Submitted by Duluth Bass Club #10989

Date Fished: 4/20/2008
Water Temperature: 63
Water Clarity: 2-3 feet

For each of the last eight years, the Duluth Bass Club has made at least one trip to Guntersville but this past weekend’s trip was one for the record books. Teams hit the water swinging for the fences, where the majority of the club drove beyond the warning track to the wall, and others went over the wall hitting a grand slam. After Saturday you’d thought it couldn’t get any better, but it did. Everyone had a blast!

Last October it only took only 17 pounds to win over two days, which left some wondering if this grand lake was on its way out, but in prolific style Guntersville redeemed itself. Weekend stats for the 26 teams are as follows: Day-one 93 bass were weighed with a 3.40 average per fish and a total creel of 316.16 lbs. Day-two 96 bass were weighed with a 3.35 average per fish and a total creel of 321.50 lbs. There were 10 bass over 6 pounds and the count was lost of 5 pounders but there were somewhere over 25 of them.

As things played out over the two days it became intense on the leader board. On day one Michael Thomas and Mike Haddad lead the way with 20.07. Robert Turner and Rick Morris were fishless with just 45 minutes left to go. With a tip from the Little’s and a stroke of luck they positioned themselves in 2nd with 19.82; all within 20 minutes and eyesight of the ramp, proving just what can happen on this lake. Billy and Mark Anglin were in third with 18.60. Randy and Albert Little sat in fifth with 18.25. Despite Sunday’s shortened fishing day, spectacular catches were seen coming across the scales. Billy and Mark Anglin finished in fifth with a two-day total of 35.22. Robert Turner and Rick Morris slipped into fourth with a total of 35.54. Michael Thomas and Mike Haddad fell to third totaling 35.10. The big surprises and coming out of nowhere was Tommy Akers and Scott Barnes who were in 10th place on Saturday had the biggest stringer of the tournament on Sunday of 22.98 and finished second with 37.50. Capturing tournament honors was Randy and Albert Little with their 20 plus pound sack on Sunday and gave them a two-day total of 39.98, a new two-day record for the club. Congratulations Randy and Albert on a fantastic club win!

On his third cast Saturday morning with a spinnerbait, Rick Cotten caught the big bass for the day, it pressed the scales at 8.02. Even though only a couple of fish have been caught bigger in 21 years of club history, Rick wasn’t confident it would hold up, not the way things were shaping up. And his concerned was justified. Sunday Dale Tomazin hadn’t even put the trolling motor in the water on their first stop when his 13 year old partner and son reared back on a 8.40 lb. largemouth on his first cast. Not a stroke of luck and don’t let Travis’s age fool you, he’s as good as anyone. Travis won his age bracket at the Junior Bassmaster Southern Divisional at Santee Cooper and is headed Nationals this coming November in Kansas.

Congratulations Travis on a great showing at Guntersville and a win at the Junior Bassmaster Southern Divisional!

Special thanks to our new sponsor Deep South Rods. They provided each club angler with a one time special purchase and much of the club was sporting these premium rods. And thanks to them at each monthly tournament one fortunate person will win a Deep South Rod valued at $180.00. This month’s winner was Rick Morris, congratulations Rick! Dock talk produced much praise on these rod, overwhelmingly patrons agreed fishing Deep South Rods made a big difference feeling light strikes in thick grass.

Next Month DBC travel to Clark Hill on Sunday May 18. May’s meeting is the Tuesday May 13 at Bass Pro Shops. Team registration begins at 6:15 PM and the meeting start promptly at 7:00 PM. Teams interested in joining feel free to come on by or drop us a line. Anyone is welcome to come fish as guest for the big fish pot, come check us out.

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