Started out normal enough. Day light friday morning wind blowing 15 to 20 out of the north something. Went to grass mat in browns creek with the top water stuff, fish popping shad everywhere and no takers. Got on the down wind side and used the deep stuff, caught 4 or five shorts. Tried a couple more spots and the wind was really 25 mph and not slacking up. Back in the creek were some docks an such but no fish. Around four we put it on the trailer and headed to Val Monte. All night i ran over and over what to do, no fish in the grass hitting top water, so we eliminated the grass. I came up two weeks prior and fished some stuff with the same results, except i had one keeper fish that day. I sure wasnt going back there. While waiting for the blast off i notice fish popping at the dock at Val Monte. All right it looks like my plan may work. I had planned to fish some of the docks in spring creek, and the fish were shallow and hungry where we started. Got a shorty on a pop-r then my partner got a keeper on a spinner bait. I wasted no time picking mine back up and we caught two more in 100 yds of bank. Picked it up and ran to the ramp (cause i left my cell phone on the dash of the truck, not a good place for a cell at a public ramp) fished round the ramp and bam got a good keeper. Turned round and went back past the ramp and another solid 3# er. Then we hit the hump in front of Top o the River, get the net!!! Another and we cull up at 9 am. I have never in my tournament career culled that early in the day. Made two laps round the hump, pick it up lets got back and start all over!!!! Took the helm and hit the starter, and sonofa!!!!! Cranking battery dead, and i mean DEAD!!!! Well just finish the day right here within site of the weigh in, sounds good then i notice that the trolling motor is on high and im still in the boat not good. So at 11:30 with five fish in the well we put it on the dock. Saturday night BAMA whipped the SNOT out of Florida and that made the battery thing ok. (well a little better) Thanks to Walley at Regal Marine we got new batteries. Sunday the weather changed and so did the bite. and i remembered why i dont fish for a living. I couldnt figure em out. But let me tell you like i told my partner, some body is on em i guarantee. and boy was i right. Two guys came in with a 19 lb stringer. So lessons learned, when the weather and fish change. You better change, or you aint gonna get no change!!!! I had the best time, and so did my Uncle (partner) he is a funny guy. All his fish he put in the boat, were caught on a spin rod and 12# test. ON GUNTERSVILLE!!!!!! Around some thick grass. How cool is that? Damn cool if you ask me. Thanks Kelly, BCB and all the others who competed and sponsored this event. Ill be back next year. Congratulations to the top five best fishermen in the competition!!!!!Bubba 99 JAGUAR 225 OPTIMAX
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