Caddo Lake 15 July 2023

[Mike Cork]

Fished the Singles Tournament Saturday. The heat was on but there were enough fish biting to keep me in the game. Caddo has a protected slot of 14-18 inches so the goal is to catch fish over 18 inches but the curveball is you can only have 4. So you have to catch one between 12-14 inches to have a five fish limit... In the summer that 12 inches isn't going to weigh a pound but you'll loose your ass if you don't have it against these sticks...

Day started very slow, I didn't have a bite until 8:30, when first cast is at 6, that means I went two and a half hours without a bite. I didn't have much of a plan coming into this event as my prefishing was so bad I quite trying LOL

First fish hit a frog in a pad field that has always been lucky for me, and continued to be lucky. She was 7.09 and big bass of the tournament. As I was pulling her to the net the frog came flying out of her mouth and she jumped.... landed in the net... When the luck goes your way, many times you're in for a good day.

The next pad field was a bust but the one ofter that, Kermit was attacked by a giant, or so I thought. But she missed it. I cast back and Mrs. Cataracts missed Kermit again or Kermit jumped out of the way... Needing another big fish, I thought I'd let her cool off for a bit. I tried the next pad field and nothing. I circle back to where Mrs. Cataracts is living and on the far side of the pad field I catch a 19 incher on a punch rig. Light bulb... if they'll hit this maybe I can give Mrs Cataracts something just under the surface. So I go to the Honey Comb Hideout and pitch my punch rig in the area and pulled it to the top of the pads and bumped the pads. Sure enough she smokes it. When I get her to the boat she's only 4.5 and not another 7, but I'll take her.

Tried a few other things and nothing, went back to my pads and caught a couple more over 18. Now I'm desperately trying to catch a fish between 12-14 inches. With about 30 minutes to go, I catch the poorest looking excuse for a bass that measures 12.000001 inches long. I'll bet she didn't way .75 of a pound. But I boxed her with all the gratitude that I had and kissed it on the head 

The 19 incher I caught earlier was hooked in the tongue and didn't make it to weigh in so I was hit was a .5 penalty....

Congratulations to Ben McCormick with 19.3

I had 19.38 but after the penalty I weighed 18.88, the dead fish cost me a little over $1000 But I did get second and big bass.

Third, Johnny VanAsdel had 17 and some change which was also a very impressive stringer.

[Donald Garner]

Mike, congrats on the 2nd Place Finish     Tks for sharing the trip and the picture with us also.

[fishinforsanity]

Thanks Mike!

[Mike Cork]

Thanks Mike!

Well earned win! You had some tanks