The Oklahoma Bass Federation held its final tournaments on Saturday and Sunday May 5 and 6 on Lake Eufaula.  The practice day seemed to be in tune with our previous events with heavy rains from sunup to about 2:30pm on Thursday.  Of course, that was predicted, as was the rest of the weekend.  Lake Eufaula, known as the “Gentle Giant”, proved to be the anything but a Giant.  The Friday practice, as well as Saturday and Sunday had winds in the 2 to 9 mph, an unusual set of conditions for a weekend on Lake Eufaula.  However, no one seemed to be disappointed in the weather conditions, however, the lake was mostly tainted with visibility in the 6 inch to 18 inch range, depending on the area of the lake the anglers chose to fish.  Regardless of the conditions, more than half of the teams brought limits to the scales.

Day One

The first day of the tournament started with little or no wind and temperatures in the mid-fifties.   Water temperatures were in the upper sixties to around seventy with slightly clearing water.  Jody Linder and Jake Beam, Ponca City, neither having a chance to practice, decided to go for bedding fish although they could not be seen.  Their choice was to fish flooded buck brush in spanning areas that produced a limit weighing 16.60 lbs. to capture first place.  Jack Garrett, Ada, and Brad Hopkins, NEO, was a close second with 5 fish weighing 15.77 lbs.  Johnny Babb and Cain Brinlee, Ada, moved up from their 5^th place finishes in our pervious two tournaments to take third place with 14.36 lbs.  Placing fourth was Bobby Walker and Cameron Adams, Ponca City, with a limit tipping the scales at 14.24 lbs.  Stewart Ryan and Alex Lane, Ada, took the fifth place with 13.43 lbs. followed at sixth by Mike Zachary and Derek Dowsey, Ada, pushing their 13.29 lbs. to the scales.  Ron Boyd and Steve Carlon, Bedlam, rounded out the 13 lbs. range with 13.01 lbs. to take seventh.  Four teams weighed in eleven pounds limits with Mike Morgan and Brandon Beck, Ada, leading the group with 11.83 lbs. to take eighth nosing out Brandon West and Chris Angier, Bedlam, who trailed behind only .05 lbs. at 11.78 lbs. to take ninth.  Rounding out the top ten was John Garcia and Brett Taylor, Bedlam, with 11.55 lbs.  Dean Matts and Scott Callaway, Central, followed at eleventh with 11.46 lbs.  Six other teams brought limits to the scales.  Marc and Julie Downs led the group with 10.56 lbs. at twelfth place followed by Jackie Husmann and Sandy Hooker, PC Hookers, got the lucky thirteenth place with 10.27 lbs.  Don Linder, Ponca City, took fourteenth with 9.69 lbs. followed by Jeremy Vantuyl and Cody Hunt, PC Hookers, notching fifteenth with 9.21 lbs.   Shawn Lewis, Ponca City, had 8.78 lbs. for sixteenth while Jeffrey Linder and Brett Krieger, Ponca City, took seventeenth with the final limit weighing 7.99 lbs.

Day Two

The final day of our NSF qualifying tournaments started with light winds and temperatures in the low sixties.  Sunday produced fewer limits and about 25 fewer pounds, however, it did produce the largest stringer and big bass for the weekend.  Fishing by himself, Don Linder brought five fish to the scales that included a six pounder, five pounder, four pounder, three pounder and a baby spot.  The result was a 20.21 pounds stringer and first place finish.  The stringer included a 6.36 pounds lunker and big bass for the weekend.  Second place was garnered by Ron Boyd and Steve Carlon having a limit weighing 14.50 lbs.  Jack Garrett and Brad Hopkins dropped from second on Saturday to third on day 2 with 13.69 lbs.  Fourth place was recorded by Mike Zachary and Derek Rowsey with 12.53 lbs.  The only other 12 pounds limit that was registered by Jeremy Vantuyl and Cody Hunt with a limit weighing 12.09 lbs.  There were five 11 pounds limits with Dean Matts and Scott Callaway leading the group with 11.96 lbs. to take sixth.  Following in seventh was Alex Lane, fishing alone, with 11.85 lbs.  Eighth went to Bobby Walker and Cameron Adams with 11.25 lbs.  Ninth went to day one winner, Jody and Jake Beam, that tipped the scales at 11.12 lbs. followed at tenth by John Garcia and Brett Taylor with 11.09 lbs.  Four other teams registered limit catches with Jackie Husmann and Sandy Hooker leading the group with a 9.89 lbs. followed by Mike Morgan and Brandon Beck at 8.92 lbs.  The other limits were by Johnny Babb and Cain Brinlee with 6.94 lbs. at thirteenth followed by Ron Fuller and Denton Long, NEO, with the smallest limit for the weekend at 6.19 lbs.

Summary

The total catch for the two days was 171 fish weighing 392 lbs.  That resulted in an average weight of 2.29 lbs. per fish boated.    On a daily breakdown, day one average fish was 2.37 lbs. while day two resulted in a 2.21 lbs. average.  Overall, on the winning side, it seemed to be a Linder family weekend.  Jody Linder and nephew Jake Beam took first place on day one with 16.60 lbs. while dad/grandfather, Don Linder, took the second day title with 20.21 lbs.  As Johnny Babb put the 20 pounds stringer, “I believe this was the first time in our Federation history that an angler, fishing alone, weighed in a 20 pounds limit.”  That seems to be an accurate fact and win raised the age of the oldest angler to win one of our events to 79.

With our pay back at each of our events this year at $1150 per event, Jody Linder and Jake Beam took home $525 with Jody’s Ranger Cup additional $100 and day one first place finish.  Don Linder also pocketed $525 with the combination of the first place/Ranger Cup prizes.  The only team to cash in both days was Jack Garrett and Brad Hopkins with second and third place finishes for a total of $500.  Ron Boyd and Steve Carlon took home $300 for their day 2 second place finish while Johnny Babb and Cain Brinlee received $200 for their weekend efforts.  Two team received $150 for their fourth place finishes, Bobby Walker and Cameron Adams for day one and Mike Zachary and Derek Dowsey the final day.  The $75 blind draws went to Jeffrey Linder and Brett Krieger the first day and Alex Lane on day two.

Twenty boaters and co-anglers have now qualified to attend the TBF District 6 National Semi-Finals tournament on Grand Lake, Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17.  TBF District 6 consist of qualified boaters and co-anglers from both the Oklahoma Bass Federation and the Arkansas Bass Federation.  The lake will be off limits June 11 and 12 with practice the 13, 14, and 15.  A pairings meeting will be held in downtown Eufaula at the city hall.  The tournament will be held out of the Honey Creek State Park.  The top boater and co-angler from both Arkansas and Oklahoma will advance to the 2019 TBF National Championship to be announce early next year.

The Oklahoma Bass Federation held their third and fourth tournaments April 21 and 22 on Lake Texoma.  As predicted by the weatherman, we were greeted with winds from all directions during the two days and wind gust from 20mph down to very calm conditions.  However the anglers overcame wind, rain, and low temperatures to bring in large numbers of fish.  The water in the cumberland and glasses section of the lake was murky but fishable while the Red River arm had good visibility.  The area around the dam was very clear.  Water surface temperatures ranged from 58 to 64, depending were you fished.

First Day

The tournament on Saturday, April 21 started with temperatures in the 40’s and mild winds.  However, the predicted rain did arrive and we experienced winds from almost all directions.  Although the weather was very challenging our anglers adjusted to bring in the most limits that we have had in the last several years.  The weighin revealed limits by 75% of the teams.  Mike Zachary and Derek Rowsey (Ada) led the field with a 5 fish limit weighing 23.18 pounds anchored by the big bass for the day at 7.07 pounds.  Second place was garnered by Marc and Julie Downs (Bedlam) with a limit tipping the scales at 18.03#.  Jackie Husmann and Sandy Hooker (PC Hookers) took third with 5 fish weighing 17.97 # followed at fourth with the only other 17 plus stringer was Stewart Ryan and Alex Lane (Ada) with a limit weighing 17.14pounds.  Johnny Babb and Cain Brinlee (Ada) took fifth place with 5 fish weighing 15.84#.  Following by only 0.03 # for sixth place was Dean Matts and Scott Callaway (Central Bass Club) with a catch weighing 15.81#.  Mark Jones and John Pritchett (Claremore) took seventh with the last of the 15# limits with 15.07#.  Jason and Lynn Conaway (Chickasha) had the only 14# stringer at 14.27# to take eighth place.  Ninth and tenth places went to two team from the Bedlam Bass Club.  Ron Boyd and Steve Carlon took ninth with 13.85# followed by Brandon West and Chris Angier only 0.06# behind at 13.79#.  Only three pounds separated the next three teams with Mike Morgan and Brandon Beck (Ada) at eleventh with 13.32# followed by Jack Garrett (Ada) and Brad Hopkins (NEO) finishing twelfth posting 13.24.  Thirteenth went to Gene Vogt and Donnie Rea (PC Hookers) with 13.02#.  The others with limits at fourteenth were Jeremy Vantuyl and Cody Hunt (PC Hookers) with 12.62# and John Garcia and Brett Taylor (Bedlam) at 10.66.

Second Day

The weather was much better for the Sunday, April 22 tournament day.  Although there was predicted of high winds out of the northwest, however, the conditions never restricted the anglers from fishing their desired locations.  As usual, the second day catch was less than day one but 50% of the teams boated limits.  Mike Zachary and Derek Rowsey once again took first with a healthy 19.3#.  Dean Matts and Scott Callaway moved up from sixth in day one to take second place with a 17.02# limit.  Third place went to Mark Jones and John Pritchett with 16.93# followed at fourth by Ron Boyd and Steve Carlon with 16.02#.  Johnny Babb and Cain Brinlee duplicated their first day fifth place finish with 15.44 pounds.  Sixth place was garnered by Jake Garrett and Brad Hopkins with 14.59# followed by Jackie Husmann and Sandy Hooker at seventh boating 13.86#.  Eighth place went to Jeremy Vantuyl and Cody Hunt with 12.52# anchored by Cody’s 6.26# big bass for the day.  Stewart Ryan and Alex Lane took ninth with 11.77# limit while Gene Vogt and Donnie Rea rounded out the top ten with 11.36#.  Marc and Julie Downs dropped to eleventh place at 10.64# while Bobby Walker and Cameron Adams (Ponca City Bassmasters) moved up to twelfth with a catch of 9.65# on day two with John Garcia and Brett Taylor followed at thirteenth with a catch weighing 9.40#.   Brandon West and Chris Angier had a limit that weighed 9.03# while Mike Morgan and Brandon Beck closed out the top fifteen with a catch weighing 8.61#.

Summary

There were 90 fish brought to the scales on day one weighing 258.1# resulting in average weight per fish at 2.87#.   The second day catch was only two fish less at a total of 88 fish but the average weight per fish was only 2.59#.  The total catch for Sunday was 227.82#.   Therefore, there were a total of 178 fish brought to the scales for a total weight of 485.92# for the weekend.  Due to the excellent care of the fish in the live wells, we released 99.4% of the fish back to the lake.

The payback for each of our tournaments is $1150 per day which is 75% of the entry fee to 20% of the field.  We paid the top four and had a blind draw for the fifth place.  There is also a $100 bonus to the qualified Ranger Cup angler each day.  The total payback for the weekend were as follows:  Mike Zachary – $850, Marc and Julie Downs – $400 (includes day one Ranger Cup),  Dean Matts and Scott Callaway – $300, Mark Jones and John Pritchett – $300 (includes day two Ranger Cup), Jackie Husmann and Sandy Hooker – $200, Stewart Ryan and Alex Lane – $150, Ron Boyd and Steve Carlon – $150.  The winners in the blind draw were Johnny Babb – $75 for day one and Don Linder – $75 for day two.

Our final two events will be May 5 and 6 on Lake Eufaula.  The boaters and co-anglers that qualify will advance to the District 6 TBF National Semi-Finals to be held on Grand Lake June 16 and 17.  Arkansas and Oklahoma Federations make up the district.  There will be three practice days for the event with the lake going off limits Sunday evening, June 10.  Pre-fishing will start Wednesday, June 13.  The top boater and co-angler from each state will advance to the 2019 TBF National Championship to compete for over $250,000 in cash and prizes.

The Oklahoma Bass Federation held their first two of their 6 tournaments to be held in the 2018 tournament schedule to qualify anglers to participate in the TBF District 6 National Semi-Finals to be held on Grand Lake, June 16 and 17, 2018.  With water temperatures ranging from 48 degrees to about 53 degrees, a dropping lake and waters from murky to murkier, the fishing both practice days and both tournament days proved to be the most difficult fishing action that many of us have experienced in the past 45 to 50 years of fishing on Grand Lake.

Saturday Tournament Results:

The anglers started the tournament with temperatures in the low 40’s and very mild wind conditions.  Trailering was allowed so all parts of the lake were challenged by our anglers.  Even though the fishing conditions were very tough, there were a few teams that found the correct waters to fish and the best lures to present to the fish.  Johnny Babb and Cain Brinlee (Ada) brought 4 fish to the scales weighing 12.01# to take first place.  Their stringer was anchored by the big bass for the day, a 5.75# lunker.  Three teams boated 5 fish limits to take the next three places.  Jody Linder and Jake Beam (Ponca City) boated a limit that weighed 10.23# to sweep second place.  Gene Vogt and Donnie Combrink (PC Hookers) had a limit that trailed second by only one pound with 9.26# for third.  Fourth went to Jeff Linder and Brett Krieger (Ponca City) with their limit weighing 8.74#.  Bobby Walker and Cameron Adams (Ponca City) captured fifth with 3 fish tipping the scales at 7.68#.  John Garcia and Brett Taylor (Bedlam) had 2 fish, one weighing 4.0#, for a 6.33# total to take sixth place.  Seventh went to Dean Matts and Scott Callaway (Central) with two fish tipping the scales at 5.58#.  One fish, a 4.53# lunker, helped Ron Fuller and Denton Long (NEO) into eight place.  Mike Morgan and Brandon Beck (Ada) took ninth with 2 fish weighing 3.57# while the Ada team of Stewart Ryan and Alex Lane had two fish trailing ninth by only .06# to take tenth with 3.51#.  The only other team to catch 2 fish, Marc and Julie Downs (Bedlam), to take eleventh with 3.40#.  Three other teams contributed one fish each.  Ben Burk and Paul Davis (Bedlam) finished twelfth at 1.66#,  Jackie Husmann and Sandy Hooker (PC Hookers) 1.04# at thirteenth followed in fourteenth place by Shawn Lewis and Curtiss Plunkett (Ponca City) with 0.97#.

Sunday Tournament Results:

The fishermen were greeted with 10 to 15 mph winds out of the North with temperatures in the low 40’s, in fact the temperatures reached only 45 or 46 degrees during the day along with never ending winds.  Due to conditions, the angers were limited to the areas of the lake they could fish.  As bad as Saturday was for fishing, Sunday was worse.  However, with the good quality of anglers fishing in our tournaments, a few always seem to meet the challenge.  Our two anglers, Gene Vogt and Donnie Combrink, who qualified for the 2018 TBF Nationals from 2017 National Semi-Finals, took first place in the tournament with an unbelievable limit weighing 18.99#.  Their limit included the big bass for the day and the tournament at 6.17#.  Matching Gene and Donnie with limits both days was Jody Linder and Jake Beam.  Jody and Jake dropped about a pound from day one to 9.20# taking second for the second day.  Moving up from fourth Saturday to third was Jeff Linder and Brett Krieger with three fish tipping the scales at 7.69#.  Their creel included a 6.07# lunker.   Jeremy Vantuyl and Cody Hunt (PC Hookers) took fourth  place with 6.64# with two fish, one weighing 4.87#.  Fifth, sixth and seventh places were three teams boating two fish each.  Fifth was garnered by Ron Fuller and Denton Long anchored by a 4.76 lunker to bring their two  fish total to 6.33#.  Dean Matts and Scott Callaway had a weight of 5.76# to take sixth while John Garcia and Brett Taylor followed with 4.43#.  Jack Garrett and Brad Hopkins (Ada and NEO) got on the board with a fish weighing 3.41# and just behind with a 3.22# fish was Ben Burk and Paul Davis.  Rounding out the top ten was Bobby Walker and Cameron Adams at 1.90#.  The only other boat the came to the weigh-in trailer with a fish was Mike Morgan and Brandon Beck with a 1.86# fish to take eleventh place.

Summary

The total amount of fish caught for the two days was much lower than any other total registered in an OBF tournament for the last 30 to 40 years.  Saturday there was 36 fish brought to the scales and all were returned to the lake. On Sunday the number of fish dropped to 25 with all returned to the lake.  The average weight per fish for the two days was 2.18# on Saturday and 2.78# on Sunday.  The pay back for our tournaments is 20% of the field.  The total pay-back for each event will be $1150.  First each day is a prize of $425, second $300, third $200, and fourth $150.  There was also a bonus of $100 for the top Ranger Cup angler each day.  Following is total payback for the two days:

Gene Vogt and Donnie Combrink     $725.00 (includes $100 for Ranger Cup on Sunday)

Jody Linder and Jake Beam                $600.00

Johnny Babb and Cain Brinlee      $525.00 (includes $100 for Ranger Cup on Saturday)

Jeff Linder and Brett Krieger         $350.00

Jeremy Vantuyl and Cody Hunt         $150.00

Fifth is a blind draw for all those present that did not place in the top 4.  Saturday’s winner was Bobby Walker and Cameron Adams while Marc and Julie Downs took the $75 prize for Sunday.

The next two tournaments will be held on Lake Texoma Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22 followed by the final events on Eufaula May 5 and 6.  After the six events, the top 10%, based on the points of each team total from their top four tournaments.  Participation of our OBF members in sanctioned events will also be used to determine how many boaters and co-anglers will advance to the TBF District 6 National Semi-Finals to be held on Grand Lake June 16 and 17.   For the NSF, the lake will be off limits on June 11 and 12 with practice being allowed the 13, 14, and 15.  The top 10% boaters and co-anglers from Arkansas and Oklahoma will compete with the boaters vs boaters and co-anglers vs co-anglers in a blind draw format.  Entry for the NSF is $200 for boaters and $100 for co-anglers.  The tournament will pay back 75% of the entry fee to 20% of the field.  The top boater and top co-angler from each State will qualify for the 2019 TBF National Championship which will give them a chance to garner a non-entry fee shot at attending the BFL All-American or, if winning Nationals, a direct entry to the FLW Cup and a “Living the Dream” package.

Minn Kota launches the only shallow-water anchor that gives anglers control from anywhere in the boat, plus unlocks more water for precise, anchored fishing with a new 15-foot version.

Racine, Wisconsin (8/4/2017) – Using a Minn Kota® Talon® for precise boat control has never been easier. In fact, there are now five ways for anglers to activate the Talon from anywhere in the boat. The newest way utilizes Bluetooth® communication to pair the Talon with Humminbird® units on the boat for total boat control on one console (including the ability to pair Humminbird units with select Minn Kota trolling motors). Anglers can also engage the anchor using a foot switch, with a wireless remote (every Talon comes standard with two), via the new Talon smartphone app, and with the Talon’s built-in control panel.

According to Minn Kota Brand Manager Brad Henry, “When it’s time to Talon down we give anglers options so they can lock on a spot no matter where they are in the boat or their style of fishing.”

Another major advancement is the introduction of Minn Kota’s new 15-foot Talon, the deepest shallow-water anchor ever made. It allows anglers to lock down on more spots to effectively unlock more water.

Hall of Fame angler Al Lindner explains how Talon’s depth delivers results for his multi-species pursuits. “I use it for catfish in rivers, for crappies in the spring, naturally for bass, and in more cases than I ever thought – for walleyes. Yeah, you heard me right, walleyes.”

Also new for 2017 is a clever work light built into the Talon top cap. When fishing in dark conditions, the work light illuminates the entire back deck of the boat to help anglers when rigging and landing fish at night. It has three brightness settings and white or blue LED light options for ideal illumination.

Talon allows anglers to anchor in any condition with three user-selectable anchoring modes – another exclusive feature. The AUTO-DRIVE MODE powers the spike into the bottom with three increasingly aggressive hits. A SOFT BOTTOM MODE is ideal for less aggressive anchoring and easier retraction in muddy or silted bottom. When the wind is blowing, the ROUGH WATER MODE performs three consecutive auto-drive sequences at 10-second intervals for a secure hold when the boat rises and falls in waves.

Talon’s electro-mechanical design keeps the motor above the waterline for silent stealth below the surface. Talon also deploys vertically and out of the way, helping eliminate unwanted tangles when fighting boat-side fish. Also, anglers can add the tilt bracket accessory for easy tilt function for passing under low-hanging obstacles.

In addition to the new 15-footer, Talons are also available in 8-, 10- and 12-foot models. They all feature Bluetooth technology with a variety of color combinations including red/black, blue/black, silver/black, silver/white, all black and all white. The new Talons will be available in October 2017 and will retail for $1,899.99 (8-foot), $1,999.99 (10-foot), 2,099.99 (12-foot) and $2,499.99 (15-foot).

For more information visit MinnKotaMotors.com/NewTalon.

About Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc.
Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson Outdoors and consists of the Humminbird®, Minn Kota® and Cannon® brands. Humminbird® is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of marine electronics products including fishfinders, multifunction displays, autopilots, ice flashers and premium cartography products. Minn Kota® is the world’s leading manufacturer of electric trolling motors, as well as a complete line of Talon® shallow-water anchors, battery chargers and marine accessories. Cannon® is the leader in controlled-depth fishing and includes a full line of downrigger products and accessories.

About Johnson Outdoors
JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global outdoor recreation company that turns ideas into adventure with innovative, top-quality products.  The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft, Marine Electronics, Diving and Outdoor Gear.  Johnson Outdoors’ familiar brands include, among others: Old Town^® canoes and kayaks; Ocean Kayak^™ and Necky^® kayaks; Carlisle^®paddles; Extrasport^® personal flotation devices; Minn Kota^® fishing motors, batteries and anchors; Cannon^® downriggers; Humminbird^® marine electronics and digital charts; SCUBAPRO^® dive equipment; Silva^® compasses; Jetboil^® outdoor cooking systems; and Eureka!^®camping and hiking equipment.

The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.

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