Americana Outdoors E-magazine - June 2017

Thespotisabouta3-acreareaonthesouthend,"Pateexplained."It'salitleridgeinabout 12to14feetthathastrashonthebotom. Itlookedlikeacombinationoftires, metal, rockand dilapidatedpiers.Thekeywasthatithadahardbotom.” Ondayone,PateandRoweboxedafive-fishlimitof4-poundersby1a.m.anddecidedtolet thespotrest.Today,theyfishedithardandimprovedtheircatchtonearly25pounds.At1:45 today,Roweboateda51/2-pounderthaterasedaldoubts. "ItoldTedthatIthinkit'sover,butitwouldbeniceifwegotonemore,"recaledRowe."Right afterthatit,Icaughtthebigone.Andhehadanevenbiggeronethatbrokehimof.Wecould havehadover27pounds." Pateexplainedthattheareahadthreesweetspotsthattheywouldrotatebetween.Theearly morningbitewasgoodanditwouldpickupagainaround1:30p.m.Altheirfishwerecaught ona101/2-inchZoomOl'Monsterinredbugcolor.Inwindyconditions,theyfisheditTex- as-riggedwitha1/2-ouncetungstenweight.Incalmconditions,theyemployeda3/16-ounce weight. "We'reoldandwecaughtthemoldschool,"quippedthe59-year-oldPate."Ilikefishingdeep; it'swhatIdo.Yesterdaywewerehoppingthewormandtodaywehadtodragitonthebotom."

Ondayone,PateandRowecaughtsixkeepersandtodaytheymanagedeight.

"Wedidn'tcatchawholebunchoffish;theywerejustqualityfish,"Patesaid."Yesterdaywe caughtal4-poundersandtodaywehadthreethatwereover5pounds.Wewerejustbeing realypatientandwaitingforthosebitestocome." Withanofficialweightof44.50pounds,PateandRoweclaimedaRangerZ519cwitha 225-horsepowerEvinrudeG2,plus$1,605ofAnglersAdvantagecash.

"Anytimeyouwin,it'sagreatfeeling,espe- cialyagainstthecaliberthat'southere today,"saidPate."Thisisaspecialone." "I'vewononthislakeafewtimes,"said Rowe."Butit'salwaysbeenwith30or32 pounds.Thiswaspretyunusual.Some- timesthegoodLordsmilesonyou.This morningIknewtheonlythingthatwould preventusfrom catchingthem waswind andstorms.Wehadstormsaroundusal daybuttheywentnorthandsouth.Some- timesthingsaremeanttobe."