Sunday Aug. 27th I fished the final event in the Volunteer Division of the BassMaster Series.  The event was held on Old Hickory lake in Tennessee.  Sitting in 7th place in points and a dissapointing 15th on my home lake I was determined to make a good showing.  Old Hickory is a lake I have struggled on in the past.  I prefished in every weekend in August and the Friday before the tournament.  Most of the stuff I prefished was deep ledges, humps and points.  This lake is more known for shallow mill-foil and river grass or commonly called duck weed.  Most of it is 4ft or shallower and shallow is not my strong suit.  I decided early on to devote my time to deep water, 12ft to 25 ft.  I found quality fish the weekend before in about 20 to 25ft of water and several spots down the lake that was on ledges and drops on the main channel.  1 key factor to my success would have to be current.  The TVA would have to draw water thru the dams generators.  I was counting on at least 2 generators.  With our high temps I was sure it would happen.   I fished the Friday before the tournament and pulled in on my main spot and within a few casts with my Tru-Tung. jig caught a solid 19" fish.  My next cast I felt another heavy fish that I pulled on.  I quickly left and visited my other spots, catching keepers at each spot. Best 5 maybe 12lbs.  Most all fish were caught on the Tru-Tung. jig or a jig worm.

On race day I got to the ramp about 1hr early and had some breakfast with a few friends at the marina.  Unfortunately I drew take-off number 43 out of 47, not too happy about that.  My partner, Bob P. from Memphis, TN was prepared to make our 1st run of 5 mins. I was hoping for Sunny skies and no wind as forcast but that did not happen either.  Cloud cover and a good breaze out of the east was going to hamper my plans.  As I was coming around a point in Cedar Creek I seen a boat on my 1st spot.  I decided to stop short and fish some shallow grass and hopefully he would leave soon.  I got bit on a 3/8 oz Tru-Tung. jig, it was a heavy fish but lohe came unbuttoned 1/2 back to the boat.  Not sure what it was but it was a good one. I got bit again shortly thereafter only to loose the fish at the boat. It was a solid keeper. I continued to watch the boater on my spot. Unfortunately all I could do was watch him catch 3 good fish and put them in the box.  I pulled up by him and started a little small talk.  I nearly cried when he pulled out the 3 fish, one about 5lbs and 2 others about 2lbs each.  Easily 8-9 lbs off my 1st spot.  As you can tell I was not happy and at that point discouraged. I stayed in Cedar creek without a keeper for about 4 hours, that was mistake number 1.   My next stop was much better.  It was a small ledge about 10 foot long, went from 3ft on the top and broke into 30 foot in a stair step fashion.  I tried my 3/8 jig and nothing.  I pulled out my DT 14 and caught a couple short fish so I knew there were fish here.  I down sized to a 3/16 oz jig and a jr chunk trailer. That caught my 1st fish of around 2lbs.  My next cast got me a 13" KY Spot.  I then caught a few more dinks and a couple short smallies.  I was hoping for one of them 5 lb smallies.  I got the big bite but not what I was looking for.  I set the hook and knew it was a big fish.  As I was running around the boat my foot slipped off the deck and I wound up ripping my shorts nearly off. NOT a good thing.  While fighting this 12-14 lb flat head cat fish I had drew a few ladies on a couple jet skis.  With fish in hand they started clapping and cheering with whistles. I thought I had a few new fans until my partner pointed out my shorts were nearly ripped off and my red boxers where showing.    I had to wear my rain suit pants the rest of the day in 95 degree heat. Man was that hot! 

With noon now nearing and supposedly the generators were to be turned on at noon I headed to the damn. Mistake number 2!  They changed the shedule and never turned the generators on and that meant no current and no fish.  We then made the 45 minute run at 60mph back to the launch site.  Boat traffic heavy, rough water means we kinda got beat up a little bit on the way back.  We stoped by a local hole called the pond.  No fish there and I was pretty beat up with only 2 fish.  I told Bob I knew of 1 place that I had caught big fish before but we would only have about 2 minutes to fish it.  So we decided to run and gun. We shot to the rock pile on the edge of a ledge that I have fished.  I pitched my jig up on the edge and got bit. It turned out to be a solid 4lb fish.  I made a few more casts and we had to run.  We managed to make it back to the check point with less then 1 minute to go.

I managed 3 fish for 7.1 lbs. and was not happy.  I knew I lost 2 good fish that would have gave me 10 to 12 lbs and a much better finish.  Foturnately my few mistakes was not a total loss.  It was a tough day for all and I managed a 11th place finish and a check.  With that 11th place finish it moved me to 4th place in the Vols points race.  I had my chance to win it and did not get it done.  I will take what I have learned to Lake Eufaula Alabama for the Regional Championships in November.  With $50,000 on the line there will be no room for mistakes.

Billy Harris
www.billyharrisbasspro.com

        

 

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