After six days of tournaments, with each angler counting their top four days, the race for the State Champion title came down to a dead heat with Stewart Ryan and Brandon Moss tied with 394 points.  Not only were they tied on points, they were also equal on the first two tie breakers, most fish weighed (20) and most fish weighed alive (20).  The third tie breaker was the largest single day catch.  Stewart won that with a 15 lbs stringer while Brandon could not seem to bread into the 15 pound range.  Dean Matts took third followed by Mike Zachary, Ron Fuller, Curtis Bryan, and Johnny Babb.  The top 6 will be our Boaters at the Central Division Tournament May 31 thru June 5 on Tenn-Tom waterway in Aberdeen, Mississippi.  (Due to work schedule, Cutis Bryan will not be able to attend the Divisional.)  The 12 man team will be filled with Ron Boyd, Gene Vogt, Brannon Whipple, John Garcia, Jackie Hausmann, and Chuck Nelson as the non-boaters.

The final tournament was held on the River system out of the 3 Forks ramp in Muskogee.  Although we have had changing weather at our first two tournaments, the May 2,3 event went without abrupt changes and limited wind conditions.  Due to the intense competition during the first two tournaments, 37 anglers still had a chance to move into the top 12.  In fact, Jackie Husmann moved from 34 to 12th will Gene Vogt shot from 33 up to 9^th.

Day 1

The Saturday event began with a 6:00 am start and concluded with a 3:00 pm weighin.  Brandon Moss lead the field with a catch of 13.80 with the big bass of 5.08 pounds to anchor his catch.  Stewart Ryan  was second with a 10.60 stringer.  Third went to Jackie Husmann at 8.74 followed by Kyle Tudor’s   8.24 nosing out Michael Morris’ 8.23 by .01 pounds to complete the top 5.  Rounding out the top 10 were Shawn Lewis at 6^th, John Garcia 7^th, Brian Browning 8^th, Sandy Hooker 9^th and Brandon West 10^th.

Day 2

The final day of competition in our State Qualifying tournament schedule was again a partly clouded sky with a mild wind.  The top angler for day 2 was our 2014 State Champion Mike Zachary with the big bass (4.41)  and top creel of 14.47 pounds.  Following in second, matching his first days catch, was Stewart Ryan at 13.34.   Completing the top 5 were Gene Vogt with 11.62, Brandon Moss at 9.92, and Chuck Nelson with 9.06.  The 6 thru 10 place finisher for the day were Brian Browning, Michael Morris, Dean Matts, Brannon Whipple and Don Linder.

This final tournament also featured a “second chance” tournament for those with 175 two day points totals or less and not open to those that eventually make the top 12 team.  The pay back was 60% for first, 30% second and 10% for third based on a $10 per day entry fee.  Day one was won by Jackie Husmann but due to his making the team Kyle Tudor was declared the first day winner with Jackie being refunded his entry fee.  Michael Morris was second while Shawn Lewis held the final spot.  Day two found Gene Vogt in the same position as Jackie on Day 1, therefore,  Brian Browning was declared the second chance winner on Day 2 followed by Michael Morris and Don Linder at third.

Our next tournament will be an Open Team event on the River June 26.  Check the OKBASS.org website for info and entry forms.  The final tournament will also be held  in Muskogee with a combination Top 6 and a two person team tournament September 11 and 12. The two person team event will require that one of the two members be an OBF member, at least 16 years of  age and have a valid Oklahoma Drivers License.  Details will follow or call 580761-8094.

By Marisa Dye

The fishermen’s expectations were high in the days leading up to the Eufaula Oklahoma Bass Federation qualifying tournament with water temperatures in the 60’s and some impressive practice fishing catches. However, conditions changed and many angler’s hopes were dashed by day two of the qualifier, which was held April 13th and 14th, 2015.

Saturday
The top 20 of the 46 competitors caught a limit on Saturday, but weight decided the fate of those who would be in the top spots. Bedlam Bass Club member Tony Latta didn’t place in the top 12, but part of his two-fish catch was an impressive 5.78 lb. lunker. A couple of anglers made even bigger catches when they hooked themselves (in the finger and belly, respectively), but they removed the hooks and kept fishing. The top three bass fishermen all had a big fish in their limits that helped give them the edge over the competition. Continue reading

The first Oklahoma Bass Federation state qualifying tournament was held on Lake Texoma, March 22 and 23.  Although the usually wind torn lake was anything but windy.  The water temperature was almost ideal but with the ever changing weather conditions the fish were not as accommodating.  Many of  the anglers were hoping for at least a simple bite and hopefully a keeper fish on the other end of the line.  It has been 43 years since our first State Tournament which was held on Texoma and this was the lowest catch per angler on record.

Day 1

Although the conditions were tough Mike Zachary, last years State Champion, brought in a limit weighing 25.38 pounds with a 8.92 lunker.  The only other limit on day one was Brandon Moss with a second place finish at 15.24.  Brandon was followed by Kyle Tudor with 3 fish weighing 13.13.  Josh Landry make a good choice during the pairings meeting by agreeing to go as a non-boater so fellow club member, Brandon Moss, could take his boat.  Fishing with Mike Zachary,  the result was a 2 fish creel, however, one was 9.38 to take big bass honors for Day one  and a fourth place finish with 12.77.  There were 11 more anglers that boated 2 fish and those results are in the Day 1 summary. Continue reading

By Marisa Dye
Changing weather conditions threw some anglers for a loop at the Oklahoma Bass Federation Qualifier on Lake Texoma March 29th and 30th. Others fished well, including some of those new to OBF this year. Among state clubs in The Bass Federation (TBF), Oklahoma was second in the nation in the percent increase in new members this year, according to OBF President Don Linder.

Saturday

Low lake levels made for some unusual hauls for some anglers on Saturday. Stewart Ryan of the Ada club had a big haul, but it was the wrong kind: a t-shirt, a marina trolly, and several stripers were among his findings, according to his partner for the day, Brian Browning of the Bedlam Bass Club.

Ryan’s luck wasn’t any better at weigh-in when he discovered his 18-year-old son Wyatt Ryan out-fished him. Wyatt, a student at East Central University and member of the East Central Fishing Team, fished in his first tournament at age 12. Wyatt Ryan weighed in four keepers totaling 10.53 lbs. Saturday to his dad’s one keeper. He said he used a crank bait to catch them, “like father like son,” he added, grinning. Continue reading