Green Lake - Chisago, MN - June 13th, 2009

This was the second of the Gopher Bassmasters tournaments of the season.  My partner for this tournament was Greg Dawson and neither of us had a chance to pre-fish this lake.  We were going in blind and hoping to find some fish.  I was coming off a disappointing showing on Lake Minnetonka and mentally I was feeling the pressure.  I brought too many rods for one thing which even added to my frustration as I could not make anything work for me.  I know that I switched too much between presentations instead of sticking to my strengths and making those work for me.

I blanked at this tournament which did not help me mentally.  After the tournament Rich Lindgren took me aside and said I better just show up with 4 rods tomorrow.  I knew he was right in that I needed to get back to what I have the most confidence in.   

Chisago/Lindstrom Lakes - Chisago, MN - June 14th, 2009

My partner for this tournament was Corey Brandt and we had a chance to pre-fish for this tournament.  Both of us had fished a tournament on these lakes two years ago and had spots.  Of course the water level was down quite a bit and some of the spots we had were not holding fish because they about 2 feet lower than when we were there last.  We found two good starting spots.  I decided to fish my strengths at this tournament. My go to presentation is a texas rigged Zoom Baby Brush Hog with a 3/8 oz. Tru-Tungsten worm weight pegged with the Smart Peg system.  I was throwing the watermelon candy color since it seemed the bluegills were spawning.  I also was throwing a Mojo Rig with a 4" Lake Fork Ring Fry in Green Pumpkin. 

My first two bites came on the Mojo Rig on a point and weed line where we started.  They both came unbuttoned but I refused to let that shake me and had confidence that I would break my two tournament skunk performances.  We moved two our second spot which was an edge of a weed line where there were sparse clumps of weeds.  I started throwing my texas rigged baby brush hog and just dead sticking it in the weeds.  I had my first bite on my second cast and landed a nice 2 pounder and instantly felt a relief that I would at least not be blanked.  I ended up with four fish that day for a total weight of 8.67.  Not a winning weight, I finished in 21st place and year to date with Gopher I am in 15th place.  But my confidence was back and I was ready to shake off the beginning of the season and hit the rest of the lakes.

Have a Great Day on The Lake!

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