Space Coast Bass Finatics members were quite surprised with the productivity of Blue Cypress Lake as it turned out to be one of the best tournaments we have recorded on that body of water. The past history of the lake coupled with the low water conditions and the reports from pre-fishing trips made it seem like it was going to be a very tough day to catch a limit or even one 12" bass. Just like last year when only 9 of the 24 teams weighed in a bass with 15 teams recording zeros seemed to be what awaited the club. This lake has always been a spectacular place to see and hear a wide verity of birds and catch a glimpse of some huge alligators. But this day was going to be different, as the 23 teams made their way out of the launch basin, past the stumps that are now very visible, past the screaming Osprey's , into the lake which was free of algae and clean. The conditions were perfect with 65 degree air temps, wind 5-10 from the southeast and water temps from 74 to 78 degrees. The tournament started with the calling of boat numbers by Larry Cruce and the late arrival of Bob Barnette and Tom Southwick who checked in with a member before starting to fish. Special thanks goes out to Wayne Smith who did all the boat check work before launching and checked the short fish at the weigh-in. The club is very sorry to hear that the elected President , Bill Groseclose, has resigned due to a medical condition along with V-P William Flood. This means a new President must be elected as per club rules, so with a show of hands of the members present the new club President will be Karl Kearcher and the Vice President will be Buddy Perry for the next two tournaments and the club Classic. Congratulations !
Dave Tripp and Robert Kimbrough showed the way with a first place limit weighing 17.98 pounds which is their second win of the season. They used the run and gun method to find their fish as they reported moving all around the lake using a verity of baits but mostly senkos and worms. Their biggest bass weighed 4.67 pounds and if it had not been for that one dead fish they would have had over eighteen pounds for their limit.
Second place goes to the team that came to the ramp last, Bob Barnette and Tom Southwick recorded a five fish limit which weighed 15.33 pounds. As usual Bob and Tom were using their trick worms and the occasional senko while fishing slowly around the cypress trees and grass. A 4.12 pound big bass anchored a nice limit.
Fred Reid and his alternate partner John Kinchen takes third place with 15.27 pounds. This keeps the string of limits, 10/10, going for the year along with the team of Rick and Joe Jenkins who also recorded a limit. Fred reported that a Bitters Sling worm in junebug color accounted for most of their fish.
Fourth place went to the new V-P Buddy Perry and his partner Preston Humphery. who came in with a limit weighing 15.14 pounds. They worked worms around the grass and cypress trees all day.
The Biggest Bass of the day was landed by Brian Cole using a sweet beaver bait and weighed in at 7.09 pounds easily beating out all others. This anchored Brian and alternate Dan Keyes limit of 12.75 pounds
The big bass and fourth place gift certificates were generously sponsored by Shawn Mecchella at Strike Zone of Melbourne. Be sure you stop by and thank him and his staff for their continued support to the club and purchase all your fishing gear needs.
The club sends out their best wishes to the members that could not make the tournament and are looking forward to seeing all the members at our next tournament at Lake Kissimmee out of the Overstreet Ramp on the 30th of June.
