Lake Istokpoga Challenge #3

Mike Hampton

Space Coast Bass Finatics traveled to Sebring Florida to visit the renowned big bass factory at Lake Istokpoga only to find that the very people who are tasked to take care of the condition of our lakes, have again destroyed the lakes water grasses. This created a lake of suspended dirty water and silt surrounded by brown buggy whips and dead floating stems. This is perfect for hanging up your lures and hooks and aggravating bass fisherman. The arrival of twenty-four teams was greeted at the launch ramp with a hour and a half passing rain storm which ended just as daylight was breaking.

SCBF at Lake Poinsett for round two!

Mike Hampton

The club continue to improve, as twenty-nine teams arrived at Leroy Wright Recreational Area boat ramp on Sunday morning the 27th, to test their skills against the lake and the other teams. We even had another fishing team ask to join us but the roster is full for this season. President Karl Kearcher and V-P Buddy Perry were busy doing their respective duties with the arriving teams. Treasurer Jack Berry collected the appropriate fees and registered the participating teams along with any alternates and making sure that everyone has their starting boat numbers.

Space Coast Bass Finatics begin the year at East Lake Tohopekaliga

Mike Hampton

This was an auspicious beginning to the 2019-2020 season, as the club filled out the entire thirty team roster for the year with a little left over. No one could have predicted the amazing turnout that we had at Ralph Chisholm Park on East Lake Toho for the start of the season. The returning members filled up twenty-seven slots and we signed up three new teams to complete our roster. This was the only time we could have fished this lake for the next nine or ten months as the lake is scheduled for a draw down and major modifications to the west, north and east sides by FWC.

SCBF 2018-2019 Season "CLASSIC"

Mike Hampton

The end of the season for Space Coast Bass Finatics was capped off by the Classic Tournament held on West Lake Toho out of Whaley's Landing. The eleven teams who arrived at the launch ramp was going to be rewarded for their hard work for the past eleven months with a chance to claim the top honors for the year. The morning was still warm from the summer heat but promised to be a great day on the lake. Some teams arrived ready to go with nothing but winning on their minds, but others arrived a little on the rough side of yesterday's activities.

SCBF finishes season at Lake Washington

Mike Hampton

The last regular season tournament for Space Coast Bass Finatics at Lake Washington completed another great regular season of bass fishing competition for the thirty team club. A year filled with new records for the club and a lot of great times for the members. We worked thru the unfortunate loss of our elected president and vice-president, boat and trailer breakdowns, bad weather, low water, lake conditions and even the constant spraying of SJRWM to control those pesky green weeds.

Hot times at Lake Kissimmee for SCBF

Mike Hampton

The 2018-2019 season is nearly drawing to an end for SCBF's and that makes Lake Kissimmee an important stop for the AOY points race. It was the best of times for some and the worst of times for others but the lake held surprises for everyone. The June heat wave had slacked off a little from the high 90's of the past week and there was a few welcome clouds to block the intense sun to make the day a little more bare able. The lake was a few shades of green which means that SJRWM was doing a good job of spraying anything that was green in the lake.

Blue Cypress Lake surprise

Mike Hampton

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.

SCBF takes on Miami-Garcia Impoundment

Mike Hampton

Space Coast Bass Finatics gathered in Fellsmere for their eight tournament of the year on our favorite lake. The weather was perfect and the twenty-four teams who made the long trip south were met by the usual hoards of mosquitoes, low water conditions, fast growing hydrilla and another bass club from Jacksonville who decided to have their end of year Classic on the same lake. The club acted with our usual sportsmanship and let them leave first and choose the time of their weigh-in so as not to conflict with ours.

SCBF Two-Day at Lake Okeechobee

Mike Hampton

The lake was devoid of hydrilla and lilly pads due to the massive weed eradication program that the state has implemented to make the lake a better place for fish and recreation. They also lowered the lake level so that the silt and decaying debris would be easy to bring up with your trolling motor and making the water color brown with about 10 centimeters of visibility.

SCBF at Lake Kissimmee 2019

Mike Hampton

The SCBF 2018-2019 roster of thirty teams has finally been achieved with the addition of past club member Fred Handschuh and is partner Robert Floyd along with the final team of the year of Tommy Gates and his partner Thomas Gates. This, along with the addition of Robert Kimbrough, who is Dave Tripp's partner, completes the full team roster for this year. President Bill greeted the newest members along with all others at the Overstreet Launch Ramp, and explained the workings of the club and what to expect or do at the take off and weigh-in.