My first tournament of the year.

[Wayne Ek]

Heading down to Okiboji (Iowa) for a bass tournament this weekend. This is the first of the season for me. Are there any other FM'ers fishing this tournament.

[AQUAJOE]

No, but I wish I was. What tournament series are you fishing? B.A.S.S?

I am going to Duluth to do some smelting for the first time.

[Matt Johnson]

Good luck Wayne! I know the panfish are biting pretty good down there right now

[Deitz Dittrich]

Best of luck to you bud!... go get a check and set the hook once for me!

[blakjack23]

Good luck Agape and please post the results of the tourney. I just got back from Okoboji Monday. I had never been down there before but wanted to get in some early bass fishing. Unfortunately Saturday there were 25+ MPH winds and Sunday it was raining all day. 6 guys, 3 boats and all we caught were some white bass and a walleye. I saw and talked to a few other guys who were prefishing for this weekends tourney and they weren't catching anything either. Water temps were around 55 on East and 48 on West. I'm very curious to see what happens in the tourney this weekend. FYI...there is a DNR hatchery right on East Okoboji that you can go in and check out....its pretty cool to see the tanks filled with monster muskies. Also, there is a place called Fishermans Factory Outlet in the city of Spirit Lake, lots of good deals to be had there.

[Pherris]

I will be there. Going down tomorrow and depending on the weather may get the boat in tomorrow afternoon/eve. I drive a red Ford Expedition and have a mica and red Ranger 520. Look forward to seeing fellow FM'ers.

[delmuts]

good luck with the tourney!!we have been having lots of wind lately! what color is mica???

[Pherris]

Which direction have the winds been blowing? Mica- the actual color is called Mica Mist and it is primarily a light gold with silver and black and gold flakes. The deck and stripes are Crimson Red mist which is a Dark maroonish Red with small sparkle flakes in it.

[Wayne Ek]

When I left we were in 10th place with other boats to weigh in. I heard 17+ won, all smallies. We caught fish everyday and on the tourny day we boated 23 fish, but with the 15" rule only two measured a 2 and 4 pounder. Hopefully this coming weekend for the Dennys will be better for us, fish Okiboji and Spirit.

[blakjack23]

Agape, which section of the lakes were you fishing? What were you catching the smallies on? How deep?

[Wayne Ek]

We started on the east lake and finished the last two hours on the west lake, Emerson Bay area (4 pounder came from that area) all the fish came off rocks or wood, in less than 2 feet of water. We had no smallies. During pre-fishing I put the camera down on the north end of the the west lake and saw a number of smallies, but I could not find any presentation that would trigger them. We went to the east lakes because of the water temps. and bite ratio to time where both higher than the west lake. I will be heading down on Thurs. for 2 more days of pre-fishing and then 2 tournament days. All I can say is retirement is very hard to deal with, you can not imagine the stress and hard work Deitz, you just keep working I don't want to subject you to this difficult life style

[Guest]

I use a 6'6 medium fast action spinning rod St. Croix Premier for all my soft plastics.. I use a 6'6 medium fast action baitcasting for all my hard plastics. I also use a 6' light fast for plastics too if I want a good fighting day..lol