WOO DAVES Champion : This was the most exciting fishing day of my life. I had a fantastic day yesterday, 13-pound string. Then I got out there today and lost a good one, and only got 4 more bites. I thought 'Oh, no, here we go again.'
I went north about 3 miles. I was fishing in front of the Sears Building, about 300 yards out in the lake, on a rock wall, a straight vertical drop. I was using a Zoom tube right against the wall. I caught most of my fish on the tube. I had to get the tube within 3 to 6 inches of the drop or I couldn't get a bite. I was using green pumpkin, with chartreuse dipped tail. I used Jack's Juice.
Couldn't get bit on 8-pound line. But 6-pound did it. You hook those 3-pound smallmouths on 6-pound line and it keeps your heart throbbing.
I felt fish were right on edge of drop, looking right at the wall. Every one of them was against the wall. First day, caught a limit there, thought would be about 9 pounds. Then decided to leave it alone. Yesterday, I had 4 fish. Sun came along and left a little shade along wall. I went along wall, pitching forward, that was key to keeping big fish. Today stayed off in the morning. Caught four and lost a nice one. About 10:30 decided to move closer, couldn't keep against wall without tearing it to pieces. Didn't get a bite after a quarter to 11 this morning.
Key was wall had some grass growing out of it. A lot of holes in the wall. Most of the metal has rusted and fell off. Water washed in and out of there, and crawfish living in there. That's why had to get bait tight to the wall.
I took a Zoom tube in green pumpkin, dipped tail in chartreuse dye. I used 1/8 ounce lead head 70 percent of the time. 3/16 if wind got up. I always believe that I should fish plastic as slow as possible. I'm known for fishing plastic worms. My bread and butter. I've always fished lightest weight possible to get it to the bottom.
Got one good fish yesterday on a spinnerbait. One 12-inch keeper on a Carolina rig.
Wall had a rockpile on the end of it. A lot of zebra mussels on these rocks. Two fish I caught in practice was on those rocks, but didn't get a bite on them in tournament. I was on inside of wall.
I've got a unique name and I've got a lot of fans. When I hear them call my name, it brings tears to my eyes.
One thing that is hurting this lake right now is no rain. If there were water in Calumet Lake, there would be some awesome fishing in there.
In a tournament like this, have to battle the wind, battle the odds, battle no sleep. I can't beat some of these young guys in a running race. I'm more of a mental guy.
I was youngest guy in Classic in 1975. I thought I was oldest here, but I'm not. But I am the oldest pro here.
Things we see now that we didn't see 10 years ago. We didn't see Timmy Horton. We didn't see Kevin Van Dam. These good young fishermen out of California. I can remember when average age was 48 to 50. BASSMAsTER has gotten young kids involved in it. Some hate to see it. They kick our butt quite regularly. But it's great for the sport.
MARK RIZK RUNNER UP : I went back to that point where I saw feeding fish yesterday. They weren't doing it today, but I was able to pick off one here and there. I had a lot of pressure around me, a lot of boats.
I caught a lot of fish today on 4-inch Magic worms. Had my best luck on Risky Business, my namesake color.
I was drop shotting, keeping the bait in front of them for awhile. I am assault fisherman, not a finesse fisherman. But I knew that I would have to use some of those tactics to win this tournament.
The first day, I caught a lot of fish on green pumpkin tubes.
I stuck with my same strategy. Found schooling fish yesterday in Lake Calumet. All the fishing pressure today kept fish backed off. But I was able to pick off a few.
I used a tube bait in green pumpkin, my first choice. But I had to change up. Used some Magic worms today, 4-inch variety, and an Assault worm in 4-inch size.
On this waterway, I realized it wouldn't fish very large. Fish available were stacked up in small areas. With so much pressure, I knew fish would be spooky and hard to catch. I tried my assault style, but realized that wouldn't be the key to this tournament. Went to finesse fishing. I had used dropshot in only one tournament before this.
With the dropshot, the hook is rigged above the weight. Weight sits on bottom and whatever you are using just dances in the fish's face.
What I keyed in on, I knew fish spawning in Lake Calumet when we pre-fished. I looked for deeper areas where fish would move out. Key was current from lock moving bait back and forth across point.
I'm used to crowds in California, but never had it as tight as it was the last two days. Could reach out and touch other boats, other competitors.
SHAW GRIGSBY : This is a great area to fish. It's too bad that the wind didn't cooperate. I didn't want the wind, but I wanted the sun. Unfortunately, they came together.
My pattern this week, was found in pre-fishing. I went out in the lake. Got some NOAA charts. They showed some shoals that were rocky. That was the key. Find the rocks. That's where smallmouth should be. Seemed like largemouth water was small area. I figured most of the guys would fish the largemouth. I wanted to find some open-water smallmouth. Little did I realize that it would howl every day and be cold. Probably very strange weather for Chicago this time of year. It was disappointing. Because of weather, lake didn't show its true colors. Not a bad fishery. An excellent fishery. About an hour to two was maximum time I had out there.
I had to go to backup areas. I knew fish were in harbors, not much structure for them to move out to. Caught fish that were there. Fortunately, guys were going down the banks and missing a lot of fish. I went slower, working a tube bait. Opening morning, I was able to power fish with a Strike King spinnerbait. After that, couldn't power fish anymore.
Real kicker is that I didn't have a limit yesterday or today. The wind basically eliminated the lake. You've got a good fishery. It will do nothing but get better.
RICK CLUNN : I was Fishing Lake Calumet area, keying on shallow areas. Throwing a Norman Tiny N and a few on a balsa B2. Covering a lot of water. A lot of fish in there. Area has a lot of fish in it, but attracts a lot of attention.
All baits I was throwing were variations of chartreuse.
I had trouble with zebra mussels, even in backwater. I had crankbait break off at least a half dozen times. It would pop up; and I'd go get it. Didn't lose a fish because of zebra mussels.
I caught 50 largemouths and only 2 smallmouths, which probably was my downfall.
I never had more than 5 or 6 spectators on me and they were all very nice.
I made two errors in this tournament. Didn't practice enough with light line. I should have spent more time on main lake. It was more fishable than I thought it was. Easier to fish in boat than running it. I kind of chickened out on fishing it, so I'm disappointed in that.
KOTARO KIRIYAMA : I used 6-pound line. I used watermelon and reddish brown Zipper worms.
I lived in New York for 8 years, so I had some experience fishing for smallmouth.
I used a dropshot rig. Used an offset No. 1 hook, and didn't push the hook out of it.
This is my second year for the BASSMASTER Division Trail.