Dardanelle Report

BadBass · 03-31-2008, 05:16 PM

Well, Ben and i got back from our Lake Dardanelle Tournament on Sunday. We struggled to say the least. Over 2 days of tournament fishing we weighed one fish, a 2.07 pounder.

On our practice day we netted 4 fish, all keepers. We never really found a consistent pattern during practice. It was 83 degrees for our practice day and sunny. The water was EXTREMELY muddy.

Day one of the tournament brought cold temps and slightly clearer water. Temps on the first day of the tournament where in the low fifties and it was cloudy. We ended up with 3 bites and no fish to weigh. We focused on primary dropoffs off of shallow flats and could not find any decent fish.

Day 2 rolled around and we obviously weren't feeling the best about our odds to catch a limit of fish. We decided to fish shallow as we had heard that is where they were being caught by other teams. Day 2 of the tourney provided even worse weather. Temperatures were in the high 40s and there were moderate rain showers mid morning. We concentrated on shallow coves in the morning and didn't boat a fish. I had a fish bite my jig trailer off and Ben had a very nice bass on a crankbait shake him off right at the boat. Frusturating to say the least. For the last few hours of the tournament we focused on riprap along bridges and highways. We caught 2 fish the last 2 hours, with only one of them being over 15 inches, which was the limit.

Ben and I really felt like we underachieved for this tournament. After talking with several teams and thinking about our experience we are convinced that we could have done much better. It sounds like we had the right idea about shallow fish, we just needed to fish one single area extremely thoroughly without moving from spot to spot so much.

I'll post a few pictures once i figure out how to work my new camera.

**Mako** · 03-31-2008, 06:42 PM

How was the boat?

Tone2129 · 04-01-2008, 08:16 AM

...I will let Ben or drew answer the boat question.

In all actuality guys no matter how much crap I gave you, you have got to think of it this way. This is your 2nd tournament ever, and Ben's first tournament. Everything at this level is defiantly a learning experience, remember our first tournament on Lewisville? 3 fish? Ya, as long as you guys learned something, it was worth it.

03-31-2008, 05:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
BadBass BadBass is a Collegiate Bass Angler Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lincoln Posts: 884 Thanks: 42 Thanked 54 Times in 43 Posts	Dardanelle Report Well, Ben and i got back from our Lake Dardanelle Tournament on Sunday. We struggled to say the least. Over 2 days of tournament fishing we weighed one fish, a 2.07 pounder. On our practice day we netted 4 fish, all keepers. We never really found a consistent pattern during practice. It was 83 degrees for our practice day and sunny. The water was EXTREMELY muddy. Day one of the tournament brought cold temps and slightly clearer water. Temps on the first day of the tournament where in the low fifties and it was cloudy. We ended up with 3 bites and no fish to weigh. We focused on primary dropoffs off of shallow flats and could not find any decent fish. Day 2 rolled around and we obviously weren't feeling the best about our odds to catch a limit of fish. We decided to fish shallow as we had heard that is where they were being caught by other teams. Day 2 of the tourney provided even worse weather. Temperatures were in the high 40s and there were moderate rain showers mid morning. We concentrated on shallow coves in the morning and didn't boat a fish. I had a fish bite my jig trailer off and Ben had a very nice bass on a crankbait shake him off right at the boat. Frusturating to say the least. For the last few hours of the tournament we focused on riprap along bridges and highways. We caught 2 fish the last 2 hours, with only one of them being over 15 inches, which was the limit. Ben and I really felt like we underachieved for this tournament. After talking with several teams and thinking about our experience we are convinced that we could have done much better. It sounds like we had the right idea about shallow fish, we just needed to fish one single area extremely thoroughly without moving from spot to spot so much. I'll post a few pictures once i figure out how to work my new camera. __________________ Drew Friedrich Husker Bass Anglers huskerbassanglers.com

03-31-2008, 06:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mako Mako is missing an old bald friend. Director Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: A bit further south... Posts: 6,262 Thanks: 67 Thanked 447 Times in 300 Posts Blog Entries: 2	How was the boat? __________________ Be rude to a bully and he'll beat you up. Be rude to a geek and your computer will never forgive you.

04-01-2008, 08:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tone2129 Tone2129 is fishing, DUH! Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Millard/Lincoln Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 1,285 Thanks: 20 Thanked 67 Times in 50 Posts	...I will let Ben or drew answer the boat question. In all actuality guys no matter how much crap I gave you, you have got to think of it this way. This is your 2nd tournament ever, and Ben's first tournament. Everything at this level is defiantly a learning experience, remember our first tournament on Lewisville? 3 fish? Ya, as long as you guys learned something, it was worth it. __________________ I support the Husker Bass Anglers NBAA - District 55 Co - Director Last edited by Tone2129; 04-01-2008 at 08:19 AM..

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode