Small town "Thank You"!

     My days in Iowa are growing short.  A week from today, I will pack up the remaining items I have, hook up my boat and head to Texas.  If all things go right, I will be sitting in our home in Lewisville next Sunday evening, enjoying some down time with Kim, and maybe the grandkids will be around too!  But before I go, there are some things that need to be said!

     A few years back, Kim and I moved from Waterloo to Cedar Falls.  We had a nice home, but never really liked having our neighbors so close, and as close as they were, never really got to know anyone that lived next door or across the street.  After five years there, we started looking for something more........we wanted to build and we wanted some room.  I spent a lot of time driving around the Iowa countryside, looking for just the right spot.  After a year of looking, still nothing.  It seemed the search was a bit futile.  I then put a "wanted" ad in the swap sheet.  We were really looking for something that was primarily south of Waterloo.  We got lots of calls, but most of them were about properties that were in northern Butler and Northern Bremer counties.  One of them, however, was just north of Janesville, Iowa, which was close, so, I went and took a look at it.

     It wasn't perfect, but it was the right size, had easy access to Waterloo/Cedar Falls and Waverly.  It was six acres, meaning, no neighbors, that was nice. The School size was a little bit of a concern, as our youngest son Blake was still in High School and I wasn't sure he would be that thrilled about attending a school with a graduating class size of 16.  The property was also right on the highway, which was a little concerning to me from a noise standpoint, but it wasn't terrible. After some negotiations with the property owner, which were very slanted towards him, I decided it was going to become our property and bought it.  Shortly after, I was speaking with Kevin and Connie Hansen and they told me their builder lived next door and introduced me to Rick Garcia who owns Garcia Properties in Cedar Falls.  Rick began construction immediately.  I spent a lot of lunch hours driving up to Janesville to look at the progress of our new home in late summer/early fall of 2006, asking questions and offering suggestions and ideas.

     Blake decided it was Janesville H.S. that he wanted to attend and we began the transformation from "big city" to small town life.  It had its trials and tribulations early on.  First, there was the "transfer rule" involving high school athletes.  Blake fell into this rule and was ineligible for varsity sports the first 90 days.  He was upset, which was upsetting to Kim and I.  The other thing, as we quickly learned from some of the other parents in the community.....they knew more about us than we knew about ourselves.  We found that comical.  No one knew us, they only knew what the tin can and string game had told them.  It reminded me of telling a secret and passing it around the room.  Have to love small town gossip. For what it's worth, none of it was damaging, most of it was just very inaccurate and kind of made us chuckle.

     The one thing that really came from all that was some very strong friendships and very special relationships.  To leave, and not acknowledge these would not be very small town friendly of me.  I tried to stop and see some folks, and say my good-byes, but there wasn't any way I could get around to everyone;  this is for those I saw and those I didn't. 

     Doug and Corrine Bettis:  We've known each other for a very long time.  Doug and I worked together at Warren Transport for almost 24 years.  Being able to pop in and see them, talk about Janesville, work and fishing, was always very nice.  Rex and Carole Tompkins were also Janesville residents that were part of the Warren family.  Loved seeing Carole and was fortunate enough to buy Rex a beer last night during Janesville Days.

     Mike and Serena Zwanzinger, Christine Billingsley, Tova Mather, April Mueller, Chris Coffman, Josh Hansen, Al and Robin Johnson and myself, all members of the Janesville Days Committee at one time or another (and all others past and present).  No matter who or when, the committee puts in a huge effort each year to raise money, hold planning meetings and put on the event the last weekend of July known as Janesville Days. The best part of Janesville Days was the Friday fireworks show put on by Jeff Mather and J&M Displays. While you are never going to get a group of people to agree on everything, this one did a pretty darn good job of getting along and getting it done.  Good job folks. I somehow got put on the Prom committee for a couple years as well.  Probably would have run for some council position if I hadn't lived outside the city limits.  I like this community that well.

     Maurie and Cheryl Bolt, love you two and your kids.  Maurie, you're lucky to be alive, you dork.  Put on a safety harness next time you go on the roof and don't do it in the winter!  Thanks for all your help when I needed it and thank you both for being great friends.  Cheryl,  I'm sure we'll see you sooner than I will Maurie cause I hear you have already been planning a trip.

     Dan and Wendy Brace, love you both too. Wendy, tell the sissy he should have manned up and came with us last night. Wish I could have seen him Friday night, first time I haven't seen the fireworks with Dan in four or five years I think.  He loves them as much as I do.  Danny, you were always there when I called.  I appreciate that.  Thanks for letting me use tools, the trailer and for everything else you did.  Wendy, I don't know if we ever played together at Eick's, but we played a lot as adults.  Pool parties, Tap (Janesville Trap) parties, bus trips, there was always a reason to get together with a group, wasn't there?  If there wasn't, we made one up.

     Scott and Brenda Immerzel and Mark and Collette Hagadorn:  Brenda and Collette are sisters.  Brenda has a twin named Glenda.  The Schares girls are from....anyone?  Yep, you guessed it....Jesup!  Okay, most of you said Gilbertville cause that's where all the Schares, Beckers and Weber's are from, right?   Scott, thanks for all your help too.  As most of you have probably surmised from this blog, I'm not that mechanically inclined and every male in Janesville is.  Thank god!  Scott (Squeak) and Brenda have a cabin in Lansing that they were gracious enough to allow me to use on more than one occasion for my Bass Fishing adventures.  Mark and Collette, always loved seeing you up in Harpers.  I know most of the time I was a party pooper cause I had to get up early to fish, but not always.  Thank you for your hospitality as well.  Scott and Mark, bring the girls to Lewisville and Texas Motor Speedway.  Always welcome.

     Tammy Bender:  I will never, ever, ever look at a picture of some drummer, guitarist or lead singer on a rock and roll poster and not think of you.  You groupie you. I speak for both Kim and I, you have been a wonderful friend.  You have great kids.  Love giving Casey a little of his own medicine.  (yes, Casey, I could have out run you, no problem). 

     Tracy Bright:  Not sure what Kim and I would have done without you.  You were always there when we needed you.  You and I were each others "dates" for everything from weddings to funerals and everything in between.  Can't believe that little town never talked.....if they did, it never got back to me.

     Each of you hold a special place in our hearts.  But, you aren't alone.  There are a ton of other folks in that town that are very special too.  It is one of the best kept secrets of the Black Hawk/Bremer county areas.  I know there are a ton of other people that live in Janesville that I have forgotten, like all the Wrage's, Monaghan's, Fishers, Kressin's, Thode's, Woodyards, Despards and Aunt Sue Stapleton who is probably wondering how she got into this blog.  It takes all kinds Sue, and in the words of Larry....."my wife has seen you in your skivvies", so you deserve a spot, and recognition, I'm sure. Merle Sorenson, Shane, Leanne, Vicki......you are all wonderful people  Salt of the earth.  None better.  You made small town life easy. You all have, and are, friends for life.  Kim and I will miss all of you and we hope that you will plan to visit us in Texas.

     For any of you that haven't experience small town living in this great state, and have considered it, I highly suggest it. You will find some fantastic people make up the backbone of these small communities. It will be an experience you will not soon forget!  I know we won't. 

    
    
    

Tournament Weekend

It wasn't that long ago, five years, that Brent Roloff and I decided to change directions in regard to our tournament livelihood and take a shot at the Mississippi River.  After all, how hard or different could it possibly be to catch fish on the river versus catching them on lakes?  The answer, as we soon found out, is actually quite complicated. 

We were fooled the first tournament we fished out of Harpers Ferry, Iowa.   We went out, had no idea where we were or where we were going and managed to catch five fish pretty easily.  It put us in the middle of the pack as far as results, but we felt pretty good about what we had done and how we had accomplished it.  It wasn't long before we realized we were taking on water quick and we would soon be over our heads.

The difference between fishing a river and a lake are actually quite vast.  The concept is the same, it is all about HOW different baits are fished and WHEN different baits are fished.  The factor that plays the largest roll in whether or not you are successful or a complete failure is understanding the weather, flow/current and changing water levels.  All three of these things will cause variables that will change the HOW and WHEN.  Those three things are also going to play a key role each and every single time out.  When the flow is high, the current is stronger and the river is dropping quick.  When the flow is low, the river is lower and the current will still be a big a factor, but for different reasons.  While this affects your fishing differently, its what it does to the fish that causes that affect.  They can, and will, survive and they determine their actions by what the water is doing or not doing.  Temp, level, flow, sun, wind, rain, clouds, it all affects how those fish respond. 

We aren't going to get into the details, but lets just say this:  Every river tournament angler should keep a diary or log.  Really, every angler, tournament or not, should keep a log.  Track what the day was like, the air temp, the water temp, what your lake or river was doing (high vs. low, etc.), the atmosphere conditions (sunny/cloudy), whether or not a cold front had just come or gone.....it will all help you and will give you something to look back at and compare notes.

This past weekend, we had two tournaments on the river.  We thought we had it licked on Saturday, till we got to "our spot" and discovered the river was really down 3 feet and not the 18 inches NOAA was telling us it was.  That makes a huge difference.  When the water is dropping that fast, the fish pull out.  They find water that is more suitable, deeper, which will keep them from being trapped in an area they don't want to be in.  If all of us knew where they went to, our weekends would become much easier, but we don't.   So, we look, and try and keep track of what happened when and surmise why it happened. I can tell you this, the tournament on Saturday was different from Sunday and it all came back to conditions:  Weather, flow and level!

Saturday morning, we had a Bass World Sports Tournament that launched from Harpers Ferry, Iowa.  We were sitting in 4th place overall after three events, which really wasn't too bad....if we were only concerned about points.   I was ready for a win.  We locked through to pool 9 and went up to the first spot we had designated as our starting spot.  Vastly different from the Weekend before, as previouisly mentioned.  We gave it a shot, struggled through  the shallow water, and came up with a couple keepers.  Nothing to write home about.  The weekend before, that same spot had been producing some high quality 3+ pound fish.  We got out of there quickly and headed to spot numbers 2, 3, 4 and finally 5.  We had a limit, but it was definitely a job on Saturday.  We headed south, locked back down to pool 10 and went to spot #6.  We quickly culled two of our keeper fish and upgraded a little.  Thank goodness for cull beams...cause every ounce counts!  We ended up in 5th on Saturday with 11.07.  Pretty disappointing, considering the expectations we had going in.  After the tournament, we talked to some of the other anglers and everyone agreed, almost unanimously, that the drop in water affected their fishing as well.  Still caught fish, but those bigger fish had left the area in search of deeper waters.

Buzzy and I had a short discussion about the next days fishing tournament and we quickly decided that Spot#6 was going to be spot #1 on Sunday. 

Sunday arrived and we showed up for the Hot Rod Baits series final.  Todd Reed is the tournament director and he did a nice job with the three events he put on this year, even with the seriously inclement weather in April and May.  Lets just say, I'm very glad it wasn't April and we were fishing on the river this time.  We definitely couldn't "win" team of the year after our dismal lake performances, but we were looking for a little redemption.  

We launched out of the very same setting we had launched from on Saturday.  Being boat #2, we were pretty confident we would have our spot to ourselves.  It wasn't going to happen!  Boat #1 had the very same idea and beat us to our location.  We decided to fish a secondary spot just south of where we had hoped to fish.  I quickly put a fish in the live well, than nothing.  After an hour and another very short discussion, we headed north and locked through to pool 9 again and systematically started going through the five locations we had up there.  Slowly but surely, we were putting fish in the boat.  The bite wasn't anywhere near as good as it had been the previous day, which had been overcast with a bit of a breeze.  Sunday was just the opposite, with Bluebird skies, plenty of sun and not a ripple on the water.  Big difference in how those fish see baits.  I'd prefer the overcast day to a sunny day any time!  Ultimately, we scratched out a tie for 4th place.....not bad, not good, wanted better.  I will say this though, couple years ago, we were getting humbled every single event.  Now we are disappointed with a 5th and a 4th on any weekend because we feel like it should be a 1st every time.  We're close, and getting closer.  Too bad my days on the river are number.

I would like to thank my sponsors, BW Contractors from Cedar Falls, Iowa and Roling Ford from Shell Rock, Iowa.  They make more things possible. I really appreciate the opportunities you both have given me and thanks for sticking with me after a very disappointing 2012!

Moving and other Life Changing Events

After three years and multiple attempts, we have finally sold our dream house.  I say it like that only because it was a labor of love getting it built.  I had decided early on in the process that I would just kind of go "along for the ride" during the process and not let anything bother me when it came to upgrades, timing, decoration or anything else. I was there at least three times a week, providing input and asking if the builder could do this or do that to make it turn out exactly the way we wanted.  Did it?  Not completely.  Hindsight being what it is, and if I had to do it over, there are a couple things I would probably change.  It was, however, pretty special.  The new owners should know that they got a very nice home.  So, after signing the closing papers (life changing event #1) on June 28th, the movers showed up and said the same thing Maurie Bolt and my step dad said.........You don't have enough truck!  Boy, oh boy, has that been mentioned a time or two since!! 

I don't plan.  Hmmmm, I'll be darned. Really?   I got us the biggest truck I was allowed by law to drive without a commercial CDL. Thought it was enough, it wasn't.  You roll with it.  What else you gonna do?  So, after a few calls, I was able to secure a second truck, Kim talked the movers into staying (Thanks Wray Brothers crew), and we got everything loaded into the two vehicles.  We then loaded Kim's little SUV on the automobile carrier and, much to her dismay, she climbed behind the wheel of the 17' Budget and I got in the 26' UHaul and we started our little journey to our new home in Lewisville, TX I wondered more than once if I was supposed to be stopping in those weigh stations I saw from Iowa to Texas, but never bothered.  After all, I wasn't "for hire", I was just moving.  Besides, I didn't want to know how overloaded my truck(s) might have been on that little drive.

Kim was terrified, I don't blame her.  I certainly empathize with how she felt.  Dan Brace, thank you, for helping out and offering to make that drive with us.  Kim and I both really appreciate that.  She did great though.  Earned her big girl pants driving through KC, Oklahoma City, Des Moines and even into Northern Dallas Metro.  It wasn't easy. (Life changing event #2)  Certainly had our moments along the way, but by the next morning, when we left Emporia, KS, she was doing fantastic and we were working in tandem making those lane changes and she was keeping right up with me.   We arrived in Lewisville about an hour and a half quicker than I had originally thought we might.  Nice job punky, nice job!

We got to our new house, unloading movers arrived and we got both trucks unloaded, made multiple trips to the storage facility and ended up getting both trucks turned in that same day. Quite impressive, really, considering. David Fontana and Michael Jenkins (son-in-laws) were both very helpful and instrumental in getting us that far the first afternoon.  Thank you both.

The rest of the week, Kim and I spent the majority of the time we had being pissy with each other.  I can tell you this, moving, to another state and environment altogether, particularly to a place where the population of the metroplex is twice that of the entire state you just left.........is stressful.  For all parties.  We both know why we are there and why we are doing it.  We have a couple really special grandchildren that we wanted to be close to. (Life changing events #3)

Maybe the biggest life change for me will be two fold:  First, I'm basically jobless.  I'm currently back in Iowa finishing out my commitment to my current employer, but that is short term.  While I have been diligently applying on positions in the Dallas metro area, I'm getting very little response from prospective employers.  It's a little frustrating, but here's something I've come to realize......CPM has given me the opportunity to not only bolster my resume', but, grow as an employee.  They have been gracious enough to not show me the door when I told them I was preparing to move.  They asked if I could stay a while longer to cover some absences and I agreed.  Ultimately, it will work out best for all of us.  Gives me a couple weeks with a paycheck coming in.  Gets us closer to the time Kim and I head to Cancun for 10 days of nothing but sand, sun and Amanda's official wedding and might even tell me whether I need to try and venture back in September or October to capture the Co-Angler of the year title for the Cedar Valley Bass Masters and qualify for a National event with Bass World Sports.  We sit #1 and #4 respectively, so, well on our way.  Wish I could say that accomplishing either of these would be (life changing event #4), but it won't be.  It will just prove to me that I can, and will continue, to fish with some of the best bass fisherman I've ever met.   It's been fun. 

As I close this chapter of my life, and begin the next, I'm looking at it as just another adventure.  One that will, like so many others, turn out just fine.  And who knows, maybe my quest for a double digit Largemouth will actually come to fruition in the great bass fishing state of Texas.  Cause, like they say, everything is bigger.........in Texas.  And its true.......the interstates, the cities, the trucks and the bass. Can't wait to take those two little ones fishing with me. (Maybe just one at a time!).

Just a little "Catch-Up"

It’s a new year, and it’s been quite awhile since my last blog.  We are in the middle of a good old fashion Iowa Winter, and I have the fishing blues.  So much so that I have even considered a trek out on the ice with a seasoned and very experienced ice fishermen, @Todd Reed!   If only he’d invite me…..:).

                Couple things new……..one, we have a new Grandson.  Mason Dale Jenkins was born on 12-26-12, weighed in at 7lbs, 10ozs and was 19” long.  He lost about 10 ounces right after coming out, but he is already putting that back on with a vengeance.   He’ll be a big boy, two weeks in and he’s already getting longer too!  I told Amanda that they just didn’t get a good measurement on him when he was born, but Michael says they did.  Must be like measuring a bass……they relax a little after being in the live well and always measure a bit longer.  Maybe babies relax a little too!  He’s doing well.  Grandpa (me) and Grandma (Kim) were both under the weather the week we stayed with Amanda, unfortunately, so while we still held him, we were pretty cautious.  Me more than Kim, but it appears everything is A-OK.

Second, we got to spend plenty of time with Olivia.  She was the one that started the whole sickness thing to begin with!  We had a nice Christmas with the kids down there and one afternoon, Kim and I were playing with Olivia and we got her to take a few steps.  Every day since then, she has gotten better and better, taking more and more steps.  She will have it mastered in no time.  The look on our faces when she took off walking…..well, I’m sure I’d like to see that on camera! 

Big Bass Club Meeting tonight, Cedar Valley Bass Masters  Not sure what I’m going to do in that regard. Was thinking that maybe I would just take a back seat position this year and be a non-boater for my remaining time in Iowa, but not sure I really want to do that.  Would like to find a partner that pays half of the expenses for my weekend trips to the river, but that has proven difficult.  Turns out, either they are broke, or, their work schedules haven’t sync’d up with the tournament schedules.  Either way, it means I have taken on the majority of the expenses and I’m not sure I’m willing to do that again this year.   Even with a couple of paying sponsors last year, (Thank you BW Contractors and Roling Ford), it was tough to stretch the dollars to last an entire season.  Matter of fact, it was impossible to stretch it for an entire season.  We’ll see what happens, not sure what I’m going to do at this point.  Either find a partner and run my boat, find a new partner that needs a non-boater and go that route, or, just fish to fish.   Either way, I’ll be on the water come March, guarantee that!

It’s going to be an interesting year for Kim and I.  Many unknowns coming our way.  I think we are prepared for them and I feel we are in position to tackle each as they come along.   More later.

Terrorist Invasion

DISCLAIMER:  This content should be viewed as humorous and not taken any other way (for all you politically correct, all the time, people out there)!

Al-Qaida, Arabic for "the Base," is an international terrorist network founded by Osama bin Laden in the late 1980s. It seeks to rid Muslim countries of what it sees as the profane influence of the West and replace their governments with fundamentalist Islamic regimes (Bajoria & Bruno, 2012).

Many of Americans first introductions to Al-Qaida happened on September 11, 2001 when the World Trade Center’s twin towers were brought down in what is the biggest and most brazen attack by terrorists on U.S. soil ever.  I knew of them well before that, but only because of my participation in our very own U.S. Army.  I got out after the first Gulf War, but the conversation was already out there about militant terrorists groups like Al-Qaida.  So, thanks to all of you who have served, suffered and died doing your best to protect what we know as the greatest country on the face of the earth………….but all of that really has nothing to do with where this blog is going.  Not really anyway.

For the last six years, Kim and I have lived in our dream home on six acres south of Waverly, Iowa and North of Janesville, Iowa.  The Cedar River is across the highway, we are close to anything we want to do (sorta) and our nearest neighbor is 500 yards away.  Love it.  There is one little problem though……I’ve been fighting a war of my own. That’s right, I have my own group of terrorists!  They aren’t Muslim, although they are hairy.  They don’t carry the Quran, although it appears as if they could be with those big paddle feet of theirs!  They ruin grass, make it impossible to level a yard, basically, they cause “gardener stress related syndrome”.  And they cause me to pull my hair out…which is another problem all together, cause I really don’t have as much as I used too!

They are the Al-Qaida Moles!

I have tried everything. Water, gas, traps and even standing and waiting patiently with a shovel in my hand for them to make their move so I could end their pathetic, frustrating existence!  It has truly tried every thread of patience I have in my body.  Good thing I have a lot of it!

I decided, much like our own government, that I needed to identify the Al-Qaida Moles that were causing me the most trouble, then, systematically eliminate them from the face of the earth.  To effectively know whether or not I was successful, I developed a “Ten Most Wanted” list.  As an Al-Qaida Mole was eliminated from the list, another would take its place, kind of like the real terrorists group.  There was a whole line of “terrorists” just waiting to be the next Mole Bin Laden.

I recently, much like our own Armed Forces, feel that I have started to gain the upper hand.  This past week alone, I was able to eliminate Al-Qaida 1A and 1B.  I also got #’s 2 & 5.  Mole #3 and 4 may have expired from residual activities related to eliminating this particular terror group that I just wasn’t aware of at the time.  There hasn’t been any activity in their areas of operation, so I’m hopeful.  If that is truly the case, I really only have 6-10 left on the original list.  Of course, as I said, there is always another just waiting to add his picture to the top 10 and I’m always watching for them to try and keep them from getting to number one.  Since I was so successful this week, I’m going to need to juggle my list a bit, moving the current #3 to the #1 position and #4 to #2 until I can verify their demise. I would post photos as evidence but these would be far too traumatic for those with weak stomachs.  I’d also post those surveillance videos of night time activities, but the .270 with night vision is probably overkill and I wouldn’t want anyone to think that I had totally lost my mind with this endeavor.

So, while I continue my quest to secure the borders of my little piece of heaven, and protect those that I love, I’m sure there will be setbacks. However, I will strive to rid the world of Al-Qaida Moles and their off spring, in an effort to not only protect my interests, but the interests of my friends and neighbors, not matter how far away they happen to be.

Bajoria, Jayshree & Bruno, Greg (2012). Backgrounder, Al-Qaeda, retrieved from website: Council on Foreign Relations, www.cfr.org/terrorist-organizations/al-qaeda-k-al-qaida-al-qaida/p9126

Ever Have That Feeling?

There is a point, in every young tournament fisherman's life, where they do something they know they shouldn't have done.  I'm not young anymore, but I made that mistake last weekend, and it was costly.  Mostly from a pride standpoint.  I knew when I made the decision to fish where we were going that it was, at best, iffy.  We needed a couple good fish, and I was after the big bite for sure, but more importantly, we needed 5 fish.  My partner, Steve Pasker, and I talked about what we were going to do the night before after fishing all day and only having 5 keeper fish.  I felt like we could go North, jump around or "run and gun" five fish.  While the bite might have been light, it was decent from a weight standpoint.  With the water being high, and steady, I felt like we could probably piece together a decent bag. 

Then we talked about it again on the way to the ramp Sunday morning.  Then we talked about it again in the boat.  Each time, it was me that initiated the conversation, mostly because I wasn't feeling very good about it.  As it turned out, there was good reason.

We didn't catch anything at our first stop.  Nothing at the second either.  Or the third, or the fourth.  Steve finally hooked up with a really nice smallmouth at our fifth stop.  It was more of the same after that.  The fish just weren't cooperating on the North end of the pool at all.  My decision was looking worse and worse by the minute, which, were ticking away much too quickly.

At some point, you just have to realize you made a mistake and head to where you think the fish might be.  We went back down towards the south and stopped at a place that had been pretty good to me in the past.  Nothing!  We moved up the slot, stopped, first cast and POW.  I hooked up with a big 3lb largemouth.  Now we had two fish, still needed three more. We continued to fish hard, but nothing else came our way. 

We made it back to the weigh-in and were not surprised to hear and see that there were some nice 5 fish limits.  I really wanted to just crawl in my truck and get the heck out of there, so I did. While I was driving home, I replayed everything in my mind over and over only to come to the same conclusion;  We fished an area on Saturday in an effort to learn more about the pool, which was the right thing to do.  It was wrong, after struggling on Saturday a bit, to think Sunday would be any better.  I knew where we could catch 5 fish, I wanted 5 better fish. Truth is, it there were 5 okay fish in the southern edge of the pool, then there was probably as good a chance as any that we'd run across one that was "better".

I learned it's okay to poke around that big body of water known as the Mississippi river when the lights aren't on.  But when the lights come on, stick with what you know and you'll always bring five fish to the scale.  Better luck next time!

Cancun and Spring State

Someone reminded me that I hadn't been blogging lately.....and they missed me.  I agreed so felt compelled to jump in with both feet and catch everyone up just a little.

Had a great early part of the Spring because of the weather.  Warm, fishing was awesome. Then April showed up and we were back to a somewhat normal weather pattern.  All that means in Iowa is:  Unpredictable!  One day it would be below normal, the next it was above.  Rainy, dry, cool, warm, and above all else.....WINDY!  I was pretty sure we were all going to blow away a few of those days.  Much of my time was consumed with finishing my final college classes....(yes, I'm finally done)...and that feels great!

Some of my other time was spent working on the yard, tilled the garden, working on rental properties and being very busy at work.  Kim is back on her weekly travel schedule, so, she's gone four days a week.  I miss her.  Fishing helps though.

We had a trip to Cancun planned for lateApril/early May for Tyler and Ashley Hamerlinck's wedding.  Of course, Tyler had a little fishing trip planned for the boys while down there.  The goal was Marlin, what we ended up catching was Barracuda, Bonita and Red Snapper.  Always a good time fishing with Tyler, really enjoyed it.  The wedding was awesome as well and Ashley was an absolutely beautiful bride.

Kim and I accomplished exactly what we set out to do in Cancun, and that was relax!

Relaxing allowed me to begin thinking about what was coming next:  The Iowa Bass Federation Spring Tournament.  I was already thinking about spending time with the guys, Brad Rockwood in particular.  Brad and I go way back....wish we would have spent more time together as kids!  We got home late Tuesday night and I spent Wednesday morning getting packed up and ready to roll.  Left Wednesday afternoon and arrived at the river late Wednesday afternoon.  Went right to where we were staying and settled in. Got a phone call from our club president asking if I still wanted to be a boater instead of a non-boater.  The answer was obviously yes!

Thursday morning, met Brent Roloff in Marquette and we waited out a thunderstorm and then hit the water in pool 10.  Fishing was............different.  It was not the normal spring bite I expected.  Part of the problem was the river was really low.  I hadn't seen it that low since the mid-90's.  I managed to catch 5 keepers from the back of Buzzy's boat, but one of them was a little questionable.  But I didn't have any of my questions answered.

Friday, I went out alone on pool 9, starting way up North. Apparently, that is where all the Northern were living, because that is really all I caught early.  Had a couple really nice ones though.  As I moved south through the pool, I began catching a few more bass, but nothing with too much size.  Couple nice ones, but wasn't cooking with fire just yet.  By the time I got off the water on Friday, I was probably more confused than I have felt in a long time.  The Spring tournament was going to start in the morning and I was in the front of my boat making the decisions for the first time and wasn't sure what I was going to do!  Got off the water a little after lunch, went and got cleaned up, then drove down to Prairie to check in, wait for the meeting, and think some more.

The meeting went quick, got a very good draw, boat #4, and got a good partner in Mark Sexton from Spirit Lake, Iowa.  Mark works for Berkley and I have fished against him for years.  Our little meeting was short and sweet, we are going North and locking through to pool 9.  We talked about a couple spots and settled on one.  Once that was over, I headed for the trailer and tied and re-tied, getting ready for my second state tournament and first as a boater.  To say I was anxious, well, that wouldn't come close to describing what I was feeling.  I had also decided how I was going to fish the spot we had chosen and it was a method I had NEVER used.  I mentally committed to it and there was no turning back. Time for bed, Saturday morning was coming early!

Saturday morning started off pretty well, arrived at the lock, got through, and made it to the spot we agreed to fish and hit it hard.  I looked at Mark and said, "I'm about to do something stupid", and I did.  I started throwing exactly what I decided I would throw the night before and had never thrown before.  It worked.  All day.  Felt great to catch fish after fish after fish.  Had my limit in the first 40 minutes or so and worked hard all day to improve on that catch.  I did, but only a tenth of an ounce at a time.  My culling beam got a work out.  My partner, however, was struggling.  I like Mark, and I remember how Steve Huegerich treated me when I was struggling last year on day two.  He did what he could to help me catch fish.  It was my turn to do the same.  I told Mark to hook up and start grabbing the baits I was throwing and see what happened.  He did.  We worked hard but could only get him two in that same area we had fished all morning.  We took off and fished one other spot in pool 9, where Mark got one more.  It was time to head south. We made it into the lock right in front of a North bound barge and locked back South.  I had another spot in pool 10 that I thought we could possibly get a couple out of.  It worked, they weren't huge, but Mark got his fourth and fifth fish and it was time to weigh in.  I thought I had 11 and a half, turned out it was only 11.02lbs.  I was happy to have my five fish and was ok with the weight.  Something to work on improving on Sunday.

Another short meeting, met another new partner for Sunday, had a short conversation with him (Darrin Corley).....and off to tie and re-tie.  Spoke briefly with Brad, he asked what I was going to do....I said if I have learned anything, the one thing was never leave fish.  I was going right back to where I had caught my limit the day before.  He agreed. 

Woke up at 2:30am Sunday morning and couldn't get back to sleep.  Way too excited.  Rolled down to Prairie, found my partner, got launched, helped Buzzy get in the water, went to the blast off area and it was another quick drive to the lock (last boat in on Sunday) and back to the same spot.  I was not immediately catching fish on Sunday, Darrin was the one catching fish right away.  He put two in the boat and then it was my turn.  Same bait, same rig, four straight keepers in the live-well.  Darrin caught another, then I caught three more and began culling.  I had made the decision early that we weren't leaving that spot on Sunday, regardless of what was happening.  It worked.  I caught mine, Darrin actually caught a bigger bag.  Weighed in 11.43 on Sunday, which put me in the top third at 41st, 2lbs out of the top ten.

Congratulations to a member of our club, the Cedar Valley Bass Masters, Greg Seitz, who was the Spring Tournament winner.  The club had 6 members in the top 50, which was as good a showing as any other club.   First Club tournament this coming weekend.......feel pretty good about the plan I already have in my mind.  Guess we'll see.