Mississippi SM tourament 6/10/04

[MSRiverdog]

I did a bunch of lurking out on the river Saturday and the word was the same from all I talked to, not good. I saw more fish caught in 1 hour in front of my house than in my 3 hour quest. Are the results posted anywhere. Sure wish I had one of those River Pro's.

[MSRiverdog]

OK, I'm a month behind the time's. 7/10/04

[Mark Christianson]

The results are not anywhere online that I am aware of. I know of a guy that lives on the river in Anoka and he has stats for every tournament since it started. I may try to get his number and give him a call to see if he has a soft copy of this years results.

[Mark Christianson]

I can say that 3 other FM guys(teams) finished in the money(top 15).

My tail is between my legs, and I do not want to even post where I finished........

[HawgTide]

BLB, it was good to finally meet you. We need to get out there together one day.

It was a fun day, although the fishing was tough and crowded. I personally don't like that live bait is allowed, but I guess the person who won likes it.

Kevin, it was good talking to you. Thanks for the tickets and the invites to join you at the ramp and the party afterwards. I had to get all the way to Little Falls by 6:30, so I couldn't make it. Congrats on the Big Fish and top 5 finish. That fish would have been great in my live well! What time of the day did you catch that big one?

[Ray Esboldt]

Someone verify this if you remember. Were the dudes that won on Saturday the same guys that won 3 years ago (two tourneys ago)? I like their names Bassing and Bassing.

Very frustrating day on the water. Short bursts of hope, followed by long stints of anxiety.

Hawgtide, wish I could of met you. However, BLB pointed out your boat. So, I know who to watch with binos from here on out. Where did you finish?

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Ray Esboldt

Catch-N Tackle
MarCum
Stone Legacy

[Mark Christianson]

Also great to meet you HT and Ray.
Finally some faces and names matching up.

HT, I would love to hook up on the river in Monti for sure. Just a few miles from home for me. And its an area I don't fish, cuz I value my lower unit on my boat.

No, the Bassing guys did not win a couple years ago.
Believe it or not, that is their actual names too.
The Wojiks(sp?) have won it a few times actually. You may be thinking of them.
I think Genz won it a few years ago too.

[HawgTide]

Hey Ray, I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to meet you. I saw your name up there. You beat me out by about 3/4 lbs, good job! We had 13.26lbs and finished 14th. I just couldn't find any kickers.

Ray I believe you have a declaration to make. Go back to your post from Feb about the tournament. This is what you said...

"If someone brings in 18 pounds, I will come on this site and declare them the finest smallmouth fisherman to ever grace the earth."

I don't know if they are the best, but they are dang sure the luckiest!

BLB, are you fishing the Sartell tourney? If so, maybe we can run up there together and fish it one day before the tourney.

[Mark Christianson]

Correct.
The scale was NOT calibrated with the plexi-glass cover.

Kevins fish was 19.5 inches, and they said it was 4.74 lbs. NO WAY for a smallie out of the river.
But, it was still a heck of a lot bigger than anything we caught.

[riverwader]

Did anyone hear how the top 5 caught the majority of there fish or atleast was it live bait? I know I had a blast and can't wait till next year. Maybe we will get that 4+.

[Mark Christianson]

HT
Yes, I am in the Rivers Edge one too.
That would be great to get up there prefishing for sure. I don't know much about that section at all. I have fished it once, so it would be an exploration for sure. A much needed one for me.

My partner for the tourney is in Canada all next week, and he owns the jet rig, so my territory is very limited that I can prefish.

[HawgTide]

I thought the weights were a little high. I guessed that we had closer to 11lbs than 13.

I feel better knowing that someone isn't bringing in an average of 4.5lbs a fish.

BLB, we'll have to explore that area in the next week or so.

[Ray Esboldt]

But! Rumor has it they were weighing your total bag without deducting for the plastic cover. Roughly two pounds. In other words, they didn't zero the scale with the plastic cover in there. I guess it doesn't matter since everyone was subjected to the same sytem.

I know we didn't have 13.95 pounds worth of fish. In fact, I told them to put it back on the scale one more time. Same thing.

So, I'll compromise and declare the Bassings the greatest smallmouth anglers alive on any July 10th, 2004 from now until eternity.

Kevin Turner can assume bragging rights on this forum until the River's Edge event. Congrats, Kevin on a very good finish.

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Ray Esboldt

Catch-N Tackle
MarCum
Stone Legacy

[This message has been edited by Ray Esboldt (edited 07-12-2004).]

[Mark Christianson]

I tried looking up the number of the guy that keeps all the stats, but he is unlisted.
I'll keep trying to find him, so I can post the results.

[MSRiverdog]

BLB, is it Dana or Tom, maybe I can get some info.

[Mark Christianson]

Tom H.

[MSRiverdog]

See what I can do

[Kevin Turner]

Got home late last nite. My first visit to the site since the tourney.
THX for kudos on big fish. I do stand corrected on the length of the our big fish. My partner Carl measured our 2 biggest: 19.5" / 20.75". I only saw him measure the 19.5" and mistook it for big fish. Anyway, I was talking with Dana, and he keeps stats on the tourneys, I'll see if he will share the info.
Looking forward to the Sartell tourney...They have a great place to hang for a while after the tourney.