April Meeting Canceled

APRIL MEETING CANCELED:

The sportsman club will not hold their monthly meeting in April due to the Corona virus.  Hopefully we will be able to meet again on May 14.  The bass tourney on McGee Creek on April 4, is still a go at this time.  Fishing times will be from 7:00-4:00.  There are guidelines that we will need to follow. They are listed below.  While at the tournament, we will pole our members as to what time they would prefer to fish on the McGee Tourney scheduled for April 25.  Also, some have asked about either canceling or postponing the Husband-wife tourney scheduled for McGee on June 6 and maybe holding a regular tourney on Hugo that Saturday.  We may ask members for their opinion on this item as well.  Stay safe and help stop the spread of this virus.

Rules for holding a bass tournament at a state park:

1) We will not be able to gather in groups more than ten.

2) We must keep six feet apart.

3) At registration you will be issued a boat number.

4) At weigh-in, we will be able to weigh-in three boats at a time until all contestants are all weighed in.

5) The same rules will stand at weigh in, no more than ten people in a group and six feet apart.

The Youth Tournament, May 2nd, still remains scheduled at this time!

McGee Creek Tournament: 3-7-2020

Members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held their first bass tournament of the year on Saturday, March 7.  The tournament was held on McGee Creek Lake.  Thirty members competed in the event.  Strong winds made fishing difficult but a few anglers were able to put together some nice stringer weights. 

Only five of the thirty anglers were able to catch a limit of six bass.  Eleven anglers were unable to boat a single keeper.  Club president Billy Latham was one of the anglers that was able to catch a limit.  Billy won the tournament with a stringer weight of 8.97 pounds.  Club vice-president Judd Thomas finished a close second with a stringer weight of 8.55 lbs.  Junior member Kane Miller finished in third place with a stringer weight of 8.45 lbs.  Kaleb Hensley was the only member that was able to catch a bass over the 16-22 inch slot limit. Kaleb won the big bass of the tournament with a lunker bass weighing 7.31 lbs.

The club’s next bass tournament will be on March 21, at Sardis Lake.  Launch site for the tournament will be Sardis Cove ramp.  Fishing times will be voted on at the club’s monthly meeting which will be held on Thursday, March 12.  Meetings are held at the Wildlife Heritage Center and Museum and begin at 7:30 p.m.

TOP TEN STANDINGS: 3-7-20

49th Annual Awards Banquet Review

On Saturday, February 29, members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held their 49^th Annual Awards Banquet.  Members and their families were treated to a meal of smoked brisket and chicken, soft drinks and side dishes prepared by the members.  Members were recognized for their achievements during the 2019 hunting and fishing contests.

The club lost one its long time members last year, Eugene Hensley.  A plaque was presented in memory of Eugene recognizing his service to the club.  Eugene’s son, Billy Hensley, accepted the plaque.

The first awards to be presented were for the 2019 spring turkey season contest.  The length of the turkey’s beard determined winners. Winning first place was Billy Hensley.  Coming in a close second, by a mere 1/16^th of an inch, was Billy Latham.  Both received a plaque and a check for their share of the entry fees.

The Top Ten Anglers of the Year were recognized next.  Each angler received an embroidered patch. The Top Ten Anglers for 2019 were (from number 10 to number 1) Eugene Hensley, Terry Thurman, Forrest Cave, Chuck Beck, Kaleb Hensley, Mike Burrage, Billy Hensley, Billy Latham, Ellis Silvey and Bass Angler of the Year, Judd Thomas.  Judd received a plaque and a check for $100.00.  Judd was also presented with a custom “Bass Angler of the Year” shirt printed by club president, Billy Latham.

The Big Bass of the Year award was presented to Mike Burrage.  Mike caught a bass weighing 10.53 pounds at Sardis Lake during the September Top Ten Tournament.   Mike also won the award for the Heaviest Stringer of the Year.  He had a stringer weight of 22.52 pounds that was also caught during the Top Ten Tournament in September.  A plaque was presented to Mike for both.

The “100 Pound Club” award goes to members that are able to catch at least one hundred pounds of bass during the club bass tournaments in a season.  Only three members were able to catch over one hundred pounds.  They were Billy Latham with 108.51 pounds, Ellis Silvey with 154.04 pounds and Judd Thomas with 157.83 pounds.  Each received a plaque.

In the club’s deer archery season contest, Ellis Silvey won first place honors with Billy Hensley winning the award for second place.  Winners are determined by measuring the buck’s antlers using the Boone and Crockett scoring system.  Both received a plaque and a check for their share of the entry fee money.

Colby Chandler took first place honors in the deer primitive firearms contest.  Billy Latham finished in second place.  Both received a plaque and a share of the entry fee money.

For the rifle season contest, junior member Kaleb Mason won first place.  Billy Hensley finished in second place.  Both received a plaque and a share of the entry fee money.  Kaleb was also surprised by receiving a mount of his deer head that his grandpa, Ellis Silvey, had done for him.

The Grand Slam Award is given to members who are able to harvest a deer in all three season; archery, primitive and rifle seasons.  This year only one member was able to achieve this goal.  That member was Colby Chandler.

Each year the club recognizes a sponsor that consistently supports the club and the Big Bass Rodeo.  The sponsor is presented a plaque.  The “Sponsor of the Year” award was presented to Affordable Body Works in Antlers, OK.

The club’s most prestigious award is the Sportsman of the Year Award.  The winner of this award is determined by a point system based on participation and achievement.  This year a tie occurred for the award. Both Billy Hensley and Billy Latham were presented with the Sportsman of the Year award.  Each received a plaque and a check for $100.00.

Billy Latham was presented a plaque for his service as the 2019 president of the club.

The ladies door prize, a $100.00 prepaid MasterCard, was won by Chelsie Thomas.  The men’s door prize, an Lew’s Speed Spool baitcast reel, was won by Kaleb Hensley.  As always, every child that attended was awarded a door prize consisting of games, sports balls, fishing equipment and more.

The club’s first bass tournament of 2020 will be at McGee Creek Lake on Saturday, March 7.  Launch site for the tournament will be Buster Hights boat landing.  Fishing times for the tournament will be from 8:00-4:00.  You can also keep up with club activities on Facebook.