AnglersChannel

More Reason Than Bass For Volunteers Behind Wolfson Children’s Hospital Tournament

Although he holds the record for the second biggest bass ever caught in the history of the Wolfson Children’s Hospital Benefit Bass Tournament, Brian Seay admittedly is not much of a bass fisherman. He has a more personal reason for serving as tournament director for the 23^rd annual tournament Saturday on the St. John's River.

“My son was in that hospital and he passed away after a couple of years, so I have my own attachment. We spent a lot of time in that hospital in his short life and the care we received was astronomical,” said Seay.

Seay said a strange turn of events highlighted by that big bass led him to become involved as a volunteer with the tournament.

“I am no bass fishing expert, but I went out with a guy who was pretty good and we were fishing in Rodman. He said drop your line there and I did. That fish weighed 11-pounds-plus,” he recalled, adding that it also caused him to catch some grief from his co-workers.

“All of the guys at work live and breathe this stuff and when I told them about it, they said, 'You went out there and did what?' I got a little plaque and I put it in my office. Sometimes I will take it out and show it to those guys,” he said with a chuckle.

“But my drive and my motivation for this tournament is not so much for the bass fishing as it is raising money for those kids,” Seay said. “I consider it a big honor to be involved.”

The tournament began more than two decades ago when the director of the Plant Facilities Department of Baptist Medical Center Downtown in Jacksonville, along with several outside contractors, wanted to play a major role in funding capital improvements and technological advancements for the Children's Hospital. They created the tournament with the goal of making it the largest in the state raising money for kids.

In 2010 the tournament drew 422 boats and last year the count was over 460 boats. Bob McNally, outdoors writer for The Florida Times Union in Jacksonville, calls it the largest single-day bass tournament in Florida.

“Actually,” said Seay, “we don't know of a bigger tournament in the Southeast.”

The tournament is actually three events over three days, starting with 14^th annual the Lads and Lassies Tournament Thursday. Entry fee for Thursday competition is $70 a boat with an optional $10 entry for the Big Bass Pot.

Prizes for Lads and Lassies range from $1,000 for first place down to $100 for 10^th place, with first Big Bass earning $1,000 and second Big Bass worth $500.

The VIP Tournament on Friday is strictly for show to allow sponsors and other dignitaries a chance to get on the water and go fishing.

Entry fee for the 23^nd annual Wolfson Children's Hospital Benefit Bass Tournament Saturday is $90 per boat with an additional $10 per boat for the big bass competition. The tournament has a guaranteed purse of $37,000 in cash and prizes, including $10,000 for first place, $4,000 for second and $3,000 for third, on down to $100 for anglers who finish 51^st-55^th..

There is also a $5,000 prize for the largest bass weighed in and $1,000 each for second and third big bass of the tournament. Bringing in the exact weight listed in a sealed envelope will earn a huge bonus.

The tournament buys an insurance policy and places a pre-determined weight in the envelope. If an angler weighs in the big bass at the exact weight in the envelope he receives an additional $15,000. If the second big bass matches the weight in another envelop that angler gets $10,000.

In addition to all the potential prize money, somebody will go home with a brand new bass boat. Tickets are being sold for a drawing following Saturday's weigh-in for a new fully rigged 2012 Bullet 21XD Bass Boat with a Mercury 225 Pro XS OptiMax Motor, courtesy of Bullet boats and Mercury Marine.
“We raised right at $150,000 last year,” said Seay. “After the tournament we hold a big dinner in Jacksonville for the hospital and present them with the money.”

The volunteers who put on the tournament all have full-time jobs, Seay noted, but they all feel it is worth it just to help the children in the hospital.

“It has been very rewarding to me,” he said. “It's just a huge way to give something back to the hospital.”

Wolfson Children’s Hospital Benefit Bass Tournament

Sat, May 19, 2011

St. Johns River

Palatka City Docks

www.wolfsonchildrens.org/ways-to-give/bass/Pages/tourney.aspx

by AnglersChannel

Gagliardi Settling On Strategy For Flw Tour Major On Potomac River

With practice over, Anthony Gagliardi was waiting to learn his flight number before determining a set strategy for the first day of fishing Thursday on the Potomac River in the fourth FLW Tour Major of the year.

“I have probably three or four primary ares that I know hold fish. I may decide to fish one for an entire day or I may run up the river and fish back down with the tide,” said the 10-year FLW pro from Prosperity, S.C. “I know there are four possible places I will be fishing in the tournament – I just have to determine which order I will go to them in.”

Gagliardi, the 2006 FLW Tour Angler of the Year, is currently ranked 11^th and on track to qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup to be held Aug. 9-12 on Georgia's Lake Lanier. He has made the world championship of bass fishing all 10 years of his career, scoring four top 10 finishes: 3^rd in 2004, 5^th in 2005, 10^th in 2006 and 9^th in 2007.

In regular tournaments he has 17 top 10 finishes, including four first places and his career prize winnings top $1.2 million.

Although he did not have a good practice earlier this week, Gagliardi said he has some confidence fishing the Potomac where he has placed in the money in two out of the three tournaments he has fished there. Other than one tournament on the James River some years ago, those three tournaments are his only experience fishing tidal waters for bass.

“I have a little bit of confidence fishing here and I like fishing here,” he said. “It's a great fishery and I usually get a ton of bites when I fish here, but I did not get as many in practice as I normally would.”

Gagliardi said the fish apparently are in several different stages, with some still spawning, some that have spawned and moved out and some that are still on the way up shallow.

“Where I am fishing the water is not clear enough to fish for spawning fish,” he said. “I will fish four different things, but mainly I will be fishing soft plastic. I've had a couple of frog bites to I'll probably fish a frog and I'll go back and forth between those two. I may also throw a swim bait and a Chatterbait.

“If I had to pin it down to just one technique I'd spend most of my time flipping. After that I'd throw the Chatterbait, then the frog and then the swim bait.”

FLW Tour Major

May 17-20, 2012

Potomac River

National Harbor Marina

www.flwoutdoors.com

by AnglersChannel

Big Boost In Entries Expected For Angler's Choice Team Trail Tournament At Smith Mountain

“We had 223 boats in the first tournament (on Smith Mountain), 224 in the second tournament (on Kerr Reservoir) and it dropped to to 167 in the third tournament (also on Kerr), which is typical because we split the state in half. We go to one half three times in the East and stay in the western part three times during the season,” Lucas said.

In order for anglers to get in the four required tournaments, he explained, they go to the first one in the West and the first one in the East and then pick their other three tournaments on waters closest to them.

“Early indications for this tournament look like we are going back to 200 boats again. We had 130 boats pre-registered as of Tuesday morning, so this should be another big tournament. I don't know but some people say we are the second largest amateur trail in the country on average.”

Lucas said there is still plenty of time to register for the tournament. Anglers can register at Anglers Choice in Martinsville, Va., until 12 noon Friday and Lucas will have open registration at the dock from 5 a.m. to about 6:45 a.m. on Saturday.

With half the tournaments already fished, there is a group of teams sitting atop the points standings, but Lucas warned that with three tournaments left the points championship is still anybody's game

“We award 300 points per tournament, so the top guys don't have anything concrete with three tournaments to go. Those guys who are middle ways back could easily have a good day and the top guys could have a bad tournament and then it doesn’t take long to catch up in the points.”

At the midpoint of the season, Travis and Daniel Towe are atop the points standings, but four other teams are close behind. Randy Redden and Gary Payne are second, Ryan and Wayne Mace are third and two teams are tied for fourth: Mark Cooper and Steve Roberts and Tyler and Zach Meadows, both only 42 points behind the leaders.

Lucas said anglers should have no trouble catching fish Saturday about any way they want to fish.

“A lot of the fish have gone to biting at night, but there are still a lot of fish being caught during the day, too. There are reports of some fish still spawning, so there are fish up shallow and some out deeper,” he said.

“There should be a topwater bite early and then anglers can get out and fish the docks and off the points. Some fish will move back on the deep brushpiles, so there will be a variety of ways to catch fish.”

The weather likely will also play a major role, he added. Saturday is supposed to be sunny with temperatures running 79 to 80 degrees.

“But we got hammered Monday night and the night before with rain so the lake will be up and there is a lot of flooding on Smith Mountain Lake right now. There will be colored water in the creeks and tributaries and clear water down the lake, so there will be every possible gamut you will want to fish. It should be a good tournament,” said Lucas who predicted it will take a five-fish limit at 18 to 20 pounds to win Saturday.

An added wrinkle to the tournament Saturday, he added, is the appearance of NAPA Auto Parts. The company will have a big display tent and give away product.

Anglers Choice Marine Team Trail

Sat, May 19, 2012

Smith Mountain Lake

Parkway Marina

Call Chris Lucas 276-358-0844

www.anglerschoicemarine.com

by AnglersChannel

Shootout Anticipated On Wateree In Final Sc Division Carolina Bass Challenge Qualifier

“Jason Barrett and Ken Ellis lead Nelson Walker and Chris Brunson by 1 point and Brent Riley and Nathan Burgess are 15 points behind in third, but Saturday is a double points tournament so it's going to be close.”

Barret and Ellis won the opening tournament Feb. 11 on the Cooper River, weighing in a limit at 20.39 pounds, including the Big Fish at 8.63 pounds to win a total of $7,575. They fell to 44^th at Lake Murray March 31, finishing out of the money with five fish that weighed 13.54 pounds, but rebounded to ninth at Santee Cooper April 28 when Ellis partnered with Chuck Howard to catch five bass that weighed 21.41 pounds and win $500.

Walker and Brunson have not been spectacular in any of the three qualifiers, but they have been consistent, finishing 18^th on the Cooper River, 19^th at Lake Murray and 18^th at Santee Cooper.

Meanwhile. Burgess and Riley dug a deep hole to start out, finishing 57^th on the Cooper River, but have climbed back out with a 10^th place finish at Lake Murray and then finishing second at Santee Cooper where they weighed in five fish at 26.71 pounds and took home $4,000.

“The pre-paid list is close to 100,” Collins said at mid-week, “so it looks like we are going to have at least 125 teams for the tournament Saturday at Lake Wateree.”

Fishing at Wateree has been tough recently, Collins said, but the mid-week rains could change that quickly.

“Last week it took only 15 pounds to win a tournament on Lake Wateree, but we expect more weight this week,” he said. “The shad should be spawning in the grass and that will make the topwater bite turn on. With the mild winter and early spring we've had some fish are already out deep and docks always come into play at Lake Wateree.”

Collins said the South Carolina Division is up to 190 teams and he anticipates the number of teams that join up will expand to more than 200 after the tournament Saturday on Lake Wateree.

“It looks like the number of teams that will qualify for the South Carolina Divisional Final on Lake Wateree June 23 will be between 125 and 150,” he said. “First place at the Divisional Final will take home a Skeeter TX190 equipped with a 150 Yamaha HPDI. The point winning teams of each division will receive $1,000.”

Collins said all the teams from the SC Divisional and all the teams who enter the NC Divisional Final will be eligible to enter the Carolina Bass Challenge Championship on Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) October 27. The first place team at the championship will receive a Skeeter ZX200 equipped with a 200 Yamaha SHO.

The Carolinas Bass Challenge is a two-division series promoted by Skeeter Boat dealers Marshall's Marine in Lake City, S.C., Foothills Marine in Morganton, N.C., and Palmetto Marine in Greenville, S.C.

Carolinas Bass Challenge - South Carolina Division

Sat, May 12, 2012

Lake Wateree

Clearwater Cove Marina

Call Brett Collins 803-413-7521

www.carolinasbasschallenge.com

by AnglersChannel

Baldwin Will Leave Turkey Hunting Long Enough To Fish Bfl On High Rock Lake

“I go turkey hunting in the morning and then practice for a tournament in the afternoon,” said the Lexington, N.C., angler who is currently ranked 3^rd in the standings for the WalMart BFL's Piedmont Division. “Then I don't find enough fish and run out before the tournament is over,” he added with a laugh.

Not always.

He bagged a nice bird on a combo turkey hunting-practice day before the Lake Gaston tournament in April and then weighed in five bass at 16 pounds, 9 ounces to finish 6th in the tournament.

He spent Wednesday morning in the turkey woods, but did not get a shot.

“We had one out in the field and he was hung up on us. I think a hen got to him, but he should have been a dead bird. We just knew we had him, but then he faded away.,” Baldwin said. “But I can't complain. I've had a pretty good turkey season which was surprising as quick as it warmed up this spring.”

That early spring also affected the fish, he noted.

“Fishing started kind of slow this year. I usually don't start catching them good until they get on the beds and then when they pull off the beds, but March was brutal on me this year.”

Baldwin said there will be a lot of different scenarios for the anglers in the BFL on High Rock this Saturday.

“It has warmed up so quick a lot of the fish have already spawned. Normally, the shallow bite goes to the second week of June on High Rock, but the lake is down by three free. There is usually a good brush bite going on this time of year, but with the water down that brush bite likely is gone.”

There could be a good shad bite, he noted.

“I am sure the shad are spawning after the full moon and it has been real warm the last couple of weeks,” he said. “It's a little early for a crankbait, so a small Carolina rig might be good, along with a jig on the points. I still don't think there will be a 15-foot bite going on. I think it will be from 10 feet up to the bank.”

Baldwin missed practice Wednesday after turkey hunting because of heavy rains, but he will hit the lake Thursday and Friday and try to nail down some areas to fish.

“I'll fish from the bank out, just stand on the trolling motor and see what happens. It won't take very long to figure out if they are on the banks or out deep, but I think they are gong to be everywhere – scattered.”

Then, that just plays into his style of fishing.

“I love junk fishing with at least 12 rods on the deck. I am not a pattern fisherman. Other guys will have two rods on the deck with the same thing on both in case they break one off,” he said. “But I will have everything tied on, from a floating bait to a DD22.”

Walmart Bass Fishing League (BFL) - Piedmont Division

Sat, May 12, 2012

High Rock Lake

Tamarac Marina

www.flwoutdoors.com

by AnglersChannel

Key Tactic For Elite Series Tournament On Douglas Lake Will Be Offshore And Deep

If the Elite Series anglers competing in the Douglas Lake Challenge, the fourth tournament in the 8-tournament series for 2012, have not already figured it out in practice this week, they probably should heed the advice of a knowledgeable local fishing guide.

In short, Capt. David Berry of Mascot, Tenn., says it's time to break out the deep water tackle and get offshore.

“There are still some fish trying to spawn,” said Berry who grew up fishing Douglas Lake, “but a lot of the bigger fish have already spawned and have pulled back out in the post spawn. They are not quite in the summer pattern, but they are headed that way. Some are suspended and some are out on offshore structure like breaks and drops, stuff like that.”

Berry, who operates his East Tennessee Angling Adventures guide service on Douglas and nearby Cherokee and Norris lakes, said the tournament probably will be won on swim baits, deep-diving crankbaits, maybe a Carolina rig or football jig.

“The lake has not come all the way up so it is not up in the bushes yet. There is not a lot of flipping and pitching going on, so I don't think the tournament will be in the favor of those who fish that way.”

Although Berry no longer fishes tournaments full time, he joined his local BASS Federation club at a young age and fished a dozen or more federation tournaments a year, along with competing in large local tournaments and was active in the old Red Man Tournament Series for a while, earning numerous wins in tournaments across the South.

“I've been guiding here locally for 25 years, doing customized guiding trips,” he said. Berry and his U.S. Coast Guard Certified guides specialize in largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing, crappie fishing and trout fishing and also offer family trips on the lakes and local rivers for bluegills.

While Douglas is not as well known as some of the other lakes in East Tennessee, Berry said, it produces good weights to win tournaments.

“Douglas is known more for producing numbers of fish in the 1- to 2-pound range,” he said. “In the last three weeks it was taking 21 to 23 pounds to win a tournament on Douglas Lake, but the weights have fallen off some lately. I think there will be a lot of tournament fish caught this week, 1- to 3-pounders, and it will probably take 17 pounds or so a day to win.”

But those good fish more than likely will come offshore, he said.

“Actually, there are a lot of good fish to be caught if you know the techniques and how to fish for them. Mainly that is offshore after the spawn. This tournament will line up good with guys who are good with swim baits and crankbaits, and possibly vertical jigs. This will fall right into their laps.”

Berry is sponsored primarily by Johnson Outdoor Products, Skeeter Boats and Lowrance. You can check out his guide service at: www.smokiesangling.com. To contact him, call 865-933-3140 or 865-661-5107, or e-mail: [email protected].

The Elite Series has never stopped at Douglas, a 30,400-acre impoundment formed from the French Broad River and its tributaries of the Nolichucky and Pigeon Rivers, so the fishery will be new for many of the Elite pros. With just three tournaments in the books this year, a number of top pros are stuck far down in the standings, so they will need to win one of the final five tournaments to qualify for the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.

Fans are invited to come out and see how the pros fare in their quest to win $100,000 and an instant-in for the Bassmaster Classic. The daily takeoffs and weigh-ins will be held at The Point Marina, 122 Boatdock Drive, Dandridge, Tenn.

Bush Hawg, a band that performed at the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, will perform after the May 5 weigh-in as part of the free Evan Williams Bourbon Concert Series. All fan activities are free and open to the public.

ESPN2 will present the Douglas Challenge, 8-9 a.m. ET, May 13 on The Bassmasters. The show will air again the same day on ESPN Classic, 10-11 a.m. ET.

Bassmaster Elite Series Douglas Lake Challenge

May 3-6, 2012

Douglas Lake

The Point Marina

www.bassmaster.com

by AnglersChannel

With Water Level Down, Fishing 'rather Tough' For Flw Tour Major On Beaver Lake

Dearal Rodgers has had mixed result in five previous FLW Tour tournaments on Arkansas' Beaver Lake, but he notched top 50 finals in the last two events there and is looking for more of the same in the third FLW Tour Major of 2012 this week.

But, it might not be easy.

“Beaver Lake was high a couple of weeks ago but it has been dropped about 6 or 7 feet and is pretty low right now,” said the second-year Camden, S.C., pro. And that, he added, has made the fishing “rather tough.”

Rodgers did not earn a check in his first trip to Beaver Lake as a co-angler in 2006 when he finished near the bottom of the pack. But, he did pick up prize money in his next two trips there, finishing 82^nd in 2007 and 81^st in 2008, as a co-angler.

His best finish came in 2009 when he weighed in seven bass over two days at 11 pounds, 3 ounces, to finish in 21^st place and win $1,300.

The next time he fished Beaver Lake was last year when he finished 50^th as a pro angler after weighing in six bass at 14 pounds, 13 ounces, and won $10,000.

In 2009 Rodgers was the FLW Tour's Co-Angler of the Year after registering two top 25s, a top 15 and two top 10s. The following year, he capped his co-angler career by winning the Forrest Wood Cup on Georgia's Lake Lanier. In his second year as a pro angler he is currently ranked 87^th, after finishing 68^th at Lake Hartwell and 95^th on Table Rock in the first two Major tournaments of the year, both in March.

In 2011 Rodgers finished 59^th in points, but felt he had a fairly good year as a first-year pro considering the fact that he was able to take only so much time away from his job and did not get to practice sufficiently for most tournaments. Caught between the rigors of tournament fishing and job demands he ran out of steam towards the end of the year.

But that changed this year after he and his wife opened their own business and his financial demands were eased somewhat when Sportsman's Warehouse came on board as his major sponsor. The relationship also helps with planning his fishing strategy, he said.

“I logged onto sportsmanswarehouse.com and ordered some more Spot Removers and trick worms for the event on Beaver Lake,” he said.

After checking out the lake this week Rodgers said he has not seen any fish on the banks.

“They seem to be relating to the steeper areas. I feel like there is going to be a good bite on top early in the morning and then it will get tougher in the middle of the day,” he said. “A lot of Shakey Head fish will be weighed in and I think 10 pounds a day will be very good.”

Rodgers added, “Largemouth keepers are going to be key this week so I'll be trying hard to catch some.”

FLW Tour Major

Apr 26-29, 2012

Beaver Lake

Prairie Creek Park

www.flwoutdoors.com

by AnglersChannel

Fishing Friendships Forged In Warriors On The Water Tournament For Military Anglers

In fact, said Hal Abshire, one of the co-founders of the unique fishing event, many of the military fishermen have been deployed since they fished in the tournament.

“They say that all they thought about is coming back to fishing in the Warriors on the Water Tournament.”

The 7^th annual Warriors on the Water Bass Tournament will be held Friday on North Carolina's Jordan Lake. Abshire said the tournament is limited to 150 boats and anglers come from all over the United States to fish with their military partners.

“All the boats will have American flags and there will be yellow ribbons tied on each boat as a welcome home from the front. It is a very unique experience to see that,” he said.

The WOW week begins Wednesday with the Ice Breaker, a social gathering so the anglers and their military counterparts can meet and get to know each other.

“For the past two years we have put two boaters and two military co-anglers at each table so they can not only meet but also sit with them throughout the evening,” Abshire said. “We will also have VIPs in from the military side, commanders from the different branches of service who will speak to the crowd. Bassmaster Classic contender Dustin Wilkes will be a guest speaker representing the Elite side of BASS tournaments.”

And nobody goes home empty-handed, he added.

“When they get there they receive a bag of goodies and this year they get a rod and reel as well. All of this is due to our sponsors who help us put this event on. This whole deal is at no cost to the boaters or the military anglers. Everything all three days is free thanks to the sponsors and the fact that we raise money all year long so we can put this event together.”

Thursday is VIP Day, which is a real treat to the boaters, sponsors and volunteers, Abshire said.

“We take them to Fort Bragg and to Polk Field so they can see what the military people do for a living. We will have them jumping out of a 42-foot tower and sliding down a rope, which is an introduction to parachuting – and they love it. We visit different troops, eat lunch with them, and do just about everything with them for a day.”

On Friday, when the tournament starts Chandler Flynn, a senior at Wahlert Catholic High School in Dubuque, Iowa, will sing the National Anthem. Over the past four years she has performed in many Grand Opera House productions as well as productions at her school. She plans to study music education and vocal performance in college next year.

Abshire said the boaters love doing the tournament as much as the military anglers they take on the water.

“Some of them have never been in the military and this is a way for them to say 'Thanks.' A lot of friendships have been made and a lot of them stay in touch and fish together through the years,” he said.

Abshire said Warriors on the Water is a non-profit organization founded by three combat veterans as a way to show appreciation to the men and women who serve in the military today. The tournament Friday will launch with all the pageantry of a championship bass tournament, with New Hope Ramp lit up like a small city filled with ladies and others greeting everyone as they come by on their way to the water.

“FLW will have their stage set up for the tournament and Texas Roadhouse will prepare the food for them. It will be a big deal, for sure.”

Warriors On The Water Bass Tournament

Fri, Apr 27, 2012

Jordan Lake - NC

New Hope Ramp

www.warriorsonthewater.org

by AnglersChannel

Gainey Hoping To Lose 'confusion' By Time Everstart Tournament Starts On Santee Cooper

Nick Gainey spent the first half of this week trying to make sense out of the confusion over the bass in the Santee Cooper Lakes as he prepared for the FLW EverStart Series Southeast Division tournament this coming weekend.

After practicing on his home waters Friday and Saturday, the Charleston, S.C., angler admitted the bass had him more than a little befuddled.

“I fished on some key trees that I normally catch fish on and I had five bites for the two days,” Gainey said. “And then Saturday they had a BFL tournament out of John C. Land Landing and the boy who won it caught 27 pounds and he was fishing trees like I had been for two days.”

Chuck Howard of Elloree weighed in five bass at 27 pounds, 14 ounces, Saturday to win the BFL South Carolina Division tournament on the Santee Cooper Lakes, earning $3,466 for first place, plus a $2,000 Ranger Cup bonus.

This time of year, Gainey said, the bass are mostly in post-spawn and typically the first place they go after spawning it to the standing trees in the lakes.

“A lot of times they will be on an isolated tree, or a tree on an isolated point or island. That is the best spot. Sometimes a little group of trees around an island will do well, too.”

The problem is finding the key trees, he said.

“They are not on every tree at Santee. You can catch 25 pounds on some trees and then you can fish 500 other trees and not catch a fish.”

So, his game plan this week was to concentrate on an area where he believed a group of fish would be instead of running all over the lake.

“Just pick a quadrant and spend three days trying to fish it down,” he said.

A lot is at stake for Gainey, who is currently ranked 68^th in the EverStart Southeast Division, in this EverStart tournament on his local waters. He had mixed success in Florida and Georgia earlier this year, finishing 112^th on Lake Okeechobee in the EverStart in January, but rallying to a 43^rd place finish on Lake Seminole a month ago.

Ironically, he suffered one of his worst tournaments in the Okeechobee EverStart but had one of his best outings on the same lake three weeks later, finishing 10^th in the Walmart FLW Series Open tournament there February 9.

“I did very well in the EverStart on Lake Seminole, which gave me two good tournaments in a row after I finished 10^th in the Open on Lake Okeechobee,” he said. “At least I am on a little roll now.”

That, and the fact that he is noted for following poor practices with good tournaments, could bode well for Gainey in the Santee Cooper EverStart this week.

“I'm pretty confident because I have this pattern going in tournaments,” he said. “I have some friends from Georgia and West Virginia that I travel with to tournaments and they accuse me of lying because if I have a bad practice I am liable to whack them in the tournament. I've done that a half a dozen times.”

He recounted a tournament on the Potomac River a few years ago when he struggled mightily in practice – and then finished fourth in the tournament.

“When a tournament starts,” he said, “you just put your head down, don't run everywhere, and you just fish. Fish where you got some good bites. I have that rep going, so I feel good about the tournament.”

FLW EverStart Series – Southeast Division

Apr 19-21, 2012

Santee Cooper Lakes

John C. Land III Landing

www.flwoutdoors.com

http://www.flwoutdoors.com/bassfishing/afs/tournament/2012/6763/santee-cooper-details/

by AnglersChannel