We thought we had a pretty good plan to fish the grass and catch at least a 30 lb sack of ten bass over the two day event. The first day we succeeded and did just that barely but the second day we struggled. Started the first morning going out in our fifth place start after finishing the year as the fifth place highest team in the rankings. We were feeling good about our chances to place high but I don't think either of us gave ourselves a chance on winning. Just were not on that kind of bite. I had found some good fish in grass and Weds. during a pre fish outing I had nearly 19 lbs. mostly off of frogs. We started there but our fish had shrank. I put two keepers in the boat there. Move around a little bit and managed three more keepers in the boat to give us our five fish limit. It was only nine o'clock. I started ragging Derek asking him if he was going to help. I had teased Derek at the ramp that morning telling folks how he usually does not start all that well but once I catch our limit he usually starts culling. Sure enough he caught two nice ones to cull my two smallest. One was our biggest of the day at 4/6. I managed one more keeper but it would not help and so did he. We both also caught a couple shorts. We both lost good fish and I had a heart breaker come off as I pulled it over the grass that looked to be another 4 to 5 lber. emoBang We went in with 15.36 lbs for the first day which was only good enough for 29th.
The second day came with cold temps, stronger winds and bigger waves. emoAngry The place we had caught our fish the first day was getting clobbered. I missed four good bass in the first hour or so and then the bite just shut off. Moved around some but nothing seemed to work for us. I finally got really desperate and broke out a TN rig for a while. Had one hit it and come right off. emoMad Next cast another crushed it and this one came in the boat. Only a two pound 15 incher but I told him at least we were not going to go in skunked. We moved around some more and missed a couple more fish. We found an area along with four other boats out of the wind and fished it a while. Derek and I both were looking at some deer on the bank and heard a big explosion. Looking back a five plus pound bass has hit Derek's frog as we were looking at the deer. Number two came in the boat. emoThumbsup Try as we did we kept getting hits but no hook ups. With only one hour to go I told Derek I wanted to do what I do best and junk fish the last thirty minutes or so. Moved to a junk fish area and on my second cast a bass came in the boat off a shakey, short. A few cast later another, short. Moved around in that area and saw a bass hit on some shad. Picked up my spook and had a 2.5 pounder crush it. emoScratch 15 foot deep and I catch one on top water off a spook, go figure. emoCrazy Had one more hit it but missed it. It was now 3:30 and since I am an officer I had to be back early. I also was not sure how bad it would be out on the river so we left and went back. Our three in the well was just shy of 10 lbs. Ended with just over 25 lbs good enough for 31 st place and $400.00. Wished we had done better but there was 40 boats behind us we beat and only 30 in front. emoThumbsup
Derek and I had a great year with the CBA. Had five paydays before this one and this one makes six. Considering who we fish against we felt very lucky and bless to do as well as we did. emoAngel Congrats to all those who fished the classic because everyone were winners. emoApplause Jmax
P.S., congrats to Nunley and Wilson on beating me as well as Brent and Ben Hayes for also beating me and Derek. emoWorthy Both those teams seemed to have been after us all year and they both got us on this one. BUT......wait till next year, pay back time. emoBigsmile
The second day came with cold temps, stronger winds and bigger waves. emoAngry The place we had caught our fish the first day was getting clobbered. I missed four good bass in the first hour or so and then the bite just shut off. Moved around some but nothing seemed to work for us. I finally got really desperate and broke out a TN rig for a while. Had one hit it and come right off. emoMad Next cast another crushed it and this one came in the boat. Only a two pound 15 incher but I told him at least we were not going to go in skunked. We moved around some more and missed a couple more fish. We found an area along with four other boats out of the wind and fished it a while. Derek and I both were looking at some deer on the bank and heard a big explosion. Looking back a five plus pound bass has hit Derek's frog as we were looking at the deer. Number two came in the boat. emoThumbsup Try as we did we kept getting hits but no hook ups. With only one hour to go I told Derek I wanted to do what I do best and junk fish the last thirty minutes or so. Moved to a junk fish area and on my second cast a bass came in the boat off a shakey, short. A few cast later another, short. Moved around in that area and saw a bass hit on some shad. Picked up my spook and had a 2.5 pounder crush it. emoScratch 15 foot deep and I catch one on top water off a spook, go figure. emoCrazy Had one more hit it but missed it. It was now 3:30 and since I am an officer I had to be back early. I also was not sure how bad it would be out on the river so we left and went back. Our three in the well was just shy of 10 lbs. Ended with just over 25 lbs good enough for 31 st place and $400.00. Wished we had done better but there was 40 boats behind us we beat and only 30 in front. emoThumbsup
Derek and I had a great year with the CBA. Had five paydays before this one and this one makes six. Considering who we fish against we felt very lucky and bless to do as well as we did. emoAngel Congrats to all those who fished the classic because everyone were winners. emoApplause Jmax
P.S., congrats to Nunley and Wilson on beating me as well as Brent and Ben Hayes for also beating me and Derek. emoWorthy Both those teams seemed to have been after us all year and they both got us on this one. BUT......wait till next year, pay back time. emoBigsmile
Too many lurkers, non-posters and people wanting info but not wanting to give info. emoRolleyes Just like you and Jerry before the CFF classic. They are not wanting to share too much knowing they will be going up against some of these same folks this same time next year. Can't blame you either, you guys shared more then most. It could be under the same type of conditions and weather next year. You give out the info and next year you may be looking at some who read it sitting where you caught your fish. emoAngry 
