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MANY, La. -Withthedistinctionofbeingnamedthebest blackbasfisheryinthecountryfor twoconsecutiveyears, Toledo
Bendhasexperiencedanunprecedentedamount ofanglingpresure. Truthbetold, thepresurehasstartedtohaveadet-
rimental efect onthefishing. Toavoidthecrowd, local sticksPhilipCreliaandTJGoodwynbackedawayfromthebankand
targetedprespawnbas. Not onlyweretherelesboatstocompetewith, but thebaswerefat, heathyandeager tocooper-
ate.
For years, CreliaandGoodwynwereknownasshalow-water sticks. Morerecently, they'vebecomestudentsoftheofshore
game. "We'verealyworkedandworkedatgetingbeteroutdep,"saidCrelia. "It'shardtofindthemofshore, butwhen
youdoyouhaveachanceatwinning. Whenyoufishshalow, you'resortofrolingthediceonsize. Ofshoreyoucanfind
therightsize."
CreliaandGoodwynalsobelievedmostofthe312teamscompetingintheTexasTeamTrail eventwererushingthespawn.
"I knowthere'sfishupthereandthere'sabunchoffemalesabout toburst,"Creliaadded. "But there'salsoabunchofstag-
ingspotsthat areloadedwithfish. That'swhat wedid. Webasicalyranamilkrunofstagingspots; wewerecatchingthem
inthemid-point."
WhileCreliaandGoodwynsampled10or12spots, theydidmostoftheirdamageonthre, alofwhicharelocatedonthe
lake'snorthernend. "Weliveuponthenorthendofthelakesowewentbacktowherewefel comfortable."
Whiletheyhadalimitearly,itwasn'tuntil1:45a.m.thattheirdaytransformedfromgoodtogreat.Visitingahard-bot-
tomedspotthat'salwaysheldpotential, CreliaandGoodwyncaughtgiantsonthreconsecutivecasts.
CRELIA, GOODWYNCRUSH30-POUNDWINNINGSTRINGER
BYBRETTCARLSON