~ Tournament Winner ~ Mack Cramer 5 Fish - 7.25 lbs

~ Tournament Big Fish ~ Tony Boyett 3.60 lbs.

Also Fished
Ron Fairbanks
(Guest)
E.W. Coombs

~ Tensaw River ~

July found the Hawg Hunters looking for bass in the Tensaw River, out of Cliff's Landing.
The weather was hot during the day with highs near 90. The water temp ranged from about 82 in the morning to near 88 at midday. Overcast skies were the ticket for most of the morning, giving way to bright sunshine by noon, and returning to cloudy by 1:00 PM, and ending with a cloudburst of rain at 2:00 PM. The water color was muddy in the main river both up and downstream. Most of the creeks in the upper areas were muddy while many of the southernmost creeks were clearing.

I was drawn out as a non-boater for this tournament and fished with Brian Metcalf.
Brian and I have fished together on several occasions and really had a good time, so I knew that we'd have an enjoyable day on the water. Brian has also been Fisherman of the Year for the last 3 consecutive years and is currently leading the pack. We headed south for the day and wound up in the Oak Bayou/Sand Creek area. We fished small feeder guts and main creek edges.
We both started with top water baits early and right off the bat I hooked up with a heavy fish on a shad puppy. Unfortunately it turned out to be about a 3-4 lb gar. Soon after that Brian hooked up with a nice keeper on a buzz bait. We both threw buzz baits most of the morning I caught the shorts and Brian caught the keepers. Brian had his limit by 9:00 AM and I had only 2 to show.
By the end of the day Brian was able to cull one fish to help his limit and I wound up with 4 keepers.
Our fish were on grass lines and came on buzz baits, flukes (shad puppies), and worms (flipping/pitching). During the day we each caught numbers of fish but most of them were short.
We also had many fish short-strike our baits.

As weigh in time neared we headed for an area near the ramp. We were lucky to be close,
because no sooner than getting there, a nasty squall blew up with high winds and horizontal rain.
Anyone who had to run through that mess to get in, really got soaked.
In fact we got soaked just trying to load the boat and get out of the storm.

After a rain (monsoon) delay, we gathered around the scales to view the days catch.
Most of the guys looked like wet rats (or maybe that was just EW). Most everyone caught fish and had something to show at the scales. There was the usual talk of the big one that got away and on the numerous small fish caught. If all those small one ever grow up the delta will have a bumper crop of good keepers. Mac Cramer took first place honors with 5 fish weighing 7.25 lbs.
He fished in the Tensaw Lake area and caught his fish on worms. Fred Raby was second with 5 fish weighing 6.65 lbs. He fished creek and lakes on the lower end and caught most of his fish on top water lures. Brian Metcalf was 3rd with 5 fish weighing 6.40 lbs.
As I said earlier we fished the Oak Bayou/Sand Creek area. Rich Cornelius showed up in 4th place with 3 fish for 5.05 lbs. I think he caught his fish in (Ron take note!), McReynold's Lake on worms.
Big fish was ONCE AGAIN won by Tony Boyette. He had a nice 3.60 bucket mouth to take lunker honors. That's like 3 in a row Tony. Wow, way to go!!! Most of the keeper fish were caught early but anglers reported the bite stayed steady through mid-morning.

Our August tournament will be on the Blackwater River out of Carpenter's Park. I just hope the local floods will abate so the water in the smaller rivers can find some banks. Blackwater can be tough enough when it is in good shape, but it may well be mean if the waters stay muddy and high.
Til next time***


Keep your hooks sharp!!!

Creek Chub