days early and my plan was to drive around the lake and hit
every accessible road to the lake. Fortunately John Clark was sitting at the boat ramp and he asked me if I would like to
join him for the day - Of Coarse I accepted.
My second day out, Eddie Camara offered the same as John and I was capable of getting two
days of prefishing from a boat. (Something that usually never happens) I had a very good day of prefishing with both John
& Eddie and I really thought I was on the lure that would get me in the top 10, but as you will read that didn't take
place.
The tournament started with registration on Friday night (21st). For my partner I drew Jim
Nelson (Treasurer - ILL Bass Federation). Jim and I quickly moved away from the crowd and into the parking lot to go over
a few details for Saturdays Open Division Tournament (Disabled Angler only).
Saturday rolled around very quick and before I knew it we was on our way to my first chosen
site.
The big difference between prefishing and tournament day was the wind. By 10am the wind
was in the high teens and into the 20's by afternoon. I didn't manage my first keeper till 12noon and my second came at 2pm.
Just before heading in I had one last spot I wanted to try and believe me it was definitely the right choice.
The previous year my partner (John Mezerka) had pulled our final fish off this spot and I wanted to try it again since I was
so desperate for another bass. Jim and I pulled up to the area at 2:45pm and I quickly landed a bass. Then Jim suggested he
move me over to the other laydown and make a cast there before we have to leave and behold I caught another there. It was
now 3o'clock and we had to go. Talk about a never give up attitude. I went from 2
to 4 bass in a matter of 15minutes and ended up having a good finish in a tournament. Not that I ever give up on a tournament
- but I have headed in a little early to be sure I made it by weigh-in time. I will always push the limits from now on out
as long as I have a bass still needed to fill a livewell.
I ended up in 21st Place, but it could as very well
been a 40th place without that last 15 minutes.
My Thanks go out to Jim Nelson and his efforts to keep the boat in position all day long so
I could make all the cast I did.
