Space Coast Bass Finatics

The day was one of right and wrong decisions for the thirteen teams that came out to the boat ramp in the coolness of daybreak at Lake Poinsett. Should we stay in the lake, go to the north river, go to Lake Winder, go to south river or maybe we should go all the way to the dam at Lake Washington? The weather was not going to help, as the sun was relentless and the wind changed direction, when there was any, and the rain swept across the area quickly but did drop the temperature just when it got to hot to continue for some people.

Mr. Jimmy Blount encountered a beautiful big headed lady while pre-fishing for Poinsett. Mr. Berry says she was around 8 1/2 pounds despite her svelte figure. Nice bass indeed.

The Club assembled at the Overstreet Landing at Lake Kissimmee Sunday May 22nd and was met with a full moon and winds blowing out of the northwest.The past weeks rainfall and constant wind had turned the lake dirty in most places but if clean water could be found bass would be there. The water level had come up about a foot and the back water areas were now opened up to the club members. Most teams reported that the bass were biting early and shut off during the afternoon.

Don Hinman and Matt Hinman took the classic tournament on Lake Washington on Saturday with a mega bag weighing 21 plus pounds. The win along with the Calcutta netted they a nice payday along with bragging rites for the next year. The team of Jimmy Blount and Jack Berry finished in the fourth position with 15 pounds and walked away with some very nice rods donated by Halo. Congratulations to all the members who participated in the Strike Zone Tournament Trail this year.

The newest members of SCBF proves that first time out is a charm as they brought in the winning bag at last Sundays club tournament on Miami-Garcia Impoundment. Their total of 20.66 pounds out classed the field of seventeen teams which was the second largest field since the last time we fished there in September. Just to make their victory complete Kirk also landed the largest bass of the event coming in at a healthy 8.53 pounds. Mark who is a Air Force member and hails from Rockledge and his brother Kirk who traveled all the way from Palm Coast used mostly flukes to catch their winning bag.

Two of the club teams competed in the first Florida Sate Tournament Championship on the Kissimmee Chain of lakes out of the Big Toho Marina and both turned in respectable finishes. The tournament was dominated by clubs from the Kissimmee area as was expected but the weather did not cooperate as the wind made the lake very tough to navigate. Jack Berry and Jimmy Blount caught fish both days but could not seem to find that one or two big fish to make a ok day into a good day.

Team type tournaments are usually dominated by good team fisherman, both contributing to success in tournament competition but Larry Cruce of Titusville proved that one man can be better than two at the two day event held on March 19th-20th in Lake Okeechobee out of Harney Pond Canal ramp. The first day was plagued with rain showers then sheets of rain accompanied by wind and finally capped off with a torrential down pour and lightning at the end. The pavilion near the ramp came in very handy during the weigh-in.

The change in time also brings back the Monday Nite Tournament on Lake Washington. The first will take place on March 14 and I believe the start time is still 5.15 pm and you can fish until the dark or mosquitos get the best of you. good luck.

There is also the new two man team Extreme Tournament on Miami-Garcia which is now in progress on the second Sunday of each month.

The club discussed our upcoming Lake Okeechobee two day event on March 19-20 which we will be launching both days out of the Harney Pond Canal ramp. If anyone needs info on accomodations, call or e-mail and we can give you some local numbers for rooms that are good for boat parking.

Whaley's Landing was a crowded place Sunday morning as approximately twenty-five boats from two bass clubs where there to find Toho's biggest and best bass. The conditions were not ideal, but the morning sunrise and cloud pattern were spectacular as the two photos from Tim Kopf proves. The thirteen teams from SCBF were eager to get started in the cool morning weather but they would be soon be enjoying the feel of the warm Florida sun as the day progressed.