Hugo Lake Tournament: 5-23-26

The Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held a bass tournament on Saturday, May 23, at Hugo Lake. The lake level was about one foot above normal and rising.  The start of the tournament was delayed about ninety minutes due to a heavy thunderstorm moving thru the area at about 6:00 a.m.  Heavy rain and lightning kept anglers in their vehicles until about 7:30.  Fishing was tough and the bite was slow, but a few anglers managed to catch a decent stringer.  Sixteen anglers entered the tournament and eight of those managed to catch a five fish limit.

 

Jim Armstrong won the tournament with a stringer weight of 13.39 pounds.  Ellis Silvey finished in second place with a stringer weight of 10.78 pounds.  The third place stringer was caught by Sawyer Parker.  His stringer weighed 9.67 pounds. Billy Latham caught a bass that weighed 3.65 pounds to win the big bass of the tournament.

 

The club’s next event will be the Annual Husband-Wife Bass Tournament on June 6, at McGee Creek Lake.  Launch site will be the Potapo boat ramp. Fishing times will be from 7:00 until 2:00.  Teams do not have to be a husband and wife couple but do need to be a male and female team.  One member of the team must be a current club member.  The entry fee is $40.00 per team with an optional $5.00 big bass pot entry fee, per person. This takes place on Oklahoma’s free fishing weekend so a fishing license is not necessary.  Each team member will be able to keep 5 bass of any size with the tournament permit.  Stringers weights of each team member will be added together to determine stringer weights and winners.  First, second and third place prizes will be awarded.  Also, plaques will be awarded to the ladies, first through fifth place, for their biggest bass, so men’s and ladies’ fish need to be kept separate.  Members that do not have a partner may fish, but can only compete for the big bass prize.

Youth Fishing Tournament: 5-16-26

On Saturday, May 16, the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held its annual free youth fishing tournament.  The tournament was held at McGee Creek Lake.  Thirty-five young anglers competed in the event.  The weather was near perfect, just a little breezy, and most were able to catch a few fish, with perch being the most common catch of the day. The youths could catch and weigh in any legal species of fish.

As the young anglers were signing up for the tournament, they received a refurbished rod and reel from McLeod Honor Farm.  Inmates had cleaned and repaired previously owned rods and reels so that they worked like new again.  Also, The Dam Store donated a box of worms to any child fishing the tournament.  The Screaming Jig Company had left crappie jigs at the store to be given to kids, as well.  The club appreciates these donations to the children.

Kynly Hedgecock was the first-place winner.  She had a stringer weight of 14.00 pounds.  Khloe Richardson caught the second-place stringer.  It weighed 10.53 pounds. Third place went to Madix Washburn with a stringer weight of 10.38 pounds.  The biggest fish of the tournament was caught by Kenneth Carter. It weighed 2.09 pounds.  Each of these young anglers received a plaque, compliments of Kiamichi Kreations, and a prize.  All of the other contestants also received a prize, regardless of whether they caught a fish or not.  There were enough prizes available that many received two prizes via a drawing that was held after all had received a prize. The kids 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, along with their parents, were treated to a hotdog cookout with all the trimmings and soft drinks. Over seventy adults and children were served.

The club’s next event will be a bass tournament on Hugo Lake.  It will be held on Saturday, May 23.  Fishing will begin at “safe light” and will end at 3:30 p.m.  The tournament will launch from the Frazier Creek boat ramp and you must be a member to compete.

 

McGee Creek Tournament: 5-9-26

 Members of the Pushmataha County Sportsman Club held a bass tournament on McGee Creek Lake on Saturday, May 9. The day started off with mild temperatures and virtually no wind.  The weather was quite nice but the bite was slow. The lake was about one foot below normal level.  Fourteen anglers competed in the tournament. Eight anglers were able to catch their limit of five bass but quality fish were difficult to come by.

Billy Hensley won the tournament with a stringer weight of 10.87 pounds. Billy also caught the big bass of the tournament.  It weighed 4.90 pounds. Finishing in second place was Keegan Bohanan.  His stringer weighed 9.47 pounds.  Forrest Cave was third with a stringer weight of 8.71 pounds.

The club’s next event will be our annual free youth fishing tournament and cookout.  It will be held on Saturday, May 16, at McGee Creek Lake.  Sign in will be at the Buster Hights boat ramp.  Any youth, age 16 or under, may participate.  Fishing will be from 8:00 to 12:00.  The young anglers may fish from a boat, from the shore or from the fishing pier in Buster Hights Park.  They may use artificial lures or live bait.  Any legal species of fish may be kept and weighed.  All state regulations on size and bag limits for each species caught must be followed.  After fish have been weighed, the kids and their parents will be treated to a hot dog cookout with all the trimmings at the pavilion in Buster Hights Park.  Prizes will be awarded at this time.  Check out our flyer posted on our Facebook page for complete rules.