Rodney Donnald and Brian Hunnicutt had placed in the top ten after the first day of fishing the Alabama River Crappie Masters. I was invited to go with them as an observer on their second day out. It was pure tourture I tell you. I'm not kidding. I had to sit on the boat, and only observe. I'll never, ever do this again. I'm a fisherman, and all I could do is watch them catch fish right in front of me all day long. I could not even pick up a net. I was allowed to do nothing except act as ballast. I had to get up early for this! To simply be dead weight, for ten hours straight, in the blaring sun. Tourture I tell you, pure tourture.
There was one small bright spot. I should be able to get good photos for a story. And maybe I could reflect on some fishing techniques.
What I learned from Rodney and Brian was that very different kinds of fishing styles can be applied to the same lake, and be quite successful. The previous times I've fished down here, my hosts always "spider rigged". These guys "one poled". I've "one poled" before, but I never worked quite this hard. The whole day long, all Brian and Rodney did was cast one rod, with one jig. Over and over again, specifically picking their spots. They would change up on colors occasionally, but essentially they focused on casting to very specific waters where they were previously successful. They had pre-fished this lake for pretty much the whole week, and knew where they wanted to fish. I felt sorry for them because by now, the last day of fishing, their arms had to be so very tired.
Another thing I learned from Rodney and Brian was that all these years I've been retriving my jig way too fast. Slow it down, be patient, wait for that thump. I equate this to dosk shooting. I've always noticed that when I shoot a dock, I do a ver slow retrieve, at least for the first few feet, in anticipation of that thump. Well, think about that anywhere in the lake where you might be casting towards. Slow down, treat it like those first few feet when dock shooting, but for at least 50% of the retrieve, especially while your're over that structure that your casting into.
Although I absolutely hated not being able to fish, maybe the cup was half full after all. I think I did get some good learnings out of the experience.
Now let me back up a little in my story. The first day I spent down here at the Alabama River Crappie Masters I participated in their "Media Day" event. What fun I had. Everyone met up first thing in the morning in the fog at the Bass Pro Shop in Pratville Alabama.
I was assigned to fish with Team Sipes (Sonny and Shannon Sipes). Great guys and great fishermen. We spider rigged the Alabama River and got into some nice fish.
As it turned out, we did so well, I came in second place in the media event with this 1.98 pound crappie and won a $50 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shops.
You really don't get to fish that long on Media day, so coming in with a 1.98 pound Crappie is not that bad at all. Thanks Sonny, thanks Shannon, it was a pleasure fishing with you.
Here's picture of Paul Alpers speaking at the Captains Meeting the night before the tournament.
The next day the pro's went out fishing on their own. At the end of the day, Capps and Coleman were in first place. This is not that hard to believe after you learn how intense they can be about.
Here's the standings after day one.
If you missed it, Ronnie has been "Featured Guest" on Crappie.com late last year. He really seems to have enjoyed it. You can see his conversation with us here http://www.crappie.com/crappie/featured-guests-forum/ (you have to jump to the bottom of the second page below our "Featured Guest" conversation with Wally Marshall).
Here's where all the excitement begins, at the weigh in. If you've never been to a Crappie Masters weigh in, you're missing out on a great opportunity to mingle with some of the best crappie fishermen ever.
It was kinda exciting because at the end of the second day, as the top ten weighed in, there was Sonny and Shannon Sipes on the hot seat. They held first place for at least a little while till they were bumped down to third place.
When all was said and done, Kyle Schoenherr and Rodney Neuhaus came in first place, Kendall Pate and Joe Duncan came in second, and Sonny and Shannon Sipes came in third.
The Road Runner and BnM team of Kyle Schoenherr and Rodney Neuhaus take first place. Congratulations guys.
Kyle telling the crowd how they got the big ones.
The final standings.
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