Lake Toho, Southern Open

I have an extremely long 1200 mile drive to Orlando, FL. I'm going to leave in early January, after the 20+ hour trip I hope to get 10 days to learn the area and the connecting lakes. The upper part of Lake Kissimmee is about 36mi from the launch. I don't get very good gas mileage on my 2004 Yamaha Vmax 225, I get around 40-50miles on one tank, so with gasoline back to $3 it will cost almost $60 one way, I'm hoping I can find enough big fish close by. It's expensive to fish, I have already estimated it will take a 40th place finish to get my entry fee back and 19th-20th place to cover my expenses. I need a top ten or better. I'm going to try to win, the reality is fishing is always tough and if it isn't the competition always is. I'm going to work harder than I ever have to locate where the bass are before game day. I hope this is the event that I stumble onto something special. I always expect something to happen on the water, I just haven't had that magic day yet. I've worked hard this past four years to be prepared for this opportunity and I know I'm ready.

I've been preparing my gear for big florida bass. I'm really looking forward to my first visit Toho the location Dean Rojas set the big bag record of 45.2 lbs, I was at Lake Falcon when Terry Scroggins was 1/2lb shy of the record. There was a six day warming trend prior to the start of the tournament, the afternoon before Dean saw an 11lb, 10lb, 9's, 8's move up to the beds. He caught a 9lber on his 4th cast of the event ending w/ 108lbs after four days. I talked to Ben Matsubu a little about the lake and he gave me a couple pointers, he also has won on Toho. I'm hoping we time the lake perfectly again this year. I'd really like to be able to sight fish some big girls. I'm prepared to do it all, I love flipping grass and reeds.

I have almost finished sorting my lures so I will know exactly where everything I plan to fish with is. I have been running the potential patterns through my head and should have a good idea what I need to look for and do when I hit the water to pre-fish.

Lake Texoma- Central Open

I can't believe I haven't made any posts since the Open. I really can't update much when I'm out on the water and that's when I want to do it. most of the time I don't have internet connections.

Here is a picture of Luke, he made it in the Bassmaster photo gallery after he was noticed cheering me during the weigh-in on day1. I was staying at their home. My first real fan came out both days and left after I was done.

Here is my picture from the gallery on Day2 pre launch.

I had a little figured out but didn't get the bites I needed during the tournament. I finished 83rd besting half of the field but thought I could have done better. I had one area that I thought would have paid off during the tournament but never did. I boated every fish that bit even in practice. It was tough but I was confident and fished hard I just didn't get the break of running into any schools. They were liking the buzzbait in practice. I pulled a nice fish off an isolated tree but couldn't find any more brush piles. I found a good dock at the end of day2 but it wasn't enough to get a limit. One fish went a long way in this tournament. I was really expecting to get lucky even though conditions were tough

I pulled a nice bass out of a tree after this video, see the buoy in the back of this pocket. Unfortunately, there was just the one.

Great news today: I'm in the southern Open on Lake Toho. I am so excited about this opportunity to share water with the legend Roland martin.

Lake Toho, FL.

I'm behind in updating my blog a lot has happen since my last post so, I will work my way backwards.

I registered for Lake Toho, Southern Open yesterday as a single event. I didn't have the money to commit to them all. My chances of getting in are not great but if I get the opportunity I will try to come up with the money to fish them all. Roland martin is fishing the Southern Opens this year, its obvious he has another Classic birth in his eyes. You win an Open this year and you get a ticket to the Classic.

I registered for all of the Central Opens and am fairly confident I will get a spot this year? I am doing some map study and trying to get some support from sponsors for 2011 season.

I have a new relationship with Wright & McGill/ Eagle Tackle/ Trokar. Their Bassmaster pro staff is full for 2011 so I am starting on their Capt./Guide pro staff. I love

fishing with my Skeet Reese series rods, they really are awesome. I have been an early adopter of their products and what can you say about Trokar hooks, I can't wait to get my first Trokar Buzzbait. I'm proud to be on their team.

I'll update this post if I get confirmation of entry, you never know?

Great news: I got confirmation I'm in the tournament. I'm so excited.

Grand Lake

It was a beautiful afternoon on Grand lake. I got out on the water at 1:00 it was about 50* with light wind. Water temp was 65* I started throwing a buzzbait and continued with either a berkley 4" swimbait, the new thinbody powerbait and a white zara spook jr. I threw a Strike King Red Eye shad awhile also. I had two keepers for about 6lbs. I found a lot of baitfish but not a lot of fish. I thought it would have been a little better. The boat was running great.

Lake Texoma- Central Open

....................................... I registered for the final Bassmaster Central Open today. I have a good chance of getting in. I have never been to Texoma, I know it's a big lake and I will need about 18lbs a day to win? The tournament starts on Oct. 21st so I will be fishing the back of creeks and fishing shallow boat docks etc? Here are my initial look at google earth of ramp location and closest marinas. I will be buying the premium contour lines for my Navionics hotmaps explorer, so I can do further study. I will be fishing the Bassmaster Weekend Series Regional Championship the Sat/Sun before practice starts on Mon. so I'll have a long drive from Alabama to make.

Lake DeGray, AR.

These are my trails 136 miles of them. It was more difficult than it should have been, I was catching fish, nice fish in practice. See the video links below or on facebook

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1606718208118&ref=mf
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1607779314645&ref=mf



What can I say....I fished well, it only took under 10lbs a day to win. I finished last but sill moved up in the rankings to finish 21st in division 12 and move on to the Regional Championship. A disappointing finish 35th. I also damaged the new lower unit on the way to day2 weigh-in. A luckless day to the end? They dropped the water another foot over night. I found some 1' water on the main lake going 60mph.

Ft. Gibson Lake

I fished Gibson on Sunday. I launched out of Toppers. Fishing was tough, I fished shallow and deep. I threw a crankbait alot in 6'-12'. I C-rigged and drop shot with little results. I had only two bass on the day...I covered a lot of water. It's still pretty hot. I couldn't find any schools.

This is my trail uploaded onto Google Earth. I'm recording my trails w/ navionics lakes app on my smartphone.

Lake DeGray, AR.

I'm leaving for Lake Degray on Wed. for a couple of days of pre-fishing. It's still hotter than I would like but atleast it's cool at night.

This is a two day tournament so it is important to find some schooling bass for both days.

I've added a new 7'10" Wright & Mcgill Magnum Crankbait rod to my arsenal. I'm spooled up with 12# Vicious Flourocarbon and will tie on several deep diving lures. SKL Series 6 and Red Eye Shad, little John DD.

I'll be doing some drop shotting and throwing a big worm on deep structure.

There are several boat docks near the takeoff so these might prove helpful on the way into the weigh-in.

I'll update the blog once I get on the water Thur./Friday from my smartphone. I should be able to use the new Navionics app but won't be able to do the fancy Google Earth stuff until I get home.

Lake DeGray, AR.

I am closer every day to having my boat and gear at 100%. It took forever and several attempts and more money to get my lower unit replaced. The starter failed while I was breaking the lower unit in, but that was easy enough to get repaired. Now, the fourth bank on my charger isn't working. I guess I'm going to spent yet another $500? I also had the winch strap repaired, it was about 20' long so we just cut it back to where it was new. I've had a lot of obstacles to overcome lately....lets get them all out of the way now. Update: I've rigged the charger so the 3rd bank charges batteries 3, 4. The fourth battery is also charged by the big motor.

video clip

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1241063787&v=app_2392950137#!/video/video.php?v=1576702177736

I am one step closer to fishing.....

Lay Lake, AL

Bassmaster Weekend Series

Southeast Regional Championship

Beeswax Creek is the location where KVD won the Bassmaster Classic. We will be fishing the Southeast Regional Championship out of Beeswax ramp October 15-16, 2010

Vandam won the classic in the back of Beeswax Creek throwing a blk/gold red eye shad lipless crankbait back by the bridge in this photo. Late in the year the baitfish will be moving back into the shallows, apparently there are some good tree stumps in this area. I will have a couple of days to pre-fish. The goal will be to make the top 50 to advance to the National Champions on Lake Guntersville. I will begin my map study soon, but I still have the Arkansas Division Championship to fish on Lake Degray, but I'm already qualified in the standings to fish the regional.

Lake DeGray, AR.

I have begun my map study for Lake Degray championship at the end of August. My boat and gear is ready and I'm looking forward to a couple of days of practice before the tournament. I should already be qualified for the regional championship on Lay Lake in Alabama by just competing in this 2 Day event.

Tulsa, OK.

I've done a little fiberglass work on the Skeeter this week and am expecting my new lower unit to arrive on Monday, so I am slowly getting the boat back to 100%. I have a new shipment from the Tackle Warehouse also coming soon. I have been doing a little map study of Lake DeGray, AR. marking some waypoints for the 2 Day Div. 12 Championship at the end of August.





This is my squirrel tail frog I made I think I'd like to fish it on the bottom with a pegged weight or heavy jig head?
I will probably make another with shorter legs....it should catch fish.

Millwood Lake, AR.

I've had quite an experience with the new lower unit failure on Lake Millwood. The driveshaft was stuck in the powerhead and the $100/hr mechanics couldn't remove it without removing the powerhead. Well, it wasn't that difficult for me to do it? I made a tool to extract the broken shaft and it worked perfectly. Now, I'm waiting for the new unit to arrive.

I will be returning to Ft. Gibson later next week to break in the lower unit. The next tournament is in August on DeGray, AR

Millwood Lake, AR.

Lake Millwood was tough this week but has some big bass in it and can be a lot of fun once you figure out where they are. I was told the tournament would be won on the main lake so that is where I practiced the first two days concentrating on deep water channel swings. The green trail is day 3 practice trail first thing in the morning. I wanted to see if I could get a morning bite in the grass. I started up river and found where the real grass was. I broke down at 10:30am a mile and a half from the Yarborough ramp. I used my Motorguide TR109 to make it to that ramp, my truck and trailer was at the Saratoga ramp. I fished the BWS tournament without my big motor the next day, I had broken the driveshaft on the new remanufactured lower unit, I didn't hit anything the torque of the engine just snapped it. I finished in 19th place and locked in my spot at the Regional Championship on Lay Lake in Alabama in October with a ranking of 25th in the Arkansas Division. We still have Division 12 2day Championship on DeGray to fish in August.

I had a nice stretch of bank but had to share it with a boat from another tournament who hammered them pretty good. I'm sure those would have been our fish had they not been there, I think they won their tournament. My fish came off a Gene Larew Salt Craw, Zoom Magnum Trick Work and Brush Hog.

KVD Sooner Run

Vandam had a good tournament on Ft Gibson .

The Sooner Run was scheduled for the Arkansas River

but the venue changed to Ft. Gibson due to rising flood waters.

Click on the KVD Sooner Run Title and it will take you to

the video I shot practicing on the Little Greenleaf Lake

on the Arkansas River south of the Port of Muskogee.

( There was some kind of error uploading video both using my

mobile phone and from my home computer?)

Atleast, I was finally able to post from my mobile phone, that means

I can now update the blog from the water.

Ft. Gibson

I fished Ft Gibson last week during the Sooner Run. Here are some links to a couple videos I posted on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/video/video.php?v=1524107502902&ref=mf
Shallow Bite [HD]
by Jeff Jordan (videos)
0:46
My biggest fish today was caught on a Balsa squarebill red/chart crayfish pattern. The bass were extremely shallow feeding on shad. I lost 2 three pounders. Here's a typical keeper caught flipping a BigBiteBaits Rojas Fighting Frog. ...no bass over 4# today but they were there.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1520299247698&ref=mf
Highlights from a day on Arkansas River. I caught 2 keepers on a jig and crankbait. The Elite pros will have a slugfest on Ft. Gibson compared to the river. They caught a lot of 4 and 5 pounders during last weeks BWS. The bite should be a lot easier for everyone. It should take 15# a day for cut, maybe 14#?

I'm going to try to catch up on a few past events. I was having problems updating the blog from my cell phone. I hope I can resolve that soon.

Lake Millwood, AR

Lake Dardanelle

I fished Lake Dardanelle on Saturday. It was a very tough bite in 47 degree water. I finished 25th. There were 56 zero's out of 108 anglers. Only one five fish limit. One guy had four fish, most everyone that caught fish just had one. There was only one three fish limit on the am side. The fish were thin and I never really saw any baitfish....hard times are back at Dardanelle? The fish haven't moved up yet, give it another 2-3 weeks?

Falcon Lake

When the extreme cold weather arrived on Choke Canyon I decided to continue on to Lake Falcon during the off limits period and forego the tournament. A wise decision. Fishing remained touch under the cold conditions. Largest bass caught only 6 lbs..... disappointing not seeing the lake at it's best. They still caught them during the Basschamps tournament. It was a fairly nice day, four teams had sacks over 40 lbs....wow, an 8+ lb average! Apparently, I wasn't fishing the right places. A lot of them were fishing deep. The cold weather has postponed the spawn until the next full moon. The Southern lakes will be on fire very soon.

Choke Canyon

I arrived at Choke Canyon in front of a cold front and had an afternoon of nice weather before 29 degree weather hit the following morning. Fishing was tough but landed several keepers largest a nice 4.5 lber.

Tournament Preparation

The weather is still cold in Oklahoma last week during the snow
storm I made this video. I showcase a few baits I'm putting in the boat.



I'll be loading the boat this week, I hope it warms up soon. I know
the route by heart to Toledo bend but need to find the best route
to take to Zapata. I will have the help of my TomTom and the aid
of the GPS maps on my new smart phone.

Once I get to Toledo Bend I expect to be looking for big females
in staging areas, points and channel edges in mouths of coves.
The plan is to find spawning flats in protected areas off the main lake.
Hopefully, I'll find some active pre-spawn schooling and feeding up?
I'll be sure to hunt for any big fish that may be up on any early beds.

Toledo Bend

Welcome to my tournament lake discussion blog.

I would like to talk about bass fishing lakes and

over time try to build up some useful information

on lake conditions, techniques, and general info

culled on specific fisheries.

My first stop on my 2010 season is Bassmaster Weekend Series

on Toledo Bend 02/13/10

I will be posting lake information as I gather it.

Fish Hard,

Jeff

I joined the Ultimate Bass Fishing resource guide fishing forum
to participate in the discussion on Toledo Bend

Here is an image from my Hummingbird 797 showing a typical grass line