Eufaula GA-South Results: May 22, 2010
Event Pictures
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South Georgia seemed to
experience a very cold and wet winter, and a wet slow spring, setting the stage
for a very long spawn this year. A search of recent memories could not recall a
time when the final tournament of the season was affected by the spawn in any
way, but 2010 changed that. It appeared that the last of the big spawners had
probably taken care of business, but were still hanging around close to the
nursery, maybe checking in on the kids before heading off to summer vacation.
Randy Duncan and Larry
Jones decided they would go for broke, and focus all of their attention on those
fish that were still hanging around. They strategically targeted the ditches
that were leading out of some of the proven spawning coves, never venturing
deeper than 6 feet, and even spending some time in water less than 1 foot
shallow.
They did most of their
fishing with swimming jigs and other similar critters, especially targeting
areas where they could swim them through submerged grass. Naturally, a long day
of fishing shallow offers some opportunities for some topwater action, and they
were there to cash in.
Larry gave a little
play-by-play recall on the fish, a 6-pounder that pretty much sealed the deal
for them. He was working a topwater frog when the big post spawn bass eased up
under it and sucked it down, with about a gallon of everything else that was
around it. Larry admitted that he had been missing a lot of good fish lately,
and actually though that he had missed her. He was quiet relived to figure out
she still had a mouthful of frog, and was simply racing back towards him,
probably looking for a little deeper water to savor her meal.
Randy and Larry worked
the shallow post spawn ditches, despite the early summer 95 degree day for a
nice 20 pound, 1st place sack. They also won the tournament’s big
fish prize with Larry’s 6.43-pound Eufaula Hawg, took first place In Bonus
Bucks, earned a spot in FOM’s Southeast Regional Championship, qualified for
Georgia South’s GS 11x55 Champion’s Invitational and won almost $1500 in cash
prizes.
2009 Eufaula-Bagby’s
defending champions, Steve Strickland and Stephen McCord, managed to finish in
the top ten, with 15.74 pounds and clinched back-to-back Divisional Points
Championships, the Points Bonus prize, and a guaranteed entry into next year’s
FOM National Championship. Stephen was a little disappointed in their results
at this year’s Nationals on Lake Guntersville, and is eager to return.
Steve Holt and Hubert
Stafford hauled in 17.43 pounds for 2nd place, fishing jerk baits
early and plastics later in the day, all in deeper water. Holt reported that it
was a pretty hot day on the lake, a thought he saw a dog chasing a cat out from
under a trailer at around 11:00. He said it was already so hot that both the
cat and the dog were both walking.
3rd
place winners Larry Gardner and David Grace also focused on post spawn fish, but
pulled out of the shallows. They spent the day working the first set of
drop-offs beyond the spawning flats, fishing plastics. They caught all five of
the fish they weighed within their first two hours, and were not able to cull
after that. They pulled a 5-pounder off of a brush-pile early to bump them up
to 17.19#s, and when they returned later, discovered a pontoon boat that enjoyed
the rest of their day sitting on top of the brush-pile.
For tournament pictures,
event highlights, and the chance to contact the competitors and staff of this
and other
FOM tournaments, look them up on Facebook: FOM Georgia South.
FOM Sponsors: Triton
Boats, Mercury, Strike King Lure Company, Markel Marine Insurance, Abu Garcia,
Power-Pole, Nester Hosiery, Marshall’s Marine Lake City SC, Keelshield, Solar
Bat, Kistler, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Berkley, Lowrance, Spot Remover,
Stanley Jigs, Jacobs Glass, Rejuvenade, Dual Pro Charger, MotorGuide, Mizmo
Baits, and Keep Alive Oxygen Infusers. And local sponsors; Masterbuilt Outdoors,
Navionics, Big Bear Rods, Highland Marina, Heath Outdoor Products, and Heat Max,
and many others.
For tournament pictures, event highlights, and the
chance to get in touch directly with the competitors and staff of this and other
FOM tournaments, look them up on Facebook: FOM Georgia South.
FOM Sponsors: Triton Boats, Mercury, Strike
King Lure Company, Markel Marine Insurance, Abu Garcia, Power-Pole, Nester
Hosiery, Marshall’s Marine Lake City SC, Keelshield, Solar Bat, Kistler, Gary
Yamamoto Custom Baits, Berkley, Lowrance, Spot Remover, Stanley Jigs, Jacobs
Glass, Rejuvenade, Dual Pro Charger, MotorGuide, Mizmo Baits, and Keep Alive
Oxygen Infusers. And local sponsors; Masterbuilt Outdoors, Navionics, Big Bear
Rods, Highland Marina, Heath Outdoor Products, and Heat Max, and many others.
