Although improving the bite is still tough for most at Lake of the Ozarks!
It had only been a week since the last Bassing Bob.com division tournament at Lake of the Ozarks, where the water temperatures were struggling to touch the 40 degree mark. Well this week the water temps had warmed close to 52 degrees in some areas, but had a heavy stain to muddy conditions from heavy rain and high winds during the middle of the week. Also with the Missouri river near flood stage, the Dam authority slowed the draw of water through Bagnell Dam raising the lake level about a foot. All of this helped to confuse many anglers and likely the fish.
Well as the saying goes “Somebody is going to catch them” and that team happened to be Nathan Oliver and Jamie Eynard. Nathan and Jamie fished from the toll bridge to the Dam fishing everything from main lake points to the last channel bank in the backs of the creeks. The team keyed on creeks/coves with clearer water as clarity varied from creek to creek based on run-off and wind exposure. They also mentioned bigger rock and brush present was important.
Nathan and Jamie fished primarily the A-rig with Bio Spawn ExoSwim swimbaits. Culling through over a dozen keepers the Elite Angler, Merten’s Bait and Tackle, Tombstone Tackle and Bassing Bob sponsored team dropped 21.54 pounds on the scale for the win. I really appreciated Nathan and Jamie Jumping in and helping with weigh-in as one of my staff team had to cancel on short notice.
Taking the second spot today was the always tough team of Rick Fishback and Terry Blankenship. Rick and Terry traveled to the mid-lake area where the fished secondary points with a Jenko Jerkbait Crank Wrapped in Blue Pro and Gizzard Shad patterns. The team would pull up to a point, look for fish on their Humminbird 360. When they found them they would anchor down with their Talons or Ultrex trolling motor. catching a dozen keepers on the day their best 5 weighed 16.46 pounds. Rick and Terry are sponsored by Humminbird, Minnkota, Crank Wraps, Jenko, Lew’s Chompers, Jakked Baits, Skeeter and Phoenix.
Taking the third spot today was the team of Matt Miller and Kory Ries. Matt and Kory focused their efforts in the Gravois arm fishing stickbaits and crankbaits on channel swings. Their 5 fish limit came in at 15.56 pounds. Matt and Korey are sponsored by Shaker tungsten and tackle and Crock-o-Gator.
I got a phone call at 11:00. It was Derek Galitin. He told me he was having motor issues after catching a Hog on a stickbait. I told him he could try to limp in or transfer his fish to another team’s boat. Well they made it back in and dropped the Ozark Chevrolet Big Joe Bass on the scale weighing 6.98 pounds.
Finishing in 5th today was the team of Chad Deaver and Dirk Sluyter. They had a nice limit weighing 14.49 pounds and it was enough to be the Highest finishing Skeeter of the tournament giving Chad a nice bonus fishing from his 2017 ZX200.
Our next BassingBob.com division tournament at Alhonna Resort (573)365-2634 will be April 7th 7am take-off.
Photos
Final Results
Place | Team Members | Fish | B/F | TotWgt | Pts | Payout | |
1 | Nathan Oliver – Jamie Eynard | 5 | 4.83 | 21.54 | 110 | $1,640.00 | |
2 | Rick Fishback – Terry Blankenship | 5 | 4.72 | 16.46 | 109 | $840.00 | |
3 | Matt Miller – Kory Ries | 5 | 5.51 | 15.56 | 108 | $600.00 | |
4 | Mike Hamilton Jr – Phillip Kiepp | 5 | 4.22 | 14.72 | 107 | $400.00 | |
5 | Chad Deaver – Dirk Sluyter | 5 | 14.49 | 106 | $800.00 | Top Skeeter | |
6 | David Kampschroeder – Jason Huskey | 5 | 6.43 | 14.48 | 105 | $350.00 | 2BB |
7 | Scott Danek – Scott Danek Jr | 5 | 13.54 | 104 | |||
8 | Marty McGinnis – Kyle McGinnis | 5 | 12.95 | 103 | |||
9 | Derek Galitin – Ryan Fritz | 3 | 6.98 | 12.81 | 102 | $190.00 | 1BB |
10 | Ralph Laster – Steve Helms | 5 | 12.15 | 101 | |||
11 | Eric Dearduff – Robert Harry | 5 | 11.87 | 100 | |||
12 | Kim Fischer – Mark Glass | 5 | 11.63 | 99 | |||
13 | Rob Crangle – Bryan Loseman | 4 | 10.71 | 98 | |||
14 | Michael Bray – Nathan Klepper | 4 | 10.69 | 97 | |||
15 | Mike Kraus – John McGahan | 5 | 9.78 | 96 | |||
16 | Roger Fitzpatrick – Chase Fitzpatrick | 3 | 5.6 | 9.37 | 95 | ||
17 | Chuck Clutts Jr. – Ryne Borchelt | 3 | 8.15 | 94 | |||
18 | Jim Callahan Jr – Doug Rinck | 3 | 7.61 | 93 | |||
19 | Jason Weast – Scott Miles | 2 | 5.26 | 7.56 | 92 | ||
20 | Randy Krull – Greg West | 4 | 6.98 | 91 | |||
21 | Kenny Grothoff – *John Johnson | 2 | 6.28 | 90 | |||
22 | Randy Gain – Chuck Mueller | 2 | 4.72 | 6.22 | 89 | ||
23 | Ron Belew – Derek Dace | 2 | 4.24 | 88 | |||
24 | Josh Wisdom – *Kyle Stuesse | 2 | 2.86 | 87 | |||
25 | Christopher Fierce – Dalton Fierce | 1 | 2.66 | 2.66 | 86 | ||
26 | Grant Akers – Ed Ross | 0 | 10 | ||||
26 | John Campbell – Rusty Darnell | 0 | 10 | ||||
26 | Chad Denningmann – Kurt Denningmann | 0 | 10 | ||||
26 | *John Davis – Nolan Freeman | 0 | 10 | ||||
26 | Tom McKinnon – Roger Krull Jr | 0 | 10 | ||||
26 | Bryan Tracy – *Chris Dunlop | 0 | 10 | ||||
26 | Michael Wear – Todd Wear | 0 | 10 |
*alternate