By: Matt Summerlot, Guest Columnist
There’s something about early spring tournaments in Northern Indiana as you never quite know what you’re going to get. Between the weather, water conditions, and how fast things can change this time of year, every decision feels magnified. That was exactly the case heading into Stop #2 on Lake of the Woods.
Coming off the first event, Hunter and I felt good about where we were, but this one was going to be different. Heavy rain earlier in the week had pushed water levels up and left the lake stained and muddy. By the time we got there, things were starting to stabilize, but visibility was still limited.
We got a short window to prefish a few days before the tournament, and despite some battery issues cutting that time short, we were able to find something, or so we thought.
We located healthy patches of grass in 5 to 7 feet of water that were holding fish. They weren’t easy to catch, but they were there, and one solid bite on a lipless crankbait told us we were around the right kind.
Tournament morning, we were boat #5 at takeoff and went straight to that starting area. The plan was simple: start with the fish we had already found and build from there. When we got there, the fish hadn’t left. We could see them on LiveScope, sitting right where we expected them. But for whatever reason, they would not go. We threw a little bit of everything at them and never got the response we were looking for.
That’s always a tough moment when you know you’re around fish, but they won’t commit. Instead of forcing it, we made the call to leave and find fish that were willing to bite.
That decision ended up being the turning point in our day.
We slid over to the west shore and found a stretch of weedline that set up a little differently. It was more protected from the wind, with grass starting in about 5 feet and topping out a couple of feet below the surface. We started working the inside edge of that grass line with a black and blue chatterbait, and it didn’t take long before things started happening.
On that first pass, everything just clicked. A 3-pound, 11-ounce bass hit the deck, followed by a 2-pound 7-ouncer and a couple more solid keepers. By mid-morning, we had our limit in the boat and had settled into a rhythm. At one point, we even doubled up; something that never gets old, especially when you’re fishing with your kid.
There’s a moment in every tournament where you look down into the livewell and realize, “Alright, we’ve got something going.” We thought we were sitting somewhere in that mid-12-pound range, and on most days, that’s a solid place to be.
We stayed committed to that stretch, making multiple passes and continuing to catch fish throughout the day. The chatterbait did most of the work, with a mix of craw and paddle tail trailers. It was a reliable bite, just not the kind that produced the upgrades we needed.
As the day went on, we knew we were around fish, but they just weren’t the right ones. Meanwhile, it became clear at weigh-in that there were bigger bites to be had. It took over 22 pounds to win, anchored by a 6.8-pound largemouth. That is one of those fish that can change everything in a hurry.
We ended the day just under 12 pounds, finishing 10th out of 16 boats. It was a classic case of catching fish versus catching the right fish. That’s tournament fishing, especially this time of year.
At the end of the day, what stays with me is the little things: the ride out in the morning, the conversations between casts, and moments like doubling up and looking over at your son, knowing he’s just as into it as you are. As we packed up and headed home, I couldn't help but re-play those moments: the morning anticipation, the thrill of doubling up, and the quiet satisfaction of knowing we learned something new together. These are the memories that matter most.
We’ll learn from this one, just like we always do. And with another solid points finish, we’re still right where we want to be heading toward the end-of-season classic.
Because, at the end of it all, it’s not just about weight, it’s about the time spent on the water and the memories that come with it.