Home from Percy Priest

I made it home from Percy Priest, fishing was pretty tough, but it was definitely a good event to get the season started.  I fished a small two-man team tournament with good friend and Phoenix Boats sales representative Mike Walker.  The event had around 70 boats, we finished just outside the money.  That's ok, my goal before I left home was to fish an event, get a little more jerkbait fishing under my belt and also a little more physical conditioning.  Mission accompliahed.  My first pro-am event of the season starts next week, so getting a tournament under my belt prior to that event was a good thing.  It helps to get your mind working like you want it to, thinking about the fish, trying to establish a pattern and so on.   Just competing in a tournament will help you get prepared for the tournament season.  Like I said, we missed cutting a check by a small margin, but it was a good day on the water.  The Lake of the Ozarks Everstart event is next week, Lord willing I'm leaving on Friday to start practice.  So check back often for updates.
God  Bless,
Duke

We're on our way to

We're on our way to the lake. Practice has been tough, cold water always beats me up. I'll post our results later.
God bless,
D

I'm headed to Percy Priest

I'm headed to Percy Priest reservoir in Nashville, TN for the first tournament of the year. I'm ready to get the season started.

A Little Surprise from Lobina Lures

I got a package in the mail several weeks ago that I'm pretty excited about, the package came from a company named Lobina Lures.  If you're not familiar with this comany, chances are you've heard of at least one of their baits if not several.  Lobina Lures is the manufacturer of the Rico, it was designed by Rick Clunn and Norio Tanabe and is undubtedly one of the best topwater lures available on the market today. 
The package I received had not only the Rico and the Rio Rico, but another bait from the Rico family, the Rico Suave.  I've posted some pitcures of the baits below, you can see more of their products at http://www.lobinalures.com/    Recently several new colors for the Rico and Rio Rico have been developed, one of those is Pictured below, it is the Rico in "Ricci's Recipe".  You can also read more about this color at http://www.chris-ricci.com/
With the weather warming, It won't be long before some serious topwater action will be taking place.
God bless,
Duke


This is the Rico, the color is Ricci's Recipe, although the picture doesn't show it well, this bait is very translucent (clear), an excellent choice for clear water.

This is the Rio Rico (7/16 oz), larger in size than the Rico(1/4 oz) this color is Holographic Shad.

This is the Rico Suave (4 1/2" long and weighs 1/2 oz) in Bone Color, this is a gliding/walking type topwater bait.

The Lobina Lures Topwater Family.

Checkout the Web!!

Some of you may know, if you dont, read on:  http://www.dukejenkel.com/ is up and running.  So, if you follow my blog, and I'm glad you do, book mark the web address above, my blog is now attached to that site.  Take a few minutes to check out the site, and let me know what you think.  I've got a few minor additions, but other than that, the site is fully functional.  My thanks to Rick Byrnes for helping create my new site.
God Bless,
Duke

Bass Tackle Depot and Bass Factory come on board!

I talked about some exciting news in the sponsor department, and here it is...I have joined efforts with Bass Tackle Depot (http://www.basstackledepot.com/) and Bass Factory (http://www.bassfactory.com/) for the 2011 season.  I'm pretty excited, about both opportunities.  I'll be writing in the blog section of Bass Factory while I'm out on the road, basically blogging about how my practices are going for a particular event and then again after the event has finished.  As well as providing some video content for the How-To section of the Bass Factory Website and Product videos for Bass Tackle Depot.  Stay tuned, it's going to warm up one of these days, and we can quit talking about fishing, and start doing it!
God Bless,
Duke

I survived!

The title is a little misleading, but as I sit at my computer this morning, I think back on the previous sixty-eight days of waterfowl season, and realize it wasn't a fight for survival (although by 35th day in a row you start thinking it might be), but more like an incredible blessing just to get to spend that much time doing what you love to do.  Canada goose season ended yesterday, so it's time to switch gears, get out the fishing stuff and get busy preparing for the first tournament of the year.  It's a mere four weeks away.
Check back frequently this week, I've got some great news on the sponsor front that I've been dying to talk about, and now that I'm home for a while, I'll give you the full scoop.
God Bless,
Duke