Percy Priest 4-19-2014

Percy Priest 4-19-2014 Cumberland Tournament

Met John Ariazi at the ramp and prepared to launch at 6:15 am. We had 4 boats today and eagerly looked forward to a beautiful day to fish even with the high winds. John is a rising Junior at the University of Chattanooga. I headed for the spot in Smith Springs where Clay and I had caught several bass on a particular stretch of bank a week ago. John caught a 11 1/2 inch bass on his second cast and I thought, great, they are still here. Alas that was false hope and we didn’t get another bite there.  Looped around to sailboat cove but again there were 3 boats in that spot protected from the wind.  Motored around to Raccoon Island to fish the stump field but again no cooperation from the fish. Next stop was YMCA cove. Worked our way back toward the docks when John picked up our first keeper. I believe it was on a T-rig Brushhog. A few minutes later in front of the dock I caught a nice keeper on the Centipede. Moved from there to the marina area of Smith Springs and we each caught a couple of more keepers. Fishing our way down the bank toward Chigger Point I caught another nice keeper. From there we went to Party Cove (picturesque names, huh) but could not raise a bite here. Next stop was the long cove to left after going under the Hobson bridge going toward the dam. I think the name is ski boat cove for the slalom buoys located here. In the back of a tiny pocket, I caught a 19” bass here weighing 3lb 11 oz on the chart.Good enough for big fish of the tourney. We made another stop at the island in Savage Cove again where Clay and I had caught several the week before but not today. One more stop in the pocket right before going into Hurricane Creek but no bass bites. With about 7-8 minutes before weigh in and 5 minutes from the ramp, I hooked something really big. I could not turn it nor raise it but I could feel the throb of his tail. It did not make a blazing run but made a slow semicircle. As I tried to raise it, I felt it hang in a brush pile, then, yes, it was gone so I broke off and sped toward the ramp. Pretty sure it was a big catfish. 

I missed my limit but I finished second in the boater category with 9.88. And I did win big fish of the tournament. Good day.