There's tough....AND there's TOUGH

[Oregon Native]

We have Tuesday and Thursday night tourneys on a small local lake and in Sept it gets tough.  Sometimes one or two small fish will put you in the money.  Well the last week I blanked on both days and was scratching my head.....still am.  Did hook a couple but they were striking short and came off.  Last night I got a HOG....1.8# and took big fish and second place....(what a head scratcher)  Lost another good one too.  I believe there were around ten or twelve boats and only four fish were weighed in.  It may be tough ... but love the challenge.

[Bluebasser86]

I always seem to do better in the tough tournaments because I don't give up and keep fishing hard from start to finish. 

[ClackerBuzz]

my last two home lakes have been a complete bust but they have made me a far better angler than i would have ever become.  some guys hate new lakes b/c they struggle.  i feel like a rockstar when i finally get on quality water and love knowing a big bass can be just around the next corner.

[Pro Logcatcher]

In tournaments, I have this habit of thinking "I HAVE to catch a fish on this lure" and then fishing it for the tournament without catching anything. Then I'll switch in the last half hour and catch two on a crank (true story).

[Oregon Native]

13 hours ago, Pro Logcatcher said:

In tournaments, I have this habit of thinking "I HAVE to catch a fish on this lure" and then fishing it for the tournament without catching anything. Then I'll switch in the last half hour and catch two on a crank (true story).

I love just having one or two rods on deck....but how often does this happen!!!!!

[38 Super Fan]

I know what you mean, most of the E. Tenn and E. KY lakes can be really tough this time of year. I remember an FLW tournament on Norris last October where 24 pounds over three days was good for a top 10 finish.

[Bluebasser86]

18 hours ago, Oregon Native said:

I love just having one or two rods on deck....but how often does this happen!!!!!

I almost did that last tournament I fished, but I didn't want to give my game plan away, so I ended up with 4. I caught all 5 of our keepers and the big bass of the night on the 2 rods I'd planned on having out though. 

[BassNJake]

11 hours ago, 38 Super Fan said:

I know what you mean, most of the E. Tenn and E. KY lakes can be really tough this time of year. I remember an FLW tournament on Norris last October where 24 pounds over three days was good for a top 10 finish.

Brandon Card(B.A.S.S Elite series Pro) who lived at Norris Lake growing up, got skunked day1 and only had 3 fish day2.

Cant believe how the smallmouth disappear after the spring at that lake.

Tourneys in the spring are usually take 20 lbs+ of mostly smallmouth to win.

After April you dont see another smallmouth weighed in

 

[Oregon Native]

20 hours ago, BassNJake said:

Brandon Card(B.A.S.S Elite series Pro) who lived at Norris Lake growing up, got skunked day1 and only had 3 fish day2.

Cant believe how the smallmouth disappear after the spring at that lake.

Tourneys in the spring are usually take 20 lbs+ of mostly smallmouth to win.

After April you dont see another smallmouth weighed in

 

Would be interesting to dive the lake or maybe tag some fish there to see what they do

[Oregon Native]

The "saga" continues!!!!  Had a club tourney Saturday on the Hill again and four fish one with eight pounds....I had second with two fish for 3 something.  One other guy had two fish...a couple small one fish's and many blanks.  There were two other tourneys going on too and I heard quite a few people left early....gosh.

[BigAngus752]

17 minutes ago, Oregon Native said:

The "saga" continues!!!!  Had a club tourney Saturday on the Hill again and four fish one with eight pounds....I had second with two fish for 3 something.  One other guy had two fish...a couple small one fish's and many blanks.  There were two other tourneys going on too and I heard quite a few people left early....gosh.

Is this Center Hill?  We are headed their for five days on 10/7.  It needs to pick up before then!

[Oregon Native]

:)......no Melton Hill.....the place every one doesn't like but fish's anyway!!!  Weather to start cooling I believe next week.

[TnRiver46]

10 hours ago, Oregon Native said:

:)......no Melton Hill.....the place every one doesn't like but fish's anyway!!!  Weather to start cooling I believe next week.

Are you seeing any white bass busting out on Melton hill?

[Oregon Native]

A bazillion

[BassNJake]

I've never fished there but have to go thru the stop and go traffic past the steam plant everyday.

I also have driven by the Bull Run area and that always looks good to me.

Docks, rip rap, laydowns/overhangs and a bridge all thru that small stretch.

[TnRiver46]

On 9/20/2017 at 7:44 AM, Oregon Native said:

A bazillion

Gotcha thanks 

[N Florida Mike]

On 9/13/2017 at 6:48 AM, Oregon Native said:

We have Tuesday and Thursday night tourneys on a small local lake and in Sept it gets tough.  Sometimes one or two small fish will put you in the money.  Well the last week I blanked on both days and was scratching my head.....still am.  Did hook a couple but they were striking short and came off.  Last night I got a HOG....1.8# and took big fish and second place....(what a head scratcher)  Lost another good one too.  I believe there were around ten or twelve boats and only four fish were weighed in.  It may be tough ... but love the challenge.

Ha. I took 2nd once with a 1.12. The guy that won got a 3 pounder. Only time I ever fished that lake!

[Ratherbfishing]

Glad to know it isn't just me.  I've learned to never take anything in late summer "personally."