Meeks Tournament 5/20

[Sprint21fter]

Launched out of Aunts Creek and decided to head towards the dam and see what was going on down there since I haven't fished the area since December. All I have to say is if you get a big bite take advantage and get him in the boat. Unfortunately, if you don't get a chance at one you will be behind in the check line. Anyways, our first spot we landed 2 keeper largemouth and a handful of smaller fish all in a 30 yard stretch. Ran to another location to try and duplicate a "possible" pattern but that didn't work. Never had another bite for 3 hours. Pulled out and ran back towards James River and fished some "draggin" places and caught 1 keeper smallmouth on the first drop and then caught 3 smaller ones on consecutive casts. Had enough of that and kept going further up the James where the water color changed a smidge and filled out our limit on topwaters like we started with in the Dam area. However, they didn't break double digits for a whopping 9.89. I last heard 14 plus pounds won. For 75 plus boats and some darn good teams to be fishing in this derby the fishing was very off especially with the weather we had. Rain, wind and dark clouds all day. Expected someone to break 16lbs. Be back at it on the 30th and 31st. Good luck to all! It is just an absolute crap shoot out there. You can get bites anywhere on the lake but those 3lb fish or bigger are laying low.

[Brandon Cowherd]

I believe it was 15.96 for first place

Needed about 11.5 to be in the money.

Big bass was 6.07

2nd big bass was 5.9

[bobw]

11.80 was last place in teh money, we had 11.60. Just like everyone else needed a 3# bite but never got it. Weighed 2 largemouth and 3 spots. Caught 40-50 fish on topwater and shakey head, just never got a good bite.

[dtrs5kprs]

Good reports nonetheless. Thanks all. Will be down in a bit, and it really does help keep in touch with things as the fish transition.

[Jason Essary]

Was in the same boat. Had 11.20. Really never got a topwater bite going though. Just needed the one bite like everyone else

[Ketchup]

Pretty much what ive found pre-fishing for our tourney out of Cape this Sat. Lots of fish in the 15" to 17" range.

[Jerry Rapp]

as an outside observer to the Table Rock banter (and I enjoy it all), but like Bo has said several times, the lack of 4+ pound bass in your lake is very obvious. Are the fish not growing? Last year it seemed like the same story. Lots of 12lb limits, and lots of 50 fish days. In the Elite event, a big majority of field weighed limits everyday. Those fish should be 3+lb average this year? Just an observation from an outside viewer. Something has happened to the bigger bass, or they don't have enough food(like a pond with too many little bass?)

[dtrs5kprs]

as an outside observer to the Table Rock banter (and I enjoy it all), but like Bo has said several times, the lack of 4+ pound bass in your lake is very obvious. Are the fish not growing? Last year it seemed like the same story. Lots of 12lb limits, and lots of 50 fish days. In the Elite event, a big majority of field weighed limits everyday. Those fish should be 3+lb average this year? Just an observation from an outside viewer. Something has happened to the bigger bass, or they don't have enough food(like a pond with too many little bass?)

My personal thought is the better blacks are suspending more than ever...deep docks, deep swings, etc. Folks just have not done a great job of adjusting to them, if that is even possible. Throw in the gradual loss of cover, and the expansion of the brown fish, and it makes even more sense.

A less positive idea is that the a-rig took its toll a few years ago, with attrition from boat rides, the occasional trophy taken, etc. We had a two year span from 2011-2012 with lots of good ones being caught on the floater and the a-rig. Either they got very smart in a hurry, or something worse happened.

[SplitG2]

I can't comment on any trends noticed in Derbys. My personal experience follows what DTRS says above. I have a soft spot for mean spots but when the lake gets busy mid morning and my shorter rig won't allow me to fight the rollers I move to safer water. Not combing the bank like you'd traditionally fish on another lake but 2xs the distance out...1/2 way between the schooled fish and the bank. That's where I catch more LM's. And they cheat up at night. My biggest have come at night slightly shallower than where I found th late morning. Long way of saying I think traffic has pushed them out a bit.

[Jason Essary]

DTRS. Your post is EXACTLY what I have been thinking for the last two years. I have been trying to find a better mouse trap for the deep suspenders but nothing yet with any success. I'm starting to lean towards the a-rig factor. Hate to say I have a lot of friends that show pics of 6 fish limits in the winter but take the pics in their driveway.