Heartland Elite

[Bill Babler]

Boy's, check out the Heartland Elite Tournament going out of Ahoys' this weekend. Starts today with the weigh-in at 3pm.

49 of the best local and regional fishermen will be in the two day fish off.h I would suspect some fantastic fish.

It will be easy to tell the riverrats from the deep water boys, cause some will have Ky's and some Largemouth.

Big thumper Ky's are biting so on a two day format, the deep boys may have a really good go of it.

Day before yesterday, my best 5 Ky's weighed about 14.5 lbs. I'm sure I could of rounded up another batch of that weight, so I'm looking for probably 32 to 35 lbs to win the two day event.

Look for Jackie Davis and Bobby Sullivan to be strong on Largemouth and look for Bill Beck with a combo of both species. Dave Barker is also a TR Rat that can catch anything that swims here and could be a factor.

Wes Endicott is always tough and my dark horse could be buddy, Tim Sainato.

May be a little early in the year for Fall Specialist Sainato, but you can never, never count him out of his home waters. Look for Tim to weigh in all three species of Black Bass we have on the Rock, with maby a big smalljaw or two.

You can also bet Mike Webb, is cabiable of scaring up a couple of limits of deep fish, if they are the right kind. I Just believe you will have to have a couple of 4lb. fish to add to the weight and thats where Tim's Smallies or the river fisherman could pull away.

I'll keep you posted, or come to the weigh-in and see some great TR Bass.

[flipper]

what time is weigh-in??

what time is weigh-in??

[Bill Babler]

Elite Report:

Sorry about that on the weigh-in, it was at 3pm and also tomorrow.

I guess I had it somewhat pegged, not a bad guess at what would happen, only my weights were a bit shy on what I had expected.

I might have thought myself too good with the bag I had the other day.

Most of the guys caught fish and lots of fish were lost. They really have alot of energy and many folks reported they lost limits, or 2 or 3 fish during the day. Some reported that as soon as you hooked a deep fish, instead of it diving or pulling, they shot to the surface and 2 ft. into the air, shaking their heads as they went. Really mean.

In first place, is Wes Endicott with 14.75, Wes Stated he is fishing deep tree tops in the Kimberling City and Up the White River arm.

My Buddy, Bill Beck is in 2nd. with 14.40. Caught 1 good fish early on a blade and dropkicked the others.

3rd. place is Dave Barker with 14.01 Dave said he only had 5 keepers today, but were the right kind. Deep fish.

Wes and Bill had from 15 to 18 keepers apiece. Bill came out of the James after 3 hrs. early without a bite after the big fish. Bill thinks he can catch another nice limit tommorrow, but just hopes he can find that kicker again. He had second big bass today at 5.40 lbs. You just have to have a big fish everyday or you will not win. Big fish tomorrow could be a 4 pounder.

28 to 30lbs. may win it unless there is rain and clouds, then watch out for Tim Sainato as he is in 7th. with about 12 lbs. If it is nasty, he could easly catch a couple of 4 lb. small jaws to suppliment his limit and he will be dangerious.

The largemouth guys, pooped out as the fish are just not shallow, they are either suspended or deep on flats, humps, trees, or channel swings.

The James river was not the place to be today, and I bet it won't be tomorrow, I'll let you know.

Great info on the rock at a very testy time of the year.

[Fishin' Freak]

I heard the James was super tough today. I will be out early in the morning to watch some of these guys fish and see how they fish some of the deep spots.

[Bill Babler]

From what I heard at the weigh-in the James will not be fished tomorrow, except for those people that are completely out of the tournament.

If Bobby Sullivan and Bill Beck and Kelly Powers aren't catching fish, you can bet you don't want to be there.

If you are going to follow anyone for a good day, I would follow Wes Endicott. Powder Blue Pro Craft. I think he was fishing from Kimberling to Shell Knob and above. Would be a great day and learn alot to see what he is up to.

Barker wouldn't be bad either, be prepaired to spend the day in Clevenger.

See ya at the weigh-in 3pm at Ahoys'

[RSBreth]

Wow, Kelly Power not doing well? The James must be just be flat shut off.

Let us know the final, would love to be there but have other fires to attend to.

[Bill Babler]

It's over and the BASS guys that are fishing this week, were all at the weigh-in.

Everyone wanted to see what and how to catch these tricky TR lake bass.

First place went to Wes Endicott with a total of 29.99 lbs. Wes Stated at the weigh-in he was fishing deep trees and would pull over cedars that the tops were in the 30ft. depth range and drop his drop shot worm into the tree tops.

Caught the winning 5 lb. fish on a spoon, after he had broken off his drop shot on another fish in the same tree, with under 30 minutes to fish. $39,000

Jeff Farley, kind of a dark horse, but also a good deep fisherman. 26lbs. Deep trees on the same pattern as Wes $28,500

Bill Beck Drop shot in 30 ft. of water. Bill only had 5 keepers today, but had a huge smalljaw jump off at the boat that would have helped him in the tournament. 25.99lbs. $8,600

Danny White 25lbs. Deep Trees

5th. Tim Sainato 24.56 Drop Shot. flats and rock and brush piles he had made.

Everyone reported you just couldn't put a smallmouth in the boat as they would jump off.

Dave Barker reported he had over 30 fish between 14 and 15 inches and anytime he hooked a smalljaw, reguardless of size, he could not put it in the boat.

Great way to start September on the rock, Let's see how the big boys fair this weekend.