2/8/2011
Jeff Kriet - Beat the Snow
In Louisiana ahead of the Storm

I packed up and left home earlier than I would have normally, but with the storms comin’ into town again bringing more snow and ice, I figured that I’d better head to Louisiana and beat the weather to the Bassmaster Classic.

I was scheduled to go to the Tulsa Boat Show and work for Nichols Marine, but the weather kept me in the house. The trip that would have taken me a couple hours would have turned into 10, and with the risk of running off the road, I couldn’t risk it.

I’m going to go to the Atchafalaya Basin in Louisiana to fish before the official practice period starts later this week. I’m itchin’ to get down there and jerk on some heads. I spend most of my offseason fishin’ the toughest lakes around home trying to prepare myself for a tough Classic.

The way I figure it, if I spend a bunch of time in Texas fishing warm water lakes and catch a bunch every day, then if the bite at the Classic is tough; I’m not ready mentally for a long, grinder type of day. But, if I fish lakes that I’m only going to get one to three bites a day, then I’m ready for a five or six bite day in the Classic, and that will feel like good fishing.

I’ve also been doin’ a bunch of map study trying to come up with new routes and backup plans in case we run into fog; which could be a real problem this time of the year. You can run more than two hours in any direction on the Delta, and a one hour run is considered short there, so I’ve been looking for an area to go to in the fog if we get it.

I’ve gotten myself really organized – well, for me anyway – and I’m ready for the Classic and the first Central Open after that. I’m going to keep the boat really light for the Classic, and try to bring only what I know I’m going to fish with. When you’ve only got four hours to fish, you don’t have much time to change anyway.

I’ve got a push pole, a bunch of rope and a warm change of clothes in the boat; I’m ready for the Classic to start.

2/1/2011
Jeff Kriet - Squirrel Traps
Crunch Time

I’ve resolved myself to get more organized before I leave for the Classic this year. And, if you know me, that’s not an easy thing to say. I’m in the garage gettin’ things cleaned up and organized to go into the truck and boat so that when I leave for the Classic, I can pretty much head right to the Central Open Lake Lewisville and be ready to go.

I spent last week in Fort Smith, Ark. at a boat show workin’ for Copher’s Marine, and I’m scheduled to be in Tulsa this comin’ up weekend for Nichols Marine. Hopefully the area won’t get too hammered by this big storm we’re supposed get this week.

I’ve been in the shop riggin’ my Triton for the Classic, and as usual I’m up against it. I’m installing batteries and my electronics and getting’ it ready for my new Uncle Ray’s wrap to get put on.

I’m really happy to have a wrap deal this year, and lookin’ forward to workin’ with Uncle Ray’s to promote their potato chips to the fishing industry. What’s better than a day on the water and a bag o’ potato chips? Not much I suppose.

I’ll still be sportin’ my yellow black and red colors from the Longhorn days, which is pretty cool that we’re able to work that all in there.

Other than puttin’ fresh Hi Seas line on all my Revo and Soron reels, and miscellaneous tackle work, I’ve been workin’ on my Flippin’ skills.

I’ve spent an hour a day Flippin’ into a coffee cup tryin’ to tighten up my skills. I used to be a Flipper, but once I learned the offshore stuff, I enjoyed that so much, and the way our schedule falls, I didn’t use it near as much. My first Bassmaster win came Flippin’ and most of my early success was with a Flippin’ Stick, and now I’m not as good at it as I used to be.

How dumb is that? A bass fisherman losing his Flippin’ skills; that’s kind of like a professional golfer forgetting how to chip. Stef, my wife said it reminds her of what I used to do right after we got married, when I used to practice Flippin’ into a coffee cup in our apartment.

Anyway, I’m excited about the Classic and getting’ to the Louisiana Delta; it’s a great fishery. It’s one of those places that you could be on a mother lode of bass and not see another boat all day. At most places we go to, if you find yourself alone, it’s usually a bad thing, it means you missed the bite all together.

The Delta’s not like that, it should be a good tournament.