Entry 224-3

Mark Rose Wins the FLW Pickwick Lake Tournament

Part 3: The Second Day of the Tournament

Question: What did you decide to do the second day of the tournament?

Rose: I wasn’t going to change anything on the second day after doing so well the first day. I really had the fish dialed-in, and I was leading the tournament with the pattern I had. So, there was no reason to change. As soon as I pulled up on my first spot, I caught four bass on the spoon, which gave me about 12 pounds. When the spoon-bite quit, I went back to fishing the Football Jig. The first two days of the tournament, this area had current early, up until about 8:00 am. I’d have 15 to 30 minutes those first two days of good early-morning fishing, while the bass were on top of the mussel bars. When the current stopped running, the fish would move to the sides and the ends of the bars, and I still could catch them on the Football Jig.

Also, on the first and the second day, Pickwick Lake had clouds and wind. With clouds, wind and current, the bass usually will bite really well, as they did for me the first 2 days. I had so much confidence in the Football Jig and the Rage Tail Craw that I started fishing them before the current was turned off on the second day.

Question: How much did those first four bass weigh?

Rose: They weighed about 12-pounds total. I finally caught my fifth fish on the Football Jig, and then I caught six or seven more fish, which let me cull one more fish. Then I went to the weigh-in site early. I was pulling these fish out of deep water and I was afraid I might have a problem with the fish dying. So, I came in to the weigh-in early. Right next to the ramp, before I weighed in, I caught a 3-1/2-pound smallmouth and was able to cull one more time.

Question: So, you had how much weight at the end of the second day?

Rose: I had 15 pounds, 15 ounces, and I was still in first place. I had a 6-pound lead going into the third day of the tournament.

Question: Have you ever had a chance to win this much money before in your life?

Rose: Yes, I took second place at one of the Wal-Mart Opens, winning $100,000. But I’d never won a major tournament before, although I’d placed second, third, fourth and every other place for which they give paychecks. I’d been close lots of times.

Question: When you were returning to your motel room after the second day of the tournament with a 6-pound lead, what were you thinking?

Rose: I was feeling pretty good. I was fishing as hard as I could and catching every fish I could catch. I was feeling confident and beginning to think I might have a chance to win.

 

Next: The Third Day of the Tournament

Contents:

• Part 1: Having Good Feelings
• Part 2: The First Day of the Tournament
• Part 3: The Second Day of the Tournament
• Part 4: The Third Day of the Tournament
• Part 5: The Last Day of the Tournament