Pikes Peak Bass Masters: Ferg Cup-Sudden Death

Gentzel, Phillips, and Limmer

survive "Sudden Death" Round!

The "Sudden Death" round proved to have both the "sudden" and the possibility of "death" as Mother Nature decided to invite herself in all her fury to Round 2 of the Ferguson Cup Challenge!   The morning started off around 38 degrees with some slight winds out of the west and some menacing wintery clouds way off to the west along the Wet Mountain range.  Too far from us to worry about...for now.  The target weight for the cut was set at 17lbs.  

The "beeps" of texting on the phones started off almost immediately for the anglers, as some got on to some fish right away.  Lucky for the majority of the anglers, there were only two guys catching fish.  That left the 3rd qualifying slot open for any of the other four anglers trying to get into the race.

Then it happened!  During the first period the winds blew a cold, rain and sleet filled cloud across the eastern plains, including the entire lake we were on.  The winds kicked up into at least the 40's and brought lots of wetness with it.  Coming down the middle of the lake from the west was a particularly evil looking dark cone shaped cloud that had the waters stirred up much worse within it than the weather outside of it.  Most of us anglers on the water believe we were looking at a small tornado going by.  Most of us except those directly in its it path.  Those in it's path say it was definetly a small tornado!

Walt Scully and observer John Santos found themselves dead center of the erie cloud and fought against the sudden onslought of wind and rain with little success.  They were forced to go with the winds towards the north marina, hook the corner protected by most of the winds and get themselves off the water.  Slightly shook, they had had enough and called it a day as the rest of the anglers made their way to the first period break area.  Everyone understood the feeling of leaving early as some of the remaining anglers broke out in laughter watching the faces of the remaining boaters arrive to the rest area with that look as if they had just seen a real live Stegasaurus on the bank!

By the first break perod, the winds had subsided substantially and the weather cleared as sudden as it appeared.  We had 50 degree temps and hardly a ripple on the water.  A beautiful day to be on the water....for now.  During the break, the anglers discussed what had happened, weatherwise, regrouped and hit it again.  Halfway through the second period, Mother Nature payed us another visit.  With winds gusting again in the 40's, but without any clouds or real cold, she beat on us and our boats until another angler said "Uncle!"  Steve Ealey was the second angler to succumb to the weather and get himself to a more comfortable setting.  With a 2lb-5oz fish on his card, he was in contention for the third slot, which was only 3lbs-3oz, but decided he also had enough for one day. 

Phillips and Gentzel were tied at the beginning of the third period at 12lbs-7oz.  That left Conway and Limmer to fight it out for the third position as Troy had 4lbs-2oz and Conway had 3lbs-3oz.  With the winds subsiding slightly, down into the twentys, the anglers made a decision to switch from Zone 3 to Zone 2 to avoid the winds at a maximum, in case they come up again.  The winds really never got worse and stayed fishable for the remainder of the period.  Gentzel was the first to hit the 17lb mark and qualify himself and then Phillips did the same just shortly behind Todd. 

Conway and Limmer had a little trouble catching any fish at first, but Conway managed to get a 1-5 in the boat 30 minutes into the final period and take the lead by 6 oz.  Then Conway spotted something on his graph as he was heading into another area and decided to investigate it further.  After about 10 minutes of setting himself up, Conway put "back to back" fish in the boat....a 1-8 and a 1-15.  Limmer, felling a little discouraged made the decision to move.  With time getting skinny, Limmer stayed at it and produced the best charge of the tournament.  Catching a 1-0, a 1-10, and a 1-12 in about 30 minutes, Limmer put together a (8 lb-2 oz) limit and surpassed Conway's (7 lb 15 oz) limit stealing back, in the closing minutes of the tournament, the prize he had been fighting for all day....the 3rd and only position left into the finals and his chance to "three peat" his winning of the Ferguson Cup!

Congrats to Todd, Derek and Troy on a great showing of perseverance and stamina in a very trying day on the water!   

 On to the "Finals!"  Good Luck to all of you!