This is the first installment of my personal journal I’ll be adding for this season’s BASS Series in the Peach Division. This tournament took place February 19th on Lake Sinclair. Look for more journals to the left.

Thanks,
Rex

B.A.S.S. SERIES EVENT - LAKE SINCLAIR, GA
by REX CHAMBERS

Friday was the second day I’d ever seen Sinclair. Looks likes a spotted bass haven. Only problem is there aren’t any there. Tried jigs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and spoons on Friday, with no takers. So, picked up the beloved fairy wand and went to shakin’ a Davis Shakey Worm on a 1/4 oz. Davis XL Shakey Head. First hole, first cast, 4lber. Picked up the same rig on another rod only with a bent hook and proceeded to get three more quality bites. Next hole, first cast 3lber. Same thing, two more quality bites. Next stop, thought the bite might have turned on, so went back to the jig. Made about a dozen casts down a bank with no takers. Started over with the finesse rig down same bank. Second cast, 3 lber, with three more good bites. Ok, I’m on to something. Changed colors on next pocket. No takers. Switched back to the green pumpkin/candy Shakey Worm and landed a solid 2lber and took it away from four more. Ok, it’s a color oriented bite. Don’t know why, but it’s workin’. Change areas of the lake. Went to muddy, cooler water. No takers at all. Back to clear warmer water. Another three pounder off a point with four more good bites. Figure I was on about a 15 pound bag. After talking with Jay and my traveling partner, knew I was on to something, because they were struggling. Talked with several more that evening and all were hurting pretty bad. Confidence was up.

Saturday was a bit cooler but not bad. Went back to only two places I’d fished Friday and fished with a bent hook, and the bites were very aggressive. Could hardly take it away from them. Even slowly reeled two nice three pounder to the surface before they blew the worm. Looked for another pattern, and it just wasn’t there. Did land a 7lb hawg trolling a crankbait from one hole to another. Fished that area thoroughly, to no avail, just a fluke I guess.

Sunday, tourney day. Cold morning with wind. Thought the weather might push them a few feet deeper but nothing drastic. I was wrong. Bite totally changed. Friday and Saturday bite was aggressive, but that was gone. First stop, pitched the finesse worm by a dock with heavy timber. Picked up and there he was. Wrapped me up, pulled off. Close to three pounds, I figured, but not a monster. Two hours later, no bites. Finally landed a small keeper off a dock. Then one a bit better but not much. Go to the biggest concentration of good fish that I found on Friday. A slight sloping bank with deep water access. Paralleling it was the ticket on Friday. Second cast, just that spongy feeling and landed a solid two plus. Few more yards down the bank, landed a nice three plus. Then another keeper. Bites ended. Seen Jay and my traveling partner, and both were struggling, so thought I might be in good shape with another three pounder or so. Didn’t happen.

At the weigh in, heard that 17lbs was leading. So I didn’t feel too bad. Didn’t have that size bite going on during the tournament. Only lost one fish, right? Then, as they start calling out the weights, ELEVEN pounds was in second place! I just about hit the ground when I realized that first bite I lost cost me big time. That first fish didn’t cost me but about two grand. Netted 15th place and a check, along with great points to start the season with eight and a half pounds. Figured that wasn’t too bad on a new lake, but knew I shoulda finished better. On to West Point next month...