Story by Todd Goade | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
Well, Stop 3 of the NPFL at Douglas Lake has come and gone, and yes, the home lake jinx is real! Congrats to Scott Canterbury on an incredible win and to all the anglers that caught them on a lake that has been stingy on big weights for a few years now.
I was surprised that the lake actually made it to full pool. Just a week prior to official practice it was six feet below full pool. We got a lot of rain, but I figured they’d keep the gates open and let it pass through knowing how much debris still needed to be cleaned up from the lasting effects of Hurricane Helene. The lake continued to rise during the event and was two to three feet over full pool, making it a perfect storm of fish flooding the bank and setting up in bushes, trees, and trash piles.
My practice was pretty good as I fished areas where I had caught decent fish in bushes, trees, and trash piles. I also focused on some offshore rock in 6 to 20 feet of water where I felt a jig bite would play. I caught some fish in the 2 1/2-pound range doing that. Surprisingly, I couldn’t get anything going on a walking topwater, a popping topwater, or a frog.
On the last day of practice I focused on trash piles that historically get in the same places and that I have done well in. I quickly caught a 4 1/2 pounder flipping a Zoom Brush Hog in the very first one I fished and proceeded to shake off nine or 10 bites in the next 10 piles I fished. My confidence was very high because this is a pattern that usually holds up when it’s on. It’s an excellent pattern in April when the lake first starts coming up. I felt that this was the tail end of the pattern but was hoping it would hold up.
I was Boat #17, so on Day 1 I was out of the gate early. I planned to start in an area where I had found a shad spawn. Unfortunately for me, a local angler found it, too, and got there first. So, I went to my next spot and caught a quick limit for about 9 pounds. I felt good about the rest of the day. I had to be in at 2:15, and that quick limit allowed me to slow down and focus on the trash piles. I was confident that I could get a couple of big bites with the time I had left.
Sadly, I only caught one 2 1/2-pound fish doing that and about six others in the 1.6- to 1.8-pound range. I flipped some willow trees and green bushes also, and the offshore jig fish were all about the same size. I ended Day 1 with 11 pounds, 2 ounces—only a couple of pounds out of the top 10.
Having a long day on Day 2, I thought I could surely get a big bite flipping and get back in the hunt. I caught my limit quickly again, and around noon I caught a 3.47 on the jig. My confidence kicked up since I was only one bite away from 12-13 pounds, which would have put me right back in it. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, and I didn’t catch any good ones to go with the big one. I finished the day with 11 pounds even. Still, I was only 14 ounces out of check range, and I thought I could catch a 14- to 16-pound bag on the final day.
On Day 3, I started on the shad spawn place and quickly lost a good fish — about 2 3/4 pounds on a swim jig. It was the only fish I lost all week.
I was able to catch my limit on the swim jig in about 30 minutes, but those five bass only weighed about 9 pounds. Still, I had all day to upgrade.
I went into a spot I call “Ron’s Pocket” (named for a good friend) and caught my biggest fish of the day on the swim jig — a 2.84 pounder. Once again, I was just one bite away from getting a check. I fished hard all day and just couldn’t upgrade, weighing in 10-07 for a three-day total of 32-09. I finished in 60th place.
I was doing everything the leaders were doing, but they found some key areas that I didn’t find. I caught 30-40 fish every day but just couldn’t get those bigger bites to get me over the hump.
Yes, the home lake jinx is real. I’m in 33rd place in the Progressive Angler of the Year standings, and the focus is now on staying inside the top 40 to make the 2026 NPFL Championship.
I’ll regroup and head to Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma in a couple of weeks and try to right the ship there. I’m excited to go back there. I found some good areas when we were there in 2023 that I think will produce.
Thanks to all the fans that came out to the event and supported their anglers and the NPFL. See you on the water soon!
Tight Lines!
Todd Goade – Angler Profile
