2010 Fishing With Dummies Spring Classic - Results

Congratulations to all of our contestants. Unless you didn't win anything. In which case, at least you didn't fall in.

Friday Evening Biggest Fish

2 lbs 13 oz, Junior.

(2 lbs 12 oz, Senior - so close & still accepted under protest)

Saturday Biggest Fish

6 lbs 6 oz, Ack

Saturday Team Results

Ack & TR (winners)

6 lbs 6 oz, Ack

4 lbs 4 oz, Ack

1 lbs 15 oz, Ack

Estimated 10 bass

2 lbs 12 oz, Jr

1 lbs 15 oz, Sr

15 oz, Jr

Estimated 18 bass

Sunday Team Results

Jr & Tr (winners)

3 lbs 9 oz, Jr

1 lbs 11 oz, Jr

1 lbs 9 oz, Jr

Estimated 5 bass

Sr & Ack

3 lbs 6 oz, Sr

1 lbs 10 oz, Sr

1 lbs 1 oz, Ack

Estimated 5 bass

Sunday Biggest Fish

Junior 3lbs 9 oz

Biggest Fish of the Tournament

Ack 6 lbs 6 oz

The Swimmies Award

Ack

Happiest Ack Fell in the Water

Senior

The Tommy Award

(least fish)

Tommy

Worst Restaurant Recommendation

Junior

Worst Fish Weighing

Junior

The Horseshoes and Hand Grenades Award

Senior (1 oz short on Fri, 3 oz on Saturday)

Worst Rain Pants

Junior's $6 Lowes special

The Mush

(most $ lost)

Senior*

*awaiting the details of Ack's mobile phone insurance plan

The Rise and Fall of The Dumbest

While certainly there was no shortage of incredible story lines coming from the inaugural Fishing With Dummies Spring Classic, the tale that tops all others is the incredible rise and fall of Brian D. Ackermann.  Early on Saturday Acky recorded what is by far the largest fish caught among the group ever at 6 lbs, 6 oz.  With that one fish he outweighed all of team D'Avolio's catches.  Incredibly, he followed it in the afternoon session with a 4 lb, 4 oz pig. Having broken the group's Bow Lake record with his second fish, he left onlookers wondering - why do they call this guy the dumbest?

And then Sunday happened.  The day's pairing of Senior and Acky started out strong with Senior pulling a 3 lb, 6 ouncer.  An hour or so later Senior hooked up again.  With what was estimated to be a 2 pounder approaching the side of the boat it happened.  Acky, unfamiliar with playing role of supporting cast member went in a bit too hot with the net.  What went through his mind at that moment is anyone's guess.  Maybe he was angry with the idea of someone else getting all the action.  Probably he was hungry and distracted by his liver's call for more green tea.  Definitely he was regretting his dozens of comments following Senior's swim.

A note for viewers.  There is no need to adjust the brightness setting of your monitors. It's really that bad.  Thank you Dummy.

Teams for the FWD Bass Classic

Method:

The four contestants were listed as:

1. Len Jr.

2. Len Sr.

3. TR

4. Dummy

The numbers 1-4 were entered into a random number generator (http://www.random.org/sequences/).  The top two were chosen as team 1, bottom 2 as team 2.  This was done twice, once for Sat & once for Sun. 

Teams are as follows:

Saturday:

3. TR &  4. Dummy  vs. 2. Sr. & 1. Jr.

Sunday:

2. Sr. & 4. Dummy vs. 1. Jr. & 3. TR

Boat order to be drawn Fri night.  

Strategy for the FWD Bass Classic

Going with three, maybe four rods.

1. A double 6" senk tied onto a football head jig, wacky style for drop shots.

2. 3/8 oz raging red lipless crank bait for grass

3. 5" green texas rigged senk. Ol reliable.

4. bitsy jig with a craw tail for bouncing off rocks.

Good chance my yet to be chosen team mates will try 3 so I'll work the other strategies.  Of course, it's all out the window as soon as one hits.  

Preview of the Fishing With Dummies Spring Classic

We are one week away from the FWD Spring Classic, a tournament so exclusive that only four hand picked pros are invited. This year's event pits icons of the sport in a brutal two day, winner takes all battle. To the winner goes one full year of bragging rights. To the loser - an inbox full of mocking emails. We break down the action with a behind the scenes preview of the competition.

Len 'Senior' D'Avolio Sr.

There is no one in the field that presents more of a challenge to the odds makers than Senior. He has logged the fewest hours on the water and recently ended a fishing trip by turning it into a log rolling competition. On the other hand, he opened the season with a 5 lbs, 15 oz whopper on 6 lb test. Senior is therefore either the luckiest stiff in the competition or playing a con that he's gone to chilling lengths to maintain. Look for Senior to hook a league record or his team mate. Odds: 20 to 1.

Tommy 'TR' Rogers

TR enters the field with only limited success at the ever challenging rocky shoals of the Bow. Limited that is, until a season ending Bow Lake record of 4 lbs, 2 oz off the Teeth. That catch has left Vegas in a lurch - can the seasoned Salt Water vet pull off another last minute miracle? Keep in mind, the Worm was once TR's. Will Lady Luck drop a bit more Karma his way? Working against him is a 250 mile commute from the bowel's of Massachusetts in Friday rush hour traffic that may severely affect his Friday scouting. Then again, he does live in Lakeville... Odds: 13 to 1.

Brian 'The Dumbest' Ackermann

In terms of hours on the water, The Dumbest comes in a close second to Lenny Jr. In terms of stupidity, he remains unrivaled. This is the man who once suggested that he might take a quick cruise to Hawaii during a visit to LA. Despite his overwhelming stupidity, The Dumbest does catch in consistent numbers. Look for Dummy to help anchor his team in terms of total poundage. Odds: 8 to 1.

Lenny 'Junior' D'Avolio Jr

Few know the nooks and crannies of the Bow like Junior. Which puts him squarely in the position of fighting a midget. Knock out the competition, and of course he should have. Lose and and you have to listen to the midget brag for a year. No question he's got the heart - but heart didn't help him top Tommy on the Bow nor the Old Man's league leader. This is a big tourney for the home town hero. If he goes down on day 1, expect the judges to check his fish for sinkers on day two. Odds: 6 to 1.

Breaking in the Big Lake

First weekend at the lake house.  Arrived Sat night and by midnight we had installed two new seats in the worm and reinforced the fiber glass below them.  Was waiting on a gift certificate to come in from Bass Pro Shops after cashing in credit card miles but it didn't arrive in time and I stripped the old seats off the worm months ago.  Stopped in a Walmart in NH on the way up and found the two plastic seats I was planning on buying for $38 a piece vs. $85 at the Pro Shops. 

Very intentionally stuck with the bait caster using a bitsy jig + a rubber craw most of Sun and Mon morning.  Worked out pretty well.  Took probably 10 fish, all smallies.  There's nothing like a fat large mouth but those smallies know how to fight.  Most of the fish were caught in 7 to 17 ft of water. Water temp about 71.  Winner was 2 lbs, 10 oz off the Teeth with the bitsy + craw.  Acky probably won on numbers.  All and all a good start for the big lake.