Here are parts of my experiences in a major professional catfish tournament. So many unusual things did occur over those few days that it take more than this page to cover all the stories.
The night before the tournament I got a call from my partner. He informed me we need a hitch to tow the boat for the tournament. I had one but it was the wrong size, told him I would see if about getting the right size ball for the hitch on my way up to Michigan.
Then the second bomb shell of information he has very poor vision, I was to be his eyes when we were out in the boat. I told him that was O.K. and I would call him once I got settled in at my hotel the next day.
I did get checked in at the hotel holding the seminars for the tournament, called my partner. He was going to be checking out a boat. We would meet at the seminars that evening. I drove over to the park where we would launch our boat. I bought my fishing license at a bait shop right across from the park. Then I headed back towards my hotel. I decided to look around for the ball to fit the boat. This did help me get my bearings around the town, which proved very important the next morning. The sky was getting dark as I headed back to the hotel. Just as I was parking my car the clouds open up in heavy downpour. The wind was blowing and then the hail started coming down. The T.V. in the hotel said our area was going to have server thunderstorms for the next hour. For once they were correct with that information. I then headed to find the room for the seminars in the hotel. This is when I finally meet Tom the guy that was setting the tournament up. I asked him where my partner was, he said he was over at tom’s house getting cleaned up after checking out the boat. I was glad know he was O.K. for with the storms, no way I would wanted to be out in a boat. I then went back to my room and washed up and rest for a few mintues before heading to the seminars.
When I did get back to the seminar room the place was packed, and Tom was running all over the place . No way to pin him down to find out who my part was. I finally sat down in one of the few empty chairs, heard the guy next to me explain he was looking for his partner. Sure enough we found each other at last. Just as I was getting ready ask him some questions the seminars started, that meant no more talking. At the end of the 1st.seminar found out he had not found a ball for the hitch at Tom’s home. I then hopped in my car and headed to the store to get the ball for the hitch. By the time I got back the 2nd.seminar was just starting. When that one ended we went out to my car to try to get the old ball off the hitch. Both of us tried but my tools were not large enough for the task. Craig said there were bigger monkey wrenches at Tom’s house that should get it off. Once again we got back to the table as the final seminar started. I then asked him where would we be fishing. His reply was he would tell me later, for he did not anyone at the table to over hear what our spot would be.
When the seminars and large number of door prizes were all over Craig stayed around just long enough to get our picture taken. We had decided I needed to get over to Tom’s home around 3:30 to get the boat hitched on to my car. Tom’s wife came over and gave me direction from the hotel to their home. I was relieved to realize it was only about a mile from the hotel, and I had been along that street while I was getting the ball for the hitch. I headed for my room in order to get some sleep, before I had to get up extra early to get the boat problem cleared up.
NEXT SECTION Tournament Day
SECTION 5: Summary of the lessons learned
I am the guy in the white shirt.
Tight lines and lots of action.
UPDATED 01-22-06