Bryan Bass Club Tournament Reports

Bryan Bass Club - January 25-26, 1997

Conditions - The lake level remained at a significant low, although it recently received some water. A hard cold front passed through earlier dropping water temperatures. There was early morning fog, bright afternoon sun. The club launched at the state park.

Results - The only limit weighing 13.27 was caught Sunday by Chis Lee (guided by Coach) to win the tournament. Ray Rippstein went up to the Coyotes late Saturday and caught an 8.36 keeper just before weigh-in, good for second place and big bass. Gerald May had 3.94 for third.

Patterns - Slow tandem spinner-baits were more productive for the scattered pre-spawn bass. The winning fish were caught early off a main lake point in flooded brush. Scattered but infrequent bites came during the rest of the day.

Ray Rippstein was happy to get a bite right before weigh-in, especially from this gal. She was released right after the photo was taken. This was snapped at the bottom of the nice new ramp built at the state park during the low water level.

Bryan Bass Club - February 08-09, 1997

Conditions - The lake was normal with clear water. The weather was windy and cold. The club launched at Fling Point.

Results - Clarence Brewsaugh (guided by Coach) caught 16.24 on McGee Flats. Sam Fling found 11.42 for second. Pat Baker weighed 10.21 for third.

Patterns - Bass seemed to favor dark 'traps again this season on the main-lake flats. Coach put Clarence on top of some 'trap eating fish around McGee.

Bryan Bass Club - March 01-02, 1997

Conditions - March winds predictably influenced the water clarity and fishing conditions. Only nine members fished. The club launched at Mills Creek park.

Results - Pat Baker found four keeper fish Saturday, and his 10.42 held up for first place. On Sunday. Bobby Barnes and Sam Fling wacky-wormed 9.56 and 8.24 for second and third.

Patterns - Bobby Barnes shared his boat with Sam on Sunday. He learned Sam's new secret technique called smacky-wacky. Carolina-rigs and wacky-worms had most predictable results. Lots of under-size fish biting. Strong winds narrowed fishing choices to protected coves down at the south end.

Bryan Bass Club -- April 19-20, 1997

Conditions - The lake level was up from a significant low, flooding new brush along shore lines with stained/muddy water. Participants fished between lines of severe thunderstorms. Thirteen members/associates and one guest fished. The club launched at Oak Cove marina, a nice motel/launch off the highway on west side of the bridge over the main lake near Chambers Creek.

Results - Bobby Barnes (9.80) won, Sam Fling (8.95) placed second, and Gerald May (6.97) was third. Byron Rippstein, a young club associate member (age 15), caught his biggest bass ( 6.4). However, Bobby Barnes (7.38) took big bass honors.

Patterns - Fish were caught extremely shallow in shore line grass beyond dense flooded brush. Lizards and light colored spinners, a contrast in the wind-whipped muddy water, offered best castability and bite.

Bryan Bass Club -- May 17-18, 1997

Conditions - Under overcast or partly sunny skys, the lake level was normal, water stained, with low-water brush and shore grass covered and dying. Nine members/associates and two guests fished. The club launched at County Park 3 on the upper end of the lake at the bridge.

Results - Kevin Baker, a young club associate member (age 10), had 4.31 for a temporary second place behind Bobby Barnes (4.68) after the first day. However, Ray Rippstein, fishing again after February open-heart surgery, managed two fish (7.34) for first place after day two. Pat Baker, Kevin's dad, ended second (5.60), and Bobby dropped to third.

Patterns - White bass were where the black bass should be, schooling in the shallow flooded brush. Small blacks bit on flipped jigs, craw worms or spinners in the flooded shore grass. Ray's two larger bass were caught off brush points slow-rollin' a tandem spinner.

Bryan Bass Club -- June 28-29, 1997

Conditions - Dam gates remained closed at normal lake level with fairly clear water. Participants fished in hot bright sunshine on windy 90 degree days with water temps at 80-85 degrees. Twelve members/associates and two guests fished. The club launched at Midway Landing (Larry Winters' nice park on the Richland arm).

Results - David Crowson (21.01) won, Jerry McDowell (7.76) placed second, and Ray Rippstein (5.22) was third. David Crowson (9.78) took big bass honors.

Patterns - Many caught one or no keeper fish, or lost the big 'un in the tree tops. However, David found a sweet spot in practice. He used a lightly weighed carolina-rigged watermelon fry on a brushy main-lake point in deeper water. Most members fished similar patterns, but David has that instinct for being in the right place at the right time.

David Crowson was on a roll. These are two of his fish from Sunday, 9.78 and 8.21 pounders. He caught some big ones Saturday too. This guy can fish.

Bryan Bass Club - July 26-27, 1997

Conditions - Lake at about normal level, water clear to stained. Water temps were in the 90's, clear sky, hot sun, calm wind. Ten members fished.

Results - David Crowson (13.25) won again this month. Clyde Wilkerson (10.05) finished second and Bobby Barnes (7.55) was third. Clyde had big bass (6.23).

Patterns - The scattered bites came on jigs, some pumpkin/chartreuse, some camo, some black/blue, and on worms or centipedes, some purple or red, some watermelon, some Texas-rigged, some Carolina-rigged, and on top water. David found a small concentration of bass early on Sunday. Lots of under-size bass caught. Mostly staying south of the bridge, members fished from Buck to Mud, scattered all across the lake in search of a bite.

Bryan Bass Club - August 16-17, 1997

Conditions - Lake at normal level, water clear to stained. Water temps were in the mid 80's, partly cloudy with afternoon thunderstorms, moderate south wind. Ten members fished, including new member Darlene Fairchild.

Results - David Crowson (14.14) won again this month (three in a row). Pat Baker (12.11) finished second, and Sam Fling (10.65) was third. David's big bass (5.95) was five-hundredths of a pound shy of claiming this month's big bass pot.

Patterns - The early morning top water bite on Pop-R's and clear Storm Chug Bugs produced lots of under-size bass and occasional keepers. Once that slowed down, it was time to pitch jigs, worms and craw-worms into grass edges for sporadic bites. Some fish came from patches of water hyacinths. On Sunday, David had a keeper at noon, then finally located a productive grass clump to end the day with a good limit. Members stayed south of the bridge. The main lake fishing was held off by the wind. Birds pinpointed schooling but under-sized bass.

In the regional B.A.S.S. Federation tournament on Saturday, Pat Baker's 12.11 was good 'nuf for second and Sam's 10.65 placed forth. The club schedules its monthly tournaments to coincide with the regional events.

Bryan Bass Club -- September 27-28, 1997

Conditions - Lake at normal level, water stained. Water temps were in the high 70's under sunny skies and calm winds. Eleven members fished, including new member Todd Carnes. The club launched at Mills Creek.

Results - Todd Carnes (10.86) won this one, his first tournament with the club! Way to go! Sam Fling (10.06) finished a close second, and Jerry McDowell (9.81) was third. The weigh-bags were missing a big kicker bass, so once again the big bass pot grows and rolls over to the next tournament.

Patterns - Fishing slowed down after a nice cool front. The days were mild and comfortable, and only baby bass were biting -- lots of 'em. Three other big tournaments on the lake had modest weigh-ins. Club members used top waters and buzz-baits early with some success, then switched to various worms/jigs in the grass as the sun got high. Some mentioned watermelon-red or pumpkin-red colors. No one found the schooling bass they located in previous weeks' practice. Everyone used similar tactics, the key was location and nobody's talkin' about their honey holes this time.

In the regional B.A.S.S. Federation tournament on Saturday, Todd Carnes' 10.86 was good 'nuf for twelfth place. The club schedules its monthly tournaments to coincide with any regional Federation events.

Bryan Bass Club -- October 18-19, 1997

Conditions - Lake about three feet low, water muddy in coves, stained in main lake. Water temps were in the low 70's under sunny skies with moderate south or west winds. Low water conditions made launching difficult. Lots of boats on the lake. Twelve club members fished. The club launched at the county park by the bridge.

Results - Sam Fling (10.19) won, back on top now that he's not distracted by other tournament trails! Dave Crowson (9.64) finished a close second, and Bobby Barnes (5.92) was third. The weigh-bags were missing a big kicker bass again, so the big bass pot grows and rolls over to the next tournament.

Patterns - Sam said spinner baits and crank baits did it, bumped off big trees in 4-8 feet of water. David said flipping deeper boat docks (that weren't high and dry) did it. Bobby said spinners and craws in heavy shallow timber did it. The rest of the club said been there, done that, how about luck did it. Fishing slowed down from a previous good practice week. Upper lake seemed less productive than lower lake. Other club tournaments on the lake had low-profile weigh-ins probably getting ready for the Honey Hole Top-6 next week.

Bryan Bass Club -- November 15-16, 1997

Conditions - Lake about four feet low, water stained/clear. Water temps were in the 60's under cold front conditions with moderate rain, hard north wind on Saturday, clearing Sunday. Few boats on the lake. Nine club members and one guest fished. The club launched at Fling Point.

Results - David Crowson (11.58) won, his forth win out of six tournaments fished this year. Pat Baker (8.90) finished second with a five-fish limit on Sunday, and Sam Fling (6.66) was third. The weigh-bags were missing a big kicker bass again, so the big bass pot continues to grow.

Patterns - David said spinner baits on secondary points produced his better fish. He had 7.49 in smaller fish on Saturday but found four good size fish on Sunday for his 11.58 weigh-bag. Pat was following David around doing whatever he did. Sam used 'traps in Smokey Joe color around main lake coves and points. Lots of little fish biting, wrong size for weigh-in bass. Wind was a factor, it kept Bobby off his jig pattern on the main lake down on McGee Flats. Most of the club stayed in Hausen Bay.

Bryan Bass Club -- December 13-14, 1997

Conditions - Lake up about half a foot, cold front just passed, blue bird skies, water temperature in the low 50's, stained in main lake, muddy in creeks, moderate winds and cold. Few boats on the lake. Ten members and one former club member fished. The club launched near April Plaza at the dam.

Results - David Crowson finished first with one fish weighing 7.38 and also claimed big bass honors. Pat Baker finished second with one fish weighing 3.22, and Bobby Barnes third with a 2.21 bass. Vince Neal, a former member, caught the only other fish. Everyone else caught only small bass under the sixteen-inch limit.

Pattern - A keeper-fish pattern was not established. Members tried fishing deep humps and main lake points with jigs, spoons, worms, spinners and crankbaits. Some hit timber, rip-rap and creek channels. Others beat the deeper docks. The big fish came off an unused boat ramp. Another fish came off a deep brushpile, yet another off a boat dock.

David's Catch

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