Those who haven’t read the “JB Story” needs to read it. It needs to be read to all church youth groups, all youth groups, all races will surely benefit from it. What it’s about? A mother, father, and their son, who, after suffering a brain injury, shot himself with a 32 caliber pistol temple to temple and lived. I enjoyed shaking hands with them and him at the HOPE Bass Tournament on Saterday where Matt Baty and Chris Blackman weighed in over 25 pounds to win first place. David Howell and Mickey Roach had Big Fish with 6.87 lbs.
Pam Martin-Wells finished 5th in the last tournament of the year on Old Hickory, 24 points in the lead, with one more to go at Red River in Shreveport, LA. If she can hold her lead in that one, she will fish the Bassmaster Classic in Birmingham, AL in 2010.
I have to admit that the big lizards has had the headlines, well, them and Hybrids.
The biggest gator we had this week was 13 feet, 2 inch, caught by Jeff and Joe McDaniel from Jacksonville, IL. They went out with guide Capt. Phil Walters. Steve Wagner and Jason, of Covington, GA came in with one at 12 feet. Stan and Mike Riggs of Columbus, GA came in with an 8 footer. There were several more, but we didn’t get the info on them.
Wednesday, 3 men fishen for Hybrids limited with Hybrids up to 13 lbs. The good thing was, they were all released to swim again. On Friday, Jim Davis of Thomasville, GA, landed 19 by noon with his partner. Saterday morning they schooled above Ten Mile Still Landing. They stayed up bout 5 minutes, but no one got to them in time. Next time they were sighted, they were at the mouth of Butler’s Creek.
Bass was fair to middlin’ on Top Water Baits and Scum Frogs. Some good stuff has been landed this week, but we think it will improve a lot better this week.
Crappie was fair, but Catfish was better. Wigglers did best, but cut Mullet did OK.
Bream and Shellcrackers has slowed down to a dry drizzle.
Since we here at Wingate’s ran the longest running Carp Shoot with bows, (24 years), this bit of info appealed to me. Bowfishing Clubs of Illinois competed in the State Bowfishing Tournament at Henry, IL. Thirty-one boats showed up with 100 shooters, 15 to 18,000 head of Carp was taken with a total weight of 10.4 tons of fish.
Chris Blackman and Matt Baty, winners of the HOPE Benefit Bass Tournament held out of Wingate’s Lunker Lodge on Saturday, with some of their 25 + lbs. of Bass. 
