Sardis Lake 3-25-17

On Saturday, May 25, twenty-seven members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club competed in a bass tournament on Sardis Lake. Anglers were faced with cool temps, a brisk breeze and occasional drizzle for the first half of the day. These conditions eventually gave way to partly cloudy skies and milder temps.  It was feast or famine for the anglers.  Eleven anglers were unable to catch a single keeper over 14 inches long while seven anglers were able to boat a limit of six keepers.

Jon Tucker won first place with a six fish limit that weighed 17.71 pounds.  Terry Thurman came in second with a six fish limit weighing 15.26 pounds.  Randy Janoe finished in third place, also with a six fish limit that weighed 14.97 pounds.  The biggest bass of the tournament was caught by Billy Latham.  It weighed 5.32 pounds.

The club’s next event will be a bass tournament on Hugo Lake.  It will be held on Saturday, April 8.  Launch site for the tournament will be Frazier Point boat landing.  Fishing times will be from 7:00 until 4:00.

The club’s next monthly meeting will be held on Thursday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m.  Meetings are held at the Wildlife Heritage Center and Museum.  One of the main items to be discussed during the next meeting will be the club’s 46th Annual Big Bass Rodeo.  This year’s Big Bass Rodeo will be held on April 22-23 on Pine Creek Lake.  More information is available on the club’s website at www.pushcountysportsmanclub.blogspot.com under “Links We Love”.

TOP TEN STANDINGS

McGee Creek Bass Tournament 3-11-17

On Saturday, March 11, members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held their first bass tournament of the 2017 season.  The tournament was held on McGee Creek Lake.  Twenty-four anglers braved the cold and wind to compete in the event.

Judd Thomas had the heaviest stringer weight with 14.46 pounds to take first place.  Judd also had the biggest bass of the tournament with a bass weighing 7.86 pounds.  Second place honors went to Joe Janoe.  Joe’s stringer weighed 11.34 pounds.  Joe also had a bass over the 16 to 22 inch slot limit.  His bass weighed 7.79 pounds.  Finishing in third place was Don Deems.  His stringer weighed 10.86 pounds and he also had a bass over the slot limit that weighed 7.05 pounds.

The club’s next bass tournament will be on March 25, at Sardis Lake.  It will launch from the Sardis Cove boat ramp.  Fishing times will be from 7:00 until 4:00. You can keep up with club activities on Facebook and on the web at www.pushcountysportsmanclub.blogspot.com.

TOP TEN STANDINGS 3-11-17

March Meeting

Members voted on the club's fishing times for their first 3 bass tournaments of 2017 at their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, March 9. The club starts their bass tournament season on McGee Creek Lake on March 11. Launch site will be the Buster Hight boat landing. Fishing times will be from 7:30 to 4:30.
The next tournament will be on Sardis Lake on Saturday, March 25. Launch will be at Sardis Cove ramp and fishing times will be from 7:00 to 4:00.
The next tournament is on Hugo Lake on April 8. Launch site will be at Frazier Point ramp and fishing times will be from 7:00 to 4:00.

46th Annual Awards Banquet

On Saturday, March 4, members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held their Annual Awards Banquet.  The banquet was held at the Antlers High School cafeteria and featured a meal of smoked chicken, ribs and pork chops with homemade yeast rolls, soft drinks and side dishes prepared by club members and their spouses.  After the meal was finished, wildlife biologist Jack Waymire presented a program on wildlife management, covering past, present, and possible future management practices, especially the importance of controlled burning to improve wildlife habitat.

After Jack had finished his presentation, members were presented their awards.  For spring turkey season, the club awards a prize based on the length of the turkey’s beard that was harvested by a member.  Billy Hensley won the award for the turkey with the longest beard.  Second place honors went to Eugene Hensley.  Both received a plaque and a check for their share of the entry fee.

Next to be recognized were the Top Ten Anglers of the Year.  Each received an embroidered patch.  They were, from number ten to number one, Mike Burrage, Colton Fleming, Colby Chandler, Joe Janoe, Chuck Beck, Johnny Ivey, Randy Janoe, Billy Latham, Ellis Silvey, and Bass Angler of the Year, Judd Thomas.  Judd also received a plaque and a check.

The Heaviest Stringer of the Year Award went to Colton Fleming.  Colton had the largest stringer weighed in by a club member in a bass tournament.  His stringer weighed 26.28 pounds and was caught on Hugo Lake.  Colton Fleming also won the award for Big Bass of the Year. His bass was caught at McGee Creek Lake and weighed 9.75 pounds.  Colton received a plaque for each event.  The club recognizes anglers that catch over 100 pounds of bass in our yearly tournaments by presenting the “100 Pound Club” award.  Seven anglers qualified for this award. No more than three anglers had ever qualified before this past year.  100 Pound Club award winners were Judd Thomas, Ellis Silvey, Billy Latham, Randy Janoe, Johnny Ivey, Chuck Beck, and Joe Janoe.  Member Colby Chandler was presented the “Oh, So Close” award for needing only 0.12 of a pound to reach the 100 Pound Club.

The club holds a contest for each of Oklahoma’s three deer seasons; archery, primitive firearms and regular gun season.  Winners are determined by measuring the deer’s antlers using the Boone & Crockett scoring system.  In the deer archery season contest, Billy Latham took first place honors with Billy Hensley finishing in second place.  For deer primitive firearms season, Colby Chandler won first place and Billy Latham came in second.  Billy Hensley won first place in the deer rifle season contest.  Eugene Hensley finished in second place for the deer rifle season contest.  Each received a plaque and a check for their share of the entry fee money.

The Grand Slam Award is given to members that harvest a deer in all three seasons; archery, primitive, and gun season.  Three members were presented this award.  They were Billy Hensley, Colby Chandler and Eugene Hensley.

Each year the club recognizes a business or person that consistently supports the club through their donations to club events.  The 2016 Sponsor of the Year Award was presented to Rainbow Home Health.

The club’s most prestigious award is the Sportsman of the Year Award.  This award is based on success in hunting, fishing, and other club activities.  Points are awarded in each of these activities.  The member with the most points at the end of the year is the Sportsman of the Year.  The 2016 Sportsman of the Year Award was presented to Billy Hensley.

The final award was presented to club president Billy Latham for a year of dedicated service to the club.  After awards, door prizes were awarded.  Every child that attended received a prize.  The ladies door prize, a $100.00 Pre-Paid MasterCard, was won by Phyllis Latham.  The men’s door prize, an ABU Revo SX Baitcast reel was won by Billy Hensley.

The club’s first bass tournament of the 2017 season will be held on Saturday, March 11, at McGee Creek Lake.  The tournament will launch from Buster Hights Landing.  Fishing times will be decided at the club’s regular meeting on Thursday, March 9.  Meetings are held at the Wildlife Heritage Center and Museum and begin at 7:30 p.m.