It may be due to our competitive streak, but many bass fishermen love to just see how fast their boats will run. Because of this, it should be no surprise that the take-off at a tournament is one of our favorite parts of the day. Letting us go one boat at a time in sequential order sets up nicely for some good races up the lake. It is rare, though, we get situations where there are a bunch of guys making long runs in the same direction.
At Table Rock, we had just that scenario – bunches of guys running 50 or more miles in the same direction, snaking through the Ozark hills in 25 degree weather. Though it was a bit cold, once you see a boat throwing a rooster tail ahead of you, all you can think is “I need to catch that boat and pass it.” After all, they could be going to the same spot as you to fish.
Over three days of fishing, I got passed three times. Once by David Walker (he was hauling) and two times when I got caught in boat wakes. I ended up passing 17 others. A lot of guys will say they do not worry about that stuff, but they are either lying or have a slow boat. We are all too competitive not to worry about that.
My average speeds every morning when going over straight parts of the lake were clocked around 72-73 by my GPS, which is a bit slower than I had been running. But, that is due to the Red River’s contour and running through its sand bars with my prop. I am always happy when my partner’s first words when we stop begin with some expletive and end with “that was a RIDE!” I was successful all three days at Table Rock. Technically this has nothing to do with how many fish you catch, but getting there quicker does give you more time to fish and going fast while passing others gets your confidence going. And, yes, I am a big fan of Ricky Bobby.
There are times that it is smarter as a fisherman to take it a bit slower when getting to your first fishing spot. Big waters with wind and waves make you take it easy. It does no good to get to the fish quickly if you cannot fish effectively when you get there. You need to get there with your trolling motor and all other equipment in working order. It’s on a day like this where you really appreciate the mid-range power of your engine, as it helps you keep the nose of your boat up and allow you to stay dry. In fact, these are the times when I most appreciate having an Evinrude E-TEC; quick throttle response with the power to lift my boat allows me to navigate these rough waters without nosing the waves. You always have a better day when you start fishing with dry clothes. And, your partner is also much happier!
If given a choice, I would always choose to have a calm water run in the morning. Trust me, it is way more fun to “race” than it is to battle big waves. Unfortunately, we get no choice in what the weather does, but no matter what it is doing, I have 100 percent confidence that my Evinrude will do its job of getting me to my fish and back, thus putting the pressure of my performance on my personal fishing ability. That’s all I can ask for.
Now, it’s time to prepare for Lake Norman in Charlotte, N.C. Here are a few things I consider before I can start to think about the take-off.
