Had a local club tournamant this past friday evening. We had 12 boats and we fished a small 200+ acre lake. We do an evening 4 hour shootout on fridays from 6pm to 10pm throughout the summer with bigger tournaments in the spring and fall. Missed winning it and the winner take all pot by exactly one ounce. Bright side is that it is my third straight top 3 finish and my 4th straight top 5. I feel like i’m getting close. I have learned so much and have grown as an angler by fishing a little bit competitively even if it is only at the local level. 

Congrats. You did a great job.

 

Be patient. You will nail that victory, soon.

I missed one this spring that I thought I had knocked out of the park by .04 ounces. Twice I lost that fish that would have won it for me but didn't think much of it because it usually only takes about half the weight I had to win, I've seen 1 fish win on that lake plenty of times and I had 5 and culled a few times. Did get big bass though, so I got some money out of the deal. Sometimes those near misses hurt worse than when you miss completely. 

My brother fell short for the Lunker Smallmouth this weekend by .02 lbs.

 

4.77 lbs vs. 4.79 lbs

 

I've lost one by an ounce and big bass by 2 in the same tournament. 

It makes me want to win that much more..

Tied for 2nd in the last tourney I fished. The tie breaker was our biggest fish 3.1lb....the other 2nd place team, also 3.1lb. We just decided to split the money after that.

 

My brother and I have had several 2nd and 3rd place finishes, still chasing that number 1. 

Makes the fire burn hotter.  Makes you fish harder.  Makes you consentrate more.