Espe's Hump Held Up For Final 3 1/2 Days

It hasn't been an easy year for Keith Espe, having lost both of his parents since February. It's been a bright year from a tournament perspective, however, as it saw him win several local events over the summer. His hot streak culminated last week with a victory at the Roosevelt Western FLW Series in Arizona.

The 47-year-old resident of New River, Ariz.

(about a 2-hour drive from the lake) and owner of a media production company fished several night tournaments at Roosevelt during the summer and fared quite well. The spot he exploited to win the Series event was one that he found while fishing with his father about 5 years ago.

He got dialed in on day 2 when he caught nearly 14 pounds. He was in the lead by the end of day 3 and then sealed the victory with an 11-12 sack on the final day.

His 47-04 total for 4 days outdistanced runner-up Robert Lee by 3 1/2 pounds and netted him more than $48,000 for the most significant victory during his long career in his home region. It provided a solid foundation for next year, when he'll move up to the FLW Tour.

Here's how he did it.

Practice

Espe had three humps located along an overflow channel that had served him well throughout the summer and that he knew he'd key on during the tournament. He checked them just prior to the lake going off-limits, and the fish were still there.

He left the humps alone during the 3 official practice days during tournament week. Instead, he switched his focus to a friend who'd be competing as a co-angler and tried to help him develop a multi-faceted plan to catch fish no matter what his pro was doing.

Competition

> Day 1: 5, 8-13
> Day 2: 5, 13-14
> Day 3: 5, 12-13
> Day 4: 5, 11-12
> Total = 20, 47-04

Espe's humps, located on the south end of the lake, offered a variety of depths. One topped out in 9 feet of water, another in 16 and another in 19, and all three were dotted with timber.

He went to the 9-footer to start day 1 and found three other boats there. He spent 2 hours and caught nothing of keeper length (12 inches or better), so he relocated.

"When you catch a bunch of little ones there, it's time to go," he said. "It means they have nothing to fear because the bigger ones have moved on."

He moved to the 19-foot hump and remained there for the rest of the tournament. He had it to himself for the rest of day 1 and all of day 2, and then shared it with a friend who also knew about it on day 3. When that angler missed the Top-5 cut, he was all alone again on the final day.

His pedestrian opening-day limit left him in 25th place, but he made a big move to 4th by catching nearly 14 pounds on day 2. He assumed the top slot on the following day and caught another strong bag on day 4 to nail down the win.

"I had two goals for the last day – I wanted to upgrade five times (he ended up culling four) and I wanted to catch 12 pounds. I knew if I had 12, it would take 15 to 16 to beat me, and that hadn't happened yet."

Pattern Notes

Espe used a two-pronged attack consisting of a Wave Worm Tiki Bamboo Stick (think of it as a Senko on steriods) and a dropshot rig. He got the majority of his bites prior to 9:00 each day on the Bamboo Stick, and then he'd grind out the rest of the day with the dropshot.

"On the outside bend of the channel close to the hump, there's 31 feet of water," he said. "They'd be down at the bottom of it and I couldn't catch them until they moved up onto the hump."

He said those fish were finicky.

"You can catch them in the early morning on a darker-colored plastic, then when the sun gets up you need to go to a lighter color. They don't bite at night, they don't like clouds (day 1 was rainy, but bluebird conditions prevailed the rest of the way) and they don't like dark water. If the water's clear and then it gets some kind of cloudy layer to it, the bite shuts down.

"There were quite a few trees on the hump and the bigger ones held the good fish. If you felt them bite it, it was just a small fish. If all you felt was pressure, it was a bigger one."

At times he employed a "power dropshot" technique that involved leaving a 7-inch Roboworm hanging in the timber for as long as 20 seconds without moving it.

Gear Notes

> Worm gear: 7' heavy-action Shimano Crucial rod, Pflueger President casting reel (6.4:1 ratio), 20-pound P-Line fluorocarbon line, 3/8-ounce tungsten weight, glass bead, 5/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook, 5" Wave Tiki Bamboo Stick (watermelon candy).

> His favorite Bamboo Stick color is cinnamon blue, but he was running low on them and couldn't get more during the tournament.

> Dropshot gear: 6'10" medium-heavy Shimano Crucial rod, same reel, 15-pound P-Line, 3/8-ounce lead dropshot weight ("long and skinny"), 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook, 7-inch Roboworm (pumpkin punisher or morning dawn).

The Bottom Line

Main factor in his success – "Two critical decisions – the first one was moving after the first 2 hours on day 1, which allowed me to get into contention, and then switching to the dropshot to fill out my limits and actually get my limit on the last day."

Performance edge – "My Lowrance GPS. That's how I found that place and I was able to drive straight to it."

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Final Standings

Field = 97 boats

1. Keith Espe -- New River, Az -- 5, 8-13 -- 5, 13-14 -- 5, 12-13 -- 15, 35-08 -- 5, 11-12 -- 20, 47-04 -- $43,371 + $4,634

2. Robert Lee -- Angels Camp, Ca -- 5, 9-12 -- 5, 11-00 -- 5, 11-01 -- 15, 31-13 -- 5, 12-00 -- 20, 43-13 -- $17,348 + $1,931

3. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, Ca -- 5, 13-14 -- 5, 9-04 -- 5, 8-07 -- 15, 31-09 -- 5, 10-07 -- 20, 42-00 -- $13,011 + $1,000

4. Jimmy Savoini -- Prescott, Az -- 5, 9-11 -- 5, 10-14 -- 5, 9-12 -- 15, 30-05 -- 5, 8-12 -- 20, 39-01 -- $8,674

5. Tim Klinger -- Boulder City, Nv -- 5, 9-14 -- 5, 13-11 -- 5, 6-06 -- 15, 29-15 -- 5, 7-11 -- 20, 37-10 -- $7,807

The following anglers did not make the cut and did not fish on day 4.

6. Russ Barger -- Boise, Id -- 5, 12-00 -- 5, 10-15 -- 5, 6-12 -- 15, 29-11 -- $7,373

7. Johnny Johnson -- Lakeside, Az -- 5, 9-01 -- 5, 9-05 -- 5, 11-00 -- 15, 29-06 -- $6,939

8. Steve Molinari -- Waddell, Az -- 5, 9-15 -- 5, 8-09 -- 5, 10-00 -- 15, 28-08 -- $6,506

9. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, Az -- 5, 9-02 -- 5, 9-03 -- 5, 9-15 -- 15, 28-04 -- $6,072 + $1,434

10. Jon Strelic -- El Cajon, Ca -- 5, 8-11 -- 5, 10-10 -- 5, 8-13 -- 15, 28-02 -- $5,638

11. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, Az -- 3, 5-05 -- 5, 9-07 -- 5, 12-00 -- 13, 26-12 -- $5,421

12. Jeff Michels -- Lakehead, Ca -- 5, 13-15 -- 4, 6-00 -- 4, 6-07 -- 13, 26-06 -- $5,421

13. Justin Lucas -- Montevallo, Al -- 5, 8-10 -- 5, 9-08 -- 5, 8-04 -- 15, 26-06 -- $5,421

14. Paul Cormany -- Wittmann, Az -- 5, 9-02 -- 5, 7-08 -- 5, 9-09 -- 15, 26-03 -- $5,421

15. Ronald Hobbs, Jr. -- Orting, Wa -- 5, 8-14 -- 5, 9-11 -- 5, 7-09 -- 15, 26-02 -- $5,421

16. Clayton Meyer -- Henderson, Nv -- 5, 7-15 -- 5, 10-12 -- 4, 6-12 -- 14, 25-07 -- $5,205

17. Mark Kile -- Payson, Az -- 5, 5-08 -- 5, 7-13 -- 5, 11-12 -- 15, 25-01 -- $5,205

18. Bret Gouvea -- Redding, Ca -- 5, 9-15 -- 5, 8-07 -- 5, 6-11 -- 15, 25-01 -- $5,205

19. Brian Daniels Dds -- Phoenix, Az -- 5, 9-09 -- 5, 6-12 -- 5, 8-10 -- 15, 24-15 -- $5,205

20. Leon Knight -- Discovery Bay, Ca -- 5, 10-04 -- 4, 4-05 -- 5, 10-05 -- 14, 24-14 -- $5,205

21. Cody Meyer -- Grass Valley, Ca -- 5, 5-04 -- 5, 6-11 -- 5, 12-11 -- 15, 24-10 -- $4,988

22. Matt Shura -- Gilbert, Az -- 4, 5-00 -- 5, 5-08 -- 5, 13-13 -- 14, 24-05 -- $4,988

23. Andy Scholz -- Reno, Nv -- 5, 10-02 -- 5, 7-05 -- 3, 6-14 -- 13, 24-05 -- $4,988

24. Zack Thompson -- Orinda, Ca -- 5, 11-07 -- 5, 8-05 -- 3, 4-07 -- 13, 24-03 -- $4,988

25. Joe Uribe Jr. -- Lake Forest, Ca -- 5, 5-12 -- 5, 6-15 -- 5, 11-01 -- 15, 23-12 -- $4,988

26. John Murray -- Phoenix, Az -- 5, 8-13 -- 3, 5-02 -- 5, 9-09 -- 13, 23-08 -- $4,771

27. Josh Bertrand -- Mesa, Az -- 4, 5-06 -- 5, 8-11 -- 5, 8-14 -- 14, 22-15 -- $4,771

28. Michael Tuck -- Granite Bay, Ca -- 5, 8-12 -- 5, 8-00 -- 4, 6-00 -- 14, 22-12 -- $4,771

29. James Myers -- Gilbert, Az -- 3, 5-07 -- 5, 10-02 -- 4, 6-14 -- 12, 22-07 -- $4,771

30. Mike Folkestad -- Orange, Ca -- 5, 6-00 -- 5, 7-09 -- 5, 8-14 -- 15, 22-07 -- $4,771

31. Billy Skinner -- Lake Havasu City, Az -- 5, 8-10 -- 5, 5-12 -- 5, 7-15 -- 15, 22-05 -- $4,554

32. Tom Wennerlund -- Gilbert, Az -- 5, 6-00 -- 5, 7-06 -- 5, 8-13 -- 15, 22-03 -- $4,554

33. Gary Senft -- Phoenix, Az -- 5, 6-08 -- 5, 7-11 -- 5, 7-15 -- 15, 22-02

34. Paul Hodges III -- Glendale, Az -- 5, 7-14 -- 5, 7-11 -- 5, 6-09 -- 15, 22-02

35. Jimmy Reese -- Witter Springs, Ca -- 5, 8-15 -- 3, 3-08 -- 5, 9-07 -- 13, 21-14

36. William Penrod -- Salome, Az -- 5, 6-07 -- 5, 6-08 -- 4, 8-13 -- 14, 21-12

37. Kazuki Kodama -- Torrance, Ca -- 5, 11-01 -- 3, 3-12 -- 5, 6-05 -- 13, 21-02

38. Jim Davis -- Plumas Lake, Ca -- 5, 9-12 -- 4, 4-04 -- 5, 7-00 -- 14, 21-00

39. Jeff Erickson -- Phoenix, Az -- 3, 4-08 -- 4, 8-12 -- 5, 7-09 -- 12, 20-13

40. Jeff Allen -- Flagstaff, Az -- 4, 4-10 -- 5, 7-10 -- 5, 8-09 -- 14, 20-13

41. Jason Milligan -- Shasta Lake, Ca -- 5, 7-02 -- 2, 5-13 -- 5, 7-12 -- 12, 20-11

42. Mike Reynolds -- Modesto, Ca -- 5, 6-07 -- 5, 8-10 -- 4, 5-02 -- 14, 20-03

43. Chad Harvey -- Phoenix, Az -- 5, 7-05 -- 4, 4-04 -- 5, 8-09 -- 14, 20-02

44. Mitch Kistner -- Mesa, Az -- 4, 9-01 -- 4, 4-11 -- 5, 6-00 -- 13, 19-12

45. Jim Hawkes -- Apache Junction, Az -- 5, 9-03 -- 5, 6-15 -- 3, 3-07 -- 13, 19-09

46. Tommy Jonovich -- Phoenix, Az -- 5, 9-00 -- 4, 6-03 -- 4, 4-05 -- 13, 19-08

47. Jason Cordiale -- Orinda, Ca -- 4, 5-14 -- 4, 7-07 -- 4, 6-03 -- 12, 19-08

48. Gerald Loughran -- Glendale, Az -- 5, 13-04 -- 2, 3-06 -- 2, 2-07 -- 9, 19-01

49. Vu Au -- Tucson, Az -- 1, 3-09 -- 5, 6-08 -- 4, 8-09 -- 10, 18-10

50. Tom Kilduff -- Prescott Valley, Az -- 4, 6-10 -- 3, 5-00 -- 5, 6-15 -- 12, 18-09

51. Dean Kreuzer -- Mesa, Az -- 2, 2-12 -- 5, 9-15 -- 3, 4-10 -- 10, 17-05

52. Mitch Southern -- Yucaipa, Ca -- 1, 1-09 -- 2, 3-12 -- 5, 11-15 -- 8, 17-04

53. Rick Mason -- Glendale, Az -- 4, 7-11 -- 3, 5-07 -- 2, 3-13 -- 9, 16-15

54. Jon Griffith -- Mesa, Az -- 2, 4-12 -- 4, 4-07 -- 5, 7-08 -- 11, 16-11

55. Chris Perkes -- Payson, Az -- 3, 6-03 -- 5, 7-03 -- 3, 2-14 -- 11, 16-04

56. Benjamin Byrd -- Moab, Ut -- 5, 6-12 -- 0, 0-00 -- 3, 9-02 -- 8, 15-14

57. Bobby Barrack -- Oakley, Ca -- 5, 13-12 -- 1, 1-10 -- 0, 0-00 -- 6, 15-06

58. Kevin Stewart -- Elk Grove, Ca -- 0, 0-00 -- 3, 4-12 -- 5, 10-08 -- 8, 15-04

59. David Stachowski -- Tucson, Az -- 2, 5-11 -- 0, 0-00 -- 5, 9-06 -- 7, 15-01

60. Leroy Price -- Claypool, Az -- 5, 6-01 -- 1, 2-04 -- 5, 6-07 -- 11, 14-12

61. Young Yang -- Los Angeles, Ca -- 2, 4-03 -- 2, 3-10 -- 5, 6-05 -- 9, 14-02

62. Earl Dalton -- Jackson, Ca -- 2, 3-04 -- 5, 7-06 -- 2, 3-05 -- 9, 13-15

63. Chad Hulbert -- Gilroy, Ca -- 4, 6-10 -- 2, 3-06 -- 3, 3-15 -- 9, 13-15

64. Ron Colby -- Page, Az -- 5, 6-13 -- 2, 2-11 -- 3, 4-05 -- 10, 13-13

65. Jason Brown -- Phoenix, Az -- 2, 3-13 -- 0, 0-00 -- 5, 9-15 -- 7, 13-12

66. Chris Zaldain -- San Jose, Ca -- 2, 4-02 -- 3, 4-15 -- 4, 4-02 -- 9, 13-03

67. Buddy Randall -- Payson, Az -- 2, 4-06 -- 2, 4-03 -- 2, 3-13 -- 6, 12-06

68. Michael Mclernon -- Oceanside, Ca -- 1, 1-14 -- 5, 5-15 -- 3, 4-08 -- 9, 12-05

69. Douglas Pingree -- Apache Jct, Az -- 2, 3-02 -- 1, 2-05 -- 3, 6-06 -- 6, 11-13

70. Greg Gutierrez -- Red Bluff, Ca -- 1, 1-04 -- 4, 7-13 -- 2, 2-07 -- 7, 11-08

71. Anthony Avalos -- Globe, Az -- 1, 1-01 -- 2, 3-01 -- 5, 7-06 -- 8, 11-08

72. Matt Newman -- Agoura Hills, Ca -- 3, 4-03 -- 4, 5-14 -- 1, 1-05 -- 8, 11-06

73. Andy Manahl -- Mesa, Az -- 2, 2-14 -- 1, 1-13 -- 5, 6-08 -- 8, 11-03

74. Vern Ridgway -- Mesa, Az -- 5, 8-01 -- 1, 2-11 -- 0, 0-00 -- 6, 10-12

75. Ben Willis -- Lodi, Ca -- 5, 6-09 -- 0, 0-00 -- 3, 3-07 -- 8, 10-00

76. Creston Carroll -- Heber, Az -- 2, 2-12 -- 1, 3-11 -- 2, 3-09 -- 5, 10-00

77. Tim Jacobs -- Gilbert, Az -- 4, 6-13 -- 0, 0-00 -- 2, 3-00 -- 6, 9-13

78. Todd Herman -- Gilbert, Az -- 3, 3-06 -- 2, 2-04 -- 3, 4-03 -- 8, 9-13

79. Michael Moffitt -- Victorville, Ca -- 1, 1-05 -- 1, 1-02 -- 3, 7-03 -- 5, 9-10

80. Robert Odonnell -- Payson, Az -- 3, 3-12 -- 2, 2-03 -- 2, 3-11 -- 7, 9-10

81. Stevie Czerniski -- Mesa, Az -- 5, 6-15 -- 2, 2-09 -- 0, 0-00 -- 7, 9-08

82. Shaun Bailey -- Lake Havasu City, Az -- 1, 2-08 -- 3, 4-00 -- 1, 2-15 -- 5, 9-07

83. Landon Rankin -- Apache Jct, Az -- 0, 0-00 -- 4, 4-01 -- 4, 5-05 -- 8, 9-06

84. Richard Smith -- Discovery Bay, Ca -- 1, 1-00 -- 3, 3-08 -- 4, 4-07 -- 8, 8-15

85. Greg Hatleberg -- Springfield, Or -- 3, 6-09 -- 1, 2-03 -- 0, 0-00 -- 4, 8-12

86. Robert Preble -- Glendale, Az -- 1, 1-08 -- 1, 1-14 -- 3, 5-04 -- 5, 8-10

87. Clay Lippincott -- Goodear, Az -- 3, 4-06 -- 1, 1-08 -- 2, 2-12 -- 6, 8-10

88. Don McBride -- Phoenix, Az -- 4, 6-00 -- 0, 0-00 -- 2, 2-03 -- 6, 8-03

89. Brian Carnahan -- Flagstaff, Az -- 2, 3-07 -- 2, 4-08 -- 0, 0-00 -- 4, 7-15

90. Kevin Caruso -- Glendale, Az -- 3, 4-00 -- 3, 3-11 -- 0, 0-00 -- 6, 7-11

91. Kevin Johnson -- Valencia, Ca -- 5, 4-14 -- 0, 0-00 -- 2, 2-12 -- 7, 7-10

92. Steve Lowe -- Norwalk, Ca -- 1, 1-09 -- 2, 2-12 -- 1, 2-07 -- 4, 6-12

93. Duane Dunstone -- Reno, Nv -- 1, 2-01 -- 2, 3-05 -- 0, 0-00 -- 3, 5-06

94. Shawn Hilton -- Phoenix, Az -- 3, 5-00 -- 0, 0-00 -- 0, 0-00 -- 3, 5-00

95. Michael John Mcfarland -- Mesa, Az -- 2, 3-02 -- 1, 1-10 -- 0, 0-00 -- 3, 4-12

96. Chris Bond -- Oak Hills, Ca -- 1, 1-03 -- 2, 2-13 -- 0, 0-00 -- 3, 4-00

Steve Adams -- Discovery Bay, Ca -- 0, 0-00 -- 0, 0-00 -- 0, 0-00 -- 0, 0-00