O.C.A.R.C. Tournament Time

“We kinda found the fish by mistake,” said Jason Bell.Ronnie Tate and I were burning up and ready to call it a day when we had to run to the

back of a cut in Cow Bayou to hide from a thunderstorm headed our way. ” The lightning laced storm mercifully skirted their hiding place and they

resumed fishing under a more user-friendly cloudy sky.“ A tide change probably helped us, but Jason caught two keepers right off the bat on a

grape Wacky worm. When we figured out that the bass were hanging on the color change we really started catching them. ”Arming yourself with quality tackle and an assortment of lures aids the cause, but expanding on a pattern you just stumbled up on is always a difference maker. If you fish even twice a month, more than once you have unexpectedly found fish with a lure, technique or in a location that wasn’t part of the original game plan! Color choice can be iffy, but figuring out why a certain pattern is productive lasts a lifetime. “Back in the day” we elevated our fish

catching with live bait simply by anchoring above a spot rather than below it. Fishing with lures can be even more subtle. Even Ronnie and Jason had a little different perspective as to where to aim their casts. Ronnie felt like the bass were holding in the dingier side of the color change and Jason was convinced that they were in the clearer side. That is a minor difference in perspectives, but it can make a difference with the tide moving your lure across the color change. In either case, it paid off for the duo and they finished the day with two limits and released twice that many more bass. “We only had three bass that weighed two pounds,” said Jason, “but, more importantly, we found bass in other places fishing the color change.”

I don’t know that it will win you any money in this weekend’s OCARC tournament, but I would give their finding a try. Jason also added that

they were using a five inch finesse worm and that can make a difference as well. Neither angler felt like they were divulging any secrets as they were only fishing the bayou because they couldn’t get out in the lake. They are both flounder enthusiasts and have been doing exceptionally well all

summer. Both young men have caught at least one flounder over the five-pound mark and limiting out has not been a problem!

Steve Simmons reported that Justin Clark won the monthly S.A.L.T. Club flounder tournament last weekend with a 2.31-pound fish. He was also

quick to remind me that their KID’s tournament is set for August 21st. I will get you all the details later, but this is a fun event that is far more than just a family get together for some lucky youngsters.

Basically anything they catch, including a crab, makes them eligible to not only win a cash prize, but one of two lifetime fishing licenses as

well. The license winners will come from a random drawing of every youngster that weighed in anything. The local Cowboy circuit fished the Neches last weekend and the team of Travis Snell and Chris Trest won first place with a 12.77-pound stringer.Robert Royal and Garret Smith finished second and took home the big bass pot with a 4.57-pound fish. Callie Derouen caught a redfish Sunday afternoon that some lucky fisherman would like to have in this weekend’s OCARC tournament. Callie’s 24-inch redfish had twenty-six spots which would make it hard to beat in the Appaloosa red category. “It was the only fish we caught,” she added and we caught it on a big piece of crab!” The O.C.A.R.C. 33^rd annual tournament weigh-in will kick off at 5:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon at the Riverside Pavillion. The two day event is a family event that raises money to support the special clients at the Center. Entry fees are only $30 and there is $4000 in cash up for grabs for the winners in twelve different categories. Don’t plan on cooking supper as links, chips and drinks will be available all afternoon. For more information or an entry form you can stop by the center at 905 W.Park or call 409-886-1363. See ya there!