By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor
After a few days of pre-practice for the BFL All-American, Curtis Richardson didn’t feel like driving all the way back home to Canada only to have to jump back in his truck a few days later to make the journey back to the shores of Kentucky Lake.
Instead, he decided to soak up more of the South, specifically Pickwick Lake, where he hoped to continue his crash course on fishing offshore structure on the Tennessee River.
His TVA stay-cation turned out to be a valuable piece to the strategy that ultimately led him to victory at last week’s All-American at Kentucky Lake. The Belleville, Ontario, native employed his skills as a deep-water smallmouth angler and combined them with what he was able to learn about how Tennessee River largemouth set up on and around structure with current running into it.
Richardson, who qualified via the TBF, started fast with nearly 25 pounds on day 1 and finished with 66-05 over 3 days to capture the $120,000 winner’s share plus entry into this year’s Forrest Wood Cup. It was an unexpected outcome for the angler who’d never wet a line at Kentucky Lake prior to pre-practice for the event.
“I don’t think it’s sunk it yet completely,.
to be honest,” he said Sunday as he made his way through Cincinnati on his way back to Canada. “There have been a couple ‘Wow’ moments. It’s amazing. Now that I’m going to the Cup, there’s so much to think about.”
Richardson, who’s kicked around the Northern Rayovac Series and Northern Opens for a few years – he’s planning to fish the Northern Opens again this year – says winning the All-American tops all of his other tournament accomplishments and hopes it leads to bigger and better things.
“It’s a clear number one,” he said. “The All-American is a big deal. If you look at guys who’ve won it in the past, it’s helped launch careers to the next level and I’m one of those guys who wants to fish the (FLW) Tour or Elites, sponsorship willing.”
Here’s how he did it.
Practice
Having never competed or fished at Kentucky Lake before, Richardson knew he had to put in some time prior to it going off limits for 9 days leading into the one official practice day immediately preceding the start of competition.
Richardson idled and graphed ledges and other offshore structure for 6 days, but his time on the water coincided with BASSFest, which he said made it difficult to “get on anything good.”
“I fished a little, but it was pretty tough then,” he added. “I’d never ledge-fished before so it was a whole new ballgame for me.”
It didn’t take him all that long to make the connection between targeting smallmouths in deep water like he does at Lake Ontario and fishing for largemouths relating to drops and humps near the river channel.
“Lake Ontario is my home lake and that experience really helped me out,” he said. “It’s very similar with all the deep structure and the fish being current-related. Just being able to understand how they related to structure in current was big.”
He finished his pre-practice session after collecting roughly 120 waypoints, but he had more than a week to kill before the tournament began. He polled a couple friends who fish the FLW Tour as to what other TVA lake best mimics Kentucky and the consensus was Pickwick.
“Instead of going home during off limits, I went to Pickwick and figured out how to throw big baits and worked on those techniques,” Richardson noted. “That was one of the biggest keys to me winning.”
He caught 27 pounds his first day at Pickwick – all on the Nichols Lures Ben Parker Magnum Flutter Spoon – and that clued him in to what might work in the tournament. He fished 3 more days and took a few days off to get rested up.
“That’s when the light bulb went on,” he said. “I got comfortable throwing it and built some confidence in that spoon.”
On the one official practice day back at Kentucky Lake, he focused mainly on the southern end of the lake, between New Johnsonville and the Highway 68 bridge.
“I knew there were a lot of schools out there, but there was one area in particular that I’d graphed in pre-practice that I fished and fished and fished, but couldn’t get a bite,” he said. “I started to doubt what I was seeing on my screen were bass.”
He went back to that spot the day before the tournament and threw the spoon out and caught three fish in short order, including a 5 1/2-pounder.
“I had a gut feeling about that spot and the size of the fish that were there,” he added.
Competition
> Day 1: 5, 24-13
> Day 2: 5, 21-15
> Day 3: 5, 19-09
> Total = 15, 66-05
Richardson woke up on day 1 not knowing if he was going to target areas up north or spots he had marked down south. He had four spots within a 5-mile radius that he had some confidence in, so he opted to concentrate on those to start. He committed to throwing the spoon for the duration.
He was unable to get on two of the spots on day 1, but made the most of the other two. He pulled one weigh-in fish off the area he had practiced on and the rest of his 24-13 bag came from an underwater point that was littered with stumps and had a ditch running through it.
“I threw the spoon up current and snapped it across the ditch lined with stumps,” he said. “The fish were sitting there, waiting for bait to wash down to them.”
The other spot he fished was a shellbed near a ledge that topped off in 18 feet. The shellbed was in 15, but then tapered down a foot on both sides. He tallied eight bites overall on the first day.
“There was a bend in the river channel there so the current was hitting it hard,” he added.
He was 3 pounds behind leader Bobby Padgett after day 1 and could’ve closed the gap had he not lost a key fish.
“I lost a fish that would’ve given me 26 1/2,” he said. “I wasn’t surprised at the fish I caught. I knew those size fish were there and when you’re fishing for big ones you’re not going to catch a bunch of them. I had confidence that if I caught one, it’d be a good one.”
He had just six bites on day 2, but they were all chunky fish as he bagged 21-15 to take a 1-04 lead into the final day. He worked over the same two spots he fished on day 1 and caught his first two fish off the shell bed before adding a 3-pounder on a dropshot rig and another 4-pounder on the spoon from the stumpy point. He rounded out his stringer with a 2-pounder off a garden-variety ledge.
He added a third spot to his rotation for the final day, but after he recognized the current wasn’t moving at near the pace it was Thursday or Friday, that prompted him to change to a dropshot rig.
The decision proved crucial as he attracted 12 bites, including two big ones off his shell bed spot, the best being a 6-pound kicker that anchored his 19-09 stringer.
“That fish put me over the top,” he said. “I pulled up on the shell bed late in the day and made 15 or 20 casts with the spoon. I put it down and picked up the dropshot and caught the 6-pounder.
“Getting on that third place was key,” he added. “I started with the spoon, but about 3 hours in, I realized it wasn’t happening. They weren’t drawing any current and the fish were more scattered.”
After losing a fish on the spoon early on, he went to the dropshot, something he’s very familiar with from his smallmouth experience.
“That was huge,” he said. “I don’t think I would’ve had a limit if I’d been stubborn enough to stay with the spoon. Knowing when to put (the spoon) down on the final day was big.”
Winning Gear Notes
> Spoon gear: 7’6” medium-heavy unnamed flipping rod, Lew’s Tournament Pro Speed Spool casting reel (7:1 gear ratio), 20-pound unnamed fluorocarbon line, 8” Nichols Lures Ben Parker Magnum Flutter Spoon (silver and shattered glass).
> Dropshot gear: 6’10” medium-light unnamed spinning rod, unnamed spinning reel, 10-pound unnamed braided line (main), 6-pound unnamed fluorocarbon line (leader), 1/0 unnamed dropshot hook, wacky-rigged Zoom Magnum Trick Worm (red bug), 1/2-oz. round unnamed dropshot weight.
The Bottom Line
> Main factor in his success – “That trip I took to Pickwick and my smallmouth background and having the confidence in that spoon. There were a lot of factors and it all set up perfect. Throwing that spoon 100 percent of the time was a big key, too. Other guys had one tied on, but they’d only throw it maybe 10 or 15 casts a day. Nobody else was doing it as long as I was.”
> Performance edge – “My smallmouth background really helped. I’m so used to graphing. It’s not uncommon to be on Lake Ontario for 10 hours without making a cast.”
Much of the tackle referenced above is available at the BassFan Store. To browse the selection, click here.
Final Results
1. Curtis Richardson -- Belleville, On -- 24-13 (5) -- 21-15 (5) -- 46-12 (10) -- 19-9 (5) -- 66-5 (15) -- $100,000 + Ranger Cup ($20,000)
2. Jeremy Lawyer -- Sarcoxie, Mo -- 21-10 (5) -- 22-9 (5) -- 44-3 (10) -- 18-12 (5) -- 62-15 (15) -- $20,000 + Ranger Cup ($9,000)
3. Billy Schroeder -- Paducah, Ky -- 22-5 (5) -- 23-3 (5) -- 45-8 (10) -- 16-14 (5) -- 62-6 (15) -- $15,000 + Ranger Cup ($8,000)
4. John Hopkins -- Hendersonville, Tn -- 16-1 (5) -- 23-10 (5) -- 39-11 (10) -- 21-5 (5) -- 61-0 (15) -- $14,000
5. Chris Daves -- Spring Grove, Va -- 20-1 (5) -- 19-3 (5) -- 39-4 (10) -- 19-14 (5) -- 59-2 (15) -- $13,000
6. Chris Martinkovic -- Hamilton, Oh -- 24-9 (5) -- 17-3 (5) -- 41-12 (10) -- 16-15 (4) -- 58-11 (14) -- $12,000 + Ranger Cup ($5,000)
7. Bobby D. Padgett -- Lagrange, Ga -- 27-13 (5) -- 17-2 (5) -- 44-15 (10) -- 13-10 (5) -- 58-9 (15) -- $11,000 + Ranger Cup ($4,500)
8. J R Henard -- Rogersville, Tn -- 20-11 (5) -- 21-5 (5) -- 42-0 (10) -- 14-0 (4) -- 56-0 (14) -- $10,000 + Ranger Cup ($4,000)
9. Jeff Johnston -- Marion, Ar -- 21-10 (5) -- 15-6 (5) -- 37-0 (10) -- 12-7 (4) -- 49-7 (14) -- $9,000
10. Zach Grounds -- Fortville, In -- 19-0 (5) -- 16-3 (5) -- 35-3 (10) -- 5-15 (2) -- 41-2 (12) -- $8,000
The following anglers did not make the cut and did not fish on day 3.
11. Dennis Middleton -- Madison Heights, Va -- 24-10 (5) -- 9-3 (3) -- 33-13 (8) -- $3,000 + Ranger Cup ($2,000)
12. Wes Logan -- Springville, Al -- 16-0 (5) -- 17-6 (5) -- 33-6 (10) -- $3,000
13. Mike Brueggen -- La Crosse, Wi -- 13-13 (5) -- 16-9 (5) -- 30-6 (10) -- $3,000 + Ranger Cup ($2,000)
14. Brian Laclair -- Denton, Md -- 16-6 (5) -- 12-15 (5) -- 29-5 (10) -- $3,000 + Ranger Cup ($2,000)
15. Joshua Moore -- Grand Cane, La -- 17-1 (5) -- 11-14 (5) -- 28-15 (10) -- $3,000 + Ranger Cup ($2,000)
16. Robert Crosnoe -- Inverness, Fl -- 14-1 (5) -- 14-14 (5) -- 28-15 (10) -- $3,000 + Ranger Cup ($2,000)
17. Sam Heckman -- Fountain, Co -- 19-5 (5) -- 9-0 (3) -- 28-5 (8) -- $3,000 + Ranger Cup ($2,000)
18. Leland Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 15-4 (5) -- 12-15 (5) -- 28-3 (10) -- $3,000
19. Chris Panetta -- Simsbury, Ct -- 14-9 (5) -- 11-2 (5) -- 25-11 (10) -- $3,000 + Ranger Cup ($2,000)
20. Thomas O'bryant -- Cedar Grove, Tn -- 13-15 (5) -- 11-9 (5) -- 25-8 (10) -- $3,000
21. Dustin Vaal -- Gilbertsville, Ky -- 15-10 (5) -- 9-8 (4) -- 25-2 (9) -- $2,000 + Ranger Cup ($1,500)
22. Shane Haslett -- Beecher City, Il -- 19-0 (5) -- 5-14 (2) -- 24-14 (7) -- $2,000 + Ranger Cup ($1,500)
23. Josh Wagy -- Dewitt, Va -- 8-12 (3) -- 15-14 (5) -- 24-10 (8) -- $2,000
24. Thadeus Ragan -- North Miami Beach, Fl -- 5-12 (3) -- 18-8 (5) -- 24-4 (8) -- $2,000
25. Tim Smiley -- White Pine, Tn -- 17-10 (5) -- 6-4 (2) -- 23-14 (7) -- $2,000 + Ranger Cup ($1,500)
26. David Williams -- Maiden, NC -- 3-1 (1) -- 19-7 (5) -- 22-8 (6) -- $2,000 + Ranger Cup ($1,500)
27. Lloyd Pickett Jr -- Bartlett, Tn -- 20-13 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 20-13 (5) -- $2,000 + Ranger Cup ($1,500)
28. Keith Monson -- Burgin, Ky -- 9-1 (4) -- 11-12 (5) -- 20-13 (9) -- $2,000
29. Buzz Gallo -- Moselle, Ms -- 9-2 (4) -- 11-3 (5) -- 20-5 (9) -- $2,000
30. Mike Barnes -- Mackinaw, Il -- 4-7 (1) -- 15-12 (5) -- 20-3 (6) -- $2,000 + Ranger Cup ($1,500)
31. Jack Hand -- St. Cloud, Fl -- 18-0 (5) -- 1-15 (1) -- 19-15 (6) -- $1,500
32. Shawn Gordon -- Russellville, Ar -- 11-1 (3) -- 8-12 (4) -- 19-13 (7) -- $1,500 + Ranger Cup ($1,000)
33. David Dudley -- Dublin, Oh -- 12-8 (5) -- 6-6 (3) -- 18-14 (8) -- $1,500 + Ranger Cup ($1,000)
34. Adam Johnson -- Sandy Springs, Ga -- 15-15 (5) -- 2-13 (1) -- 18-12 (6) -- $1,500
35. Mark Maderos -- Maple Valley, Wa -- 7-11 (4) -- 11-0 (4) -- 18-11 (8) -- $1,500
36. Matthew Salyer -- Owasso, Ok -- 8-4 (3) -- 8-4 (4) -- 16-8 (7) -- $1,500
37. Mark Lundgren -- Cocoa, Fl -- 6-7 (3) -- 9-8 (3) -- 15-15 (6) -- $1,500
38. Talmadge Marcum -- Mckee, Ky -- 7-14 (3) -- 8-0 (3) -- 15-14 (6) -- $1,500
39. Randy Ramsey -- Ceresco, Mi -- 1-13 (1) -- 13-9 (5) -- 15-6 (6) -- $1,500 + Ranger Cup ($1,000)
40. Garrett Mcdowell -- Mattoon, Il -- 6-8 (3) -- 8-8 (3) -- 15-0 (6) -- $1,500 + Ranger Cup ($1,000)
41. Santos Solis -- Vero Beach, Fl -- 10-3 (5) -- 4-3 (2) -- 14-6 (7) -- $1,500
42. Jason Wilson -- Lincolnton, NC -- 9-12 (5) -- 4-6 (2) -- 14-2 (7) -- $1,500
43. Randy Despino -- Colfax, La -- 13-13 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 13-13 (5) -- $1,500
44. Lance Williams -- Billings, Mo -- 4-6 (2) -- 6-2 (2) -- 10-8 (4) -- $1,500
45. Kenneth Meek -- Vincent, Oh -- 6-4 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 6-4 (3) -- $1,500 + Ranger Cup ($1,000)
46. Todd Walters -- Kernersville, NC -- 1-13 (1) -- 4-1 (2) -- 5-14 (3) -- $1,500
47. James Cassaday -- Wirtz, Va -- 0-0 (0) -- 5-13 (2) -- 5-13 (2) -- $1,500
48. Nicholas Smyers -- Franksville, Wi -- 2-6 (1) -- 2-3 (1) -- 4-9 (2) -- $1,500
49. Steven Wiseman -- Bryans Rd, Md -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- $1,500
