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Classic at Blue Cypress
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The "Classic" was held on Lake Blue Cypress on March 16 and 17. Here is my take on the site and the events that happened that weekend!
I want to thank our president and tournament director for this competition. Norn Whitten, you outdid yourself for this one The tournament, lodging, and weather were wonderful! The only sad thing we had to acknowledge was the mysterious missing three pounder you didn't bring to the scale, but more on that later on.
We met Friday at 9AM in Lake Wales for our customary breakfast before the tournament. Norm was smart enough to plan it there so we would be more than halfway to our destination which happened to be 111 miles east of Tampa. It's a long trip and the breakfast was a welcome interruption on our way.
Everybody got there at about the same time and we had good vittles and coffee and chatted up a storm. We drew boaters and non-boaters for both Saturday and Sunday. We had four boaters and two non-boaters so two boaters were solo each day and different boaters were solo each day as was the wishes of our club.
After breakfast we completed our journey past Yee Haw Junction (love that name) 6.7 miles east and then four miles down a bumpy road to Middleton's Fish Camp where we had three cabins reserved for us by Rod Martin. The cabins were on a canal and was reachable by both land and by sea. Rod unhooked his van and it was parked by the back door to the cabins for convenient trips to the local grocery and tackle stores.
We all agreed to prefish and the paired boater/non-boaters and solo fishermen spent the afternoon looking for fish. I was ready to call it a weekend after not finding any fish except grennels and gar, but chose to stay because I was having so much fun socializing with the gang. Good thing I did!
Friday evening we had sausages and peppers for supper and that was some good. We had all the condiments and potato salad and other stuff (I have CRS). We sat out on the veranda and talked seems like forever, but bedtime soon approached.
I roomed with John Fugate and was very tired so I tried to sleep, but to no avail. We had a long conversation our hunting days in Georgia (he still does) and all of the deer we saw and killed. I still miss hunting but my knees won't tolerate the long walks to deer stands any more so it was good to hear what John was doing in Georgia.
Got up at 5:30 AM and had sausage and egg biscuits and got ready for the days fishing.
I was solo Saturday and I am glad of that because it became a practice day for me as I had not done much on Friday. I began fishing where I had the previous year when we were last on this lake.
Let me stop right here and explain the absolutely beautiful weather we had all weekend. It was supposed to rain both days but all I got was a couple of spritzers of water. The weather was overcast and very pleasant. The best two days on a lake that I think I had ever experienced.
The added beauty of the lake itself was unreal. There are cypress trees everywhere and each on had an osprey nest in it with mated for life pairs of ospreys building nests and catching fish (better than I) and bringing twigs and sprigs of nesting material to the nests.
They would both talk to me as I went by there nests just to let me know that I was an unwanted guest too close to them. Some of the nests were only a few feet higher that I was in my boat. This went on all day long.
I had reports of 10, 12, and 14 foot alligators that the guys had seen all weekend. I wanted to film a gator close to my boat, but I thought I'd save that filming until Sunday. The old saying "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" certainly held true as I had no opportunity to film gators Sunday. My bad.
The weigh-in slip for Saturday told the tale of who did and who didn't. Rod Martin, our AOY was again first AND had big fish for the day. His partner, Rich Rybka, was second out of the same boat. Third was John Fugate. Fourth was Bill Poirier, Fifth was Norm Whitten. Sixth was George Close.
Norm would probably have been second if a three pounder he had caught earlier hadn't disappeared. His only thought was that, while he was culling a fish, the three decided to leave the live well without even saying goodbye. Sorry to hear that, Norm, but that has happened before, and should be a lesson to all to keep the live well lids cracked only as needed to add, cull, or check fish in them.
Saturday evening we had hamburgers, or more aptly, venison burgers that John Fugate brought from his recently killed deer. I'm telling you they were, in my humble opinion, the best burgers I had ever eaten. I don't know if it was the electric grill that Rod brought or the skillful way they were cooked,but ummmm ummmm good! Thank you John, for bringing those burgers.
I tried to stay awake Saturday evening but that didn't happen. I know John had the TV on for a while, but I didn't hear it at all. Good sleep!
Sunday I had Rich Rybka in the back of my boat, and I was worried that I couldn't him five fish to compliment his second place standing from day one.
We went back to the same place I had fished Saturday and began throwing baits to try and fill our creels. Again, the ospreys were talking and the gar and grennels were biting. To keep this short we did latch onto a pattern and did put five fish in each of our live wells. We also culled some of our fish as we caught eight bass each.
Dat two had Bill poirier catching the most weight, followed by Rich Rybka, Rod Martin, Norm Whitten, John Fugate, and George Close. Rich Rybka had big fish for Sunday.
When Norm combined weights for both days, the results were as follows:
first place and big fish for the "classic" was Rod Martin. Second place was Rich Rybka. Third place went to Bill Poirier. fourth place was Norm Whitten, Fifth place was John Fugate, and sixth was George Close.
We decided to eat supper where we ate breakfast on the way up to break the monotony of the drive home. I was happy with that as I was beginning to "drive by braille" drifting both off the road and into the bumpers in the middle of the road.
Had a good supper and was surprised to learn that Rod had generously paid for all of our food. Thank you, my friend, for that gesture.
Rod and Rich were concerned that I might fall asleep after leaving the restaurant so I assured them that I would pull over and nap if needed! I was fine the rest of the way home.
What a year it has been and oh so much fun with the bantering back and fourth. I think we are all blessed to be in this club and have so much fun in our travels.
The April meeting is dues time as well as the April tournament fees. If you are fishing in April It will cost you $65.00. Dues are $30.00 if you are not fishing.
The banquet in April 6th at Lake Seminole Park and begins at 12:30 PM, so bring your appetites and we will have some fun. Looking forward to seeing Bill and Sandy and Ken and Sue if you can make. Love to see you there.
God loves you and so do I,
Billy Basser
@nd Big Fish of the Classic by Rich Rybka
SWH April 2019
Dear anglers of the Clearwater Senior Bass Club,
I told Rod Martin I would be writing the April newsletter for SWH Chain of Lakes, but I did not mean for it to go into May. Here goes it anyway.
When I first heard about the weather for Friday and Saturday of the April tournament I was sure apprehensive about not getting to prefish even though I knew where I would be fishing.
I came over on Friday afternoon and got in about 1PM. I called John Fugate and told him I was in the room and that I saw his boat outside. I got comfortable and was resting about 2PM when the rains began to clean the boats, trucks, and the neighborhood.
It rained from 2PM to about 10PM or so. Not only was there rain, but very high winds. I do not like lightning, winds, or anything that would make it perilous for our fishing outing. I heard tell that Saturday would be better. Hah!
The six of us went to dinner at the San Diego restaurant in the front of Howard Johnson’s Motel. We usually go there Friday evening because it is close and there was good food and camaraderie to be had by all six of us.
Rich Rybka had been walking after dinner and ran into several anglers from the local Extreme Series Fishing Club. He said that there were seven boats in their tournament out of the same ramp that we were using. More anxiety!
We also heart that there was a sixty or seventy boat tournament out of the old Lake Shipp ramp and that they were the Lakeland Bassmasters fishing club. I know a few anglers in that club and know that they are great fishermen as a whole. They also compete in the regional national amateur tournament that sends a team of twelve to compete in the national tournaments. More anxiety!
I figured that there would be no chance of getting to fish my waters. What a relief when I went to my first spot and it wasn’t covered in boats.
We had breakfast at 5:30AM in the Howard Johnson’s continental breakfast bar. It was enough to get something in our bellies to at least get the morning off to a good start.
I went to Lake May, canal three and proceeded to catch two fish right off the beginning of a good day of fishing. My next three bites however were not so productive.
I can only tell you, as a result of my oversight that I lost three fish! I did not notice that the split ring on my Pop-R (middle of the bait) had loosed my treble hook and I was without it for the next two bites. I finally looked because the strikes were aggressive and I should not have lost the fish,
I changed to a different Pop-R after carefully checking for defects and caught the next bite I had. Please listen and learn! Check your line, knots, and the hooks on your top water and single hooks on your worm rigs. I know I’m preaching to the choir when I say this but it may help you catch a few more fish someday! Point Made!
Weather was better on Saturday. No rain, but cold and windy all day. I had my rain jacket on until about 2PM. That’s how hard it was to get my hands and torso warm during the day.
I came in and put by boat on the trailer and waited for all to arrive back at the ramp ON TIME! Rod Martin was 30 seconds from being late. Saturdays are busier and more boats are in the canals and people are out in their pleasure crafts and pontoon boats and they don’t much care if they impede our getting back to the ramp on time. Plan accordingly is all I’m saying.
I caught eight fish all day and missed the three in the above reference. I feel good about the fish I put in the boat and mourn the loss of the three I missed. It was a close tournament anyway.
I got back to the ramp and met up with Norm Whitten. It appeared to Norm that I was doing well and he couldn’t figure out why he was the only one who was tired. Believe me when I say I was tired as well. Just look where I put Rich Rybka‘s total weight on my fabricated sheet. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized what I had done and it changed the standings a bit.
Rod Martin began the year as he left off last year. First place AGAIN! He had five fish that weighed 8.10 pounds and led us again. Way to go my friend.
After the dust settled and I corrected my mistake it was Rich Rybka who finished second out of Rod’s boat with five fish weighing 7.96 pounds. Very impressive!
Third went to John Fugate who had three fish that weighed 7.90 pounds. He also had big fish of the day with a fish that weighed just under 5 pounds. Good catch, John.
I finished fourth, Norm Whitten finished fifth, and George Close finished sixth. Everybody caught and there were ZERO dead fish.
Speaking of George Close, he called me when he got to Georgia during his trip back to New York. They will be back down in October and I asked Marcia if George could get down here before the October Tournament so he could come out and play with his fishing friends.
We had a great banquet at Lake Seminole and we were surprised when Bob Stojanovic show up and had lunch with us. Good to see him there. It was also good to see Phyllis, Linda, Marcia, and Sharon at the banquet. We all had a good time and vowed to be seen next year at the same place and time. Norm and Linda always put on a great feast with some extra goodies from the rest of the team.
May is on the Hernando Chain of Lakes. We are staying at The Florida Motel in Inverness in, I hope, rooms 7 and 8. That is what I asked for.
A friend from Hudson has agreed to fish with me on Friday and he should be meeting us at Robin’s Country Kitchen at 7:30AM. Rich will fish with Norm if that’s ok with Norm. I had promised my friend that I would take him fishing and this is close to where he lives. Let me know if there are any problems with this arrangement.
Rod, the ramp is on US 41 in Hernando. When you come into Hernando stay in the right lane, It will dead end onto Orange Ave and you can call if you are having difficulty getting to us. I am sorry you won’t be there on Friday, but I understand fully, and God bless you on your upcoming surgery.
If you are feeling weak Saturday afternoon then we can probably have Rich drive you home, if he is willing, and then Norm can pick Rich at your place after dropping off your boat. I am assuming a lot here so if I need to follow you home and take Rich home after that then it will be done.
That is basically all I have to say at this time so I will see most of you at Robin’s on Friday. Be there or be square!
Billy Basser