" Hear this voice from deep inside
" ... it's the call of your heart ... " Dateline: Oklahoma Greyhawkin' I don't know why I'm here. This place. This time. This sport. Read Complete Story | Read the Featured Article by ESPN Outdoors Writer
Don Barone
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If tournament days were just an hour long, Randy Howell of Alabama likely would've won this event by a wide margin. His main locale was a staging area that offered a sizzling jerkbait bite before the sun hit the water, and then he'd spend the rest of he day grinding to pick up an ounce or 2 at a time. Read More
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4th: Mixed Emotions for Howell |
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Howell was content with his final placement, but there was a time in this event when he had bigger dreams. "I sure had high hopes after the second day, after I'd caught two bags that were 23 and some change," he said. "Those hopes faded a little bit after yesterday, but I just couldn't believe I could catch that many 4- and 5-pounders without eventually getting a big bite." Read More
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4th: Another Quick Limit for Howell |
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As has been his norm for the tournament, Howell caught all but a small portion of his sack shortly after he shut off his big motor. A jerkbait is the enticer for those fish, which hang out in relatively deep water for awhile before moving shallower after the sun emerges. "I had 20 pounds in 25 minutes and then it was a grind after that," he said. "I'm due to ge a big bite, though. I still haven't gotten one, but maybe it'll happen tomorrow." The staging area he's fishing is a popular haunt for local anglers, and he was concerned that he might have too much company today. No live-bait anglers showed up, however, and the few club-level fishermen he encountered gave him ample room. He believes there's a chance he could catch a giant bag tomorrow and move to the top if Velvick slips a little. "I know they have to swim through there to get to that flat. But if I haven't caught much after the first 2 hours tomorrow, I have a couple places where I'll go and throw a swimbait." Complete Story |
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Howell remained in his primary locale all day, even though the vast majority of his action occurred during the early morning. "I buckled down and stayed on it and fished it hard all day," he said. "I learned a little bit more about the area just by making so many casts. "I can catch them early on the jerkbait, and then it's just one or two bites every little while. I caught a 5-pounder on a Lunker Lure Rattleback football jig and I also used a Do-It football head with a 10-inch Yamamoto Kut Tail worm to make a couple of late culls." Complete Story |
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Howell has been fearful of vacating his area, allowing other competitors to work it and like Velvick, has been playing defense. He has been switching up between two baits, a 10-inch cut tail worm and a football jig. Those produced 14 bites, which included an 8-pounder that ended up coming off at the boat. "This is the first time in a long time that I feel like I have an area with the potential to win," said Howell, 36. "I have a lot of confidence and I plan to either win it or lose it on that area." Complete Story |
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(Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)
