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.