48th Big Bass Rodeo

On April 27-28, the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club hosted the 48^th Annual Big Bass Rodeo on Pine Creek Lake.  Sixty boats with one hundred eighteen anglers competed in the big bass tournament.  The weather conditions were pretty nice with only stiff breezes to contend with on both days.  The lake was approximately seven feet above normal and falling.

Randell Shields won the tournament with a bass that weighed 7.37 pounds.  In a strange coincidence, the first place prize money, based on a percentage of the entry fee money, was $737.50.   Finishing in second place, with a bass weighing 4.93 pounds, was Donald Wall.  Third place was won by Terry Thurman with a bass weighing 4.84 pounds.  Jamie Shields caught a 4.71 pound bass to take fourth place.  Jamie Flynn finished fifth with a bass weighing 4.61 pounds.  Each received a trophy, courtesy of FirstBank, and a check for their share of the entry fees.

Also this year a prize for the biggest bass caught by an angler age 12 or under was awarded.  Tadpole’s Marine in Hugo gave $100.00 to B. J. Dalrymple for his bass that weighed 3.87 pounds.  Tadpole’s Marine also gave the angler that caught the bass weighing closest to 3.00 pounds without going over a check for $100.00.  Two anglers caught bass that weighed exactly three pounds.  Both Ashley Harmon and Bub Cunningham caught a bass that weighed exactly 3.00 pounds.  A coin toss decided the winner and Bub Cunningham walked away with the extra cash.

Anglers that placed sixth or lower were awarded prizes or gift certificates provided by area merchants.  Businesses had donated prizes, gift cards or cash for prizes.  Our local merchants were so generous that every angler that weighed in a bass over 16” in length was 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 forty-eight years.

The club’s next event will be a bass tournament on May 11, at Sardis Lake.  Launch site will be Sardis Cove landing.  Fishing times will be voted on at the club’s monthly meeting on Thursday, May 9.

Picture Info:  Left to right, also 5^th to 1^st place:  Jamie Flynn, Jamie Shields, Terry Thurman, Donald Wall, Randell Shields

Picture courtesy of Chelsi Thomas.

48th Annual Big Bass Rodeo

If you like to fish, win cash, prizes and trophies, then you might be interested in the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club’s 48^th Annual Big Bass Rodeo.  The big bass tournament will be held on April 27-28, at Pine Creek Lake.  This is the oldest, continuous running big bass tournament in the state and quite possibly the nation.  The headquarters for the tournament will be the pavilion on Rock Creek Point 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 $15.00 per year or a temporary membership, good for the weekend only, is $5.00.  There will be five cash prizes based on a percentage of the entry fees.  First place is guaranteed $500.00.  Also, the top five finishers will receive large trophies compliments of FirstBank.  The first 120 contestants will received a free cap compliments of AmeriState Bank and Pruett’s Food.  Tadpole’s Marine of Hugo will award $100.00 to an angler, age 12 or under, that catches the biggest bass.  They will also pay $100.00 to the angler that catches a bass weighing 3.00 pounds; double that if caught from a Nitro or Tracker boat.

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 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.

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 web page at www.pushcountysportsmanclub.blogspot.com.  Look for the BBR Flyer under “Links we love”.

Hugo Lake tournament 4-6-19

The Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held a bass tournament on Saturday, April 6, at Hugo Lake. The lake level was near normal with water temps in the low to mid-sixties.  The day started off cloudy with mild temperatures.  Strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfall moved thru the area about 1:00 in the afternoon but had left the area by 4:00 when the weigh-in was held.  Twenty one members participated in the tournament.

Colton Fleming won the tournament with a stringer weight of 17.47 pounds.  Ellis Silvey finished in second place with a stringer weight of 16.30 pounds.  The third place stringer was caught by Kindel Holiman. Kindel’s stringer weighed 15.44 pounds.  A bass weighing 5.24 pounds was caught by Randy Wells to win the big bass of the tournament.

The club’s next tournament will be the Annual Big Bass Rodeo.  It will be held on Pine Creek Lake on April 27-28.  This is the 48^th consecutive year that the club has held the big bass tournament.  Final preparations for the Big Bass Rodeo will be discussed at the club’s monthly meeting on Thursday, April 11.

Turkey season for the southeast counties of Oklahoma will open on Monday, April 22.  The club holds a spring turkey hunting contest.  Members wishing to enter the contest may do so at the club’s monthly meeting.  The entry fee for the contest is $10.00 and must be paid before season begins.

TOP TEN STANDINGS:4-6-19