CELINA-With a good turnout of 23 boats for the Thursday night ‘smallmouth-only’ series’ fish-off held last Saturday night here at Dale Hollow Marina, a good number of big fish  were expected to be seen at the dual weigh-in event, but that wasn’t the case.

Only two were caught, leaving half of the top four places being claimed with fish under 16 inches in length–better known as those ‘under’ the bottom side of the slot limit.

The competition featured a weigh-in at 11 p.m. and another at 2 a.m., with the winner being determined from a combination of the weights from both.

The entry fee was also upped to $50 per boat with an optional $10 big fish pot–half of which was given away at each weigh-in for the biggest smallmouth.

The top prize and the first weigh-in big fish award were captured by Ronnie and Matt Poindexter.

Their 4.66-pound ‘bruiser bronzeback’ handed them the additional $115, and it, paired with a tiny 0.28-pound small fish, barely pushed them over the top for the victory.

Their winning total weight of 4.94 pounds won them the $460 top prize by the slimmest of margins.

Coming in just over a tenth of a pound behind the champs and finishing in second place was the team of Tony Daniels and Scotty Reagan.

They went home with $345 after weighing in a total of three smallmouth under 16 inches long tipping the scales at 4.82 pounds. 

The third spot was taken by the other smallmouth over 21 inches long.

Ted Tucker and Joe Donald Boles produced a big fish tipping the scales at 4.13 pounds at the second weigh-in.

The ‘top-side’ keeper handed them $115 for that big fish award and they pocketed an additional $230 for third place.

The final paid position was taken by Derrick Anderson and Andrew Campbell.  They were one fish shy of an ‘under’ limit of four, but they had enough to win fourth place and $115 with a total of 4.00 pounds.

The big event was at one time the last event of the season for the series, but tournament co-directors Jeff and Steve Smith decided to hold it early again this year.  So, the regular Thursday night series will continue this week (see related story).

“We had a good turnout at the fish-off,” Jeff told the HORIZON Monday, “and we look forward to several more good tournaments the rest of the year.

“We invite everybody to come out and fish with us this week.”

 

Over and under limit takes win Thursday night

CELINA-Raymond Manis and Donny King took the top prize this past Thursday night at the ‘smallmouth-only’ tournament held here at Dale Hollow Marina with a fish over 21 inches long and another under the bottom side of the slot-limit.

Their total of 4.84 pounds handed them the winning purse worth $168.  The bag included a big fish weighing 3.36 pounds.

Randy Roysden and Jeff Warden claimed the runner-up spot worth $126 with the second fish over 21 inches long weighing 4.26 pounds after they couldn’t come up with a small kicker to push them over the top.

Third place went to Joey Eads and Jason Lee.  They pocketed $84 with a pair of smallmouth under 16 inches long weighing 3.54 pounds.

Brian Dickerson and Gayland Finch finished out the list of money-winners with a total of 3.22 pounds.  They won $42.

The series continues this week and the Smiths welcome anybody interested to come fish.

The tournaments start at 7 p.m. and participants return to a 11 p.m. weigh-in.  The entry fee is $20 per boat.

The series also features a ‘big fish of the year’ pot that has begun this year with a $10 one-time fee.  Currently there are 66 individuals participating and Ronnie Poindexter’s 4.66-pound fish is now in the lead.

For more information about the competitions, call Steve Smith at 823-5746 or Jeff Smith at 823-4233.

 

Arms boys win again Friday night

CELINA-Steven and Jerry Arms teamed up to win the Friday night ‘any species’ tournament held here this past weekend at Dale Hollow Marina with a good pair of largemouth.

Steven won with Derrick Anderson last week, and he and Jerry have been in money winning position several times this year.

They took home $210 for first place after weighing in over seven pounds and they also pocketed an additional $70 for their big fish.

Second place and $70 went to tournament director Luke Sherrell and Joey Dyer for their total of 6.00 pounds.

The events are held from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., follow the ‘any species’ format, feature a two-fish limit, a $40 entry fee, and 100% payback.  There is also an optional $10 big-fish pot each night.

 

August 5-fish tourney is this Friday night

CELINA-The third of a monthly series of five-fish-limit tournaments hosted by Friday night tournament director Luke Sherrell to compliment his regular weekly series will be held here at Dale Hollow Marina this Friday night.

The tournament will follow the ‘any species’ format, where largemouth, smallmouth, and Kentucky spotted bass are eligible for the weigh-in.  Fishing hours will be from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and there is a $10 big fish pot.

For more information about the Friday night tournaments, contact Sherrell after 6 p.m. at 258-3706.

 

Star Point won by single man Saturday night

BYRDSTOWN-Roger Moon took the win here last Saturday night at the ‘smallmouth only’ tournament at Star Point Resort when he carried a total close to six pounds to the scales after fishing without a partner.

He single-handedly produced a big fish weighing 4.22 pounds and had a small kicker to go with it to win $240 with a total of 5.93 pounds.

Newcomers Danny and Johnny (last names unknown) took the runner-up position with a pair of small fish totaling 3.55 pounds to win $144.

Third place and $96 was won by Robbie and Billy Joe Johnson with a total of 3.43 pounds.

The tournament series is one of the biggest smallmouth-only weekly competitions held on the lake and it features a $40 entry fee and 100% payback.

For more information, contact Roysden at 879-0555.

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If you have something you would like to see discussed in the Outdoor Notebook or have a picture of your trophy for publication, please contact Thomas Weaver at 243-4710 or email:  [email protected], or drop them by the HORIZON office on the square.  Pictures will be returned.

 

 

 

THURSDAY NIGHT CHAMPS-Raymond Manis and Donny King took first place last week with this big fish and another under 16 inches long.

MONEY FISH-Ted Tucker displays the four-pound smallmouth he and Joe Donald Boles won third place and the second weigh-in big fish award with in Saturday night's fish-off.

RUNNER UP-Jeff Warden and Randy Roysden took second place last Thursday night with this single fish weighing 4.26 pounds. (Photos courtesy Brandon Cross via www.smalljaw.com)