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    Almost forgot,,, then the “haunting” memory returns….Lake Seminole
from ButchT  
11/2/2009 7:17:12 PM

Rated:

  I must admit I had a great time at the BFL Regional on Lake Seminole. Stayed with some great folks, ate some great food, just a good time in general in spite of the tough fishing. I’ve pretty much detailed that in my previous posts. I did draw out with two super nice co-anglers as well. So it wasn’t a total loss.

My first day partner was staying with Ed Getty’s and Jamie Horton and fishing with Mr. Getty’s during practice. Needless to say this was indeed interesting when I found out as Mr. Getty’s has won two previous BFL Regionals on Lake Seminole and I pretty well knew where and how. But being in the boat with someone who had been in “THE boat” during practice with “THE man” was educational to say the least.

To make a long story short after over three hours of fighting the wind in the open lake and the waves hitting me in the legs and chest I throw in the towel. Done. I don’t take this sort of punishment as well as I once did in the by and by.

Having no real backup plan and knowing the only place we can really even fish with any expectation of getting a bite or two, the only choice is to go to “The Creek”. I sort of picked my partners brain about how he and Mr. Getty’s had been practicing. His comments only solidified what I pretty much already knew. And it’s a process I simply despise. I hate flipping endless stretches of grass. It’s boring , it’s repetitious, it’s BORING!! But we do it.

The results, not a single bite from Rattle Snake Point to the run going into Wingate’s Cut. Oops, my bad. Two bites, both Jack’s. A little piece of advice. Don’t stick your hand into a wad of grass in a dip net unless you know what’s in there,,,,not cool.

Bottom line I weigh in one fish and am in dead last at the end of the first day. Wow…

Second day I am simply going fishing. No preconceived notions, just going to fish the lake until we can’t and go from there.

First spot we stop on is in wide open water. The wind isn’t too bad, yet, and the water has cleared some with them pulling water during the night. I had shaken a fish off on this spot during practice. About the third cast with a C-rig I get a pick up,,the kind you like to feel. Rod loads up, fish swimming toward the River, you know what I mean. I sweep the rod back and the rod bows up pretty good, good strong pull….and then nothing. I tell my partner, he had already got the net, I have a pretty good idea what happened. When I bring my rig in the hook is still in the worm and there are nice shiny teeth marks on the lead. Just my luck, fish had the lead and not the worm.

As the wind picks up it forces us to move off the open water. I run to an isolated grass bed I had not fished in practice, just knew it was there and had been productive in the past. We fish it for a few minutes and I see a fish bust a shad. I jump down and get a rod with a spinner bait tied on out of the rod box. Second cast she bites, a four pounder. We fish the grass bed for another forty five minutes with no action. Wind has picked up and it’s rolling.

By this time I am having one of those “uncomfortable” nature call’s things going on. Not bad enough for a run to the bank, which you don’t do on Seminole, but simply “uncomfortable” if you know what I mean. I always tell my partners that I am paid by the State to occasionally check on restroom facilities on the lake and I need to check out Booster Club Landing. Some believe me, some simply smile…:)

There is no way I’m going back to the Creek and fight the wind and the no-bite again. I decide to simply fish out of the wind in the pads off the Flint. The main Lake and flats are torn up from the winds all week. Just one of those things.

Bottom line is I catch another four pounder on a Spro Frog. Two fish, approximately eight pounds and it’s only 11:00. In the back of my mind I’m thinking if I could possibly squeeze out another good fish or two,,who knows? “Never give up”, right? :)

There is a log laying in the water about ten feet off from the edge of some lily pads we’ve been fishing. I pick up my Pop R, cast beyond it about four feet, blurp it up to the log and let it sit. And then all hell breaks lose!

This fished simply slammed it. First she ran to the right and then back to the left toward the open lake. My boat was between her and the lily pads. I got her turned and she came barreling toward the boat and ran directly under it toward the pads, I saw her as she ran by.

Then a sudden stop but I could still feel her pulling. My partner is standing with the net this whole time and looks over the other side of the boat and sees her with the Pop R snagged on a pad by a single hook. Before we could get to her she made one final lunge and was gone. She actually the pulled the pad up from the bottom.

I reeled in the Pop R, still attached to the lily pad and simply sat down and looked at it. One single hook of the treble stuck dead center in the pad stem. The big baby won. She made the right moves at the right time and won the fight. We both agreed she was an easy six, maybe more.

I told my partner this is pretty much a testament as to how my season has been going this year. I don’t know if I can recall a year where I have ever lost so many fish that would have made a major difference in the standings. I guess it happens to everyone but this year has been weird for me.

My biggest consolation is that I didn’t have another three or four pounder in the box and didn’t catch one after I lost her. Had I had her and one of those, I’d be going to the All American. But it simply wasn’t meant to be.

I turned the two four pounders back before we left to make the thirty mile run back to the weigh in. No reason to haul two beautiful Lake Seminole bass all the way back to Bainbridge for ego,,I’ve grown beyond that.

This will be my last journal for a while. Not sure what next year holds in store. I’m mainly evaluating personal and family responsibilities, those come first. Tournament fishing might have to take a back seat…we’ll see.

It’s been a fun ride, met some awesome people and made some great friends over the years, especially on BFHP. I want to thank all of you for reading my ramblings, for the kind comments and for the criticism. If you criticize at least I know you’re reading….LOL.

2010 will be a very pivotal year for us all folks. Let’s all please pay attention, educate ourselves and our families and simply participate in our right to vote. And Pray. We’re going to lose if we don’t. The writing is on the wall.

Will the Lake Seminole BFL Regional really haunt me? Not a chance. Love that old gal…She’s a challenge but a beautiful piece of work. Reminds me of Ms. Tracy, my wife of 43 years, pretty special.

Best to all…..

Edited 11/2/2009 7:28:56 PM

Edited 11/2/2009 7:42:58 PM

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   Gotta love a sunrise... from ButchT  11/2/2009 7:31:14 PM
 

Sunrise over Spring Creek through the front window of the Pearson's Cabin...pretty awesome.

   And the wonders of Lake Seminole... from ButchT  11/2/2009 7:32:45 PM
 

Needless to say a conversation piece....LOL

   Thanks Butch from DaveT  11/2/2009 7:47:49 PM
  Thanks Butch, I have enjoyed your journals this year. What ever you do next year GOOD LUCK, AND GOOD HEALTH.

   ButchT from 5keepers #10346  11/2/2009 8:02:59 PM
 I enjoyed and can relate to what you are saying.

   Nice photo image of the Sunrise. from hvacstar  11/2/2009 8:13:54 PM
 Kinda like the starting gun of the competition.

Your journals and views transport me and other folks around here to a place in time that we have no other way to witness. Thanks for that.

Beautiful Moonrise here in The Old North State tonite. The Sunrise reflects the urgency and resolve of daily struggle. The Moonrise represents the spoils of Victory and Reward after the hard fought battle.

   Well done, Butch. from PPEN  11/2/2009 9:59:18 PM
 I hope you will be able to continue as you have in the past. Your journals are so well done. You manage to take each one of us along in the boat watching you work your way down the shoreline, carefully selecting the log just out from the lily pads where your popper is headed. I suspect all of us learn from your journals and at the same time vicariously cast along side of you from the front platform.

Thanks for the ride.

   Journals from Guy #10385  11/2/2009 10:02:14 PM
 Thanks for taking the time to share with us. I have looked forward to them and enjoyed each one. Hope there are more to come, as Butch T would say "time will tell" Huh!You and J Todd have had a busy year! Maybe now you will a little time to hone your skills with the green egg!

Guy

   Good luck friend from Gfish  11/3/2009 5:22:46 AM
 In whatever you decide to do. The journals were great.

   not yet big guy from 1SG  11/3/2009 10:47:22 AM
 Oh No, we aint letting you get away that easy. We expect journals on your excursions on the BGE, new and old secret recipes.

I thought I was a pretty good hand on the grill, but you sir are a master griller, keep em coming.

Thanks for the friendship we have developed, who else would keep me on the straight and narrow on the BFHP.

   Gettys and journals from billsp from NJ #10879  11/3/2009 3:27:38 PM
 Keep 'em coming. The journals and quality fishing reports on BFHP make these colder days up this way go faster, and definetly shorten the winter. Had the pleasure of drawing Ed Gettys as a boater at the original Ranger M-1 tournament in Winter Haven. We fished a couple hundred yds from where the tournament was won, and overall the fishing was real tough on the Fla strain of LMs with a severe cold front the day before. Late in the day Ed sees a map I had gotten of the Winter Haven chain that had good contours on it and giving him that map and some cash covered me for day one non-boater. He takes that info and cranks up enough weight on day two to win $5K. When meeting guys from down that way fishing some of the Strens/Everstarts I got into, they told me Ed was one of the best fishermen in north Alabama. I'd sure like to fish Guntersville with him.

   great read for such a tough tournament from JON HARDIN #13210  11/3/2009 4:02:49 PM
 you got my number if your ever around the tennesee end of pigwick.

   well Butch from MikeF  11/3/2009 4:36:08 PM
 At least you had fun. thanks for sharing the good and the bad

   butch T from justtrying  11/3/2009 9:42:17 PM
 i sure do appreciate the hard work and effort you have put in the fishing this year ..and, the journals. you have allowed those of us who cannot fish the tournaments to enjoy them, anyway.
you have been gifted, sir, with a talent for writing and apparently, for fishing, as well.

i feel as if you and your family are neighbors, even tho i've never met you. with that in mind, i sure do hope you have a great "off season" ..have time to spend with family & just enjoy the good things God has blessed you with.

as you, i feel we are in a time when things are changing quickly, pivoting to a place we dare not go. i pray we will all make choices that will help bring us back to a place of sense & sensibilty. a place where our children can be safe and enjoy this wonderful world we live in.

hey, i don't want to sound maudling, but, i do want you to know that i have enjoyed your journals, and, am looking forward to enjoying many more if i am blessed with more time. make good decisions butch ...i'm sure tracy will help you make the right ones. Hee Hee

thanks
ronnie

   Excellent write-up Butch. Thanks for sharing and good luck next time! from Wackoman  11/4/2009 7:49:03 AM
 nm