North -vs- South Team Tournament - Lake Limestone 5-17

I wanted to reach out to the new and old bass guys here on this forum. This is a bragging rights tournament that we fish annually and and it is North Texas -vs- South Texas team tournament. When I say team tournament our main goal is for everyone on the north team to catch a ton of fish and we will be helping everyone out so we can come out on top. The trophy is on displayed at Mariner Sails in Dallas so lets see if we can keep it there again another year. If we win as a team it will pay out 20 spots to our team but if we loose we don't get squat. You could catch the largest stringer of the tournament but if we loose...nada! Below is the information.

North Texas VS South Texas "Bragging Rights"
Date: 05.17.14
Bait: Artificial Lures Only
Entry Fee: $20 per per/ $10 Big Bass
Format: Shotgun Start from Running Branch Marina
Fishery: Lake Limestone
Sunrise: 6:36am
Non-Member Captains Meeting: 5:00am
Registration Time: 5:30am-6:30am
Registration Location: Running Branch Marina
First Cast: 6:30am
Weigh-In Location: Running Branch Marina
Last Call for Scorecards:2:00pm
1st-25%, Smith Optics, Grande Bass Lures
2nd-25%, Smith Optics, Grande Bass Lures
3rd-25%, Smith Optics, Grande Bass Lures
4th-25%, Smith Optics, Grande Bass Lures
5th-10th-$50 Hook1 Gift Certificates, Grande Bass Lures
11th-20th-6th-$25 Hook1 Gift Certificates, Grande Bass Lures

DFW BIG BASS: Smith Optics, Grande Bass Lures

ATX BIG BASS: Smith Optics, Grande Bass Lures


If your interested or need more information shoot me a Private Message

In!

You know it!

I'm in. Already got my bunk reserved for Friday and Saturday night.
Let's keep it home!!!

IN as well. Will be fun!

I'll be leaving Plano at about 3:30 on that Friday. Anybody want to carpool?
I can haul up to 4 yaks on my trailer.

Beau just confirmed the Perpetual North South Trophy will be UP FOR GRABS!

It's got North Texas on it now..... but there's a lot of talk from our southern friends, I think they'd like it down there for a while......I know we want to keep it here.......I sure hope we can work it all out and GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

I'll be there. Hopefully my bad luck will stay behind as I head south. I'll be there at daylight to check it out this Sunday

in!

Also, the boys from the south will be starting the party Thursday night for whoever is interested, come out and party

Go team gulfcoast!

I'm scheduled to work that day . I think I starting to feel a little cold coming on....

From here you appear to have a fever!!!

my scheduled Saturday to work as well. Calling in doesnt work for me. We run a skeleton crew and if I dont show up it literally screws everything up. Good luck north guys! Lets keep it here!!!

I will most definitely be there and I ain't messin around.

Those Austin boys in particular have been talkin quite a bit of smack on Facebook. We need to win this guys. It's cheaper than most tourneys and it will pay out to TWENTIETH place if we win, and the Southern boys don't get anything! LET'S GO!!!

Tell your friends. Bring your brother, wife, cousin, pick a bum of the street if you've got an extra kayak for him. The more people on our team the better!

lol

Couple of quick questions:

1. Does this or similar kayak tournaments allow use of trolling motors or is it strictly paddle or pedal?

2. Can you trailer your kayak to a different launch after start time?

Thanks!

1) Most all kayak tournaments around are man power only.
2) Some you can trailer your kayak to a different spot. This tournament you can nit.

Thanks, Shaun. I'm in Frisco, btw, if you ever want to trade intel. You may already know my spots but you never know. Also, thanks for sharing the Bible verse.

after pre-fishing fri-sat, i know where they aren't. as do the 30 pb tourney fishers who weighed in 5 total keepers saturday. did ok on juglines however. good luck to all.

Ouch!

Been working on upping my game the last few weeks with some new techniques that I despise, but realize work. Fishing local only, Jacksonville and Palestine. Getting a little more confidence in the baits. Prefished Limestone last week...No more mister nice guy! Better bring your A game.


Somewhere near Limestone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZnhuOEUFXA

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vhyuj7Qdcz8

Here ya go Louis!

since this is for bragging rights does everyone have to be a member? I have some guys that would like to come but they do not compete regularly. Additionally, after check in can we put in anywhere on the lake or is everyone launching from running branch together?

You don't have to be a member to fish this tournament. Just declare what side your fishing for pay your fees and fish. It's a road runner for the trail leaders but everyone else will shotgun start from running branch

I am headed down Thursday after work. I hope to leave Dallas at 4pm and be at the lake by 6pm. I'll try to get on the water for a couple hours Thirsday night and then all day Friday until the off limits at 8pm. PM me if you'll be down there.

So Louis... I gotta ask... Are you fishing for the north or the south?

Maybe we could fish as Independents, don't really want to have to choose a side myself having not entered any of the tournaments and driving north to the lake.

Not familiar with all the "rules and regs" so guess I'll just wait until I register...why are you thinking of playing for the south?

Keep up the good work Mordicai and I might crown you sheriff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcV-ZLbd-pk

Ok Louis you can fish for the south...

Just found out I'm not going to be able to make this!

3 of us north guys will be there around 3pm tomorrow we'll pre fishing as soon as our site is set up

I'll come find y'all tomorrow night when I get there. I'll be in a brown F-150 with a matching camper shell and a blue Slayer Propel.

When you see the Austin boys out there prefishing give them a message for me...

I do believe there is a Hanson on each team. :rolfmao:

LOL Good stuff Louis!

I'm relatively positive the North is going to be outnumbered in this one, if that sways your decision at all.

Trying to round up some more North guys. Tell your friends they don't have to be a member and I think this one's only $20 entry fee? Anyone can swing that. It's going to be a good time!

Yeah, I'm in on the north. Sorry to hear Jerry won't be making it. Just counted the participants and it does look like the south will bring numbers. On a sharing to all note, I made a special trip to Tyler for some bigger stuff. Got broke off twice prefishing the other day. There are some good fish to be caught.


I'm not kidding either!

LOL!

Gotta admire you Yanquis bravado. Good luck and see you on Saturday.

-SSJr

Good luck fellas!

look for the Fleetwood bounder motor home

Go get'em fellas! I cant make it down until late Friday evening

any chance Zipper is going with ya? i was supoosed to leave out this morning with him but found out a week ago i had to work

I guess if you north guys can't beat us at fishing, you'll just try to make us feel inadequate with your fancy houses on wheels

We're all gonna be roughing it up there I think (other than those of us in the cabins). I'll see you guys in a few hours.

I don't even know where I'm sleeping, my truck I guess. I've called the marina since Tuesday and no one has ever answered.

Apparently they don't get much business, and there should be 40+ of us flocking in there over the next two days, so I'm guessing it's going to be a free for all. Beau has 5 cabins reserved with 5 beds in each, they may all be spoken for but there may be some no shows too. One things for sure, there should be no shortage of BBQ and beer.

I'll be there, and fishing for the North (despite my Austin ties, just been up here the last 2 years). See you all Friday night, and EARLY Saturday morning (after a night of pre-celebration)

Dan,
I reserved a bunk in the cabin Beau has lined up and I can't make it.
Maybe he still has a spot. Hit him up.

PM me if you're still needing a bunk. (And planning to fish for the north, not sure with that handle there sir.

couldn't understand how the team competition turned out-terrible service, but the south rep, chubbs beat the north rep, guillermo(sp) with a 20.5 fish vs a 19.75. both caught several unders. tough fishing. congrats to both.

north won i was told

I just got home. The North won the N. vs S. and chubs won the AOY. It was a really fun last few days. I'm beat. A lot of guys are staying again tonight so more reports will probably come in tomorrow. Cell service there is terrible.

Congrats to the North guys on defending their crown. They beat us fair and square, even with a few DQ'ed fish making the score tighter than it really was. Tough day. My only bass was a suicidal 8 incher that swallowed a senko almost as long as he was.

Next year we gotta find us a senior ringer like the Yanquistas managed to do. Good job, all, for making the event enjoyable, even if the fishing was lackluster.

-SSJr

Way to go guys!!!

wished i could've been there with y'all.

Full report of my day later but for now just want to say I had a great time, met some more great kayak fishermen, ate some of the best camp out food ever served, caught some fish and learned a few things about bass fishing. Will wait until the results are published as I don't remember them all and don't want to slight anyone. For those that are new to kayak fishing and tournament fishing, give one a try and see if you don't have a good time. To the best kayak bass fishermen in the the state two years running, the north, ! Pics later.

Congratulations to those from up here who fished it.

Grats to all. Nice showing North team. I haven't seen official results. I got it from Matt the main parts.

Not sure what the numbers are either but it wasn't as close as they announced. I think one of Jason (Ninja) fish were left off the total. The top four on the north was Jason, Louis, Joseph, and myself. Unfortunately Louis had one fish DQ'ed and Joseph had two because they left on their sun gloves.

Had a great time with old and new friends. If you guys missed this then you need to mark it down for next year, you won't regret it!

U dudes r hardcore. Hats off to both North and South.
I dont normally fish for LMB but its always a good time kickin it with u dudes.
Way to represent bros

It was good times!! What kayak fishing is all about. The comradery was awesome between north and south.

Thanks Jason, Robbie, Louis and Joseph for powering us to the win! Jason you always bring the heat for the austin rivalry. CONGRATS NINJA on the longest official stringer of the tournament... You won! Robbie you did what you always do: catch em rain or shine windy calm whatever you're always on some fish. Nothing new there but it's nice to be fishing with you not against you!! Louis you are a b@dass spinnerbaiting mofo. I love how you're always gonna fish and compete on your own terms. We are lucky to have you call the North home. Joseph. Someday they'll make a kayak fishing version of 'The Natural' and you'll be the star! It's really a pleasure just to watch someone with so much talent out there on the water. This guy is AMAZING! The DFW/ATX rivarly is strong but make no mistake the Austin dudes are an awesome friendly bunch... Great laughs, all the lone star you wanted, world class BBQ and the greatest collection of texas kayak fisherman since the dawn of mankind! If you weren't here you missed out. If you only make one tourney all year next year fellas THIS SHOULD BE IT!!! I'm embarrassed to admit that I zeroed for the first time ever in a tourney, but you know what? It only stung a little with all the fun we were having LOL!!!

Rules are rules and they definitely played it by the book which I commend. I didn't even realize my bonehead error until my name was called. Not something you want to hear when scoring is involved as several of us found out. It should be a nice reminder to everyone as it didn't cost us the tournament.

The writing down of your identifier on hand or glove is by far the best and most efficient way to get it in the picture and I would hope more tournaments would adopt the procedure. Many tournaments have a poker chip or something physical that has to be either tied to hawg trough or displayed somewhere in the picture which can easily be misplaced or lost altogether. In my case I corrected my mistake in an earlier fish pic but did the same exact thing again later and didn't catch error, instead just checking to make sure mouth closed, touching bump board, and getting measurement correct. I'd rather lose a quarter inch than have it docked by judges later in a close call.


My dq dude above. Took two pictures of it, first pic the sun was shining brightly and couldn't tell exact measurement...second try turned kayak for less sun angle and scored it a 14 even just to be done with it.


Had to photo this one twice even though I now see there is enough in pic that it would have probably passed. Looks like water or fish slime on lens. I was so happy to get it I wasn't quibbling over length...scored it 20.5


Second try of fish above. Never used a hawg trough before...I despise them, should have listened to Beau and remarked the lines.

Scored an even 75 inches minus 14 for dq.

What I felt bad about was that my good friend Jason actually had the longest 4 fish stringer and I was the one annouced. I was told later that there had been a mistake. You are the man Jason!

Mistakes are made, we are all human, and learning from others mistakes are usually much less painful.

All good Loius(Monte time my friend!), we got the Victory on a tuff tuff lake!!! Next year even going to be more fun and competitive. Well its time to take a little tourney break and get some fun fishing in. If your new to the sport and love to bass fish jump in on some of the open invites to come in the near future.
Also Mountain Sports will be doing a Kayak fishing seminar here soon, will give a date soon.

Nicely done guys congrats on the win

A few pics:


I've got to admit I'm more of a stealth guy when it comes to kayaking in the dark but after seeing the kayaks on the water and close up, I'm sold! Wished I'd taken more pics but paddling out in the dark and seeing the different configurations and colors scattered across the lake at first light was impressive. I've got my order in, just can't decide what color or colors to choose or where to put them.




Guys, the stuff that came out of this cooker was incredible.


Hope everyone will take the time to read the names of each and every sponsor and think of them and the support they give to us. Capital City Kayak Fishing knows how to put on a great event.

Looks Like a great time!

Congrats Northern dudes! Sorry I couldn't have been there to assist my Southern brothers in their plight against the North. Maybe next year.

am i to understand that 12" fish were counted? what was up with that decision, and is that the first time it had been implemented?

I can only imagine it was because of how tough the fishing was going to be. The lake caught 4.5 inches of rain a few days before and with so many guys skunking both Thursday and Friday while prefishing, the reports from all but a couple of guys was very disheartening. Personally I didn't catch a single bass while prefishing those days. I was in complete shock as I had torn em up one afternoon the week before. I'm sure folks thought I was holding back but I wasn't. Caught only 4 catfish in two days. Even the white bass left the area. Dan was the only person I spoke to that did any good at all prefishing. He had one that went 23 inches.

the only reason i ask is this reg which in theory could have posed a problem. glad it didn't.

Any fish caught must be taken by legal means and methods.
Fish caught and immediately released are not
considered to be in your possession. Any fish not immediately released that are retained by using any type
of holding device such as stringer, cooler, livewell, or bucket are considered in your possession and must
adhere to established protected length and bag limits.

i'd argue strenuously against taking pics on a hawg trough is a form of possession, but i've disagreed with gw's interpretations before.

It is no different than measuring and taking a picture of a 23" fish on Lake Fork before releasing it.

Dragondaddy we've been doing this for years in North Texas lakes that are tough-- it's never been a problem. Plus if putting a fish on a board and measuring it were considered possession then it begs the question: how are we supposed to know if a fish is legal in the first place if we can't take the time to measure it? Snapping a pic just takes a few more moments.

There's not a warden out there that would give a ticket for that...

Agree ^

Not really under standing your point? Because I feel it's just not about fish possession?

if you haven't had a gw interpret game laws differently than you, you have been fortunate. and the local jp is not required to be an expert in jurisprudence either. i was simply wondering whether it might be a problem. hey, i wasn't involved in any way. and why 12 for that matter. i am on your side. i am nothing if not reasonable and sensible. i grew up keeping every 12 inch bass i caught. up to either 10 or 15 a day, i can't remember.

A hawg trough is not a "holding device", it is a "measuring device"...i.e. a ruler used to measure the length of the fish to determine if the fish is of legal length...a hawg trough is not unlike the thousands of measuring devices used in Bass Boats and tournaments throughout the state of Texas. The only time you would have an issue with a 12" Bass is if you didn't measure it and kept it in a "holding device" and a game warden then used his/her measuring device to find out that the fish was under the legal length limit.

the regs used to say that after measuring, any fish not of legal length must immediately be returned to the water. that was my initial concern, because the time taken to take pictures is anything but immediate. it may be that the new regs are in deference to these type of situations. if so, that is seemingly better, at least logically, than subjecting a fish to a day of getting sloshed around in a live well. it would take a study to prove it, but i would assume that even prolonging the fishes time oow for the few minutes it takes to snap a pic would be much easier on the fish. the picturing taking process should be as shot as possible. are there any training tips or videos for newbies learning the ropes? it looks kind of dicey. and likely to end up with fish not counted as they flop away unshot.

Well ok , but I've never kept any fish that was illegal at any point in my life. But what your saying about fish possession is wrong. Sorry only way to say it.
Let me be clear. I don't want anyone who reads this think that catch picture release (CPR) is breaking any laws.

This. I can usually get a fish on the board and a pic taken within about 15 seconds or less after getting it unhooked. I think that is reasonable and not detrimental to the fish.

the fact that i agree would be irrelevant in the days of immediate return. with the new wording, it would take some backbending by a backwoods jp to say otherwise. those guys have and always will exist and i wouldn't be at all surprised if limestone county has one as we speak. sorry to get your hackles up. seems my question was more inflammatory than i intended. sorry again.

Dragon, here is my process.

First, having your board and camera pre-staged is critical. I keep the board tethered by my side and even if I have rods or other stuff laying on it, I have enough length to pull it onto my lap. The camera stays tethered around my neck, stuck in a front PFD pocket and I am familiar enough with it to turn it on and snap a pic with one hand.
Once fish is unhooked, board comes to lap, fish is being lipped with left hand and moving to the board as right hand is grabbing and turning on camera. A point and shoot, quick look at pic to make sure it captures full length of fish and the fish goes back in the water. You do enough of this and you get very good at it without much effort. Of course an uncooperative fish can add time to the process but that is seldom the case. In fact, you get a "feel" for when a fish is going to cooperate and when it needs to be given a few seconds before going to the board. I very seldom let a fish lay on the board without being lipped.....too much chance of flopping off taking more time to get a pic or losing the chance to get a pic and more potential for a flopping fish to hurt itself in the boat. Some people like the extra step of wetting the board first....while I understand the thought and potential benefits behind this, I don't.....but may rethink that one. This whole process is one of seconds.....not minutes.

i assume you have a waterproof camera. if your camera has to be retrieved from a bag, it might take a little longer. sounds like a process that would get faster with practice. i'd bet the newbies don't get it done quite as quickly. that might be something clubs could offer their members. or maybe kayak vendors. or you could do like me and simply zero out regularly.

This whole discussion of whether or not taking pictures of fish can be construed as illegal is right up there with the craziest things I've ever read on any section of this forum. There's no judge or game warden alive or that has ever lived that would come to that conclusion. In fact, "paper" tournaments are widely seen as the kinder and gentler method of tallying fish for competition.... As everyone said, Beau puts on a heck of a tournament that's run as good as any power boat tourney I've ever been a part of. He and his crew work very hard to make sure everyone has a good time

What he said ^

Admittedly, I have early released fish on many occasions. I would hope a GW would take that into consideration for holding a fish hostage for the picture ceremony.

i believe dragonsdaddy. some game wardens are cool and some are just plain pricks. i know i told this story many times, but i had a game warden approach me and my nephew while banking for sandies. we had 3 sandies in the cooler and he asked me who caught them. i told him i caught 1 and my nephew caught the other 2. he told me we should have separate coolers and he said next time he will give me a ticket even if we only had 3 fish. his reasoning was if we had 40 sandies, how does he know that we caught 50/50 split or if my nephew caught them all which will make him go over the limit. I understand that, but i had 3 sandies! and he said next time he will give me a ticket.

man, i'm fishing with my little nephew... there is no need for that. i can possibly understand if we had 40 something sandies, but we had 3! c'mon

if he really wants to give tickets, just wait until those guide boats come back with boat load of customers. I am sure most trips will limit out on sandies and hybrids and they will only have 1 large cooler.

You know why he did that............. Because your a donkey fan!!

thats not a nice thing to say cofounder of the ntkbf. is everyone at the ntkbf like you?

LOL. well no but hey, didn't mean to hurt your little donkey feelings. You know football is a contact sport.

Robbie,

Some of the screen shots I got on Friday the week BEFORE the Limestone tournament while prefishing. Didn't spend much time trying to catch anything deep as the shallow bite was so good that day.









Where I caught them prefising [above]...the dead bean bushes and way back into them. Reason I was breaking off with light line. I caught a few smaller fish 30 yards further back into that stuff. Just plow through with paddle knocking them out of the way until I could find some larger openings.


The stuff the fish were in on tournament day for me.

Back on topic....this thread derailed!!!! Awesome tournament and what a great grp of guys you "northerners" are!!! I was glad to see old friends and make new ones! Can't wait to do it again!

I agree with Chris! Had a great time with old and new friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW, who won this thing?

little donkey feelings? football is a contact sport? who would ever think that a cofounder of the ntkbf would resort to attack fellow kayak fisherman that he doesn't know on a forum with childish names. you bring a very good name to the ntkbf. way to represent them

Sleeping Tiger....Can you guys take your internet fight to a pm please......I'd hate for next years potential newcomers to be persuaded to join this event because you guys want to act 8. Let's move on already.....