Holland Salmon Slam?

[gomer]

Does anyone have the results?

I'm sure there were some BIG boxes this weekend!

[STEINFISHSKI]

The fishing sucked. A buddy was in 8th after the first day with 3 fish. We won big steelie 2nd day and did not even come close overall. We struggled to find the bait and fish that we were in on Friday. Sounded better up north or down in St Joe for sure.

Am

J Bird
FishNmission
Strike Zone - big fish with a 19+ lb brown.

Pro

Best Chance

They had 2 fish on day 1 and boxed out Sunday.

[gomer]

Interesting....

I was talking to a buddy on Hitman thursday night who said if that was a tourny day they would have had their 12 fish for 150+lbs... Guess the fishing changed a bit!

[DonP]

Yeah...

From all reports I heard... it was definitely tough fishing in Holland this weekend. My buddy Donnie fished with his brother on the "Sun Dog" for this tournament.... and they caught 2 fish on Saturday... and were in 7th place in the Pro division after the first day. I believe they caught 7 fish on Sunday and they ended up 5th overall

9 fish total for a 2 day tournament... and you end up 5th... that is definitely some tough fishing!!!

[STEINFISHSKI]

Yes, some guys got them and most did not. Congrats to everyone who made it happen. The water was very mixed out there and the SW blew the warm water in quick.

Day 2 reminded me of day 2 in South Haven. Easy 6-8' waves the last 2 hours or more.

[gomer]

Ahh yes... the infamous South haven Day 2...

:yikes: Tim, I got to hand it to you guys for duking it out in those waves in that lund!

[STEINFISHSKI]

We were easily the smallest boat out there. Seeing those waves come in 3' higher than the boat made driving and safety our top priority. We got splashed a couple times, but never took on any water. I'm a bit suprised they never called it, it was windy. I'm sure there were some guys who wished they did call it, but we weren't one of them.

[snag]

The waves were insane. We were in a 22ft Islander and took one OVER the hardtop. We were on the fish (3 fish before 8:00) but decided to live to fish another day and limped back to Holland from Port Sheldon after the wave incedent. First time the crew has ever worn the orange life jackets. Congrats to those who placed.

Snag

[Far Beyond Driven]

Ever notice the weather boats are always 36' with 2 fish on the first day? They have both the boat and the incentive to stay out on a day that most people should be on shore.

FBD, Holland, MI

[catchabunch]

Pro

Best Chance

They had 2 fish on day 1 and boxed out Sunday.[/quote]


Did they only have 2 on day one I had heard they got 8 fish the first day?

[STEINFISHSKI]

I was just going by what I had heard, I do not know for sure either way.

[DonP]

Here ya go...

Pro Division

1 Best Chance Too 343.60
2 Brewster II 264.40
3 KC-1 184.85
4 Fish N Fin 166.15
5 Sun Dog 155.85
6 Hobo Too 145.50
7 Hoggin' 132.30
8 Hunter 130.32
9 Blue Chip 128.80
10 El Pescador 119.58

AM Division

1 J Bird 259.43
2 Fish N Mission 257.35
3 Strike Zone 255.96
4 My Three Sons 231.89
5 Relentless 215.00
6 Oralia 211.05
7 The Edge 203.25
8 Maatley Crew 181.73
9 Kepinkul 162.88
10 Pier Addiction 158.12

Not that it really matters... but I got word that Best Chance had 7 fish on day 1.

Holland 333 Results...

Place Team Total Big Fish
1 Fish N Mission 46.10 17.65
2 Strike Zone ***Big Bud*** 45.20 *19.25
3 KC-1 43.90 16.30
4 Best Chance Too 41.45 15.60
5 Wicked Addiction 40.00 15.60
6 Hit & Run 39.35 17.05
7 Hoggin 38.95 16.60
8 Relentless 37.50 13.20
9 J Bird 37.20 13.85
10 Hunter 35.45 14.25
11 Fish N Fin 34.45 14.20
12 Blue Chip 34.10 12.60
13 Sun Dog 34.00 12.70
14 Bonaventure 33.40 13.10
15 Wizard 32.65 14.50
16 Nine Fingers 31.25 14.40
17 Brewster II 31.00 12.00
18 Profishient 29.95 12.95
19 Shameless 28.75 10.85
20 Maatley Crew 28.70 12.15
21 Pilot Lite 28.45 12.00
22 Double Down 28.35 15.15
23 Maggie Mo 28.25 11.75
24 Never Miss 28.25 9.85
25 Unreel 28.05 10.60
26 Fishaholic 27.85 11.35
27 El Pescador 27.25 10.85
28 Miss Shelby 25.65 8.65
29 Pegasus 24.15 12.85
30 Sam N I 21.55 11.10
31 Bill Fish 21.50 11.85
32 A Lure ing 20.70 9.65
33 Manistee Mama 20.55 7.70
34 Bachelor One 19.45 6.65
35 Win N Angel 16.70 7.40
36 Perfect Drift 16.25 11.95
37 JJ 15.90 10.05
38 Red Eye 15.80 10.50
39 Reel Crazy II 13.95 7.45
40 Miss Wing Ding 13.10 7.10
42 Hit Man 10.00 10.00
42 Steelhead Dreams 10.00 10.00
43 Fishy Business 9.55 7.20
44 Tangled Mess 5.85 5.85
45 Turtle 0.00 0.00
46 Trulee 0.00 0.00
47 Fish Tank 0.00 0.00
48 Shock Therapy 0.00 0.00

[gomer]

Ever notice the weather boats are always 36' with 2 fish on the first day? They have both the boat and the incentive to stay out on a day that most people should be on shore.


I think the reason Best Chance is so good involves a little more than just being able to fish easily in rough seas...

[tgafish]

Saw something interesting in those results. Kinda of in line with Stein's Pro vs Am disussion.

The top 7 Am teams would have placed 3rd through 10th in the Pro division.

[gomer]

Tgafish,

Actually, the team with the biggest box overall is usually an amateur team.

[Far Beyond Driven]

My bad. Best Chance put two fish for 25 pounds into the 333 on day one, but had more in the box. I think Stein was quoting me in his first report.

Best Chance has talent to go along with a nice boat, but tell me a 15,000 pound boat doesn't have an advantage over a 5000 pound cabin cruiser or a 3000# tin boat in 6' seas.

Also, I was not implying Best Chance was one of the waether boats. I know on some of the days I've been fun fishing during tournaments and been blown off the lake in a 215 that can handle some water, the tournament was still on when I was home with the boat in the barn and the fish in the freezer. No thanks.

FBD, Holland, MI

[BUGBOAT]

A friend of mine chartered with Best Chance friday through sunday. $800 a day for 3 days, (ouch). They do get to keep half of the tournament winnings. I believe he said they had 9 fish (not sure on this) on saturday. They released several lake trout after they filled there box with trout. On sunday they got there trout early and then switched to a king program and had their box in short order. I was fishing in St. Joe on sunday when I talked to my friend on his cell. They were trolling into the waves and he said you couldnt even tell how rough it was. My freind said it was quite an experience, and that the Best Chance guys really know how to catch fish. As if there was any doubt in that.

[STEINFISHSKI]

Those guys are good no matter what! The best on the lake IMO.

[gomer]

I have to agree with you on that one Tim...

[Losinlewers]

It certainly speaks to what you guys are saying when you win by nearly 80 points (4 10lb fish at the least).

[DonP]

.... I heard the same story. I know of the gentlemen that you speak of. I fished with them on my cousin's boat about a month ago on their annual "booze cruise" out of South Haven (we ended up with 20 fish that day I believe).

And the word I got is.... Best Chance does go for their trout 1st thing... and then switches over to their king program!! If it ain't broke... no need to fix it!!! :lol:

[smoke73]

DonP-And the word I got is.... Best Chance does go for their trout 1st thing... and then switches over to their king program!! If it ain't broke... no need to fix it!!! :lol:


Yes, that is the way do things. At least they did it that way in the G.H. tourney.

[pikedevil]

Acutally they do what it takes to win and are so good because they DONT do the same thing every tournament. Yes they are amazing at thunking up greasers, probably the best on the lake but they dont "always go for trout first". I know for a fact they fished salmon first in the GH tournament and when it wasnt on they bailed and fished trout at the nets. (I watched um do it). They went right back to the trout first game plan on day 2. It kept them in the money but ultimately they were beaten by the guys that fished silvers the whole time. They thunk up lakers when fishing is super tough or when they need trout for a full box, but they do what they think will get them the best score, which is not always trout first. I know they took 6 lakers both days in Holland but I think it was prolly the plan B since the salmon fishing was awful. I know they, and other boats were absolutely slaughtering big kings the days prior to the tournament. It prolly caused them to scratch their heads just like everyone else, but there ability to switch into lake trout mode put them in the big money. Its their flexibility and ability to catch any species in any condition that puts them in a class of their own on lake michigan.