Wish us luck!!

[Tparkin]

Headed out Wednesday morning for the first IFA Redfish Tour Atlantic Div tourney in Charleston. We'll do out best to represent CSO in a big way *thumbsup*

All things considered, we've been extremely fortunate to pick up several local sponsors which is going to allow us to fish the IFA series, Redfish Action and the CCFA tourneys...just wish we would've started on it earlier as we don't have the boat wrap and shirts quite ready for the first event. Either way, we're gonna do everything possible to make all of the sponsors proud.

[MartyJ16]

Good luck Tom and keep us posted!! *thumbsup**thumbsup**thumbsup*

[Dave]

Alriiiiiiight Tommy - how :cool: that would be to win (or even place) in the money with your CS, stacked up against all those sleek, high dollar bay boats *Woot* *Cheers*

GOOD LUCK !!!

Dave

[Whatever]

Best of luck to you..Keep those lines tight, and put them in the boat *Cheers*

[Gunnar]

I hope you catch nothing but fat 26 7/8" reds.

We'll be rooting for ya! *003**003*

Gregg

[OBX Hokie]

good Luck! We are pulling for you! Tight Lines!*Cheers**Cheers*

[Tparkin]

Thanks guys. It's gonna be challenging for someone who likes to spot and sight cast given the area and forecast for next weekend. It's supposed to be rainy from Thurs to Sunday. Hopefully that forecast will change.

Dave, you're right...no win would be sweeter! I'll do my best to bring the 1st place Ranger Banshee Extreme home and place it in the CSO classified section ;)

[Eel]

I hope you catch nothing but fat 26 7/8" reds.

We'll be rooting for ya! *003**003*

Gregg

SC has a funky slot. Good luck finding two 22 15/16" pigs. *Cheers*

[Tparkin]

yep, that'll be challenge #2. 15-23" slot.

[Gunnar]

SC has a funky slot. Good luck finding two 22 15/16" pigs. *Cheers*

*001* Disregard what I said then... that would be too frustrating.*004*

Good luck *014*

Gregg

[Ed&Brenda]

Good luck buddy, maybe we'll see ya on the TV

[FoodPlot]

Best of luck. Tight lines and a full box of slot limits.

[Harry]

Just saw this thread,
Catch'em up Bud, and the best of luck to you !!!! *018*

[lakebiker]

Good luck guys. Show em how to do it. *Cheers**Cheers**Cheers**Cheers*

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

Then, in this case, i wish you get 2 really fat ones at 22 31/32" ;D

Good luck.

[lever]

Good luck T!!! Catch some sea donkeys!!!

[Tparkin]

Thanks guys, hopefully we'll have better luck there than I had around here this past weekend...but at least i know everything on the boat's in working order.

[Redfishray]

Good luck! Man I hope you win, that would be awesome to see a DLX beat all those pretty boy boats!

[Tparkin]

**update**

Well, I wish I had better news but all things considered I think we made a good showing and learned a new area.

We prefished two days, Thurs and Fri. Thursday we worked the main river systems (Wando and Cooper rivers) and all of the creeks, docks and structure we could find. It was a bit interesting to say the least. I guess, due to the tidal flow, the rivers and creeks held super deep channels with little to no shallow water with the exception of the occasional mud flat. Most of the river showed depths from 18-36'...something I am definitely not used to around here. We did find some scattered fish, 3-4 at a time in the back creeks but couldn't find any fish that were willing to eat artificials. The tidal flow around Charleston is absolutely CRAZY. When the tide starts to go...it goes, with an average tidal swing of around 6 feet or so. You can literally be on top of an oyster rock and in a bout 2 hours be 3 feet below it looking up....crazy!

Friday we worked the sounds behind Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island. These sounds are chock full of oyster rock moguls. When the tide drops it looks like an empty lot full of VW bugs covered in oysters. Around mid day, after working hours of structure and flats, we rounded a corner and immediately spotted about 30 tails waving in the air. You talk about excited! Definitely were not planning on seeing tailing reds this early. We backed off of the school and observed their movement patterns for a good hour while occasionally casting into them being careful to avoid the dreaded spook. A few of the 30-40 fish were obviously over the 23" slot limit but several appeared to be money fish. As the VW rocks got larger we had to back pff and creep out of the creek to avoid getting stranded.

On the way out of Hamlin Creek, a disturbing thing happened. 3 porpoises were dredging their way through less than a foot of water and mud trying to get back to our school...not a good sign for the next day (tourney day) At this point, that school was our only hand and we were "all in."

Saturday morning was nice...low wind, last two hours of incoming and glassy water. We jumped in line with the parade of $60K flats boats and proceeded to check out. We had about a 25 mile run to our spot and the DF150 was screamin'... we even passed a few of those pretty boys in the open water of the harbor, but there were at least 40 boats in front of us headed to the same area. We got lucky and were the only boat near our immediate starting point from the previous day.

After about an hour of working rocks and shoreline we found the fish from the day before. Despite all efforts, they were waaay too spooky and were unwilling to eat anything at all. By mid morning the winds rolled in along with a few storms and we were forced to show our hand and resort to playing "go fish." By early afternoon we were in 20-25mph winds and along with the extreme falling tidal flow our efforts were becoming useless. Non the less, we trudged on and gave it our best effort possible.

After the dust settled, I think ~12 boats weighed in fish and about half of those only had one...in a 64 boat field. Renny Clark and Drew Arndt from Wilmington finished 10th and Rob Koraly came in 9th. From what I remember they were the only local boys that got paid. Congrats to them...it was tough fishing.

Here's our checkout pic...
http://www.redfishtour.com/gallery/albums/2009/charleston_09/normal_dsc_6397.jpg

[OBX Hokie]

Keep trying! You will get in the money!

*Cheers*

[MartyJ16]

Thanks for the report!! When are you competing again?
I'm pulling for you!!

[Gunnar]

That's some tough conditions in a new area.

When and where is your next event?

Gregg

[JIMP]

*yay* GOOD LUCK and have fun. We'll all be rooting for you.

JIMP

[Whatever]

Better days are ahead..keep those lines tight...*Cheers*

[Dave]

Good to have one of our own fishing the pro circuit *thumbsup* That was a great blow-by-blow "T", I could feel your excitement when you finally laid eyes on that school of reds, and then went back and found them the next day... sweet but unfortunate it didn't play out the way it might have. I agree with Gunnar - those were some damn tough conditions to be fishing that area for the first time.
Log it in and I'm sure it'll come together for ya soon enough. *Cheers*
Dave

[Tparkin]

Thanks for the support guys...

The next IFA event is May 23 in Surf City. First Redfish Action Event is May 2. We'll be in home waters for those and water conditions will be more favorable to a good bite.