WINNING WAYS – SALINE/LARTO LAKE
Weather Conditions:
Low – 53
High – 88
Sunny
Wind – Southeast 10-15mph
Due to high water, we had to swap the locations of our 4th and 5th tournaments so the tournament this weekend took place on Saline/Larto complex. Saline/Larto is also experiencing a little high water. Saline is also experiencing a lot of muddy water which no one seems to know why. This threw a curve ball on some of our anglers that call Saline/Larto their home waters. A lot of their favorite spots were just not fishable. Even the weather was crummy, clear skies and a high pressure system sitting on top of us. Seems we can’t catch a break this year for any tournament. Even with all this we still had 25 anglers show up on this cool brisk morning for some fishing. With so many anglers in the club calling Saline/Larto their home water, makes this tournament just that much better because the locals expect to win it and the outsiders are trying to take it from them. When it was all over though, Josh Sikes was able to bring in the winning sack for his 2nd win of the season and I believe this is his 4th win in the SBBC.
Josh brought a sack of fish to the scales weighing 13.24lbs with a 4.77lb kicker. Josh caught almost all his fish (except his big fish) in one area and all of his fish either came on an umbrella rig, top water bait, or swim bait. According to Josh, between him and his co-angler they probably caught around 80 fish. Man what a school of fish. This is the first I heard of someone catching fish in Saline/Larto on an umbrella rig, but when you have no game plan the best plan is to stick to your guns. That is what Josh did and it paid off big time for him. Second Place went to Josh’s co-angler his dad Dean Sikes with 12.21lbs. Dean also had a fish over 5lbs for his kicker. Dean caught his fish basically the same way as Josh on an umbrella rig. Third place went to Kevin Woodson with 11.21lbs. Kevin was focusing on small points with grass and lily pad stems on them close to deeper water. All of Kevin’s fish came on a spinnerbait. I have not been told if he had it tied on backwards like Jamie Dubroc usually does. Finishing out the top was Brandon Nugent with 11.06lbs and Wallace Woodson with 9.91lbs. Big fish honors went to Brad Andes with a 5.36lb Swamp Donkey!!!
In the end, 87 fish were brought to the scales with a total weight of 171.63lbs. The overall average weight of each fish was 1.97lbs. We are one tournament away from the season being half over. Man time flies when you are having fun. As of right now 2 time angler of the year Wallace Woodson is leading with his brother Kevin Woodson 4 points behind. They both have a pretty good lead over everyone else. FOR NOW ANYWAYS!!!! The next tournament will be at Black River Lake at Horseshoe Marina on May 24. Hope to see everyone there!!!
Also check out the video in the below link!
Brandon Nugent