Sorry should be titled "Diehard fishermen".

Wow yesterday was the toughest, coldest,longest,wettest, and just flat out most miserable tournament ever. I saw the weather the night before and boy was the weather man off. It started off 40-50 degrees with a little drizzle. I grabbed my deer hunting pants and jacket and my boots and I felt okay at first. The temp fell fast, the drizzle turned into heavy rain, then sleet, then ice, and then snow, then all of the above mixed. The winds started off mild then picked up significantly and hit gust up to 40 mph.

I knew my club had some dedicated fisherman but didn't realize how dedicated. Would you believe 50+ people showed up. Water temp started about 44-46 degrees and ended up about 42-44 degrees.

At about noon I discovered my waterproof hunting gear was not 100% waterproof. I was drenched all the way through. If it wasn't for a little pocket we found somewhat out of the wind I don't think I would have made it. The whole time my partner and I keep reciting Ike's famous line " never give-up, never give-up".

My partner and I caught only two fish for 7lbs. I am not sure if I have ever been so proud of such a small sack in my life. It took everything in us to stay out there and keep fishing. The truth is our hands were so cold we probably didn't feel some of those light cold water bites.

I think just about half the people caught fish and weighed-in. I am pretty sure no one caught a limit. In my honest opinion if you stayed out and completed the tournament you are a winner in my book and a true diehard fisherman.

What is the worst tourney you have been a part of, and how does it compare?

Sorry for typos hard to proof read on my phone.

J-

New Year's day tx 2 years ago. Oldest son and i went downlake in a misty rain that turned into a full blown snow-squall by the time we got to first stop. Caught smallmouth all day deep but only one keeper. Think i slept for 2 days straight after that.

New Year's day tx 2 years ago. Oldest son and i went downlake in a misty rain that turned into a full blown snow-squall by the time we got to first stop. Caught smallmouth all day deep but only one keeper. Think i slept for 2 days straight after that.

WoW I guess you can relate. Not sure how many people can truly relate. There are a lot of fair weather fishermen but few truly diehard fishermen. I think it's great to push your limits and comfort zone once in awhile. It helps ya truly appreciate life and what you have.

J

Worst all around was in '06 (I think) on Lake Michigan out of Muskegon 34, rainy, windy with 3ft. waves. No fish and I totaly drained my TM batteries.

Worst weather was a few years later, same place, but it was snowing and the wind chill was 10-12 and the waves and wind were worse.  I called it quits after one smallie and 2 1/2 hours on the water.  If I were younger, I likely would have stayed out  'till weigh in.  Only five anglers did. Believe it or not, I actually got points in that tourney for that one 3.6lb. fish!

Coldest one I fished was on Table Rock in November. Temps started in the teens and barely eeked above 20. It sleeted and snowed sideways the entire day with the 25mph winds. I was very green to the tournament scene and had no quality cold weather gear. My coveralls were soaked through by about 10am, I've never been so cold in my life. I never caught a fish but my boater caught 3 keepers on a wiggle wart and won the thing.

 

Most miserable was at Patoka in Indiana at a Weekend Series Regional tournament. Fished for 2 days, most of it in downpour conditions and never very warm, and caught 5 fish with 1 keeper. Fishing was so terrible I almost made the final day cut with that one little keeper. I was a non boater and the 3 day winning weight on the non boater side was right around 10 pounds. 

Last year we left the dock with a known possible storm in the area later. What I didnt know was how intense it was. You dont realize how slow 25mph in a boat is until you try to outrun what looks like a tornado. I was a solid mile from the dock when the clouds started to roll in and I knew to leave. Half way back it looked as if the water was boiling, it felt like time stood still the wind had a lake not known for waves at 2' swells. The moment I tied up to the dock it started to dump like I have never seen. I flipped on the bilge pump and ran for the trailer. When I backed in I couldnt even see the ramp. Boat on the trailer, the bilge pump ran with the plug out it was raining so hard. 

 

They called the tournament and one guy didnt come back. No one could get him on the phone. Finally he answered, he never even stopped fishing... unreal.

There are few sports in this world that will still call it a go under these conditions. We should all be so proud! LOL  That being said I sure can't wait for the next tournament.  It should feel a little more like a spring tournament should, warm, a nice cool breeze, and some nice prespawn bass! 

 

Best wishes to all and tightlines always,

 

J-

Once out on Cedar Lake near Carbondale I was fishing with a buddy.  We watched storm clouds building and I suggested we go in.  My buddies like, "It'll miss us."  Boy was he wrong.  The wind wasn't strong but the lightning and thunder and rain was terrible.  We crouched on the edge of a cove and prayed.  Afterwards we were soaked but had survived.  The temperature must've dropped 15 degrees but the bluegill were biting so we continued to fish.   They were warmer than the air temperature so we began calling them "hand warmers".  We still do to this day.

February 22, 1975

Palo Gaucho Bayou Toledo Bend Reservoir

Water temp: low to mid 50s

Water depth: 6-8'

Cover: flooded timber

Lure: Stanley 3/8 oz, white skirt, double colorado charteuse

The whole week prior to the tournament was mostly cloudy, highs mid 60s & lows upper 40s. Saturday morning high 28, north west wind 15-17 mph, sleet. After 4-5 cast we had to stick our rods in the water to get the ice out of the eyes.

I had 15 bass for close to 50 lbs!

The worst I've ever been in was 21 degrees raining and I was wearing no rain suit. I last the whole time but it was tough.

The worst I've ever been in was 21 degrees raining and I was wearing no rain suit. I last the whole time but it was tough.

If it was 21 degrees shouldn't that rain turn into snow? I'm not to familiar with snow but I thought around 28-29degrees it starts snowing

Worst ever my dad and his new wifes father took me to a camp I had never been to with a small lake in the early Spring. It had been gorgeous out all week but muddy. I just took a light jacket mostly shorts and a pair of jeans. First day out lake temp dropped 7-12 degrees as the outside temp dropped 25 degrees down to 35 after it had been 60-70 all week. I caught the only fish of the weekend and my dad went to net it and the line was snapped by the net. Just absolutely rediculous. Wasn't a tournament, but my worst weekend out. Not too mention the bear had come out of hibernation by this point with the gorgeous weather we had and we had bear outside our cabin scratching the door and knocking over the garbage the first night and the second and third nights they never stopped circling the cabin. Bear honestly don't both me or them (do a lot of camping in old forge) but when you are sleeping in a log cabin you hear everything and it wasn't a cabin used in the winter so it wasn't really winterized so the wind blew through there all weekend. We never really did get warm and the third night I slept with in three feet of the wood stove. Thank god I was only 12-13 because now I'm not sure if I would make all 3 days. I like to sleep cold but don't want to spend all day in it.

If it was 21 degrees shouldn't that rain turn into snow? I'm not to familiar with snow but I thought around 28-29degrees it starts snowing

 

 

Also no that's not how snow works 3 of the last 4 years we have had thunder storms in the winter where it was under 32.

Also no that's not how snow works 3 of the last 4 years we have had thunder storms in the winter where it was under 32.

I've seen it snow when it was 38-40 degrees out also. I believe it has a lot more to do with the temps near the clouds but I'm no expert on the subject. Living in Kansas my entire life, I do know a thing or two about weird weather though 

Coldest I have ever fished was 35 degrees about 5 years ago.  Back in '06 we were out pond hopping and the rain started coming down in buckets.  About 2 hours later it turned to sleet.

The worst weather I have been in was the first tournament i have ever fished. It had been in the 80's all week then tournament day dropped to 39 with heavy rain and 30+mph winds all day. At one point it even hailed for a few minutes half the boats left but we stayed out all day.

J, you guys deffinitly deserve credit! I've been fishing them since the start 20+ years and that has to be the worst! Came in around 10:30 to get warm and dry the gloves hoping it would get a little better, it didn't!! Never went back out! I don't feel bad about a zero in the least!!

J, you guys deffinitly deserve credit! I've been fishing them since the start 20+ years and that has to be the worst! Came in around 10:30 to get warm and dry the gloves hoping it would get a little better, it didn't!! Never went back out! I don't feel bad about a zero in the least!!

 

I have a goal this year to make the classic so once I made the mistake of catching fish I knew I was in for the long hall.  I was feeling good early in the morning until I got soaked and started shaking.  It was a try learning experience, rubber duck suit hear I come.  Even though you didn't go back out you were still a team player since you stuck around for the weigh in, that was pretty awesome of you.

 

Tightlines Quanjig!

 

J-

My old bass club kicked off the season 2nd Saturday in feburary every year. Alabama isn't know for it's cold weather. But we had an ice storm the night before and the temperature was In the teens. I had been prefishing most of the week and catching them pretty good in the same cold weather. I had to borrow a lighter to thaw plug hole out so I could even get my plug in. I think it was 13-15 degrees at blast off and man you talking about cold!!! Anyway we take off run to out first spot slide a jig off the ice and boomp there he was 10 inch largemouth lol. Did end up catching a 4-8 spot and a 3 lb largemouth finishing in the money. One of the Yankee transplants and his partner blew it out with 4 spots for 15lbs on a float and fly.