54th Big Bass Rodeo Results

 

On April 26-27, the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club hosted the 54th Annual Big Bass Rodeo on Pine Creek Lake.  Seventy-four boats with one hundred fifty anglers competed in the big bass tournament.  The first 120 contestants received a free cap with the Big Bass Rodeo logo on it, courtesy of Pruett’s Food and AmeriState Bank.  The lake was about 2.5 feet above normal and falling. The lake water temperature was running in the low to mid-seventies. The weather was nice with the exception of a severe thunderstorm that moved across the lake at about 3:30 on the first day of the event. Of the 150 anglers, 129 were able to catch a bass over the tournament’s minimum sixteen inch length limit.

Clay Rogers won the tournament with a bass that weighed 5.64 pounds.  For his first place finish, he received 25% of the entry fees.. Earl Jones finished in second place with a bass weighing 5.00 pounds. He received a check for 20 percent of the entry fees.  Third place honors went to Clay Mack with a bass weighing 4.10 pounds. Fourth place was won by Brittany Sharp with a bass weighing 4.06 pounds.  Steven Pond finished fifth with a bass weighing 3.98 pounds. Each angler received a share of the entry fees.  Also, each received a large trophy, courtesy of FirstBank.

Also, this year, prizes were awarded to anglers that were age twelve and under and to anglers age 13-15.  Tadpole’s Marine in Mead, Oklahoma sponsored the youth division and awarded the winner in each division $200.00 for their big bass. The 12 and under division was won by Londyn Allen with a bass weighing 3.21 pounds.   Levi Lawrence won the 13-15 age division with a bass that weighed 3.63 pounds. Both anglers received $200.00 from Tadpole’s Marine and a plaque, courtesy of Kiamichi Kreations.

Tadpole’s Marine also awarded the angler that was closest to 4.00 pounds, without going over, a cash prize of $100.00.  Steven Pond won this prize with a bass that weighed 3.98 pounds.  H2O Depot in Antlers awarded $100.00 the angler that had the lightest bass over 16” in length.  Joe Janoe won this prize with a bass that weighed 1.64 pounds.  After prizes had been awarded, a drawing was held for a FX casting rod, donated by Janoe’s Garage, Bassin Buddies baits & MinnKota Service Center.

Anglers that placed sixth or lower were awarded cash, prizes or gift certificates provided by area merchants.  Our local merchants were so generous that seventy-four anglers were able to receive a prize.  Those prizes 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 fifty-four years.

The club’s next event will be the annual free youth fishing tournament.  It will be held on Saturday, May 10, at McGee Creek Lake. Entries will be taken at the Buster Hights boat ramp parking area.  Fishing times will be from 8:00-12:00.  After fish have been weighed, the young anglers and their parents will be treated to a hot dog cookout at the pavilion in Buster Hights Park.  Every child will receive a prize.  The tournament is open to anglers age 16 or under.  For more information, check out our flyer on our Facebook page.

54th Annual Big Bass Rodeo

 

If you like to fish, and at the same time possibly win cash, trophies or prizes, then you might be interested in the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club’s 54th Annual Big Bass Rodeo.  The big bass tournament will be held on April 26-27, at Pine Creek Lake.  According to the Wildlife Department, the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club is the oldest, continuous running sportsman club in the state and the Big Bass Rodeo is the oldest, continuous running big bass tournament in the state and quite possibly the nation.  The headquarters for the tournament this year will be located at the pavilion in Little River South Park. 

The entry fee for the tournament is only $25.00 but, for insurance purposes, you must be a member of the club.  Memberships are $20.00 per year or a temporary membership, good for the weekend only, is $5.00.  Anglers that are under age 16 do not need a membership and must fish with a parent or guardian that is a member and pay the entry fee. Membership into the club is open until the end of the Big Bass Rodeo.  After then, anyone wishing to join the club must attend a meeting and be voted on by members present. There will be five cash prizes based on a percentage of the entry fees.  The smallest bass over 16 inches in length will receive $100.00 courtesy of H2O Depot.  Also, the top five finishers will receive large trophies compliments of FirstBank.  The first 120 contestants will receive a free cap courtesy of AmeriState Bank and Pruett’s Food.  Tadpoles Marine of Hugo, OK will also pay $100.00 to the angler that catches a bass weighing closest to 4.00 pounds without going over.   Tadpoles Marine has also donated $200.00 to be given to the youth, age 12 or under, that catches the biggest bass in that age division.  They will also give $200.00 to the youth, age 13-15, that catches the largest bass in that age division. Kiamichi Kreations will provide plaques for each of the youth division winners.

After the top five cash prizes have been awarded, anglers will receive prizes donated by area merchants until the supply of prizes is exhausted.  There are usually forty to fifty prizes, or more, ranging in value of $25.00 to over $100.00.  Prizes generally include reels, rods, tackle boxes, lures and many other items related to fishing, hunting, camping or other outdoor activities.  Our area sponsors have been very generous this year and their support is greatly appreciated.  After all prizes have been awarded, a drawing will be held for a Lew’s KVD Tournament bait cast reel, courtesy of Janoe’s Garage, Bassin Buddies lures & MinnKota Service Center.  All entered contestants will be eligible but must be present to win.

You may enter on Friday evening from 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. or before the tournament begins on Saturday morning.  Fishing times will be from 7:00 a.m-5:00 p.m. on Saturday and from 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Sunday.  Complete rules can be viewed on our Facebook page. Pics of the BBR flyer and the entry forms have been posted on our page.  The lake is above normal and the forecast is calling for heavy rainfall this week.  There is a slight chance that if heavy rainfall does occur, the lake could rise to the point to where the US Army Corps of Engineers could close the boat ramps and some camping areas.  If this happens, the tournament may have to be postponed.  Check our Facebook page for the latest updates.

The US Army Corps of Engineers wanted us to remind boaters that a ramp pass is needed to unload your boat.  QR codes are posted at the gates and by the ramps that can be scanned and this will send you to the site where you can purchase a daily ramp pass.  Also, there is another tournament that will be unloading at the Lost Rapids boat ramp for those who usually unload there, so it will be crowded. 

Hugo Lake: 4-12-25

 

The Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held a bass tournament on Saturday, April 12, at Hugo Lake. The lake level was nine feet above normal and falling with water temps in the low sixties.  The day started off with cool temperatures and a light breeze that gradually got stronger throughout the day. To say the “bite was slow” would be an understatement.  Of the twenty-five anglers that fished, none were able to catch their five fish limit. Seventeen anglers were unable to boat a single bass.

Grant Armstrong won the tournament with a four fish that weighed 4.58 pounds.  Chris Ayers finished in second place with a stringer weight of 3.93 pounds.  The third-place stringer was caught by Maddox Covington.  His stringer, which consisted of one bass, weighed 3.83 pounds which was also the big bass of the day. Altogether, only twelve bass were caught for a total tournament weight of only 18.73 pounds.

The club’s next tournament is scheduled to be the Annual Big Bass Rodeo on April 26-27.  The tournament will be held on Pine Creek Lake with headquarters at the pavilion in Littler River South Park. Area merchants have been very generous with their donations and there will be lots of cash, trophies and prizes to be won.  For more information check out the club’s Facebook page.