PREFISHING

The last tournament of the year on beautiful Lake Martin. 

We stayed at a great get-away on the water called Burke's Cove. 

The rooms had a great view of the water.

Here we see Bill and Russell prefishing.  Notice that Bill has his game-face on.  This could spell trouble for Lance and me.

It appears that Bill and Russell have found themselves a good point. 

Another good point?

"I hear something over on the bank.  I'll bet its a deer..."

What the hell?

This tournament would decide the Angler of the Year.  All equipment is checked the night before the tournament to make sure it is in tip-top shape.  Bill and Lance try to get information out of each other, but they are both smarter than that.

One of these things doesn't belong here...

This cute little wren flew right by my head as I was flossing my teeth in the bathroom.  I wish I could tell you that I was calm and cool, but in truth I almost yanked my tooth out when this thing came buzzing by.

We flushed the bird out the door. 

 TOURNAMENT DAY 1

Day 1.  As the sun rises the anglers hurry to their spots....

...and try to catch that super-important first fish.

Bingo.

A nice way to start the day.

Feeling confident, the game-face relaxes for a brief moment.

Meanwhile, back on the Crawford boat, we see a very different face. 

"I thought you said the weather was supposed to be good"

"I did"

"Yea, its good all right.  Good for not getting a bite..."

Usually at these tournaments the anglers will make a few last-minute cast right by the weigh-in spot.  Well, this tournament was no different except that Bill actually hooked a magnum spot right in Burkes Cove.  Lance and I watched the fish violently shake his head on the surface and then dive down to break Bill's line.   

This is a picture of us trying not to laugh too much after witnessing the whole thing.

Time to weigh in.

Here's another game face.  This is serious business. 

So serious that Russell said that Bill wouldn't even let him drink a beer on the boat.

There weren't very many big fish weighed in at this one.

Typical Lake Martin spotted bass. 

A 1.4 lber.  This is about the median size fish from our stringers.  Why we didn't take pictures of the big ones I don't know. 

Day 1 Results:

Crawford / Granger: 8 lbs 7 oz.

Greene / Fackler: 8 lbs 5 oz.

Big Fish was a 2.4 lb spot caught by yours truly (Bo).

No trash fish weighed in.

The big fish was important because the way it turned out, the team who won big fish for this tournament was supposed to win Angler of the Year.

Sitting on the lead, it was time to relax.

"You've got to be kidding me.  We're losing again?"  Bill has looked happier.

There are stoves and then there are STOVES.  Russell put this baby to good use and cooked a divine beef tenderloin.  We ate like kings.

I did my share of damage to the two chocolate pies Russell brought.  I believe Beth's (Russell's girlfriend) grandmother cooked them. 

Regardless of who cooked them, your looking at the fat-boy who ate them.  I had chocolate pie withdrawals after this trip. They were good.

DAY TWO

Day Two Weigh In.  It was raining so didn't take as many pictures. 

Day two results:

Crawford / Granger: 8 lbs 7 oz.

Greene / Fackler: 10 lbs 3 oz.

Big Fish was a 2.4 lb largemouth caught by Russell.

No trash fish weighed in.

Total Results:

Crawford/Granger: 16 lbs. 14 oz.

Greene/Fackler 18 lbs 8 oz. 

Russell and Bill won the tournament.  And the big fish was a tie!  That meant that Angler of the Year would boil down to who caught the biggest trash fish!

Lance weighs in a 3 oz. warmouth.

And Bill weighs in their 4 oz bream.  Unbelievable.  A one ounce difference in trash fish is the deciding factor in who wins Angler of the Year.

Good Job Bill and Russell.  Tournament winners and 2002's Anglers of the Year.