Bass fishing vacation

Skeet, Kim, and Leah Reese at the '06 Classic (Courtney's in there too!)

I'm a big fan of the Reese family. The picture above was taken at the '06 Classic when Skeet and Kim were expecting baby Courtney. She's toddling around right now in northern California and probably has no idea that her Daddy is in contention to win Angler of the Year.

With almost a two week break between the Bassmaster Legends event and next week's final Bassmaster Elite Series event at lake Toho, I wondered what Skeet had been doing to occupy his time. So I gave him a jingle.

"I've been in the gym and in the office taking care of a little business," he said. "But mostly I've been spending time with my girls."

Skeet's quite the ladies man.....his three ladies of course.

He flies out tomorrow for Florida and he's chomping at the bit to get down there and get started.

If the statisticians are correct, Skeet has to finish 35th or higher to feel safe about winning Angler of the Year. I have no idea how these guys figure this out with the point system the way it is, but they are usually right. He told me that he was anticipating a roller coaster of emotions.

"If I win I'll probably cry like a baby and scream like a mad man."

But he's spent his off time relaxing and I think he's mentally ready. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard him so resolved.

Bassmaster Legends side trip

I had the privilege of accompanying some Elite Series anglers to the Arkansas Children's Hospital today. What a great experience to see these guys spend a few hours making some kids smile. The Angel Anglers rock.


Alton Jones pulled little two year old Christopher around in his wagon.


Skeet had Miss Whitney charmed.


Chris Lane was the piano man.

I wrote a story about the visit for ESPNoutdoors.com. These guys are my heroes.

Bassmaster Dardanelle Course History

In 2004 Dardanelle was host to the first Bassmaster Elite 50 event. It was held in May, so the conditions were very different, but I kept my notes from the last two days when the anglers fished on the course in Illinois Bayou.

Here's how each section of the course broke down in terms of how many fish were caught, when they were caught and in which section they were caught.

HOLE 1
10:00 -11:20 - 4
11:20 - 12:40 -0
12:40 - 2:00 - 3
2:00 - 3:20 - 0
3:20 - 4:40 - 3
4:40 - 6:00 - 1
TOTAL - 11 FISH

HOLE 2
10:00 -11:20 - 4
11:20 - 12:40 -0
12:40 - 2:00 - 4
2:00 - 3:20 - 3
3:20 - 4:40 - 1
4:40 - 6:00 - 0
TOTAL - 12 FISH

HOLE 3
10:00 -11:20 - 3
11:20 - 12:40 -0
12:40 - 2:00 - 0
2:00 - 3:20 - 0
3:20 - 4:40 - 3
4:40 - 6:00 - 1
TOTAL - 7 FISH

HOLE 4
10:00 -11:20 - 3
11:20 - 12:40 - 1
12:40 - 2:00 - 1
2:00 - 3:20 - 1
3:20 - 4:40 - 3
4:40 - 6:00 - 4
TOTAL - 13 FISH

HOLE 5
10:00 -11:20 - 0
11:20 - 12:40 -0
12:40 - 2:00 - 2
2:00 - 3:20 - 0
3:20 - 4:40 - 0
4:40 - 6:00 - 1
TOTAL - 3 FISH

HOLE 6
10:00 -11:20 - 2
11:20 - 12:40 -6
12:40 - 2:00 - 3
2:00 - 3:20 - 1
3:20 - 4:40 - 1
4:40 - 6:00 - 1
TOTAL - 14 FISH

So looking at the map and with these stats in hand, what does that tell us about this lake? Why were Holes 6, 4 and 2 the strongest? (Scroll down or click for a zoomable map of the Bassmaster Elite Series at Lake Dardanelle.)

I welcome your comments. I'd really like to know what can be determined by looking at the map alone. (PS - I thnk the railroad bridge in Hole 6 was a key?)

Bassmaster Elite Series at Dardanelle

The Bassmaster Elite Series will be at Lake Dardanelle next week. I went through some notes from the 2004 Elite 50 event at Dardanelle and found some interesting information that I want to put out there. But first, here's the lake.

Bottom Line Bass

I had a conversation with someone recently in which they bemoaned the fact that ESPN did not run the Bassmaster Elite Series results on the Bottom Line (you know the sports ticker that runs at the bottom of the screen). The thing is - that is not a fact.

I am not the type of sports fan that rushes to ESPN after being out all day to catch the ball scores or any other sports news on the Bottom Line, although I am surrounded by people who do just that. So when I mentioned this person's observation in idle conversation, those self-same, co-worker-sports-fanatics were quick to tell me it was mistaken. Then Sunday morning, I paid attention to the Bottom Line and sure enough there it was....."Skeet Reese leads the Capitol Clash on the Potomac River...." It even gave the Angler of the Year standings.

I don't know when it typically runs, but I'm told it's a regular when a tournament is going on.

By the way, apparently you can get the Bottom Line delivered straight to your PC. If you're an over-the-top sports fan of the stick and ball OR hook and bullet variety - this seems like the ticket.

Alton Jones

Just read a blurb on ESPN Outdoors where they ask the anglers 3 questions about the Potomac tourny. One of the questions is "What does today mean for your season?" Here's Alton Jones answer.

Today is the same as every other day of the year. If you don't make the Classic, you can't blame the last day any more than the first. There are days you wish you had capitalized on, but it's not fruitful to think too much about that. I won't think about it until I come to weigh-in.

I love his way of thinking about this. When an angler is trying to qualify for a year end championship, whether it's at the club level or higher, it's easy to put pressure on yourself towards the end of the season to qualify. But Alton's right - the fish he caught or didn't catch in May is just as important as the one he catches or doesn't catch today. They have to fish with intensity all through the season.

I just can't imagine how these guys go out in March and fish with an intensity they can sustain until September.

Peter T and Nick

I love it when men aren't afraid to hug another man in celebration. Peter T gave his son Nick a bear hug on stage. And if you've ever seen Pete you know that he gives new meaning to the idea of a bear hug.

I'm pretty sure Nick is used to them.
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Dave Wolak needed wind

As he waited to weigh in, Dave Wolak knew he didn't have the weight to win. I think he almost dreaded going on stage after all the drama with Peter T and Kennedy. I felt bad for him. But hey....he's fishing in the finals for $250,000 in a no entry fee event. Life could be worse.

He said he needed the wind to blow this morning to get close to his incredible 22 lb bag he brought tp the scales yesterday.
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Bassmaster Memorial

I forgot that Peter T won the Bassmaster Memorial last year in Ft Worth. And today ensured that he would be the only angler to ever hold the Memorial trophy over his head.

By ONE ounce.
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Peter T says his day was fair

He knows he's close to the winner's circle but Peter T described his day today as only "fair." He says it definitely wasn't as good s yesterday but he doesn't know why. He caught them on a Zoom Super Fluke both days on the outside edges of grass lines 6 - 10 feet of water. He thinks he has 18 lbs. I'm headed over to the stage to see if that's enough to win.
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Steve Kennedy is not sure

Kennedy knows that he and Peter T are close and he was regretting the loss of a 5 pounder earlier in the day. He said he broke 65 lb braid today. Then he got on a swimbait pattern. He was excited about catching a 3 and a half pouind smallie on a swimbait. "I knew they'd hit it but to get one to eat it was fun"
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Murray's smallies

John Murray caught two nice brown fish on Onondaga today. Which was a surprise for him. He caught a half a dozen smallmouth but 2 were back to back and over three pounds. When I was at his boat he was encouraging BASS officials to "lock this lake in for next year."

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