"Fred's Club Report"
Covering The Panhandle Bass Club
Email fpraby@cox.net

Panhandle Bass Club fished its August Tournament on the Choctawhatchee River at Ebro, Florida. We had 16 members and 3 guests fishing the tournament. The water level was just a little high and had a fairly heavy stain with a strong current. The weather was very cooperative as a weak cold front came through on Friday evening making Saturday fishing almost comfortable until about 11:00am.

Several people prefished either the weekend before or on Friday with mixed reports. However soft plastics were the baits of choice for those catching fish.

We launched on the mid section of the river out of Simplers landing. This gave the option of either fishing up or down the river. Most competitors ran up some having their secret spots, some just looking for fishable water to start.

Tony and I were partnered and had found fish Friday in the swift current working the heavy timber. We felt very confident that we could continue that pattern and both bring in a limit of fish, however Saturday gave us different conditions. The water had cleared some, and dropped about a foot. As we worked our 'pattern' we found no fish, soon we came to a gut with river current flowing into it. We fished the mouth and worked our way back into it but nothing. When we turned and started out we both hooked up. With that information we worked similar areas up and down the river and managed to put seven keeper fish in the boat all on plastic worms, black grape.

At weigh in I was pleased to see that everyone had caught fish! That is always a sign of a good tournament. Only two limits were weighed in, Rich and Billy, and it was down hill form there. Third place was taken by Wayne Thomley with 7.14 pounds 4 fish, second went to Rich with a limit of 5 weighing 8.22 . Billy took top honors with 5 fish at 9.57 pounds and also had big fish 2.93.

All in all it was a good tournament and I think everyone enjoyed the site. This was our first tournament on Choctawhatchee but I do not feel like it will be our last. There were no major incidents, however Frank Kelly did lose a tire on the way home.

Keep Your Line Wet!!
Fred