I was introduced to the Baby Craw by Big O when it first debuted. We were on a
BassResource Roadtrip at Pickwick. Most of us arrived Saturday afternoon for
the Welcome Party, anxious to get on the lake Sunday morning.
I was awakened a little before 4:00 AM to horrendous lightening and thunder.
Turned on the tube to find we were under a TORNADO WARNING, not a watch.
No place to hide so I decided to leave the guys alone. Our cabin was the gathering
center so as people rose, the crowd grew.
The storm was hurricane force, eventually dumping 18" of rain throughout the
region raising the lake by 9'. It wasn't just the rain, lightening was strong and
constant throughout the day, tornado watches were in effect all day. By 6:00
most of the guys were up when two of our soldiers showed up.
These guys were just back from their third tour in Iraq. They asked me what
we were going to do. I replied "We're going to drink coffee and smoke cigarettes
until 10:00, then it's time for beer." Well, that's when Big O showed up.
This was my cabin and I was "kinda" in charge, but no one is in charge of Big O.
First thing he says is "Who's going fishing?" If I was really in charge, the answer
would have been "Nobody". It was dangerous just standing on the patio.
Well, the soldiers had not come around the world to be stuck in a cabin. They
were ready and they were the only guys that left. The three of them were putting
in around 7:00, but the storm had strengthened and a tornado was literally bearing
down on us. The tornado took a turn, but the hard rain continued.
So, we'll fast forward to 5:00 PM. Everyone is worried about our boys and then
the three drowned rats showed up...with smiles from ear to ear. The United States
Army had two Personal Bests and 144 smallmouth! That's when the rest of us
discovered the Rage Tail Baby Craw.