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

We went to Demopolis Alabama for our April tournament only to find out that they were closing the ramp due to water rising to 6 feet over flood stage, so we moved to Lake Martin.

What a great decision to drive across Alabama at 2:30 a. m. in the fog to find Lake Martin high and heavy stained. As it turned out we caught more fish, had more limits than we had ever caught as a club.

On Saturday we had 9 seven fish limits at the scales. Reports were that crankbaits were the predominant bait, followed by everything else. I caught 30 bass on cranks, spinnerbait, shakey head, lizards, and buzz baits. My biggest on a spinnerbait almost 4 pounds. Rich Cornelius led the first day with 16.90 pounds, followed by Mack Cramer with 16.19 and Lee Brannon in third with 11.04. Mack and Rich fished spinners while Lee used a worm. Everyone caught fish on day one, even Cliff Armstrong who ran the length of the lake twice, once without his tackle, which was left in the truck.

Sunday the bite slowed some with only 4 limits. Rich remained in first with 5 fish giving him a total 11 fish and 27,85 pounds, Mack was second 13 fish 26.38 pounds and Billy Blackwell woke up 14 fish 22.51 pounds for third. Crankbaits were still high on the list along with spinnerbaits and buzzbaits for the leaders.

It was quite an adventure to travel as far as we did, and it took its toll Saturday night as we all crashed early. We do appreciate all of the support and understanding in having to deal with a tough situation. But as it turned out it was a great fishing weekend and the records will be hard to beat especially with the number of participants.