| Jason Baird "Maximum Performer" |
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Francis Case Reservoir 6/4/08 - 6/6/08 -- Lake Francis Case North Point Recreation Area, Lake Andes, SD
![]() Best of the Best - Jason Baird 1st Place
Tough Event to say the least, here is how it went down. Saturday to Lewis and Clark, not enough time to fish that day. Sunday, Dennis Hamel, Mark Hamel and I launched from the Springfield ramp and managed to find several good areas, for Largemouth Bass. Monday, Dennis, Mark and I put in way up river and had a blast catching Small Mouth Bass - Mark really put the "smack down" with his favorite lure - Spinnerbait - he was king of that day. During the team meeting around 7 pm, we were informed the lake had been changed and we would have until 2 pm to fish. The guys rallied together, some had the new lake on GPS chips and Cory Steckler had a river system map, so we all looked it over and made the 50 mile drive the following day. Tuesday: Fishing was pretty good and seemed that this water way had 10 times the number of fish vs. Lewis and Clark. Wednesday: Day 1 - I came in with a limit of fish along with Many other anglers from all the states. Thursday: Day 2 Jason held his lead and I was still in Second, but it was hard fought. I was lucky enough to enjoy Mother natures Wrath, with High winds, Heavy down pours and the single worst Hail storm to be caught out in, I have ever expereinced. My non boater "wade" was from Mississippi and When the bluish-green clouds showed up, I knew it was going to hurt. Wade and I did the only thing we could, sit down and the boat, cover our head with our Sterns life jackets (Thank God, I did have the mustang style on) and hold on. As we sat there being pummeled, by pea sized to quater sized hail and I could here from Wade, was "ouch", "ehh" and some other choice words, we won't cover. 3 minutes and it was over, seem like 3 hours. My Z20 looked like it had new White capert for about 20 minutes, until it all melted. Friday - Day 3 The day should most likely never happened, since the waves at take off were 5-6 footers and the 40 mph gusts hadn't even started yet! I have fished in crowds before but this was insane. At one point I counted 37 of the 48 boats in the take off cove. I wish I had taken picutures. As the morning went on, we watched boat after boat make attempts at leaving. I did work up enough inner desire to leave, but after we rode up the first monster wave, and came down, I couldn't see anything but water around me, then the 2nd wave, we crested it. I must have blacked out because I don't remember the 3rd one, other than my boat was full of water and we headed back to shelter, with the 36 other smart ones. I managed a moral victory, but landing my only keeper at 3 pm right before weigh in, and dropped to 3rd and missed the Nationals by less than 1 keeper fish.
![]() 4.9 lbs Biggest of Event Chris Scherbring
![]() Kerry with Nice Smallie Top 20 of 98 Anglers
Individual Kansas finish:
![]() Robert Cartlidge Headed to Nationals! Photos provided by David Simmons FLW Outdoors - Thanks David! ` |
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