Monthly Tournament Newsletter - Clearwater Bass Club

2011 - Monthly Tournament - 2012

LAKE TARPON

DECEMBER 17, 2011

’was just before Christmas…so it must be time for the annual Lake Tarpon gathering ! Nineteen anglers gathered at the shores of our local fishing hole for the December tournament.

I missed this tournament as my son was coming back into town from Army basic training on this Saturday. I’ll miss the January tournament as I’ll be at Ft. Jackson, SC, attending my Chuck’s training graduation. I haven’t dropped out of the club…just life getting in the way of fishing !!

Three fishermen brought in limits of 5 fish.


1st Place went to Hugh Palmer. Hugh brought 5 fish to the scales for a total weight of 8.57 pounds.!	2nd Place was Scott Ellis, also with 5 fish for 6.87 pounds. Scott had the “Big Fish” of the tournament and it went 2.64 pounds.	3rd Place went to the very consistent Bill Coker. Bill weighed a 5 fish limit of 6.47 pounds.

Overall, 16 of the 19 anglers weighed fish. Forty-seven fish were weighed for 61.99 pounds with 2 dead fish penalties.

As we close out 2011 with only three tournaments left in our season, a couple of notes on history and competition: History – It has to be a personal treat for Hugh Palmer to have won this December Tournament.

Looking back on past tournaments (dating to 1995) on Tarpon this time of year, Hugh has struggled with a record of ten fish caught during that timeframe.

This particular Saturday didn’t start out all that well for him with a dead crank battery to greet the morning. After getting a “hot shot” from Mark Dorne to get him going, Hugh was found on the east side of the lake in the afternoon, stuck in the cattails; the battery had given up the ghost !

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Towed back to the west side to finish the day then towed to the ramp at the end of the tournament, to win this event must have been all the more special. Give the guy credit for never giving up. Well done Mr. Palmer !

Competition: Bill Coker and Chuck Bearce have been locked in a foot race for the top spot. Bill took over 1st overall back in October and hasn’t looked back, gaining a step each tournament since.

As long as Bill doesn’t stub his toe like Chuck did on Panasoffkee back in September, he is positioned for a strong finish to the season. Keep it goin’ “Red Hat” Bill !