Americana Outdoors E-Magazine - April 2017

CRELIA, GOODWYNCRUSH30-POUNDWINNINGSTRINGER BYBRETTCARLSON

MANY, La. -Withthedistinctionofbeingnamedthebest blackbasfisheryinthecountryfor twoconsecutiveyears, Toledo Bendhasexperiencedanunprecedentedamount ofanglingpresure. Truthbetold, thepresurehasstartedtohaveadet- rimental efect onthefishing. Toavoidthecrowd, local sticksPhilipCreliaandTJGoodwynbackedawayfromthebankand targetedprespawnbas. Not onlyweretherelesboatstocompetewith, but thebaswerefat, heathyandeager tocooper- ate. For years, CreliaandGoodwynwereknownasshalow-water sticks. Morerecently, they'vebecomestudentsoftheofshore game. "We'verealyworkedandworkedatgetingbeteroutdep,"saidCrelia. "It'shardtofindthemofshore, butwhen youdoyouhaveachanceatwinning. Whenyoufishshalow, you'resortofrolingthediceonsize. Ofshoreyoucanfind therightsize." CreliaandGoodwynalsobelievedmostofthe312teamscompetingintheTexasTeamTrail eventwererushingthespawn. "I knowthere'sfishupthereandthere'sabunchoffemalesabout toburst,"Creliaadded. "But there'salsoabunchofstag- ingspotsthat areloadedwithfish. That'swhat wedid. Webasicalyranamilkrunofstagingspots; wewerecatchingthem inthemid-point." WhileCreliaandGoodwynsampled10or12spots, theydidmostoftheirdamageonthre, alofwhicharelocatedonthe lake'snorthernend. "Weliveuponthenorthendofthelakesowewentbacktowherewefel comfortable." Whiletheyhadalimitearly,itwasn'tuntil1:45a.m.thattheirdaytransformedfromgoodtogreat.Visitingahard-bot- tomedspotthat'salwaysheldpotential, CreliaandGoodwyncaughtgiantsonthreconsecutivecasts.