Reese Captures Fifth Spot at Inaugural Bassmaster Major

The action began on Eagle Mountain Lake for the first two days of competition. On day three, the top 12 anglers fished a six-hole course on Benbrook Lake, as did the ‘super six’ on the final day of competition. Among the anglers fishing that final day was Skeet Reese. After bringing in a combined weight of 26 pounds, 3 ounces following the first two days of competition, Reese earned the third spot going into day three; but weights were cleared and the top 12 started from scratch Saturday morning.

Both Eagle Mountain Lake and Benbrook proved to be challenging for many, with the low water levels and the heavy boat traffic; but Reese seemed to be on some fish, despite the pressure.

“Fifty-five boats on Eagle Mountain Lake was way too many,” said Reese, a California native. “There were good stringers caught out there and some 15 – 16 pound sacks, but I was glad to get what I got. Benbrook was also interesting, but for different reasons. There just isn’t a whole lot (of fish) out there – it was pretty slim pickins.”

Lure selection proved crucial at this tournament for several anglers, including Reese. Determining what to use and when seemed a daunting task.

“I thought at the beginning of the week, on Eagle Mountain Lake, we would get some topwater fish, but that didn’t materialize,” Reese explained. “Then I thought maybe I’d catch some shallow crankbait fish, but that didn’t materialize either. All my fish on Eagle Mountain came on a 3/8-ounce and a 1/2-ounce brown and purple jig.”

“In the early mornings, I was fishing around shallow rocks in three feet of water or less with the jig – then I would move to docks once the sun came up,” Reese continued. “I caught a keeper on Saturday (on Benbrook Lake) on a black and blue, 5/8-ounce jig and the rest came on a worm with a shaky head setup.”
After a great performance on both lakes this weekend, Reese was happy with the way things turned out. Only one more thing could have made it better.

“I’m pleased with the overall tournament,” Reese concluded. “Obviously I’d be even more pleased, since I had a good tournament, if I had been fishing for points - but I did get to bring home a nice paycheck.”

Reese ended the tournament weekend with a day three weight of 10 pounds, 9 ounces and a 3 pound, 11 ounce sack on day four, putting him fifth overall.

Gerald Swindle was just outside the cut to 12 on Friday, finishing the tournament in the 19th spot. After a rough first day, weighing in 5 pounds and 2 ounces, Swindle fought back on day two to bring in a five fish limit worth 12 pounds and 13 ounces. It wasn’t enough to make the cut, but Swindle was proud of his comeback efforts.

“The first day of the tournament, I caught a keeper within the first three minutes on a Lucky Craft BDS 2, and another keeper on a spinnerbait,” Swindle began. “I thought I was off to a great start. However, it was 11:00 am before I caught another one and I had to catch it on a frog - my day just started to fall apart. I kept trying to swing for the fence, but kept slipping and falling.”

With many anglers on one small lake, fishing can prove difficult, in part because you have to figure out what the others aren’t throwing. Figure out that riddle and increase your chances of weighing in a good limit – and that’s exactly what Swindle did.

“Today (Friday) I went out and tried to target some of the same areas, but slow it down a bit,” Swindle explained. “After I started slowing things down, I really got more bites, but there were still so many people fishing the docks. I would go in and see six guys fishing the same boat dock I was and I would think to myself, ‘okay, what is it that they aren’t throwing?’ That’s what led me to throw the tube – no one else was doing it. And I came in with a limit.”

Swindle was sure, before going into day two, he wouldn’t have enough to make the cut, but already had another goal in mind - fish hard and at least take home a prize.

“I’m not disappointed in today (Friday) at all,” Swindle said. “Yesterday I did most of my damage to myself. Today I had one thing in mind and that was sneaking back up and making a check. Realistically I was out of it with five pounds after day one. I figured it would take 20 or so pounds to make the cut and I knew catching 15 or 16 pounds today would be a tough trial on this lake. I went out today with one goal in mind – catching 10 pounds and making a check. I didn’t shoot for the moon – I just wanted to climb up the ladder a bit.”

Kelly Jordon also just missed the cut to 12, actually tying Swindle for the 19th spot; but his weekend started off opposite of Swindle. Jordon brought in 15 pounds and 6 ounces on day one, catapulting him to the third spot – only a little more than a pound out of the lead going into day two. However, Eagle Mountain Lake proved to be tough because as weather conditions changed, so did the bite.

“I got beat to some topwater spots Thursday morning, so my topwater bite didn’t happen,” Jordon explained. “So I was catching most of my fish on jigs around docks and that’s basically what I did all day long. It didn’t seem like I really had much going – I only had one fish.

“But about 1:00 PM it got really slick out there and that tightens those big fish up pretty well,” Jordon continued. “I was able to catch two pretty nice fish – one six pound, 11 ounces and the other six pounds, 12 ounces – both right in a row.”

However, following an explosive first day, the weather began to change and Jordon tried all he knew, but couldn’t get those Texas bass to bite.

“Today (Friday) it was windy, which led to a much different bite,” Jordon said. “When it gets slick and hot, like yesterday, the fish get more active and the fishing is easier, because you can see where they are. The shad also get in tighter groups out in open water, which makes the fish more active. However, today it got windy and the fish get more active shallow and the shad also disperse a little bit.

“It just didn’t happen for me today,” Jordon concluded. “I worked really hard trying to catch them, but had only one keeper bite all day long. It just didn’t work out – it was really tough out there. But overall it really was a great weekend. I loved being here.

>>> Takahito Omori