With the new season beginning, 15 teams made the trek thru the muddy pot holes that protect Ralph V. Chisholm Park ramp on East Lake Toho. Not the turnout we were hoping for, but still enough to make it interesting. For one of the few times in 2023, Mother Nature cooperated with light winds and finally some cooler temperatures that had all anglers hoping conditions would trigger a good bite on a lake that can be very stingy at times.
However, even though there were 13 of the 15 teams that brought a 5 bass limit to the scales, quality evaded most as only 1 bass over 4 lbs was weighed. And guess who accomplished that? That’s right. The team of Fred Reid and John Kinchen as they continued their pace from last season’s runaway AOY race to take 1st place with a limit weighing 14.65 lbs including Big Bass of the tournament by John weighing 5.05 lbs. $$$Cha-Ching$$$ Some things just don’t seem to change. Following in 2nd place the team of Don Hinman and Ken Winter also brought a limit to the scales that totaled 12.31 lbs including a 3.72 lb kicker. Keith Braun and partner Cliff Semonski captured 3rd place with a limit weighing 10.63 lbs. and a very nice 3.54 lb kicker. Congrats to all that collected cash and points, and to the team of Brian Cole and Bill Groseclose who won the draw for two $25 gift cards provided by our longtime sponsor StrikeZone of Melbourne. Thank you Shawn Mecchella for your continuing support.
Even as most teams made it through the day with no major mishaps, two teams did have to make the best of bad situations as the team of Tom and Tommy Gates experienced a cranking battery issue and ended the day by trolling back to weighin after their battery died. The team of Brian Cole and Bill Groseclose also competed under duress as Brian fished the day after having surgery the day before. Even though he finally had to leave a little early, Brian still toughed it out for almost the entire day. Good job Brian and hopefully the StrikeZone gift card will help ease the pain a little.
After weighin a meeting was held to address some club business as our newly elected Treasurer, Zander Hampton, decided to resign due to an age issue and not being able to open a checking account due this. Keith Braun was nominated and elected to replace Zander. Thank you Keith for stepping up to the plate to fill the position. And thank you Zander for trying to fulfill the duties of that position with a lot of things working against you. Also the following items were considered and voted on by the members present.
1. The Okeechobee tournament will be a 2 day tournament every year.
2. The Harris Chain will be a normal 1 day tournament and not a 2 day.
3. Weighin time change for only the June and July tournament
from 3:00 PM to 2:00 PM. All other tournaments remain 3:00 PM.
The reason is to avoid the excessive heat during those months and to
help relieve some of the stress on the fish.
It was also announced the club has received another sponsor, with Ron Norris Honda-Buick-GMC-Ford of Titusville giving $800 to our Classic in addition to the monies already coming out of the club account. Thank you Ron Norris and also our V-P Roger Averill for your hard work in making this happen. Members, don’t forget, when you frequent the businesses of our sponsors, let them know who you are and thank them for their support.
Also, if you know or hear of anyone looking to join a club, remind them of our website and how they can contact any club officer for more information on joining. It would be nice to get club membership back up to the levels of the past 2 to 3 years.
Thank you to all members that returned from last year and to the new members that have joined the club this season “Tight Lines and Big Bass”.
SO MANY BASS---------SO LITTLE TIME
