The Space Coast Bass Finatics kicked off the 2014/2015 season at East Lake Tohopekaliga on September 28 with 14 boats launching out of Lakefront Park. The team of Mike Calloway of Titusville and Cliff Semonski of Oak Hill weighed 5 fish for 11.22 pounds to win the tournament. Mike Hampton of Malabar and Tim Kopf of Melbourne brought 5 fish for 9.98 pounds to the scales to take second place. Third place went to the team of Jake and Gary Hinman of Palm Bay with 4 quality fish for 9.28 pounds. Their creel included a 3.08 pounder by Gary that was the tournament's biggest fish.
The small creel award went to the rookies Thomas Taylor and Brandon Veasey who narrowly edged me out with 1 fish for 1.47 pounds. The award was donated by Mike Calloway's Last Cast Products and included an assortment of punch skirts, jig heads, and some other items. Mike sells these items, rod sleeves, and other things and offers a 10% discount to club members. Just ask him about his wares at our next event. Thanks to Mike!
Air Temperature: mid 70s to upper 80s
Water Temperature: mid 80s
Conditions: mostly cloudy with 5-10 ENE wind
The winners reported catching their fish using the following tricks:
- 1st Place: houdini colored Reaction Innovations skinny dipper swimbaits
- 2nd Place: blue with green flake Zoom super flukes around the outside edge of reeds
- 3rd Place & Big Bass: 12" green worms
That's Mike Calloway (left) and Cliff Semonski (right) with their tournament winning 11.22 pounds at East Lake Toho. (Photo by Raymond Taylor)
This is not what your trailer tire should look like, especially a 3 month old one. Unfortunately, this is what Mike Calloway's left rear tire looked like after going about 10 miles down Nova Rd after winning our 2014/2015 season opening tournament at East Lake Tohopekaliga on 2014-09-28. There was nothing in the road, the 3 other tires on that side of his truck and trailer would have hit it first if there was, the tire just disintegrated.
To make matters worse, the lug nut in the upper right of this photo rounded causing him to be unable to change the tire with his spare. Mike was waiting for his Progressive insurance provided tow truck to show up for about 5 hours before calling a local towing company out of St Cloud recommended by a sheriff that stopped to assist. That company showed up in less than a half hour and Mike was finally on his way home around 9:30pm.
(Photo by Mike Calloway)