Sardis Bass Tournament 5-20-17

Strong storms moving through the area during the early morning hours of Saturday, May 20, did not keep seventeen members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club from competing in a bass tournament on Sardis Lake.  Luckily, most of the rain and storms had moved east of the area by the start of the tournament.  Anglers were left with cool temps, cloudy skies and light winds.  Not bad conditions for being on the lake.

Only three anglers were able to catch their limit of six bass.  Seven anglers were unable to catch a single keeper bass.  The winning stringer was caught by Judd Thomas.  Judd had a limit of bass that weighed 18.05 pounds.  Billy Latham, also with a limit of bass, finished in second place.  Billy’s stinger weighed 16.93 pounds.  Colby Chandler placed third with a limit of bass weighing 14.41 pounds.  The big bass of the tournament was caught by Ellis Silvey.  It weighed 5.02 pounds.

The club’s next event will be the Annual Husband & Wife bass tournament and Fish Fry.  It will be held on June 3, at McGee Creek Lake.  Fishing times will be from 7:00 until 2:00 with a fish fry following the tournament.  Launch site for the tournament will be the Potapo boat ramp.  A team does not have to be husband and wife but must consist of a male and a female contestant.  The tournament takes place on Oklahoma’s free fishing weekend, therefore, contestants do not have to purchase a fishing license to compete.

TOP TEN STANDINGS: 5-20-17

Youth Fishing Tournament

On Saturday, May 13, members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club were host to a free youth fishing tournament.  The tournament was held at McGee Creek Lake.  The tournament was a huge success with 39 young anglers competing in the event.  This was a record number of attendees for the tournament.

Kaleb Mason was the first place winner.  Kaleb had a stringer weight of 4.98 pounds, all perch.  Brady Janoe finished in second place and Justin Wheeler took third place honors.  Collin Sartin caught a bass weighing .87 pounds to win the prize for the biggest fish weighed in.  These four 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 were treated to a hamburger and hotdog cookout with all the trimmings.

The club’s next event will be a bass tournament on Sardis Lake.  It will be held on Saturday, May 20.  Fishing times will be from “safe light” until 3:00 p.m.  The tournament will launch from the Sardis Cove boat ramp.

PHOTOS courtesy of Chelsi Thomas

Hugo Tournament and Youth Tournament

On Saturday, May 13, members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club will host a free youth fishing tournament.  The tournament will be held at McGee Creek Lake.  The tournament is open to any youth age 16 and under.  Contestants can sign up at the Buster Hights Boat landing.  Fishing times will be from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm.  Prizes will be awarded to every contestant, regardless of whether they catch any fish or not.  A cook-out featuring hamburgers and hotdogs with all the trimmings will follow the tournament.   There is no charge for this as well. All the kids and their parents are invited to attend.

The rules for the contest are simple.  Kids can fish from a boat, the shore or the fishing pier in Buster Hights Park.  Live bait or artificial lures may be used with a rod and reel or a cane pole.  Any legal species of fish may be weighed in.  Length limits and possession limits must be strictly followed.

In other club news, members held a bass tournament on Hugo Lake on Saturday, May 6.  It was a great day for fishing.  However, for most of the twenty-two anglers that were competing, it was a poor day for catching.  Only four anglers were able to catch their limit of six bass.  Most everyone else had only two keepers or less.

Chuck Beck won the tournament with a stringer weight of 15.68 pounds.  Following closely in second place with a stringer weight of 15.28 pounds was Judd Thomas.  Johnny Ivey finished in third place with a stringer weight of 14.03 pounds.  The big bass of the tournament was caught by Joe Janoe.  His bass weighed 4.33 pounds, narrowly beating our Colby Chandler’s 4.32 pound bass.

The club will hold its next monthly meeting on Thursday, May 11.  Meetings are held at the Wildlife Heritage Center and Museum and begin at 7:30 pm.

TOP TEN STANDINGS:  5-6-17