Going After Deitz's Dollar...

[Matt Johnson]

I made it out today with Jemery Cole and we met Deitz Dittrich out on the water. After a friendly bet was made (dollar for biggest bass ), Deitz went one way and Jeremy and I went the other...

The morning started off good with a nice 2.7 pounder caught off a midlake hump that fell victim to a Junebug Comida stupid-rigged with a 4/0 Mustad worm hook...

At this point I'm feeling pretty good, at least since it was only 20 minutes into the day and we were in the lead Only problem was that I knew 2.7 pounds was not going to beat Mr. Dittrich, so it was back focusing on landing another largie.

After Jemery and I hooked into a few more fish (all under the 2.7 pound mark), we soon got word from the Deitz-man that he had boated a 2.9 pounder. "That punk hooked a good one!" which is pretty-much what Jeremy said

So again, back to focusing on landing another bass… one that had to beat 2.9 pounds. We moved away from our deep water spot and decided to hit some different structure in search of one big fish. The numbers spots were producing, but we couldn't hit that 3 pound mark. So, onto the nearest set of deeper water docks.

The set of docks were scattered and not too close together, but I liked the fact that the sun was at the perfect height to cast a nice big shadow off every pontoon, which made a nice comfort zone for a big summertime bass.

Switching tactics a bit I rigged up one of the new 2/0 Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap hooks with a Fire and Ice Exude Comida. A perfect Wacky-rigging approach for pitching docks. I fired that bad-boy up alongside the first shady area of the nearest dock and let the Comida settle. It wasn’t but a second and the line snapped across the surface and I set the hook into what felt like a cinderblock, only it hauled tail out under the boat. My first instinct was a pike, but then I felt the fish make a hard dash towards the surface and I knew I hooked into a nice bass. A couple flops and splashes later, I landed a 3.9 pound bass…

And after a quick phone call to Deitz Jeremy and I continued along that stretch of docks.

At this point I figured we had the dollar bill, but I underestimated Deitz once again and my phone rang about 30 minutes later and I hesitated to answer it when I saw it was Deitz. “Looks like we’re tied at 3.9 pounds.” Sure enough, Deitz came through and tied things up with another nice bass.

Now with time winding down, I realized my shot at that notorious dollar bill was slipping away. The bass were still willing to play, but the size still kept falling short.

Our two boats finished the day on the water by working over the same piece of structure, just yards from each other, in hopes of hooking that one last kicker to put one of us over the edge… but, time got the best of us and we ended up calling it a draw.

Overall it was a fun day, and we caught fish on several different locations, ranging anywhere from 1 foot of water along shallow shorelines all the way to 12 foot breaks off mainlake points, and literally everywhere in between.

The Exude Comida proved to be the lure of choice, and we rigged it several different ways: Wacky-rigged… stupid-rigged… on a football jig… on a plain worm-hook… the options for this plastic is endless!!

I had great company on the water and it’s always a pleasure learning a few things from Deitz and getting a chance to see how he attacks a lake. It seemed like he caught 2-to-1 on fish when we worked over the same spots, but I thought my 3.9 pounder was going to take the cake.

Oh well, maybe someday I’ll eventually get Deitz’s dollar

[ocf]

nice try how ironic that you guys tied

[Deitz Dittrich]

it was a very fun day!... I could not get my fish to hit that 4 lb mark to break that tie.. I thought I had it.

Very fun day with lots of fish. The fish finally seemed to be doing a bit of schooling. Every area I was able to pull a fish off of gave up at least 2-3 fish and as many as 5 fish without moving the boat. I did break one fish off(didn't re-tie enough) that may have cost me the win. I never did see the fish and it could have been a pike, so no way of knowing.

FYI, I caught the majority of my big fish on a Football jig(roll-r-rock). and a few carolina rigging(stupid rigging) and most of the numbers fish on a redshad worm texas rigged.

Nice picts Matt!

[Mr. Pike1]

Matt, that was an excellent post and a great story of a day on the water

[garage_logician]

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The Exude Comida proved to be the lure of choice, and we rigged it several different ways: Wacky-rigged… stupid-rigged… on a football jig… on a plain worm-hook… the options for this plastic is endless!!

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Can I ask, what is stupid-rigged?

-Gary

[Mr. Pike1]

Stupid riggin is Carolina rigged

[garage_logician]

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Stupid riggin is Carolina rigged

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Ahh, thanks. Is there a reason why it is also called stupid-rigging?

-Gary

[outdoor ran]

Matt, good story and pics. Next time you take him on tell him its the biggest bluegill for the buck

[harvey lee]

Great story Matt.Looks like it might be tough to get that dollar from the Dietz man.

[Ole the Guide]

Hey now,

Bragging rights!

Last year I ended up with a DD! (Deitz Dollar) I still have it sitting by my computer and waiting for the day I might have to give it back!

On the serious side Deitz: You have taught me a lot about fishing these past few years and I would really like to have the chance to give it back to you real soon! Let's go fishing!

Ole

PS.. My nose has healed up since our last trip. I quit using trailer hooks! Ha!

[TurnUpTheFishing]

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Ahh, thanks. Is there a reason why it is also called stupid-rigging?

-Gary

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A 'stupid rig' is a split shot rig which is similiar to a carolina rig. A split shot rig is one which has a plastic bait rigged up and then a slit shot is attached at the desired depth, usually a foot or two above the plastic. Its a little simpler to rig up since you dont have the leader, glass, brass and swivel.

[Deitz Dittrich]

THanks TurnUP-

Correct.. a stupid rig is more of a splitshot rig than a carolina rig. The main difference between the 2 is that a stupid rig is like an in-between of them.. Slightly heavier weight than a splitshot(split shot is more of a finess rig, small plastics, light line, light weight and use a split shot for the weight) a carolina rig is usually a much heavier weight(1oz common) and the weight is sliding and quite usually a longer leader(2feet).. a stupid rig is somethinga bud of mine came up with..he wanted to call it a smart rig... its a bull shot sinker(crimp on) but lighter(3/16th or 1/4 oz most of the time.. .and its not really a finess rig.. I use 14 lb line and larger plastics...

The reason I call it stupid rigging..is...... Its a stupid way to fish.. you cast it out and drag it back as slow as you possibly can...if you think your doing it to fast you probably are.. and if you think your doing it too slow.. your probably not.. Its stupid.. but it catches fish!

[garage_logician]

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Ahh, thanks. Is there a reason why it is also called stupid-rigging?

-Gary

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A 'stupid rig' is a split shot rig which is similiar to a carolina rig. A split shot rig is one which has a plastic bait rigged up and then a slit shot is attached at the desired depth, usually a foot or two above the plastic. Its a little simpler to rig up since you dont have the leader, glass, brass and swivel.

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Ahh, cool. Kind of a hybrid Carolina/Drop shot rig. I may have to try it out next time I hit the water. :-)

[Deitz Dittrich]

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Ahh, cool. Kind of a hybrid Carolina/Drop shot rig. I may have to try it out next time I hit the water. :-)

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No not really... read the above post again.. that is what stupid rig is.

[Matt Johnson]

The "Stupid Rig"...

[garage_logician]

Thanks Matt! :-) Another tactic to add to the arsenal...