American Bass Anglers Lake Eufaula 24 Mar

[BassHOGS]

I was waiting for ABA to post the results but looks like they are taking their time.......   Here is my account of the tournament though...

There were 3 tournaments going out of Lake Point Resort on Saturday morning so it was packed around the marina and ramps.  ABA had 18 turn out which was very low according to Tournament Director, Deacon Collins.  Boyd Marine Tournament Trail had a metric ton of boats, and Valdosta Bassmasters had probably 20-30 boats as well.

I pre fished Eufaula on Friday which was the very first time I had fished this lake as a boater (fished Weekend Series about 5 years ago as a co-angler).  I had done some research on Georgia Outdoor News of previous fishing reports around this time of year and put together a game plan of things to look at.  Got out on the lake and went to work for the few hours I had. 

Water temps were from 60-63 throughout the spots I fished.  I managed to catch a few fish that clued me into a few things.  Chatterbait and Crankbaits would be my workhorses for Saturday.  I did however tie on a frog, T-Rigged Zoom Speed Worm, and Punch Bait for grass mats.

Tournament day I headed down river and started in a creek that was 60 degrees and had rip rap, shad presence, and grass.  I tried the frog for a while but they just weren't into topwater in that location so I abandoned that technique.  Fished crankbait and rat-l-trap around bridge rip rap and got nothing as well.  Moved over to the grass and threw the T-rigged Speed worm.  I would just throw out amongst the sparse grass and slow reel it back.  I managed to catch 3-4 but nothing to weigh.  I then headed down river more and fished another riprap location and managed to boat my first keeper throwing a crawfish red H2O crankbait (8-10 ft range) near the river channel.  I continued this presentation and boated many more fish but once again no keepers.  I then went on down the same bank with a chatterbait and boated one more keeper.  I returned to the location on my first keeper and caught many more fish just no keepers......then the wind BLEW!!!  I headed back to the ramp an hour early cause that lake was ROUGH!!!

Overall had a great experience and learned a lot from my first time.  Also learned a few things from listening to everyone else at the weigh-in.  I gained valuable points towards the ABA National Championship.  Weighed two fish for 3.52 pounds.  16.20 pounds won with big bass of 6.50.

FISH ON!!!

[mygreenihc]

Sounds like you had fun anyway.  There are some tournaments that are competitive opportunities and others that are learning experiences.  Eufaula  is a nice lake and I have fished it once.  We did OK but nothing to brag about. 


I will be passing Eufaula first of next month heading to Seminole.  I always want to stop when i pass it because the part of it you see from the highway just looks so inviting.


Brad

[Lipripper]

Thanks for the report and glad you caught lots of fish but too bad you couldn't catch more keepers.