Today was a tough day.
I found a spot in practice the other day and decided to take a chance on it. (I wish now I hadn't found it.) They were really in there and really biting. I thought I could find them today even with the cooling water temperatures. Unfortunately, in the morning I just couldn't make them bite, just couldn't make it happen no matter what I did. I was the only one there, too. It wasn't like I was fighting pressure.
I went back in the afternoon and the little bucks were moving in on it but that's all there was. I caught four that weighed 4 pounds, 4 ounces. You don't win with that kind of a bag in a Bassmaster Classic on the Red River. I just ran out of time. It's as simple as that; I ran out of time.
I could have fished other spots that had fish on them. I knew where they were and how to fish them. But there were a lot of boats on them and I didn't think they had the fish to win. I can't fish that way; it's not me. That's not my style. I took a chance on something else and it didn't pay off.
My strategy for tomorrow is to make a long run and go where I should have gone today. All I can hope for at this point is a really heavy bag. Obviously, if I going to fish my way back into this thing I've got to do something different.
I was swinging for the fences today. I had a couple of places to swing at and chose the wrong one. No excuses.
I do want to say something about the spectators, though. They're the best I've ever seen. They obviously know the water and couldn't have been more courteous. They stopped and dropped anchor way away from me and watched with binoculars. I really appreciate that. It means a lot when they have that kind of respect for us. They're the best.
