Casey Reed Wins Kayak Bass Fishing Regional Championship On Lake Erie
It was mid-September, nearing the end of the tournament season. I had been in the top 5 KBF Angler Of The Year points throughout the season and the Regional Championship on Lake Erie was a huge points event that I knew I had to score well in to stay in position.
I arrived in Erie, Penn. on Tuesday morning for the Kayak Bass Fishing Regional Final. I picked up my licenses, and headed straight to the iconic lake. My goal was to find a couple of places that could produce the big Smallmouth Bass that Lake Erie is known for. Unfortunately, even after spending most of the day using my Humminbird Helix Mega with side imaging set to scan at 100 ft to each side -- no luck! I loaded the Old Town Sportsman BigWater PDL 132 on the trailer, and made a 40 minute drive to an area in Presque Isle Bay. I had been there before so knew an area I wanted to try.
I fished Lake Erie/Presque Isle Bay last season and struggled to catch my limits but I did find a couple of good spots and was able to learn quite a bit about the area. So, going into my pre fishing time there, I went straight to those spots in which I had a bit of confidence. Every ounce of my training, my scouting and all my instincts had convinced me I would find Largemouth in those spots in the bay. By that afternoon, my confidence was gone.
The next day, I went back to the same couple of spots, and tried again. With only catching one small fish, I knew I had to change my tactics. So I went to the bank and started fishing there. I quickly got a bite, 16 inch Largemouth. And then another, 15 inches, and then another.... I quickly realized I was on a pretty decent pattern, that if all else failed, I could put together a 70-75 inch limit pretty easily. Now, my goal was to move on and try to find another pattern or area that would produce for me.
I changed spots again, and started to fish some grass, which is not my strong suit. I found an area, and threw a senko in the grass. I got a couple of bites before the pre fishing period was over, so I felt confident that if my other patterns didn't hold up, I still had another option that may work.
Going into a multiple day tournament, I cannot stress enough the importance of having multiple areas and patterns. If weather changes, or one pattern doesn't hold through the entire tournament, you have something to fall back on. Checking the weather, going into each tournament day and making a plan based on that, especially if the wind is going to be blowing hard, was key for me as were my decisions as to where I fished, and what spots I hit first.
TOURNAMENT DAY 1
Going into Day One, I made the decision to start fishing close to the ramp, then head out of the bay pretty quickly, as I knew the wind would pick up out there and it was going to get rough, and very hard to fish later in the day.
I started on a spot I found last year. It was a small area that was a man made structure that was dropped as a fish attractor. Again, taking advantage of my Humminbird Helix side scan, I was able to pinpoint this small structure that was in about 12 ft of water. It was fairly simple to pedal by the location where I knew it to be, see where is was on side scan, and make a cast directly to it. The fish would only bite when I had my lure directly in the middle of this snag infested structure. Hitting it with accuracy saved a lot of casts as well as saved me from dropping a marker buoy on it, because that could have keyed other anglers in to exactly what I was fishing and its exact location.
If any of you know me, my favorite fishing technique is a ⅛ ounce shakeyhead jig head, with a Zoom Shakeyhead magnum worm, mainly in green pumpkin, but sometimes I’ll throw Junebug or black. After starting with Green Pumpkin, in pre fishing I switched to Junebug because of the stained water. I seemed to have a little bit better luck with that color.
As the sun started easing over the horizon, and about 20 minutes after the first cast, I felt a big tug. I set the hook and the fish started pulling drag, trying to get back to the safety of that structure. Each time the fish pulled drag, I just pictured it getting down to the bottom and getting my line wrapped up, which would likely end in the fish breaking off. Luckily, with my drag set pretty tight, I was able to keep that fish up and eventually scooped up that fish in my net, and got it in the kayak. As soon as I saw the size of the fish, I knew it was going to be a great day. That 18.75-inch bass secured me the “Golden Hour” Big Bass prize of $100 for the first hour of the event. In KBF events that hour is dedicated to Rebecca Golden, an angler who passed away last year.
That catch really dialed me into what the fish wanted and as to what I was doing wrong during pre-fishing. Instead of popping or shaking my lure quickly, I had just been deadsticking it. That ended up being the key to catching all my fish for this event.
After being able to catch two more fish at this spot, I decided to move out to the bay before the wind picked up. I worked down the bank and was able to fill my limit. My fifth fish had me sitting at 72.5 inches and in first place. It felt great to have my limit so early, but I knew I would need some big upgrades to stay towards the top of the leaderboard.
I continued down the bank, throwing my shakeyhead between the rocks and the grass. I feel another tick on my line. I set the hook, and was able to get my 6th fish in the net. This fish is what we tend to call a “Bubba Gump” fish. It’s lower lip extends well past its upper lip (see picture). In kayak fishing, we love to see this as it generally gives us an extra .25 inch or so. I laid this fish on my Ketch measuring board, and the tail just crossed the 15.5 inch mark. A 4-inch upgrade is always welcome!
Again, I continue down the bank and my line starts moving across the water with another fish on the end. That fish measured 14.75 inches and gained me just over 2 inches. At this time, I look at the leaderboard, and notice angler, Matt Ball, had a total of 90.25 inches, including three smallmouth bass 19 inches or bigger. What an impressive limit that was, but I knew I was catching fish and I still had a chance to diminish the lead he had, or even pass him if all went well.
So I move out offshore to some other structure I knew was there. By this time, the wind had started to pick up, and I knew it was only going to get worse. So I fished fast, trying to make the best of it. I was finding the structure on my fish finder, then casting a very short distance in front of the kayak, and letting the wind drift my bait directly into the structure. That first cast when I really got the bait in the right spot, I felt the fish eat the junebug-colored Zoom worm I was tempting it with. A strong hookset, and a quick fight and that fish had to succumb easily, and flopped right into my net.
I measured the fish, and uploaded the picture to TourneyX Live Leaderboard. This 15.5 inch largemouth upgraded me to 78.5 inches and still in second place. Less than 20 minutes later, I found myself submitting another fish to the Leaderboard. This one was 16.75 inches long, and another big upgrade. Another 25 minutes go by, and another fish on the board. Same size as the last one, 16.75 inches. This one was a 2 inch upgrade and put my total to 83.25 inches.
After submitting that fish, the wind really starts blowing hard. I’m off shore on the north side of the bay, and the south wind at 15-25 mph, was really causing Presque Isle Bay to get upset. It was at this time, even though I was catching good quality fish on this spot, that I really knew I needed to get to an area that was somewhat protected from the wind. I knew I could make it back to the area where I started and probably fish it the rest of the day and find another upgrade. I started pedaling back, through 3-4 foot waves that were white capping all around. It was a little less than a mile to make it to safety. The Old Town Sportsman BigWater PDL 132 took the waves on like a champ. I made it back and the area was barely being hit by the wind. I had 2.5 hours left, and I was still confident I could get another upgrade or two.
A quick look at the leaderboard and I noticed that another angler, Derek Brundle, was still upgrading. He was sitting in 3rd place with 82 inches even. I didn't want to fish this area very hard. I already knew my plan for the next day, and I would be starting right there. It’s not a very big area, so I didn’t want to catch any fish that I may need to catch on the second day of the tournament. But again, I knew I was still 7 inches behind leader, Matt Ball, and Derek nipping at my heels. So it was a very tough decision to make. I decided I would fish, but just take it easy, not be in any rush to catch a bunch of fish, hoping not to sore lip a fish that I may need for the next day. So I chatted with some of the other anglers that were there escaping the wind as well, then made a few casts. And did that for the next two hours. Caught one fish that wasn't an upgrade, then a few minutes later, I felt a big tug on my line. I set the hook and the fish comes out of the water. It’s a “giant” were my thoughts. Landing the fish in my RS-Net, I had a huge sigh of relief. Knowing this fish would close the gap with first place, and widen the gap with third. That fish was 18 inches, and put me at a total of 85.75 inches. There was now less than 40 minutes left in day one.
I changed my strategy, not wanting to hook any more fish that I could possibly catch the next day. I started fishing some of the grass that was back there. Knowing I had found a pattern fishing grass while pre fishing, I was hoping to get one last upgrade doing that. That never happened, but my best 5 fish were enough to hold me in second place at the end of day one.
TOURNAMENT DAY 2
Day two of the tournament, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. There was a huge storm that night, 50+ mph winds, and a lot of rain. There was a big shift in wind it was coming from the west and supposed to get up to 15-20 MPH.
I got to the ramp and the water was flat calm. As I was loading rods in the rod holders, and getting the kayak set up for the day, the wind started blowing. I knew the lack of wind before start time was too good to be true that it would hold off for the first hour or so of the tournament. At 6:15 am, I shoved off the boat ramp dock and headed to my first spot. This whole area which was protected from the south wind the day before, had little protection from the west wind that morning. At the exact same time I caught the first fish the day before, I felt a bite. That fish comes straight up and out of the water. I see the lure come out of its mouth. This was a huge disappointment. I thought to myself, I hope this is not how the day is going to go. Ten minutes later, I got another bite and was able to get this one in. Measuring 14.25 inches, it wasn't a terrible start. A couple casts later I had another one on the board, 13.25, inches. Happy to know I was still getting bites, I kept fishing that spot. Close to an hour goes by until I get another bite, but then I get two in the boat quickly. One 13 inches, and the other 15 inches. Nearing a limit of bass, I look at the their lengths, and realize they’re all pretty short fish. I really needed a kicker like I had the day before. But getting a limit was the first goal. I took a look at the leaderboard, and I was sitting in 1st place overall. That felt good, but I knew it wasn't anywhere near being over. I figured I would let that spot rest, in hopes to come back later in the day to see if some bigger fish may be there.
I take off and start working down the bank, looking at my maps to make sure to hit a couple spots where I had caught fish in the previous days. I come up to the first spot I had marked, where I caught a fish there in pre fishing, and on day one of the tournament. I fish it pretty good, and no bites. The wind pushed me off it and I almost continue on down the bank. I look back at it, and something tells me to go make another couple of casts, so I reverse back up to it, and make another pitch up to the bank. Immediately, I get a bite, and another fish on the leaderboard. That filled my 5 fish limit for the day. Putting my total at 69.5 inches for the day. Knowing I had about 15 inches more than the day before, I knew I still needed some major upgrades.
I fished down the bank with no luck at the other spots I had marked, so I moved offshore to the deep structure that I had caught a few good size fish on the day before. I pulled up there, made a cast, and as soon as I felt my shakeyhead start hitting that structure that down there, I feel my rod tip load up. A very hard fight, the fish had me thinking it was a giant. It was a 17-incher, not a giant, but exactly the upgrade I was looking for.
It’s now 11:00 am, with 3.5 hours left to fish. Knowing I had a real shot at winning this thing, even though I knew Matt Ball had a good lead on me coming into day two, he only had one fish on the board so far. I knew the wind was going to make it tougher on him fishing main lake today, but thinking at any minute he could put up another 90 inches. So all I could do was keep grinding it out. Another 40 minutes go by and I had been getting a couple bites, but they weren’t really eating it very well. Finally, I stick another one and get it in the net. I quickly get that fish on the board, and take a picture. It’s yet another decent fish, and a quality upgrade for me. I realized that the last two fish came off of the deeper structure that was in 16-17 ft of water, rather than the others that were closer to 13-14 ft.
I focused my casts our deeper, and very quickly I had yet another fish on, and laid out on my Ketch board. This one being 16.5 inches long, and upgrading me another 2.75 inches. When submitting that fish, I realized Derek Brundle was sitting 2 inches behind with a two day overall length of 162.5 inches. Knowing he could easily catch me with one upgrade, and that I only needed a fish bigger than 14.25 inches to upgrade, I was pretty confident.
Time was winding down, and I told myself not to look at the leaderboard anymore. I didn't want to know if I got passed. It would have sped my fishing up, and I knew that's exactly what I didn't need to do.
Time passes and the clock ticks to 2:30 pm, and I never got another bite. The leaderboard was turned off, so even if I wanted to look at the standings, I couldn't. I just had a bad feeling that since I didn't upgrade again, that I was bumped out of that first place spot. My nerves were wrecked, my mind was spinning. I loaded up my kayak, secured all my gear and took the twenty minute drive back to check-in at FishUSA.
Arriving there, I received a bunch of praises from friends and fellow anglers for having another great day on the water. But still, I didn't know if Matt Ball had caught a limit and didn't upload them till the leaderboard was shut off, or if Derek caught another upgrade passing me. All this is racing through my head up until the final results were announced.
The top ten were announced, Matt Ball being announced in 8th place. So, I knew it was just me and Derek left. ‘Did he upgrade?’ was the thought still running through my mind. The moment Derek and I were the only two standing in front of the crowd, it started to get real. We were about to find out who would be the KBF North East Regional Champion.
Chad Hoover the founder of KBF, awarded Derek Brundle the 2nd place check, which only means that the fish I caught the past two days were enough to make me the KBF North East Regional Champion.
I was awarded the 1st place check, and the trophy and it all seems surreal. I cannot express the level of excitement for me to finally win an event of such a high level. I’ve came very close in previous years but was never able to stick it out till the end.
I want to congratulate everyone else that was in the top 10, and all the anglers that grinded it out throughout the season with me. Now, I’m looking forward to the Trail Series Championship to wrap up the year.
