By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor
Paul Malone is an admitted river rat, and a pretty good one at that.
He’s won a handful of local club tournaments on the Mississippi River near his home in Pleasant Valley, Iowa. He’s also logged four Top-10s in BFLs, all on the mighty Mississippi, including a win in 2010.
He added another piece of hardware to his mantle last week after winning the Mississippi River Central EverStart out of La Crosse, Wis., with a 3-day total of 30-05.
The winning weight was lower than normal because of a three-fish limit that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources put in place for tournaments in July and August. Still, he was the lone angler to eclipse 30 pounds and he did it by sandwiching two 11-plus pound days around a 7-pound day.
“I live about 4 hours south of La Crosse on the river so it’s the same style of fishing – frogging and shallow weeds – so it definitely played to my strengths,” he said. “It’s a great feeling being able to compete with the caliber of fishermen that were there – Tom Monsoor and all the other guys. The guys who live there are tough.”
Here’s how he did it.
Practice
A few weeks before the event, Malone made a scouting trip to La Crosse and working from past experience, he started picking apart Lake Onalaska in Pool 7.
“I know the bigger fish in that pool are in that lake so I utilized my time in that lake, but I couldn’t find them anywhere,” he said. “It was a real struggle, so I put the trolling motor down and came upon this patch of weeds and it was perfect.
“There were no boats around. Basically, it was a chute coming off the main river and the current was going through it lightly. There was good cover with pads and duckweed and also a sandy spot in the middle of it. When I found it, you could throw over to it and see three (fish) come for it and they were all 3- to 3 1/2-pounders, which is pretty good for that river.”
Being that it wasn’t right before the tournament, he went to town on them with a topwater frog and discovered this was the spot he was going to focus on during competition.
“I wanted to see what was there,” he added. “If you just see one big one, you can’t say to yourself, ‘Well, there’s 10 of them or 50 of them.’ I wanted to know what was there so I whacked ‘em. I caught 25 to 30 fish around 3 pounds. Then I went in and flipped the thicker pads and caught bigger ones.
“I wanted to whoop on them because it was such a good spot and I wanted to see what was really there and learn how to fish it. I also didn’t want someone else to come along and throw a frog over there and find the spot.”
Competition
> Day 1: 3, 11-03
> Day 2: 3, 7-11
> Day 3: 3, 11-07
> Total = 9, 30-05
Malone admits the three-fish limit altered his strategy last week, forcing him to chase bigger bites rather than hunting cookie cutters.
“I knew it would be more challenging because the weights were going to be much closer,” he said. “A lot of guys got out of the tournament because of the three-fish limit. It definitely made things tighter and more challenging.”
What made it easier for him, though, was having a go-to area with winning potential.
“I know what it takes to win there and I knew those were the fish to win,” he said.
Malone was understandably worried that he’d have to share his primary area with other anglers on day 1, but he was pleasantly surprised to find it untouched.
“What scared me was the spot was so beautiful and there were so many fish there that I figured there would be five boats there in the morning and it would come down to boat draw,” he said. “When I locked up and got there and nobody followed me in there, I was like, ‘This is awesome.’”
His key area didn’t turn on until about 8 a.m. just as he was thinking about leaving.
“I still had confidence they were still there, but I didn’t get bit,” he said. “I was ready to leave and at 8 o’clock I made a cast over to the edge of the area and hooked into a 4-07. It broke my rod in three pieces. I grabbed the line and was able to keep the fish on top of the water and pulled him in.
“I was like, ‘They’re still here. I’m sticking it out.’”
Another hour elapsed before his next bite – a 3-07. He sorted through a few more 3-pounders, but the bigger fish weren’t as active and he suspects it was due to a stiff wind blowing the duckweed off the sweet spot.
“It wasn’t right like I found it in practice, but the fish were still in the area,” he said.
Malone relied heavily on the Spro Bronzeye Popper frog to yank fish out of pads and duckweed.
He wound up with 11-03, which had him in 2nd place behind Dave Parsons.
Knowing conditions were going to change with a 20-mph north wind on tap for day 2, he opted to stay in Pool 8 where he had a milk run of spots that held good fish in practice. It wasn’t easy, but he boxed 7-11 and made the 10-cut in 8th.
“I had more areas to fish,” he said, “but I just struggled. They weren’t biting the frog real good. They were just coming up and slapping at it. The wind was blowing 20 and my co-angler was getting first crack at everything. It was getting frustrating. Somehow, I stayed alive to make the Top 10.”
The weather eased up for day 3 and it allowed him to return to his main area in Pool 7.
“It was beautiful and I knew I was going to crack them,” he said.
Within the first five casts, he caught a 4-pounder and a couple 3s to gain some early confidence.
“They weren’t biting that great yet and the duckweed was still blown off that sweet spot,” he said. “It’s a tough bite when you’re fishing for big ones and there weren’t 100 of them in there.”
He left that area and pulled into a spot where he knew the fish tended to school up around some shad.
“I pulled up and sure enough the shad started boiling on top,” he said. “We wore them out for about an hour. My co-angler was happy with his limit so we went back to the first spot.”
The wind had turned around from the south so it set up the duckweed just how he wanted it. He quickly caught a 3 1/2, and then moved in to do some flipping in the thicker pads. Soon after, his co-angler caught a 6-pounder and Malone thought his chances at winning had been wiped out.
“I was excited for him, but I was thinking that fish would’ve won it for me,” he said.
He boxed another fish over 3 1/2 and called it a day. His 11-07 stringer was the heaviest of the final day and it gave him a 6-ounce win over Zach King.
“I did all I could do,” he said. “I had a solid sack of fish and it worked out.”
Winning Gear Notes
> Frog gear: 7’6” heavy-action Shimano Crucial casting rod, Shimano Curado casting reel (7.1:1 ratio), 65-pound PowerPro braid, Spro Bronzeye Popper frog (night walker).
> He had some rods rigged with a Shimano Chronarch reel with 70-pound Daiwa Samurai braid. He also threw the River2Sea Bully Wa frog (coot) when fishing thicker pads.
The Bottom Line
> Main factor in his success – “Patience and confidence. On the first day, I almost left (that spot) and that would’ve cost me the tournament. Just my experience on the river and the way I fish down here – I fish for five big ones – you don’t get a bite every half hour. That experience won this tournament for me.”
> Performance edge – “I made my own version of the Power-Pole that comes off my trolling motor. You can nose into the wind and stake yourself. Having that, it was huge.”
Notable
> Malone also serves as an assistant coach for the fishing team at Moline (Iowa) High School.
> In early March, Malone teamed up with Steve Mui to win the Lake Guntersville Angler’s Choice Tournament of Champions, an event that featured 194 boats. They caught nearly 36 pounds on day 1 and finished with more than 58 pounds to win by 8 pounds.
Final Standings
1. Paul Malone -- Pleasant Valley, Ia -- 11-03 (3) -- 7-11 (3) -- 11-07 (3) -- 30-05 (9) -- $31,194
2. Zach King -- Clarksville, Ar -- 10-05 (3) -- 9-04 (3) -- 10-06 (3) -- 29-15 (9) -- $10,695
3. Dan McGarry -- Tomah, Wi -- 10-01 (3) -- 9-15 (3) -- 8-14 (3) -- 28-14 (9) -- $8,913
4. Dan Thill -- La Crosse, Wi -- 9-14 (3) -- 8-09 (3) -- 9-10 (3) -- 28-01 (9) -- $8,021
5. Kevin Johnson -- Sparta, Wi -- 9-03 (3) -- 10-05 (3) -- 8-06 (3) -- 27-14 (9) -- $7,130
6. Dennis Rhead -- Elmwood, Wi -- 11-01 (3) -- 9-05 (3) -- 7-05 (3) -- 27-11 (9) -- $6,239
7. Richie Eaves -- Nauvoo, Il -- 9-08 (3) -- 10-00 (3) -- 7-07 (3) -- 26-15 (9) -- $5,348
8. Shane Long -- Springfield, Mo -- 10-03 (3) -- 9-10 (3) -- 6-08 (3) -- 26-05 (9) -- $4,456
9. Doug Stanton -- Winona, Mn -- 8-13 (3) -- 10-06 (3) -- 6-13 (3) -- 26-00 (9) -- $3,565
10. Dave Parsons -- Yantis, Tx -- 12-00 (3) -- 6-13 (3) -- 6-10 (3) -- 25-07 (9) -- $2,674
The following anglers did not make the cut and did not fish on day 3.
11. Adam Rasmussen -- Rothschild, Wi -- 7-01 (3) -- 11-03 (3) -- 18-04 (6) -- $1,783
12. Robbie Dodson -- Harrison, Ar -- 8-11 (3) -- 9-08 (3) -- 18-03 (6) -- $1,783
13. Matthew Jones -- Spokane, Mo -- 9-07 (3) -- 8-11 (3) -- 18-02 (6) -- $1,783
14. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, Ky -- 9-05 (3) -- 8-13 (3) -- 18-02 (6) -- $1,783
15. James Christian -- Dickson, Tn -- 9-00 (3) -- 9-00 (3) -- 18-00 (6) -- $1,783
16. Nick O’Keefe -- La Crosse, Wi -- 11-03 (3) -- 6-12 (3) -- 17-15 (6) -- $1,337
17. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 8-11 (3) -- 9-04 (3) -- 17-15 (6) -- $1,337
18. Joshua Duggan -- Lodi, Wi -- 8-14 (3) -- 8-15 (3) -- 17-13 (6) -- $1,337
19. Brent Schroeder -- Caledonia, Mn -- 6-13 (3) -- 10-14 (3) -- 17-11 (6) -- $1,337
20. Randy Ramsey Jr -- Chicago, Il -- 9-13 (3) -- 7-12 (3) -- 17-09 (6) -- $1,337
21. Troy Anderson -- Galesville, Wi -- 8-03 (3) -- 9-05 (3) -- 17-08 (6) -- $1,248
22. Cary Bever -- Rhinelander, Wi -- 9-02 (3) -- 8-06 (3) -- 17-08 (6) -- $1,248
23. Mark Myers -- Cedar Falls, Ia -- 8-14 (3) -- 8-10 (3) -- 17-08 (6) -- $1,248
24. John Murray -- Phoenix, Az -- 7-01 (3) -- 10-06 (3) -- 17-07 (6) -- $1,248
25. Mark Goines -- Shady Point, Ok -- 10-00 (3) -- 7-06 (3) -- 17-06 (6) -- $1,248
26. Shane Melton -- Greentown, In -- 8-06 (3) -- 9-00 (3) -- 17-06 (6) -- $1,159
27. John Holmes -- Lake Tomahawk, Wi -- 7-10 (3) -- 9-11 (3) -- 17-05 (6) -- $1,159
28. Bill Frisk -- Holmen, Wi -- 9-07 (3) -- 7-13 (3) -- 17-04 (6) -- $1,159
29. Thad Takes -- Center Point, Ia -- 7-14 (3) -- 9-05 (3) -- 17-03 (6) -- $1,159
30. Chris Aswegan -- Lisbon, Ia -- 8-08 (3) -- 8-11 (3) -- 17-03 (6) -- $1,159
31. Eric Schultz -- Minnetonka, Mn -- 9-13 (3) -- 7-05 (3) -- 17-02 (6) -- $1,070
32. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, Wi -- 7-10 (3) -- 9-07 (3) -- 17-01 (6) -- $1,070
32. Karen Savik -- St. Louis Park, Mn -- 9-07 (3) -- 7-10 (3) -- 17-01 (6) -- $1,070
34. Cody Salzmann -- Mattoon, Ill -- 8-12 (3) -- 8-01 (3) -- 16-13 (6) -- $1,070
35. John Torsch -- Battle Creek, Mi -- 7-11 (3) -- 9-00 (3) -- 16-11 (6) -- $1,070
36. Rodney Enderle -- Jackson, Mo -- 9-02 (3) -- 7-08 (3) -- 16-10 (6) -- $1,070
37. Ben Kurth -- West Saint Paul, Mn -- 9-14 (3) -- 6-11 (3) -- 16-09 (6) -- $1,070
38. Brian Fitzpatrick -- La Crosse, Wi -- 8-05 (3) -- 8-04 (3) -- 16-09 (6) -- $1,070
39. Jesse Wolfe -- Nelson, Wi -- 9-11 (3) -- 6-13 (3) -- 16-08 (6) -- $1,070
40. Mike Kiese -- Weaver, Mn -- 9-02 (3) -- 7-06 (3) -- 16-08 (6) -- $1,070
41. Kyle Weisenburger -- Findlay, Oh -- 8-06 (3) -- 8-02 (3) -- 16-08 (6) -- $980
42. Nathan Huss -- Elkhart Lake, Wi -- 8-07 (3) -- 7-15 (3) -- 16-06 (6) -- $980
43. Lance Ricketts -- Madisonville, Ky -- 8-08 (3) -- 7-13 (3) -- 16-05 (6)
44. Chad Moldenhauer -- Onalaska, Wi -- 7-15 (3) -- 8-06 (3) -- 16-05 (6)
45. Chris Welch -- Fall River, Wi -- 7-14 (3) -- 8-06 (3) -- 16-04 (6)
46. Jeff Benson -- Holmen, Wi -- 8-06 (3) -- 7-13 (3) -- 16-03 (6)
47. Robert Dodson -- Harrison, Ar -- 6-13 (3) -- 9-04 (3) -- 16-01 (6)
48. Bub Taylor -- Tontitown, Ar -- 8-05 (3) -- 7-10 (3) -- 15-15 (6)
49. Adam Crigger -- Davenport, Ia -- 8-04 (3) -- 7-11 (3) -- 15-15 (6)
50. Glenn Walker -- Shakopee, Mn -- 7-15 (3) -- 7-15 (3) -- 15-14 (6)
51. Gary Isgrigg -- Mt. Washington, Ky -- 8-01 (3) -- 7-11 (3) -- 15-12 (6)
52. Tom Welch -- Fall River, Wi -- 6-08 (3) -- 9-02 (3) -- 15-10 (6)
53. Brandon Hunter -- Benton, Ky -- 7-00 (3) -- 8-09 (3) -- 15-09 (6)
54. Terry Tretsven -- Lindstrom, Mn -- 7-02 (3) -- 8-07 (3) -- 15-09 (6)
55. David Junk -- Quincy, Il -- 8-05 (3) -- 7-03 (3) -- 15-08 (6)
56. Cody Burke -- Greenbrier, Ar -- 6-12 (3) -- 8-10 (3) -- 15-06 (6)
57. Wells Kaiser -- Cuba City, Wi -- 8-01 (3) -- 7-05 (3) -- 15-06 (6)
58. Jeff Ritter -- Prairie Du Chien, Wi -- 7-07 (3) -- 7-15 (3) -- 15-06 (6)
59. Zack Bull -- Arlington, Tn -- 7-12 (3) -- 7-09 (3) -- 15-05 (6)
60. Michael Fiedler -- Richland, Mo -- 8-09 (3) -- 6-11 (3) -- 15-04 (6)
61. Matt Walker -- Bellevue, Mi -- 7-15 (3) -- 7-04 (3) -- 15-03 (6)
62. Chip Hesse -- Grandmound, Ia -- 7-14 (3) -- 7-05 (3) -- 15-03 (6)
63. Scott Harrell -- Elgin, Il -- 8-09 (3) -- 6-09 (3) -- 15-02 (6)
64. Scott Dooley -- Raymore, Mo -- 8-06 (3) -- 6-12 (3) -- 15-02 (6)
65. John (Jack) Morris Jr -- Robinson, Il -- 7-13 (3) -- 7-05 (3) -- 15-02 (6)
66. Rob Heilman -- Onalaska, Wi -- 7-03 (3) -- 7-14 (3) -- 15-01 (6)
67. Brian Rufty -- Berea, Ky -- 7-09 (3) -- 7-07 (3) -- 15-00 (6)
68. Greg Johnson -- Coralville, Ia -- 6-04 (3) -- 8-10 (3) -- 14-14 (6)
69. Larry Caldwell -- Saint Peters, Mo -- 8-01 (3) -- 6-13 (3) -- 14-14 (6)
70. Jeff Barth -- Marshfield, Wi -- 6-07 (3) -- 8-06 (3) -- 14-13 (6)
71. Darren Zumach -- Onalaska, Wi -- 7-05 (3) -- 7-08 (3) -- 14-13 (6)
72. Ray Meredith -- Smiths Grove, Ky -- 5-15 (3) -- 8-12 (3) -- 14-11 (6)
73. Sean McBee -- Sibley, Mo -- 6-15 (3) -- 7-12 (3) -- 14-11 (6)
74. Brien Vaughn -- Kinmundy, Il -- 7-03 (3) -- 7-08 (3) -- 14-11 (6)
75. Chad Smith -- Durand, Wi -- 6-07 (3) -- 8-03 (3) -- 14-10 (6)
76. Greg Schultz -- Wayzata, Mn -- 7-05 (3) -- 7-04 (3) -- 14-09 (6)
77. Jim Dillard -- West Monroe, La -- 7-14 (3) -- 6-10 (3) -- 14-08 (6)
78. Ronald Cherkas -- Grimes, Ia -- 6-10 (2) -- 7-12 (3) -- 14-06 (5)
79. Cody Malone -- Sulphur Springs, Tx -- 7-04 (3) -- 7-01 (3) -- 14-05 (6)
80. Rich Dalbey -- Greenville, Tx -- 7-14 (3) -- 6-05 (3) -- 14-03 (6)
81. Mike Hanson -- Lansing, Ia -- 7-10 (3) -- 6-08 (3) -- 14-02 (6)
82. Brad Leifermann -- Andover, Mn -- 5-15 (3) -- 8-01 (3) -- 14-00 (6)
83. Ed Young -- Harrison, Ar -- 6-02 (3) -- 7-14 (3) -- 14-00 (6)
84. Mark McCartney -- Rochelle, Il -- 5-00 (2) -- 8-14 (3) -- 13-14 (5)
85. Andy Smith -- Pewaukee, Wi -- 6-12 (3) -- 7-01 (3) -- 13-13 (6)
86. Ted Stardig -- Winona, Mn -- 8-01 (3) -- 5-11 (3) -- 13-12 (6)
87. Mike Feldermann -- Galena, Il -- 6-15 (3) -- 6-13 (3) -- 13-12 (6)
88. Michael Williamson -- Fort Smith, Ar -- 5-06 (3) -- 8-04 (3) -- 13-10 (6)
89. Toby Chenoweth -- Port Byron, Il -- 7-07 (3) -- 6-01 (3) -- 13-08 (6)
90. Todd A. Hammes -- Lacrosse, Wi -- 5-08 (3) -- 7-14 (3) -- 13-06 (6)
91. Casey Scanlon -- Lenexa, Ks -- 6-11 (3) -- 6-11 (3) -- 13-06 (6)
92. Deno Ek -- Perry, Mo -- 5-06 (3) -- 7-14 (3) -- 13-04 (6)
93. Rollie Truehl -- Deforest, Wi -- 6-09 (3) -- 6-11 (3) -- 13-04 (6)
94. Frank Clark -- Benton, Il -- 7-01 (3) -- 5-15 (3) -- 13-00 (6)
95. Don Dreiling -- Garden City, Ks -- 6-15 (3) -- 5-15 (3) -- 12-14 (6)
96. Larry Gragg, Jr. -- Pine Bluff, Ar -- 7-02 (3) -- 5-11 (3) -- 12-13 (6)
97. Mike Brueggen -- La Crosse, Wi -- 9-08 (3) -- 3-04 (3) -- 12-12 (6)
98. Roger Harp -- Huntsville, Ar -- 6-05 (3) -- 6-07 (3) -- 12-12 (6)
99. Douglas Henning -- Fond Du Lac, Wi -- 4-09 (3) -- 8-02 (3) -- 12-11 (6)
100. Peter Cherkas -- Grimes, Ia -- 5-06 (3) -- 7-02 (3) -- 12-08 (6)
101. Ron Ottinger -- Prarie Grove, Il -- 6-07 (3) -- 6-01 (3) -- 12-08 (6)
102. Tom Murphy -- Richland, Mo -- 3-10 (2) -- 8-11 (3) -- 12-05 (5)
103. Eddy May -- Valley Center, Ks -- 8-04 (3) -- 4-00 (2) -- 12-04 (5)
104. Sam Rosefsky -- Morris, Il -- 7-07 (3) -- 4-13 (3) -- 12-04 (6)
105. Mike Foree -- Osage Beach, Mo -- 4-04 (2) -- 7-15 (3) -- 12-03 (5)
106. Dan Ehmen -- Rockford, Il -- 8-00 (3) -- 4-01 (2) -- 12-01 (5)
107. Steve Hedberg -- La Crescent, Mn -- 5-15 (3) -- 5-15 (3) -- 11-14 (6)
108. Doyle Isom Jr -- Bourbon, Mo -- 5-02 (3) -- 6-11 (3) -- 11-13 (6)
109. Michael Wooley -- Collierville, Tn -- 2-09 (1) -- 8-10 (3) -- 11-03 (4)
110. Patrick Stines -- Granger, In -- 2-10 (1) -- 8-07 (3) -- 11-01 (4)
111. Larry Peterson II -- Hammond, Wi -- 5-01 (2) -- 6-00 (3) -- 11-01 (5)
112. Ladd Shannon -- Atkin, Ar -- 3-14 (2) -- 7-02 (3) -- 11-00 (5)
113. Matt Robertson -- Central City, Ky -- 2-08 (1) -- 8-00 (3) -- 10-08 (4)
114. Tim Janke -- Janesville, Wi -- 1-14 (1) -- 7-13 (3) -- 9-11 (4)
115. Scott Frace -- Minnetonka, Mn -- 7-08 (3) -- 2-03 (1) -- 9-11 (4)
116. Kirk Warren -- Russellville, Ar -- 2-08 (1) -- 6-12 (3) -- 9-04 (4)
117. Jim Luchsinger -- Endeavor, Wi -- 1-14 (1) -- 7-04 (3) -- 9-02 (4)
118. Tim Brogan -- Arpin, Wi -- 2-15 (1) -- 6-01 (3) -- 9-00 (4)
119. Bill Baker -- Winnebago, Il -- 8-10 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-10 (3)
120. Dennis Edmonds -- Centennial, Co -- 5-05 (2) -- 3-03 (2) -- 8-08 (4)
121. Michael Simonton -- Fremont, Oh -- 7-09 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-09 (3)
122. Wade Jones -- Ft Madison, Ia -- 6-11 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 6-11 (3)
123. Chuck Loerzel -- Yorkville, Il -- 0-00 (0) -- 4-06 (2) -- 4-06 (2)
124. Harold Buchmeier -- Anna, Il -- 4-02 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 4-02 (2)
125. Scott Abildtrup -- Creston, Ia -- 2-10 (1) -- 0-00 (0) -- 2-10 (1)
J.T. Kosier Jr -- North Liberty, Ia -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0)
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