Tournament Results
Lake West Point
August 22, 2005
Rusty & Matt Thomas Tournament's Big Bass
Sunday, August 21, thirty-one teams of the Duluth Bass Club tracked southward for the second tournament of their Fall Circuit to Lake West Point. On that day, not only fuel prices were on the rise, so were the expectations, as hopes ran rampant for some heated largemouth action. However, when it was all said and done, the only thing out of control was the heat index.
On a day not fit for man or beast, short spotted bass were not hard to come by. Any rocky point or small brush pile produced numbers of them. Anglers reported catching as many as 20 to 40 in the day, only to generate a few keepers meeting the 12 inch requirement. However, all know that it is the legendary largemouth of WP that will fill an angler’s quest, and they were in short supply. As a whole, it wasn’t one of the club’s better outings on West Point. The club weighed only 60 bass, which total 82.90 lbs and averaged 1.382 lb each. And only 5 limits were weighed.
Steve Nalder and Jerry Adams defied the conditions and took tournament honors with their five fish limit to press the scales at 10.08, but a dead fish penalty cost them a one forth of a pound and dropped their tournament weigh to 9.83 and still good enough to retain the honors. Their sack was solidified with the tournaments second bass weighing 3.45, caught on the old tried and true #7 Shad Rap.
Second place went to new team members Mark Riehle and Steve Garland produced a limit of 9.35. Steve noted that this was a good day and hoped it was a turning point as it’s been a while since the two of them have produced a limit. Mark shared they worked #5 shadraps all day long and caught the entire sack on that single lure.
Third place went to Steve Hicks and Josh Petty with a limit of 6.55. Josh noted that Steve caught all their fish on a black and blue pig-n-jig.
Forth place went to brothers Matt and Rusty Thomas, having two fish for a total of 6.73. It was Rusty who secured their place with the tournament’s big bass of 5.83 caught on a black trick worm. You must see the picture of this one (posted above); at best only 17 inches long and had a girth of at least 24 inches. The consensus at the weigh-in was, it swallowed a large squirrel or one of those West Point floating basket balls.
Congratulations to Steve and Jerry for a fine West Point win!
For the remainder of the top finishers see Complete Tournament Results below.
Weather Conditions: The day time high reached 96 degrees with 82 percent humidity. There was no or little wind cooling the sweat drenched clothing. Surface temps on the main lake reached 92 degrees. From the recent heavy rain the CORP pulled water most of the weekend, therefore if ventured up beyond Ringer Access you could find 78 degree water. The lake was fairly clear below the railroad bridge but was more heavily stained the farther up you went. There was no shortage of floating debris.
Looking Ahead: Next month DBC heads to Lake Sinclair on the 18th. In October the Club fishes a two day on Lake Clark Hill on the 15th and 16th. With plenty of fishing opportunities left, club memberships are still available for the fall season. Interested anglers are encouraged to contact us.
Complete Tournament Results
| Tournament Record |
Lake West Point |
8-21-2005 | |||||||
| Meet | Tourn | No. of | Big | Total | PNLTY | Tour. | Grand | ||
|
TEAM |
Points | Points | Fish | Fish | Lb./0.01 | -0.25 | Total | Total | |
| 1 | Steve Nalder - Jerry Adams | 50 | 100 | 5 | 3.45 | 10.08 | 1 | 157.28 | 307.28 |
| 2 | Mark Riehle - Steve Garland | 50 | 100 | 5 | 2.54 | 9.35 | 149.60 | 299.60 | |
| 3 | Josh Petty - Steve Hicks | 50 | 100 | 5 | 6.55 | 104.80 | 254.80 | ||
| 4 | Matt - Rusty Thomas | 50 | 100 | 2 | 5.83 | 6.73 | 2 | 99.68 | 249.68 |
| 5 | Gene Hacker - James Eason | 50 | 100 | 3 | 2.93 | 5.75 | 92.00 | 242.00 | |
| 6 | Roger Landress - Rick Morris | 50 | 100 | 5 | 1.79 | 5.72 | 91.52 | 241.52 | |
| 7 | Bill Booth - Bill Booth Sr. | 50 | 100 | 5 | 5.85 | 1 | 89.60 | 239.60 | |
| 8 | David - David Talley | 50 | 100 | 3 | 1.75 | 3.93 | 62.88 | 212.88 | |
| 9 | Kelton Peels - (Alt) William Dinsmore | 50 | 100 | 2 | 3.80 | 60.80 | 210.80 | ||
| 10 | Jim Blanchette - Ron Thomas | 50 | 100 | 4 | 3.65 | 58.40 | 208.40 | ||
| 11 | Michael - Brandon Thomas | 50 | 100 | 2 | 3.40 | 54.40 | 204.40 | ||
| 12 | David McGrew - Brian Phillips | 50 | 100 | 2 | 2.45 | 3.55 | 1 | 52.80 | 202.80 |
| 13 | Mike Haddad - Joe Yurina | 50 | 100 | 4 | 3.18 | 50.88 | 200.88 | ||
| 14 | Gary - Matt Henry | 50 | 100 | 2 | 2.37 | 37.92 | 187.92 | ||
| 15 | Nathanael - Wendy Fouts | 50 | 100 | 2 | 1.49 | 2.32 | 37.12 | 187.12 | |
| 16 | Rick Cotten - Eric Holmes | 50 | 100 | 3 | 2.16 | 34.56 | 184.56 | ||
| 17 | Scott - Botie White | 50 | 100 | 3 | 2.14 | 34.24 | 184.24 | ||
| 18 | Bobby Anderson - Jay Donohue | 50 | 100 | 3 | 2.37 | 1 | 33.92 | 183.92 | |
| 19 | Ken Sponsler - Jack Smith | 50 | 100 | 0.00 | 150.00 | ||||
| 20 | Jeff Atcheson - | 50 | 100 | 0.00 | 150.00 | ||||
| 21 | Tony Combs - Carl Gessner | 50 | 100 | 0.00 | 150.00 | ||||
| 22 | Randy - Albert Little | 50 | 100 | 0.00 | 150.00 | ||||
| 23 | Shane - Phil Gaddy | 50 | 100 | 0.00 | 150.00 | ||||
| 24 | David McAdams - Solo | 50 | 100 | 0.00 | 150.00 | ||||
| 25 | Bert Nagy - Art Harris | 50 | 100 | 0.00 | 150.00 | ||||
| 26 | Craig Pittman - Harrison Lee | 50 | 100 | 0.00 | 150.00 | ||||
| 27 | Eddie Krauth - Bryan Ashworth | 50 | 100 | 0.00 | 150.00 | ||||
| 28 | Alan Nalder - Kevin Biggot | 50 | 100 | ||||||