The RCL Experience

[jerry]

Just wanted to take a moment to reflect on last week's RCL at Port Clinton, Ohio.

Overall, I would encourage anyone interested in an opportunity to learn and earn on the water to give it a try. This tournament circuit is being run by professionals who have been in the tournament business for 15 years or more. They go out of their way to promote safety on the water and still give the opportunity to compete.

My first day I was paired with Jeff Taege from Rhinelander. Both a great guy and pro angler. We fished North of Niagra Reef pulling cranks behind boards. We totalled 33.6 lbs on day one. Day two was cancelled due to high winds, so the top 60 (we were 50th) advanced to the semifinals. On day three, we were held till 10 am due to still windy conditions. So, with only 5 hours to fish, Jefff Taege and I started to look for clearer water. We found a mudline NW of Kelley's Island and setup to troll. First pass brought a 10.2, next was an 8 and 7, then last pass a 7 and 6. We headed back in, getting in just before the 3 pm deadline. We had 38.2 lbs, moving us into first place for day 3.
Our expectations were high for the finals and we immediately got a 9 on the first pass. Next pass, we got a 4 and a 6. Then we didn't get another fish till 1:30, and none of them were the big spawned out females we needed. We ended up with a 5 fish tourney limit of 26lbs 14 ozs., finishing ninth.

I'm pleased to say I took home a check, but that wasn't the best part of this tournament. First off, I met some of the people I have had the opportunity to talk with at the Walleye Central chat. People like Chairman and his wife Marilyn, Airwave, ETT, Den, Juls and Sheila Ryan made this trip more enjoyable. I'm trying to figure out a way to make it to the WC outing in November.

Next, the opportunity to meet, talk to, and fish with these pros was a huge plus. I was staying in the same hotel with Mike Gofron, Mark Brumbaugh, Ross Grothe, Sam Anderson, Dave Anderson, and Bruce DeShano. It was great talking to these guys, learning their on the water strategies and approaches to different types of water. Priceless information which would take me years to learn on my own.

Overall, a great experience. I encourage anyone interested in fishing this circuit to call operation bass or check it out on their website: www.operationbass.com.

[jerry]

One more thing: We all stayed at the Holiday Village Resort. If you're planning on taking a trip to thus area, call Doug Alexander at 419-797-4732 or 1-800-493-7003. First rate accomodations and a 5 boat fleet of charters are available through Doug.

[800proX]

jerry

thanks for all the info on your experience. as i stated in previous posts, it sure seems like no one has said ONE bad thing abou the RCL, and am looking forward to the final 3 events, and hopefully GB ;-)

did you prefish the tourney, and if so did you hook up ahead of time or at the docks. i have a few irons in the fire for LaCrosse, but wondering how you did it. also, what did you do in the way of gratuity towards the pros - what is the general rule if there is any. one last thing, catching them off planers, did the pro always land fish and you net?

thanks again for your info and glad to see you did so well.

jeff

[Juls_WI]

I agree Jerry, the Holiday Village Resort was a great place to stay. Not only do Doug and Kim have a beautiful place, but they strive to meet all the needs of everyone staying there. Anything you needed you got. This is the first time I have taken my beast Jack with me where I could have him taken out during the day to go pee while I'm out fishing! I tried to bribe them with 20 bucks to do this,and I was refused! They said they would be happy to let Jack out during the day. I have never been treated so well at a hotel/motel or resort before, than I was at the Holiday Villagen Resort.
If anyone is looking for a place to stay in Port Clinton, this is it!

Jeff,
Jerry didn't make it in town early enough to prefish, but a lot of us were there early. We had made arrangements ahead of time with some of our friends. One way to find a ride before tourney day is to go to the hotels and motels that the pros are staying at and meet them out by the boats (they are usually working on them during the evenings), and just ask around. They will tell you if they are available or will know of someone that might be looking for a partner the next day. The best bet though, is to email some of the pros before going to the location, and find out if you can get a ride, or if they know of anyone that can use an extra person for prefishing.
As for your question about pros and planer boards...in my case, my pro, Chris Bahl, asked me which I preferred to do, and I chose reeling in the fish while he netted them. It worked out great!
For gratuities, we are not required to give any, but I told my pro that I would give him a buck-o-pound for gas. We landed 35 pounds of fish the first day, so I paid him 35 bucks. The second time we fished together, we zeroed, but I handed him 40 bucks anyway for the fun day on the water. He refused it saying, "we had a deal". It all comes down to how much fun you make it for yourself and your pro. Just keep in mind that all final decisions are the pros, and that you are there to help him win. If you place high in the ranks, then that is icing on the cake. If you don't then be happy with knowing you did everything in your power to help your pros. On the co angler side of a pro/am it is always the "luck of the draw". Nothing else. Just try to learn something new and have fun each time out.
Chris Bahl was a super guy to spend the day in the boat with, and I got lucky and spent two days with him. I hope to be able to partner up with him again someday. We had a great time on the water even when we zeroed.

Good luck and we'll see you at LaCrosse!

Juls

[Carl]

Howdy Juls.....!
What is the name of that hotel you found in Lacrosse? ....I'd appreciate it - wasn't looking all too forward to a week in a tent....i just might be able to handle 40$ a night.

And yes, Doug and Kim and all at the Holliday Village in Port Clinton are all that and then some!

Thanks!!!

Carl
NPAA#670

[Carl]

Jeff,

Consider yourself already hooked up with a pro.....!
I'd love to take you out on the water, or should I say, have you take me out, in Lacrosse. I am an RCL touring pro just off a mediocre performance in Port Clinton, (32nd place overall), but good enough to secure my spot in the championship here in my hometown, :) !
I was planning on making the trip to Lacrosse this weekend to do some scouting, but with river levels where they are, I probably won't bother.

I would love to hear from you...we'll work on making those irons red hot!

Carl
NPAA#670

[800proX]

thanx carl - i will be mailing you at your address above. i can hardly wait to get on the water here, tough to think about it when it is SNOWING today - yuck. and the dog is getting sick of retrieving my lures in the yard, hehe.

jeff

[Juls]

Hey Carl,
I sent you an email with the info. Let me know if you get it.

Juls

[Sheila]

LAST EDITED ON Apr-17-01 AT 06:17PM (CST)[p]Hey Jerry, congrats man!! Just making the top 12 was a feat, and you & Jeff Taege broke out big after that bad blow day.

It was so cool competing in the first RCL circuit tournament. Thanks to my pro Larry Neau, we got caught a lot of trophies out there. The fish were just outta-this-world. Where else but Erie can you cull 7 pounders one day and have 60mph winds the next! Imagine, there will never be an intimate field of 77 boats with a gigantic purse like that again! Thank you RCL for hanging in there. You are top class.

Another cool thing at this RCL was the strong Walleye Central showing. Man, it was like another reunion! It was a blast. We also got to break in all the great bass folk' working the tourney with two new features pertaining to walleye fishing: 1) the size of our fish, and 2) the camaraderie amongst our competitors. I so appreciate that stuff.

This circuit will be big. If you're even considering getting in - "just do it" and you'll never regret it. If you have any doubts just send me an email so I can set you straight (hehe). Hey, I may just drop everything to fish another real soon, especially if there are openings! Probably be the last time I hear that. ya know?

I always enjoy fishing with all of you...and looking forward to competing against you again this year!!!!

opps, can't forget this: Special thanks to Sonny Reynolds, you were fantastic!

[wormdunker]

For my first tournament experience, I was impressed with the way it was run and how friendly the RCL staff was. No matter how busy they were, they always had time to answer a question or make you feel welcome. Real 1st class organization .. I'm hooked, can't wait for the next one.