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Thespotisabouta3-acreareaonthesouthend,"Pateexplained."It'salitleridgeinabout
12to14feetthathastrashonthebotom. Itlookedlikeacombinationoftires, metal, rockand
dilapidatedpiers.Thekeywasthatithadahardbotom.”
Ondayone,PateandRoweboxedafive-fishlimitof4-poundersby1a.m.anddecidedtolet
thespotrest.Today,theyfishedithardandimprovedtheircatchtonearly25pounds.At1:45
today,Roweboateda51/2-pounderthaterasedaldoubts.
"ItoldTedthatIthinkit'sover,butitwouldbeniceifwegotonemore,"recaledRowe."Right
afterthatit,Icaughtthebigone.Andhehadanevenbiggeronethatbrokehimof.Wecould
havehadover27pounds."
Pateexplainedthattheareahadthreesweetspotsthattheywouldrotatebetween.Theearly
morningbitewasgoodanditwouldpickupagainaround1:30p.m.Altheirfishwerecaught
ona101/2-inchZoomOl'Monsterinredbugcolor.Inwindyconditions,theyfisheditTex-
as-riggedwitha1/2-ouncetungstenweight.Incalmconditions,theyemployeda3/16-ounce
weight.
"We'reoldandwecaughtthemoldschool,"quippedthe59-year-oldPate."Ilikefishingdeep;
it'swhatIdo.Yesterdaywewerehoppingthewormandtodaywehadtodragitonthebotom."
Ondayone,PateandRowecaughtsixkeepersandtodaytheymanagedeight.
"Wedidn'tcatchawholebunchoffish;theywerejustqualityfish,"Patesaid."Yesterdaywe
caughtal4-poundersandtodaywehadthreethatwereover5pounds.Wewerejustbeing
realypatientandwaitingforthosebitestocome."
Withanofficialweightof44.50pounds,PateandRoweclaimedaRangerZ519cwitha
225-horsepowerEvinrudeG2,plus$1,605ofAnglersAdvantagecash.
"Anytimeyouwin,it'sagreatfeeling,espe-
cialyagainstthecaliberthat'southere
today,"saidPate."Thisisaspecialone."
"I'vewononthislakeafewtimes,"said
Rowe."Butit'salwaysbeenwith30or32
pounds.Thiswaspretyunusual.Some-
timesthegoodLordsmilesonyou.This
morningIknewtheonlythingthatwould
preventusfrom catchingthem waswind
andstorms.Wehadstormsaroundusal
daybuttheywentnorthandsouth.Some-
timesthingsaremeanttobe."