Fork really showed out. Caught fish early and made a move at 8:30. bad mistake! 5 boats about everywhere we wanted to go. Went back to first spot and 3 other boats had moved in after we left.
By 11:00 I was putting corn in deer feeders at our Ranch. lol

It really fishes small when you put that many boats on it in the summer!

Congrats on a great tournament though. 22 overs for 1 day in July is pretty strong!

I never got bit after 9:00am I couldn't fish anywhere...

Our day was interesting and blessed. On Saturday night as we were rigging up, I told my youngest son that I was breaking out the "special" reel for this event. This is the one my oldest son gave me as Best Man present at his wedding in 2007. Little did we know that 3 months later he would be diagnosed with stomach cancer.

I 've only used that reel about 5-6 times since Clay passed in '09, but I felt that the time was right for another outing with that important reminder of a very special son. Like everyone, Kaden and I passed about 5 different structure locations with one or more boats and quickly realized we had to find more obscure locations. After about 3 hours up Big Caney arm, I told him lets start hitting our crappie brushpiles. Everyone knows that big bass love hanging around crappie schools. There's always good cover and easy meals within about 10 fin strokes when they're ready to eat.

On our third pile, I was working the zoom ol monster across the top of a limb when I felt that famous tick and light pressure. She dove in when I set, but luckily was able to keep good pressure and she swam up out of it for that famous head shake to try and throw the worm. After a 45 second harrowing battle, Kaden slid the net under a 24 1/2" bass and I knew the premonition was correct.

We went in for the 11:00 hour and I didn't wait, as the fish needed fizzing and I don't like holding these great fish any longer than necessary. She weighed 8.63 and incredibly held up for the half hour and to net a $15,000 hourly check. I was the only over, followed by 6 overs in the 12:00 hour. Son, thank you for holding all those people off....

At 1:15, Kaden reared back and set the hook on the edge of a 20' brushpile and it was on. It was like he hooked on the back of an 18-wheeler, there was no winner emerging. He had all 225 lbs leaned into her trying to keep her out of the big tree around which the brushpile is laid, when all of a sudden is rod snapped 18" above the handle and the frayed graphite cut his line. His was bigger than my 11.59 in McDonalds several years back, we were sick.... Last night, spent 4 figures ordering made in the USA top graphite blank Xheavy rods for Kaden, that ain't happening again! These made in China blanks are [censored].

But, we had a great day and the invisible boat captain by my side took care of his dad and brother, without a doubt. Had one 6, two 7's the 8.63 and the heartbreaker. Thanks for the ride along, son. I love you Clay, see you on the other side, buddy......

Great story and thanks for sharing! Sounds like you won before you put the boat in the water!