47th Annual Big Bass Rodeo

47^th Annual Big Bass Rodeo

On April 21-22, the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club hosted the 47^th Annual Big Bass Rodeo on Pine Creek Lake.  One hundred fourteen anglers competed in the big bass tournament.  The weather could have cooperated a little more with Saturday being cold and rainy and Sunday was cold and windy.   Even though the weather was not perfect, several nice fish were caught.  The top five finishers all had bass that weighed over five pounds.

Terry Thurman won the tournament with a bass that weighed 5.76 pounds.   Finishing in second place, by a mere one-hundredth of a pound, was Joe Williams. His bass weighed 5.75 pounds.  Third place was won by Bub Cunningham with a bass weighing 5.30 pounds.  Billy Latham caught a 5.20 pound bass to take fourth place.  Craig Bartlett finished fifth with a bass weighing 5.13 pounds.  Each received a trophy, courtesy of FirstBank, and a check for their share of the entry fees.

New to the tournament this year was a prize for the biggest bass caught by an angler age 13 or under.  Tadpole’s Marine in Hugo gave $100.00 to Kaison Peek for his bass that weighed 3.90 pounds.  Tadpole’s Marine also gave the angler that caught the bass weighing closest to 3.00 pounds without going over a check for $200.00.  Three anglers caught bass that weighed exactly three pounds.  They were Judd Thomas, Terry Thurman and Tom McBride.  A coin toss decided the winner and Judd Thomas walked away with the extra cash.

Anglers that placed sixth or lower were awarded prizes or gift certificates provided by area merchants.  Businesses had donated prizes, gift cards or cash for prizes.  Our local merchants were so generous that 57 additional anglers received prizes that included items such as rods, reels, lures, marine batteries and other items related to outdoor activities. The Pushmataha County Sportsman Club would like to say” Thank you” to all these merchants.  Their support is what has kept this tournament going for forty-seven years.

The club’s next event will be a bass tournament on May 5 at Hugo Lake.  Launch site will be Frazier Creek landing.  Fishing times will begin at “safe light” and end 9 hours later.

Picture Info:  Left to right, also 1^st to 5^th place:  Terry Thurman, Joe Williams, Bub Cunningham, Billy Latham, and Craig Bartlett

47th Annual Big Bass Rodeo

If you enjoy bass fishing, winning cash, prizes and trophies, then you might want to consider entering in this year’s Big Bass Rodeo.  The Pushmataha County Sportsman Club will host the 47th Annual Big Bass Rodeo on April 21-22, at Pine Creek Lake.  This is the oldest, continuous running big bass tournament in the state and quite possibly the nation.  This is the club’s only fund raising event. Proceeds from the tournament will be used for prizes and food at the club’s free youth tournament, scheduled for May 12 at McGee Creek, awards and prizes for kids during the annual banquet and club and community activities.

Headquarters for the Big Bass Rodeo will be at the pavilion on Rock Creek Point in Little River South Park.  The entry fee is $25.00 per angler.  The first 120 contestants will receive a Big Bass Rodeo cap provided by Pruett’s and AmeriState Bank of Antlers. You must be member of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club to compete.  Memberships are $15.00 per year or a temporary membership, good for one tournament, is available for $5.00.  There is a guaranteed first place prize of $500.00.  Winners are determined by the weight of their largest bass weighed in.  Cash prizes will be awarded to the top five finishers based on a percentage of the total entry fee money.  Each of the top five contestants will also receive a trophy provided by FirstBank in Antlers. This tournament would not be a success without the support of our local merchants.  Sixth place on down will win prizes donated by these merchants until the supply of prizes is exhausted.

Contestants may enter on Friday, April 20, from 5:30 until 9:30 p.m. at the tournament headquarters or on Saturday morning before the start of the tournament.  Fishing times will be from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.

 

Hugo Tournament 4-7-18

The Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held a bass tournament on Saturday, April 7, at Hugo Lake. The lake level was about two feet above normal with water temps in the mid-fifties.  To say the weather was bad for a day of fishing would be an understatement.  Anglers started the tournament with temps near freezing very little improvement during the day.  The icing on the cake was the cold rain that fell for most of the day.  For most of the anglers, catching a keeper bass over fourteen inches in length proved to be difficult.  Only eight anglers were able to catch a keeper bass with no one catching more than three bass. 

Craig Bartlett won the tournament with a stringer weight of 8.19 pounds.  Craig also caught the biggest bass of the tournament.  It weighed 4.38 pounds.  Judd Thomas finished in second place with a stringer weight of 6.00 pounds.  The third place stringer was caught by Billy Latham.  Billy’s stringer weighed 5.06 pounds. 

The club’s next tournament will be their Annual Big Bass Rodeo.  It will be held on Pine Creek Lake on April 21-22.  Pine Creek had experienced severe flooding last month but at this time, camp grounds and boat ramps are open.  Final preparations for the Big Bass Rodeo will be discussed at the club’s monthly meeting on Thursday, April 12.

Turkey season for the southeast counties of Oklahoma will open on Monday, April 23.  The club holds a spring turkey hunting contest.  Those wishing to enter the contest may do so at the club’s monthly meeting.  The entry fee for the contest is $10.00 and must be paid before season begins.

TOP TEN STANDINGS: 4-7-18