Center Hill Lake - 4-10-10 F3 Tournament

Wisps of fog everywhere on a chilly (38-39 degree) morning as 8 boats of the F3 Bass Club gathered around a no wake buoy at the Hurricane Bridge Ramp on Saturday. I think I was so excited to get to my first fishing spot, I forgot to put gloves or earmuffs on. So I off I went with Lawrence Watson, my partner for the day. Negotiating the cross wakes from high speed bass boats going both ways on the narrow lake was "interesting" After a short 10 minute ride to a narrow creek in Dry Fork which is in Mine Lick Creek, we arrived and in short order I launched a crankbait. Fished all the way to back of the creek and back up the other side, we finally came to gravel point at the head of the creek. We had used crankbaits, jigs, spinner baits, grubs and craws with no fish. I finally switched to a white X Rap slashbait. Caught a 13.5" in largemouth. Fished on down the gravel bar and picked up a 12" spot. Then caught 2 very nice bluegill on the X Rap. Lawrence missed on really good bite on his jig. Fished around the corner and started back and saw Noah and his partner Randy on the gravel point. He had caught a 19.5" largemouth there. Told him that was my fish but no avail. He won big fish for the day and the tournament with 6+ pounds. Congrats Noah.

We moved to a rocky bank still in Mine Lick. I caught one more 13" spot and lost a couple of more all on the same X Rap. All in all a tough but satisfying day. I was shocked to find out I finished second place with 3.37 pounds. Fishing should finally get a lot better with warmer days and nights.