Productive Patterns

 

When Zack Gagnard and Paul Rini of Northwester State University arrived at Lake Lewisville for the 2009 BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship, they knew they'd have to uncover a solid pattern in order to be competitive. According to Zack "This is the best event there is for college anglers to fish. The best anglers fish this event and you've really got to be at the top of your game just to compete with them."

 

Zack and Paul reported getting off to a quick start the first day of practice by catching two bass over 4 pounds and one over 8 pounds before 8:00 a.m. The dam proved to be their best area. By positioning their boat in about 20 feet of water, the team was able to work their lures over a 15-18 foot deep drop off. Another key spot was a rock pile located about 200 yards offshore in the 121 cove area. It topped out at about 6 feet and quickly dropped into 13-20 feet on all sides. Their key lures both days of competition were V&M football jigs in the Moneymaker color and V&M shaky heads rigged with Watermelon/Red Pork Pins. The Jigs and shaky heads were fished on Hi-Seas fluorocarbon line.

 

 

Andrew Luxon and Richard Cobb of Eastern Kentucky University are seasoned veterans of collegiate bass fishing. Their experience and fishing talents carried them all the way to the hot seat for the final day weigh-in where they sat in the sun for an uncomfortably long time before being outweighed. "Over the past four years, this event has been an unbelievable experience that words cannot explain. The friends I have made and people I have met in the fishing industry as a result of participating are priceless," stated Andrew.

 

Early on the first day of competition the team capitalized on the marina dock bite by skipping their lures far under the docks. However, the dam proved to be the key area where they did most of their damage. By backing off and positioning the boat in 30 feet of water, Andrew and Richard were able to tempt suspended fish that shut down from the fishing pressure to bite. The key lures were Zappu jigs rigged with Jackall Flick Shake worms and 7" Senkos. They also caught several bass using a Gamakatsu shakey head paired with 7" hand poured Berkley worms in the Watermelon Magic Red color and a Cumberland Pro Lures Pro Caster jig (3/8 ounce black/blue).

 

The team wishes to thank Shimano, G Loomis, Jackall, Pittsburg Marine, Cumberland Pro Lures, Berkley, Seaguar and Ranger Boats. They also thanked BoatU.S. as well as all sponsors of the 2009 BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship.

 

 

During the official practice period, Aaron Rogillio and Philip Marsiglia of Louisiana Tech University concentrated their efforts in deep water using deep diving crankbaits and shaky head worms. Although they caught lots of small bass, the pair never landed any big ones.

 

On day one, the pair started off fishing the dam with crankbaits then moved to a point that had a good drop off on one side. Aaron explained "This drop produced two 4 pounders - one came on a Baby Bass colored Deep Little N crankbait the other on a V&M shaky head rigged with a V&M Watermelon/Red Finesse Worm. A shallow water spot that was loaded with bass produced two more keepers on a jig. We returned to the dam and finally boated our fifth keeper on the shaky head."

 

The same lures fished in the same locations produced a limit again on day two.

 

Aaron and Philip also stated "We would like give a huge thanks to the sponsors of this event and all the people who helped make it possible. We plan to have a team fishing at this event every year in the future. It's an honor to compete with this group of world class anglers. We look forward to seeing this tournament continue and grow."

 

"We would also like to thank our sponsors: Bayou Outdoors, Woods and Water Outdoors, Ludwig Brothers Marine and all supporters of the LaTech Bass Team.