Highland Lake

April 22, 2018

by Gary Menchen

Jordon Doucette had never won a Watershed Bassmaster's tournament before this year, but 2018 is a new year and a new Jordon Doucette has emerged. With his third win in three events, JD’s trifecta has opened up a commanding lead in the WBM-AOY standings. His latest accomplishment was laying a mixed bag weighing-in at 13.91lbs on the scales during a day so tough that more than half the field skunked. And he had the nerve to lament that he had one squeaker he could not cull out. Jordon caught his quality fish early, including his lunker 4 lb smallmouth while throwing his favorite swimbait. Later in the day with the sun high in the sky and the fish becoming more active, he filled out his limit and culled up by ripping jerk baits. His victory tied a club record of three wins in a row. Way to go Jordon, on this awesome run!

Second place went to Watershed veteran Wayne Mahood. His 5 fish limit weighed in at 8.40 lbs.  Wayne had most of his fish early and all were caught fishing black hair jigs (does he throw anything else in the spring)? This was Wayne's first club tournament of the season and he showed he is already in the groove and ready to make some noise every time he's in the lineup. 

Third place went to Watershed's senior member Gary Menchen. With one fish short of a limit, his bag came in at 5.20 lbs. Without a keeper for the first half of the day, Gary found a grass line at an entrance to a spawning cove and caught a couple shorts and then 3 keepers in short order. A very slow twitch & pause with jerk-baits was the ticket. Then as if someone flipped a switch, there were nothing but pickerel slamming the jerk-baits. Some as big as baseball bats. Changing up to jigs & worms didn't faze the pics and the bass suddenly went silent. One final bass was caught late in the day. Again on a Swithwick bait.

So with three tournaments over & done we are almost at the quarter turn in the 2018 WBM Trail. Our next derby coming up in two weeks will be held on May on Lake Wonoscoponac in Lakeville, CT.  This should shape up to be a late prespawn, near spawn event. Jigs & plastics should figure in the anglers’ plans and perhaps some top-water as well if the temps heat up enough. See you all there.