Ft. Loudoun–Tellico FLW Tour

> Day 1: 4, 7-00
> Day 2: 5, 10-00
> Total = 9, 17-00 (72nd)

I had a lousy tournament. I just didn't spend enough time out there on those ledges to really find something I was confident with. I ended up fishing the tournament shallow, which was not the way to win, although it turned out a couple guys made the Top 10 shallow.

I was just kind of disgusted with my approach to the tournament when it was all said and done. Dudley's was the right approach. Sometimes in those types of tournaments, I like to zig when everybody zags. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It didn't work this time. There weren't enough fish up shallow.

I didn't move any in the overall standings, so it didn't hurt me. I stayed right there in 21st. It's been one of those years where it hasn't been my best year, but it hasn't been my worst either. I haven't had the breaks to get into the Top 10. I've been close, but kind of stymied.

I'm looking forward to the Cup. That's what I have my sights set on now. I'm really looking forward to that championship.

My practice hasn't been anything spectacular by any means. I'm catching fish, but I haven't been on the right ones. Sometimes when you're on them, you feel like you're really on them. But I haven't gotten on the right little batch of fish.

It seems like the shallow fishing is all small stuff, and I think the better fish are out there on those ledges. It's just a matter of finding the right hole.

The lake doesn't have as many bass as some of the places we go to, so it's more like the needle in a haystack. I'm just hoping that some of the places where I caught some 2- and 3-pounders will have several of those big fish. You don't know, because in practice, you catch a couple good ones, then leave. I found a few places where I got good-quality bites, but you sure don't catch the good ones wherever you go. It's pretty tough.

I'm fishing in Loudoun – I spent all my practice there. I fished over in Tellico a little bit last year. Loudoun's a little more fertile, it has more shad, and seems to have more fish. And with a little more color to it, to me it's the better lake in the summertime. I'd bet 75% of the field is fishing Loudoun.