Ontario B.A.S.S Nation Qualifier - 2nd place

Just got home, What a weekend! We went up to Lake Erie for the Ontario BASS Nation Qualifier. We were originally going to fish as high school students again and try to make the team, but found out we were too old for the program now so we had to fish as seniors. Going from a high school student to fishing against kids our age was a lot different than fishing as a non with all the seniors.. I was pretty pumped going into this event as I have never fished as a non before. The day before our tournament we were told we might not be able to fish the tournament because 4 boats backed out, and we were the last ones to sign up. Because of all the amazing guys from OBN, the local marina, all the boaters and volunteers, they got most of the boats fixed and ready for day one. There was an even amount of nons and boaters and me and Dan found out we were able to fish. We were pumpeeeed! Day one I drew Joey Turk. We started at a underwater point in about I0 feet and fished all the way in to about 3 feet. We caught lots of fish in the morning and had our limit before 9. We saw a couple big ones cruising but couldn't get them to bite. both our limits were small so we decided to move, fish deep and try to get some bigger bites. We tried to dropshot and drag tubes out deep but couldn't get anything to go so we went back in shallow to a big shoal. I was throwing a spinner bait and a decent fish followed me to the boat, so I dropped that rod, picked up a tube and the fish went right up to my bait, sniffed it then swam away close to a big boulder. I tried to through a senko and nothing... so I threw my tube back down, started to drag it and a fish picked it up. I set hook and a fish close to 5 jumped out of the water. I was so pumped because I caught the bigger one I didn't even see. I got lucky. If it weren't for that big fish, I would have had a small weight. I ended up weighing in just under 9 pounds for a three fish limit day one, sitting in I6th place. Big shoutout to Joey for the fun day on the water.

Went home, re tied all my leaders/knots and got ready for day 2. I figured that I would need at least ten pounds to make the team. Day 2 I drew Jeremy Baird. Jeremy Baird only got 4 pounds day one, but we figured them out day 2. We came up to Jeremy's first spot, and started to dropshot. We marked a big school underneath us, but they were all I2 inch fish. We gave it about half hour and left. We went to another spot with beautiful chunk rock and sand. We had a good feeling about the area. Within just a few minutes Jeremy lost one over 4 on a spinnerbait. It was a little cloudy in the morning and was harder to spot the fish below the boat so we were just trying to cover some water. I caught three half decent fish pretty quick, and got my limit early. I ended up getting one good one in the boat around 4 pounds and I had a good feeling I could make the team with the weight I had, but I needed 2 more good ones to seal the deal.. I was throwing a brown tube pretty much all day. I would long bomb it, let it hit bottom, drag it for about 5 feet, then reel in and cast again. I got most of my bigger fish doing this. The fish were so aggressive that if there was one there, it would hit within just a couple seconds. Almost every fish we sight fished we caught. I got lucky, we fished a big flat with lots of fish that were aggressive and were biting all day long. At one point I forgot I was even in a tournament! haha, it was honestly such a fun day on the water! The day panned out perfectly, and I ended up getting the weight I wanted. A HUGE thanks to Jeremy Baird for the fun day on the water. I ended up weighing II.5 pounds. I had a very good feeling I made the team, but I was hoping Danny got another good bag too. After day one, Danny was leading the event as a non with just over I2 pounds. We both wanted each other to do good so we could make the team together again like we did together as high school anglers. Danny got a decent bag day 2 and we both had a chance. I ended up climbing the leader board from I6th to 2nd place to make the team, and Danny also made the team coming in 4th. I did a lot better than I hoped and I was beyond excited. I would have never thought of making the Team 2 years in a row fishing the Highschool series then fishing as a non and making it again. I have been really lucky, and have had tons of support from tons of people. The list is ginormous. Thanks to everyone who has helped out and made this possible, especially my parents.

Team Ontario 20I6 has an awesome bunch of guys, and I am PUMPED for next years championship. 

Coop