Ft. Gibson Elite Series

> Day 1: 3, 7-14
> Day 2: 5, 15-11
> Total = 8, 23-09 (58th)

It sort of sums up my year – a too little, too late type of deal. The first day just wasn't my day. I had a 6-pounder jump me off on a jig, which is pretty unusual, and I had a couple of other good keepers pull off. Today I caught a lot of fish, but I had another over 5 pounds come off on a crank. So it was execution more than anything. I found the right kind of fish – I just couldn't get them in the boat.

I started the tournament offshore, but I ended up fishing shallow. I was in 10 feet to 2 feet. The best depths for me were 4 to 6 feet and real shallow. I was cranking and throwing a big 3/4-ounce Omega jig in 2 feet of water and just banging it around.

I've never had a season like this, ever. My lowest finish before in AOY was 50th, so getting about last place this time is a real eye-opener. I think for me, it's just time that if I'm going to do this, I have to have my family with me. I just don't think it's healthy for me to be away from them. I can't stand being away from my son for 2 weeks.

If I do it again next year, I need to figure out a way for the family to come with me so we can enjoy all of us together, instead of just me being out here. It'll have to be more of a lifestyle than a job I just like.

I like it. It's a typical Oklahoma lake in that there's plenty of food for them to eat and the fish are a nice size – I caught four or five over 3 pounds and a couple more keepers. But the lake's low, so everything's going to fish pretty small because the water's out of the bushes and stuff. It's weird – we're dealing with a flood in one place and low water in another.

You can catch them on topwater in 6 inches and they're out in deeper water too. You just have to get those bigger fish. I got a couple of good bites today, but there's not enough time in one day to know what you've really got. I'll probably do some more pre-fishing tomorrow.

I think the Top 12 is going to be 16-plus pounds a day, and probably 14 or 15 a day to get a check.