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 ArmyBassAnglers Struggle on Tough Travis Lake6 March 2010 found ArmyBassAngler Pros Mike Garrett and Ron Seevers at Bass Champs Central on Lake Travis amongst a field of 180 anglers. Drawing number 68 the team blasted off in their trade mark Skeeter ZX 250 wrapped in Returning Heroes Home theme heading south toward the dam. After a quick chilly run they stopped at their first spot, a nice pocket, with a run-off in the back creating a waterfall. The moved quickly toward the back of the pocket, using spinnerbaits and medium diving crankbaits to cover water. All to no avail, they pulled up the trolling motor and headed off toward Jones Brothers Park. There, Seevers made the first hook up of the day on a Carolina rigged Lake Fork Trophy Lures Baby Creature bait, but the fish came unbuttoned near the boat. Ron was a little disheartened about losing the fish, but quickly picked up on the preferred bait color for the day. The team probed the small area and moved toward the back of the creek channel, where Seevers spotted a 2 pound cruisin near the edge of the bank in the skinny water. Flipping a jig in front of the fish he picked up the jig and Seevers set the hook horsing the fish into the boat. The team spent the next few hours looking for the clear water in the backs of the small creeks. The hunt would not last too long as they discovered a few cruisers in the back of another creek, of all things, that had yet another waterfall in the back. Garrett launched his jig toward the back and missed a fish; Seever followed up right behind him and hooked a short one. It was on! Garrett casted again and caught their second keeper of the day. Seevers said "if this keeps up we gonna have to go fish the Niagara Falls" as Garrett was laughing. Unfortunately, time was running short. So the decision was made to head back to the first area, and see if the water had warmed and turned on the fish. It turned out to be a good decision, but unfortunately they were not alone. As the team pulled into the intermediate point there was another competitor boat around the corner. The team dragged LFT Baby Ring Fries on light Carolina rigs, while talking to the other team as they worked the other bank. The other competitors had stated the bite was tough and they only had one. They talked of the little success they had when suddenly Mike hooked up with another keeper. The other competitor watched in awe as the team alternately caught seven fish off the point they had just passed. "Man you gotta love sticking fish right behind another competitor. Lucky for us we were armed with superior LFT products and equipment, thanks to our sponsors," stated Garrett. "Quality products really can make the difference in tough competition." Despite a lot of fish being landed the team finished in a respectable 46th place and securing some critical points. ArmyBassAnglers Jarod Shelton also fished the event making his second appearance since rejoining the team after returning from Iraq. But as Duty and Mission would have it, Shelton went out alone as his partner, MAJ Randy Sitz set up operations in Baghdad, Iraq. Jarod said, "I didn't realize how much I would miss Randy until my first cast." Jarod felt alone out there without his battle buddy. Jarod and Randy put together a great game plan for this time of year on Lake Travis. Earlier in February Randy had already caught fish in the back of some creeks up the river. Shelton took advantage of that, knowing the big fish would be pulling into the back of the creeks cruising. Shelton had only fished Travis once, so a very detailed map recon using Bing, Google Maps, and Navionics was a must. Shelton boated a lot of fish, including crappie and white bass. The boat traffic up the river and creeks was heavy do to the good fishing and locals catching whites. Jarod continued to search for creeks with big cruisers, and just couldn't find the mother load. "I just knew sooner or later I was going to catch a toad." As Hopes were high, Jarod went to the weigh in empty handed. "I think I was doing the right things, I just didn't put all the right factors together in the right places." That's how it's been going for Jarod and Randy this year, but coming up is LBJ. Jarod is hoping for an all out dock flipping slug fest. "I'm equipped with everything I need to catch big fish behind docks, I'm ready!" 180 teams would compete. 234 fish would be brought to the scales weighing 595.16 lbs. There were 17 limits and 90 zeroes with the avg fish weighing 2.54lbs. Total payout was $47,550.00. For more information on ArmyBassAnglers or how you can become apart of the Coalition Pro Staff, regardless of branch of service, visit ArmyBassAnglers.com. |
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