This  Xtreme bass event was a little special because of our latest storms. It sure was nice to see all the guys and hear some of the stories of survival. One such story was, Mike keener jr. and his family riding out a tornado in his hallway while hovering over his girlfriend and grandparents trying to keep them safe, the house was being destroyed all around him. He said if they had been in the bathroom everyone would have died. The grandparents were cut up pretty good and had to be unburied and rushed to the hospital, but survived it. His truck outside was unrecognizable and it had the top layer of its hood peeled off while the bottom layer was still latched, top layer never found. So many stories like this, I was truly glad to see everyone.

It sure makes it hard to write a story about the fishing as it seems so trivial, but here is a go at it…It’s May, and here on Guntersville the fish seem to scatter and some fish stay shallow while many head for deeper water. The weather had been crazy with week before temps 20 degrees below normal and the week of our event the sun came back and had temps soaring to 10 degrees above normal. Still a beautiful day starting out around 68 and rising to 90 by weighin, most of the guys were able to get their limit and a few guys really catching them. The stories from the best sacks were “ledges”.

Jigs seemed to be the lure of choice although there was also mention of having to use many different lures such as soft plastics and crankbaits. Some of the guys did do pretty well in grass with worms and lizards, but as stated, the best sacks came from the ledges.

The top 5 from today went like this: Stanley Morris and David Gray had the best day with 25.30 lbs, (all 5 pounders). They took home a nice pile of cash, $1410, beating out 35 other teams. 2nd place was Rick Cotten and Steven Dabbs with 23.40 lbs for $690 and they also took home $340 for the big fish of the day, 7.92 lbs. 3rd place and $290 went to Terry Mann and Ryan Anaya with another nice sack of 20.46 lbs. 4th place was Alex Davis and Jeff Davis with 18.92 lbs for $190 and 5th place went to Danny Shell and Buster Land with 18.80 lbs for $150.

Our next Xtreme Bass event here on Guntersville is June 12th and the pattern should be the same, Hot weather, jigs and deeper water. I must thank God everyone in this group survived and that we all get to continue to get together and do what we love to do – GO FISHING.

Check www.xbseries.com for the full results, story and pics. Special thanks to Jim Elsessor who continues to help me in the mornings with boat checks. Also, thank you to my wife for the morning coffee and keeping the paperwork in order at weighin. There are also some sponsors I’d like to mention as they are helping out in many ways…Snag Proof Lures, Anglerschannel.com, Lunkersauce, Big Dawg Baits, Spot satellite gps messenger, Val Monte Resort, Deep South Rods, Sand Mountain Reporter newspaper, AON magazine, GDO magazine, and Humminbird… Thank you all, Jamie.

PS. Keep on the lookout for the Snag Proof Open tournament. I am directing this years event here on Guntersville and we scheduled it for prime time froggin season, October 1st, 2011. Check www.snagproof.com where you can download the rules, registration form and flyer which will give you more info. We are also running the Potomac River Snag Proof Open in their prime froggin season on August 28th for anyone interested in that one. Same deal, rules, forms and flyer for that at the same website. $10,000 for 1st place based on 150 boats at both events. The Guntersville event last year had 267 boats and we expect a good turnout for both of these so get your entries in soon. Boat numbers go according to entry received date.

Jamie Shay
Xtreme Bass
256-599-0132
www.jamieshayfishing.com

Steven Dabbs, left, and Rick Cotten with 2nd place catch (23.40)

Steven Dabbs with big fish of the day (7.92 lbs)