Hugo Lake Bass Tournament 5-22-21

The Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held a bass tournament on Saturday, May 22, at Hugo Lake. The lake level was about six feet above normal and still rising due to the recent rainfall.  The weather was nice, with moderate temperatures, cloudy skies and light wind.  Fishing was not so nice though.  Catching a bass, much less a keeper bass over fourteen inches in length, proved to be difficult.  Of the twenty-five anglers entered in the tournament, only eight were able to boat a keeper bass.  Not a single angler was able to catch a limit of six bass. 

Andy Cripe won the tournament with a stringer weight of 9.28 pounds.  Andy also caught the biggest bass of the tournament.  It weighed 3.64 pounds.  Clay Armstrong finished in second place with a stringer weight of 9.23 pounds.  The third place stringer was caught by Julian Bailey.  His stringer weighed 5.20 pounds. 

The club’s next event will be the Annual Husband-Wife Bass Tournament on June 5, at McGee Creek Lake.  Launch site will be the Potapo boat ramp. Fishing times will be from 7:00 until 2:00.  Teams do not have to be a husband and wife couple but do need to be a male and female team.  One member must be a current club member.  This takes place on Oklahoma’s free fishing weekend so a fishing license is not necessary.  First, second and third place prizes will be awarded.  Also, plaques will be awarded to the ladies, first through fifth place, for their biggest bass.  Members that do not have a partner may fish, but can only compete for the big bass prize.

Youth Fishing Tournament 5-15-21

 

On Saturday, May 15, members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held their annual free youth fishing tournament.  The tournament was held at McGee Creek Lake.  Twenty-eight young anglers competed in the event.  The young anglers enjoyed nice weather, after a cool start, and most were able to catch a few fish, with perch being the most common catch of the day.

Kane Miller was the first place winner.  Kane had a stringer weight of 10.82 pounds.  Kane also caught a bass that weighed 7.28 pounds to win the plaque for the biggest fish.  Gary Dunham finished in second place with a stringer weight of 6.36 pounds.  Reese Crowsey caught the third place stringer.  It weighed 5.34 pounds. These young anglers each received a plaque and a prize.  All of the other contestants also received a prize, regardless of whether they caught a fish or not.  The young anglers were allowed to fish with live bait or artificial lures. They could also fish from a boat or from the shore.  After the tournament was over, all that attended, along with their parents, were treated to a hotdog cookout with all the trimmings and soft drinks. Approximately fifty adults and children were served.

The club’s next event will be a bass tournament on Hugo Lake.  It will be held on Saturday, May 22.  Fishing will begin at “safe light” or as soon as everyone is unloaded, and will end 9 hours later, most likely 3:00-3:30 p.m.  The tournament will launch from the Frazier Creek boat ramp and you must be a member to compete.

McGee Creek 5-8-21

 

McGee Creek, 5-8-21

Members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club started their bass tournament on McGee Creek Lake with a strong breeze that turned into a strong wind as the day wore on.  The tournament was held on Saturday, May 9.  Despite the windy conditions, a few anglers were able to put together some nice stringer weights with even a few bass over the 16-22” slot length limit.

Thirteen of the twenty-eight contestants were able to catch their limit of six bass. Two anglers were able to catch a bass over the 16-22 inch slot limit.  Forrest Cave won first place with a stringer weight of 13.13 pounds.  Finishing in second place was Andy Cripe.  Andy had a stringer weight of 12.99 pounds.   He also caught a bass weighing 7.23 pounds to win the big bass of the tournament as well.  Judd Thomas was third with a stringer weight of 7.80 pounds.

The club’s next event will be the annual free youth fishing tournament.  It will be held on Saturday, May 15, at McGee Creek Lake.  Launch site will be the Buster Hight boat ramp.  Fishing times will be from 8:00 a.m until 12:00 noon. Any youth that is 16 years old or younger may participate.  After fish have been weighed, the young anglers and their parents will be treated to a hot dog cookout with soft drinks and all the trimmings. As always, prizes will be awarded until the supply of prizes is exhausted.

The club will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, May 13.  Members who entered the spring turkey contest and were successful are reminded that turkey beards will be measured to determine winners.  This will be the only time beards will be measured.  If a member can’t make the meeting, they should make arrangements for someone to bring it for them.  Meetings are held at the Wildlife Heritage Center and begin at 7:30 p.m.