Once
again weather impacted the World Championship Bass on The Fly fishing
Tournament on Lake Fork Saturday, May 12th. Friday afternoon heavy rain
blew across Central and East Texas which prompted several folks to
cancel their plans to participate. However, six kayakers and 23 boaters
found the conditions much better Saturday morning with cloudy skies and a mild
wind. And the fish were biting .... for some folks.
In
the Non-boater (Kayak) division, Randy Calley from Sepulpa, OK photographed
four fish for a total length of 57.5" to win $140 for first place.
Scott Ogg placed second with two fish measuring 24.5” winning $70.
In
the Boater division, Benson and
B.C. Fowler* from Garland, had
four fish that weighed 8lb.-2oz. for first place, winning $400.
Second place went to Erik Dilts and Rex White from Shreveport, LA with a total weight of 5 lbs,
earning $240. Alex Guthrie and Lance Rogers won third
place with a weight of 4 lb.-3 oz., paying $165.
The
Big Bass in the Boater division was 2 lb-3oz caught by Benson Fowler and paid
$80. Second place, was Erik Dilts earning $40. In the
Non-boater division Randy Calley had the big fish worth $30. The Big Blue Gill was caught by Erik
Dilts and paid $60. Second
place was Diane Blair.
The
Sage Largemouth rod for early entries was won by Jack Bowen from Alba, Texas.
The
Casting Distance with a bass bug contest was won by Bryan Nims who received a
TFO 7 weight outfit. The Casting Accuracy with a bass bug was won by the
venerable B.C. Fowler* with three quick casts into the 100 point ring. He
won a TFO 3 weight outfit.
The club trophy was won again by the Dallas Fly Fishers who had
seven teams entered. The North
Louisiana and Ft. Worth folks said
the bad weather kept their members away and promised that won't happen again!
Several
teams reported catching hefty 16”-24" slot fish which couldn’t be weighed
in. This led the group to vote to
make the boater division a Catch-Photo-Release tournament next year. This CPR method has proved fun and
rewarding for the non-boaters (kayakers) the last two years. Check the website for the details of
the CPR rules.
Everyone received a goody bag with a Skeeter tee shirt, a
Buff, a hat, discount coupons, and a bass fly. There were numerous
drawing prizes which were donated by Redington , TFO, Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, Tailwaters Fly Shop, Lake
Fork Marina, Umpqua flies, Ranger
boats, and Simms. Thank you to all
of our sponsors!
We’re
planning to have the tournament
again next year around the same time, check www.bassonthefly.org for updates. Thanks to all our volunteers and
participants for making this a fun event and helping to grow the sport of warm
water fly fishing.
* Benson
Fowler reports: “My Dad is 77,
with 63 years of experience bass fishing with a fly rod. He told the
story Saturday about buying a Heddon Black Beauty Rod from the Montgomery Wards
Catalogue when he was fourteen, with money he made selling chickens, ducks, and
eggs. He said that he got the fly rod, reel, line, leader, 3 bass bugs,
hip waders, and a creel for $66.00.”
