By: Don Hampton- “The Fisherman’s Guide News”/Lake Fork’s Lines to Get Hooked On!
Anglers could not ask for better weather conditions at the Sealy Outdoors Big Bass Splash held on Lake Fork, September 15th, 16th, and 17th, 2023.
Over 2,000 anglers participated in this great event. Some came from as far as Wisconsin and Georgia. Anglers and staff could not believe the moderate temperatures they were gifted with. Temperatures ranged from the mid 80’s during the day to mid 60’s at night.
As anglers are quite aware, the reason it is called fishing and not catching is that the bite isn’t always what they want or expect. There were a lot of 2-pound plus bass brought in but only 11 bass over the 24” slot. With the slot on Lake Fork being between 16” to 24” no bass between those measurements could be brought in. Some anglers did learn the hard way to measure their bass properly. Many anglers reported catching bass in the slot or too small to bring to the weigh-in.
On Friday, the first day of the tournament, there were only two bass over the slot brought to the scales. It all began in the 7 to 8 o’clock hour with Michael Pruitt from Tuscola, TX earning $2,500 when he weighed in an 8.43-pound bass for 1st Place. In the 12 to 1 o’clock hour, Walter Messer from Lavenia, TX earned $2,500 for 1st Place in the hour when he weighed in a 7.62-pound bass. In the 11 to 12 o’clock hour Jacob Johnston from Greenville, TX won $2,500 plus a $5,000 bonus for weighing in the heaviest under the slot of a 2.55-lb. bass.
On Saturday, the second day of the tournament five bass over the slot were brought to the scales. In the 7 to 8 o’clock hour Scott Sansom from Paris, TX weighed a 7.12-pound bass; in the 8 to 9 o’clock hour Andre Martin from Many, LA weighed in a 7.76-pound bass, and Jeremy Shelton from Sulphur Springs, TX weighed in a 7.49-pound bass; in the 9 to 10 o’clock hour Adam Gardner from Laurel, MO weighed in a 7.16-pound bass. During the 1 to 2 o’clock hour Cody Turpin from Spring, TX weighed in a 7.05-pound bass. During the 10 to 11 o’clock hour Jeremy McCutchen from Bullard, TX weighed in the heaviest under the slot of 2.70-lbs. This bass won him $2,500 1st Place in the hour plus the bonus of $5,000.
On Sunday, the last day of the tournament, there were four bass over the slot brought to the scales. In the 7 to 8 o’clock hour Ryan Arnold from Gadsden, AL weighed in an 8.10-pound bass. In the 9 to 10 o’clock Mark Talley weighed in a 9.33-lb. bass. In the 12 to 1 o’clock hour Clint Laskoskie from Montgomery, TX weighed in a 7.23-lb. bass. Last hour of the tournament on Sunday during the 1 to 2 o’clock hour Keith Pace from Monticello, AR weighed in an 8.15-lb. bass. During the 12 to 1 o’clock hour Hayland Hardy from Quitman, TX weighed an exact weight of 2.50-lbs. winning him the $5,000 bonus plus the heaviest of the day for $5,000 plus $1,500 for 2nd Place in the hour.
Being there wasn’t an exact weight over the slot for the three days of the tournament, there was a drawing after the tournament for that prize money. In the drawing Jeffrey Hood from Brownsboro, TX, Bradley Marcom from Alba, TX and Jerry Keener from Quitman, TX each had a surprise win of a $5,000 check.
In the elimination drawing James Webster from Weatherford, TX, won a Phoenix 819 PRO XP powered by Mercury, and equipped with MinnKota and Humminbird. In the open drawing Bradley Marcom from Alba, TX won a MinnKota Fortrex Trolling Motor.
Mark Talley from Quitman, TX won 1st Place overall for heaviest bass caught in the tournament with his 9.33-pound bass. For his efforts he won $2,500 hourly pay, a Phoenix 721 Pro XP powered by Mercury equipped with MinnKota, Humminbird, Navionics, & Power Pole and a RAM Truck plus $5,000 cash. Winning 2nd Place overall with a weight of 8.43-lbs was Michael Pruitt from Tuscola, TX and took home an extra $15,000. Winning 3rd Place overall was Keith Pace from Monticello, AR with a weight of 8.15-pounds. For his efforts he won an extra $10,000. Winning 4th place overall with a weight of 8.15-pounds was Ryan Arnold from Gadsden, AL. He took home an extra $5,000. Coming in 5th Place overall was Andre Martin from Many, LA with a weight of 7.76-pounds. For his catch he took home an extra $2,500.
During the course of the tournament there were 11 bass weighed in over the slot. On Friday there was a total of 314 bass weighed for a total weight of 584.05-pounds. On Saturday 278 bass weighed for a total weight of 544.34-pounds and 254 bass weighed in on Sunday for a total weight of 485.70. The 3 day total bass weighed in was 846 for a total weight of 1,614.09 pounds. The Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association did an excellent job with their Live Release Boat returning all the bass into the lake in healthy condition to be caught another day.
It was disappointing that the double-digit bass Lake Fork is known for did not show up in a greater number, but the weather was great, safety factors were taken, and the bite for all those winners was terrific.
The Little Anglers Division is always a crowd pleaser. Each day children from ages 5-12 compete for the top 3 places in each of the 4 divisions: Bass-Catfish-Crappie-Perch each day.
The winner of the Lake Fork, TX Big Bass Splash Costa “See What’s Out There” Bonus for a FREE pair of Costa Sunglasses was Keith Fox Jr of Crossett, AR.
$10,000 was raised for the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital at this year’s event. Next Year Sealy Outdoors will be celebrating 40 years of Fishing, Family & Fun with the BIG BASS SPLASH! They will be kicking off the 2024 year with a $1.3 MILLION payout at the Lake Sam Rayburn, TX event on April 19-20-21, 2024. Mark Your Calendars and Make Plans NOW! You don’t want to miss out on this one!
Sealy Outdoors partners play a major part of the BIG BASS SPLASH: Phoenix Bass Boats, Mercury Marine, Minn Kota, Humminbird, TH Marine, Power Pole, Navionics, Costa, Texas Fish & Game Magazine, Lake Fork Trophy Lures, RAM Weaver Motors of Kirbyville, TX, Idle-Time Travel Trailers, 5th Wheels and Park Trailers, Wood County Industrial Commission and Lake Fork Marina & Motel in Alba, TX
For more information on Sealy Outdoors Big Bass Splash visit their website at www.sealyoutdoors.com.
God Bless America, Fish Friendly, and I hope to see you on the lakes. Don Hampton