Dean Rojas on Pickwick today.......Long Story

[JoHa]

OK, so I took off from work today to do a little fishing at Pickwick and thought I might get a chance to see some of the Pros out on the lake. I got to the boat ramp a little later than normal (about 6:45 am) and I went to my favorite spring time Honey Hole.

Fished for about 2 hours in no hurry while watching tournament boats run past me at full throttle. Caught 7 or 8 fish with the biggest one about three pounds. I had only covered about half of the area I call my "Honey Hole", its not very big, with some of my favorite casting spots still untouched.

At precisely 9:17 a.m. a tounament boat pulls into my area about 30yds away. So I have a decision to make, what to do, move over and let him fish, or stand my ground and fish my spot. Since fishing is how he feeds his family, I put my rod down and trolled out to towards his boat and gestured with my hand that it was all his. I figured I'd watch him fish for awhile and when he leaves I would fish a little more then ride around and see where all the pros where fishing.

Well in the next FOUR hours I sat and watched him pick apart my Honey Hole and put together a 20 plus pound sack! I was close enough to him I could have casted one of his SPRO frogs and landed it on his deck. He went from being in 60th place after day 1, to a top twenty spot and less than 2 pounds away from the top 12.

We talked a few times during the day and he was very gracious and thankful. I'm glad he did good, but dang I hated watching him catch MY fish. He said he would be back in the morning. Dang, just DANG.

I don't really mind that he caught a good sack, but if he makes it to the top 12 and gets to fish the last day, Mark Zona will be on ESPN showing a map of my Honey Hole to the whole nation. The thought of that kinda makes my stomach quezy. Dang, just DANG.

[Big Bass Man]

That was cool of you to do that Joey!! Did you learn any new ways to catch those fish, in your area? If so, it could pay off in your next tourny.

[colreb2000]

That's cool....but I see what you mean about losing a honey hole.

[Derek B]

sounds like he showed you some new tricks about your hole... that was nice of you to let him have it. your good deed will be rewarded!

I doubt they'll show exactly where he's fishing


Modified by Derek B at 8:30 AM 4/8/2011

[JONHARDIN]

you did the right thing. last year most of the tv stuff was at the dam they did not cover the guy's that went down river much if any.

[JoHa]

I don't fish tournys because I'm usually tied up on the weekends, I do most of my fishing during the week. I'm self employed so it just kinda works out that way.



Modified by JoHa at 12:25 PM 4/9/2011

[Derek B]

was he catchin them mostly on a frog or jig?

[Lookn4five]

Heck I'm gonna be waiting to record where Zona talks about his honey hole on the map.........HAHAHAH . Kidding man!! Good thing for you to do that. You had a split second to make a decision and made the right choice. It always comes back around. Good luck in your Honey Hole

[APS]

if this honey hole is where he started at today, it's one of the biggest community holes on the lake!

[JoHa]

Where did he start today? If it was a community hole then he didn't go to my spot first. But he didn't show up yesterday until after 9:00 am.

[APS]

he started out in the pocket under the state line bridge and had 14lbs pretty quick

[JoHa]

Completely different spot. When he showed up yesterday he had zero fish. The first five he caught in front of me went straight to the live well, and then upgraded at least twice after that. I don't know if he was letting my spot rest early or what his plan was.

[JoHa]

just watched the weigh-in live on ESPN. Rojas only had just under 14lbs, looks liked he won't make the cut. Someone else may have got there before him.


Modified by JoHa at 12:27 PM 4/9/2011

[clm6741]

sounds like to me if you would have never told us this story we wouldnt know it was "your" honey hole.

I think you did the right thing man, I would have done the same.

[Kittycat2012]

I saw him today. I know exactly where he was!! Good thing I don't ever get time to come over there and fish the lake. What kind of boat do you have JoHa? I chased Ike all day long and it was the most exhausting thing I've ever done. Was Charlie Hartley around this honey hole today also?

[JoHa]

I talked to two people this afternoon who saw Rojas on the lake today. Neither time was he around where he was yesterday. One of them was my fishing buddy and he went to the spot around 9 or 10 this morning and said nobody was around. He fished it for about 30 mins and didn't get a bite.

This is not a spot to catch them on the beds, more of a staging area for pre spawn. Some of the anglers said during weighin today that conditions changed overnight and the bass where moving onto beds after the warm day yesterday and warm night last night. I dunno, I would have thought he would be back today.

At least Mark Zona won't show a map of it on ESPN.


Modified by JoHa at 12:28 PM 4/9/2011