SCA Spankin' 9/30/06

[Bprice]

Well... Minner and I just got back from Florence. We didn't fare too well in the Southern Cats classic today. We brought 42 lbs to the scale on 3 fish... a 31 lber, and a 5 and 6. Needless to say we were disapointed. Basically we worked the areas we have been and were patient in them, but it just didn't materialize.

It took a whopping 5 fish 179 lbs to win.... second was SouthernCats (mike mitchell) with 178 lbs, and third was 176 lbs. Big fish was a 60 lb 6 oz Blue cat...

Tons of fish were weighed in from the 13 boats, one of which was Mr. Phil King. Luckily there was only 1 dead fish brought to the scales... although one big dead cat was one too many.

Looking back I don't regret what we did, our fish just weren't on today, and they will usually turn on in spurts, just didn't happen for us today. Hopefully we'll do better in Cabelas!

 

[DHaun]

Thanks for the report Bprice - I was rootin for you all and I'm betting you'll do better next time....Some folks wait years to catch one 32lbs so at least you guys landed a trophy.

179/5 = average 35.8lbs per catfish! Thats gotta bust a crack in most livewells and cause some sore forearms and bruised bellies at a minimum...so tell me, is this an extraordinary or typical weigh-in? Sounds like these cats are very tough to survive a potentially cramped monster livewell big as a bathtub or are they on stringers?

 

[shsimons]

I think these guys use some pretty big tanks, from what I've been told. They seem to have a pretty good system down. These guys that fish the SCA tournaments know what they are doing. I think last year at the end of the year classic, it took a 6 fish limit of 260 lbs to win. I know having a dead fish isn't good, but I think that's a pretty good ratio for that many boats fishing. These guys actually respect these big cats, unlike some other folks that we have discussed on this website. BPRICE and MINNER, you'll win another tournament soon enough. You guys are on to them. Mike is a good fisherman, especially for those big blues. Still, he's had some off days before, for whatever reason, the fish don't cooperate somedays. Brandon, I think you should discuss how guys keep these big cats alive in these tournaments and in healthy condition. There are have been some concerns I know. For me, I'm not concerned. Just knowing the type of guy Mike is, I wouldn't think he would really tolerate people not taking good care of their fish.

 

[rsimms]

Wow! 179, 178, 176 ... that's serious stuff! One big string like that is impressive.... three of them is amazing.

Even though it wasn't your day, I'm proud of you for trying. You represent CFF well... as I told you, I simply do not have the constitution for "competitive" angling, even catfish... but I'm proud to know someone who's out there workin' it so I can live esoterically through your exploits. Thanks! emoBeer

 

[fisherpal2k]

Good job guys! It don't matter how hard you try, sometimes you will lose a fish. It sounds like ya'll had a good day and some really big fish weighed in. I would like to know what kind of boat ay'll use, cause it would have to be a heavy duty thing to haul around those big tanks you use for livewells.emoLaugh

 

[Guest]

Brandon I take my hat of to you and minner for giving it a shot. If you would have been too intimidated to give it a try you would never know how you would have done. Keep on keeping on and you will make the "podium" one day. I bet if you asked the top guys they would tell you that they don't always haul in the big weights. Ya'll done good.emoThumbsup emoThumbsup
Thanks for the report.

Cheez

 

[minner]

David, I'm not sure its typical to see three big strings so close like this come in in a 1 day tournament, but it's not unusual to see those weights. There have been some monster weights put up in the past and honestly it didn't surprise us. My and Brandon's goal was to catch 175 lb so we'd have a chance..........but has you can see it would only have landed us third!!

4th was around 133lbs only beating 5th place by 6 ounces!!!!

Fisherpal you asked about the boat/livewell:

 

[Southerncats]

Thanks guys.........It was a great tournament and I appreciate the report and everyone who competed.....We did have 4 or 5 nice cats floating after they were released thanks to Phil King with some help form Kris Gresham and his boat, They were able to burp and revive all of them but one....These cats when coming out of deep water don't always burp the air out, expecially if you bring them up to quick....you can burp them by inserting a piece of PVC into their stomach and pressing on their stomach.

It was an extemely close weigh in, I have never seen it so close before...they were slightly off on the weights...so here they are.

1st-Place 178.6 - Brian Vohol and Bruce Paulk - Both Tennesseans
2nd Place 177.8 - Richard Woodruff and Mike Mitchell - Alabama
3rd Place 176.14 - Greg Ledbetter- Talledega, AL., Also had Big Cat 60.6
4th Place 133.14 - Kris Gresham And Doug Parker - Muscle Shoals, AL.
5th Place 133.8 - Larry Muse and Wesley Roberts - MS. & TN.

Thanks,
Mike Mitchell
SCA

 

[Bprice]

Thanks for the words fellas... after sleeping it off, I feel alot better this morning, and am really looking forward to competing in the Cabela's tourney.

Mike, Allen and I were talking about hosting a SCA tourney out of Ditto or somewhere on lower Wheeler next year. Was Jason talking about having one out of the dam next year?

 

[Southerncats]

Brandon.....Yes I think Jason wants to have maybe 1 or 2 below and 1 or 2 on Guntersville Lake.....maybe we can get together and pull one off somewhere futher down river......maybe Decatur?

Mike

 

[Biofisher I]

Good job guys. Sounds like it was not your turn. B Price do you know the Ledbetter guy from Talladega? That name rings a bell. How old is this guy?

 

[Bprice]

Bio, I have spoken with Greg a few times. I would say he's mid 40s or so?

 

[Bprice]

Shsimons,

Allen and I do everything we can to keep them big guys kickin' and happy... we both have the hand scars showing the tenacity of these fish after being in the livewell. I have to give Allen all the credit on the design. Basically its a 100 gallon Tank. We bolted a lip and lid on the top.

We have a pump that is connected to the boat livewell to fill, also we have an auxillery 500 bilge pump to pump water in extra fast. We also designed an intake that will allow for it to recirculate the water as its connected to boats livewell. It does a great job... also we have two "bubblers" at the bottom of the tank to keep the water oxygen rich at all times. We also have a overflow spout, and a release valve at the bottom.

Maybe its all overkill, but we are both engineers and this is how our minds work

Other than that system, we make sure to keep the water cool. Allen freezes chunks of DECHLORINATED water, and we put them in periodically. I also put rejuvinate in the tank as well.

I'll tell you our fish are always alive and kicking, and sometimes violent!

These fish are too awesome to let them sit in a hot stagnet livewell. Sure they'd "live" but probably wouldn't make it long.

One thing at the tournament that Mike really stresses is taking care of them when you fight them. Take your time getting them up, so that they can release their air bladder, BUT don't fight them too long, because that can where a fish out and kill it as well. So basically I'd say with big cats, use appropriate tackle to get fish to the boat in a reasonable amount of time, where the fish isn't worn out to death.

I love tournament catfishing, and it really premotes these awesome fish.