4^th Annual Sealy Outdoors “Big Catfish Splash” ~ By: Don Hampton 

  Anglers from as far away as Oklahoma Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, and even as far away as Indiana came to Lake Fork to participate in the 4^th Annual Big Catfish Splash presented by Sealy Outdoors and the Lake Fork Chamber of Commerce.

  The two-day tournament was held July 21^st and 22^nd, hosted by the Minnow Bucket Marina located on Hwy. 154 N. This year’s tournament drew 758 anglers from different parts of the country to try their luck at winning some of the guaranteed $50,000 in cash and prizes to be given away.

  With the same design as the “Big Bass Splash” hourly pay-backs, you could say the “Big Catfish Splash” had a different air about it. The fragrance of stink bait, cut-bait, and home brewed concoctions flavored the air combined with the excitement of anglers winning a check for the largest catches for each. Five places per hour were paid beginning with $500 for 1^st place, $400 for 2^nd, $300 for 3^rd, $200 for 4^th, and $100 for 5^th. Members of the Lake Fork Chamber of Commerce and Boy Scout Troop 383 from Emory, Texas volunteered their time and energy in carrying all the catches to the Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association “Live Release Boat” so the catfish could be released back into the lake to be caught another day. The LFSA did an excellent job caring for the catfish and releasing them back into the lake.

  On Saturday anglers brought to the weigh-in 136 catfish for a total weight of 679.95-pounds. The average weight for this day was 4.99-pounds. The highlight of the first day fishing came early. At 6:46 a.m. David Messer from Tyler, Texas weighed in a record catch for the “Big Catfish Splash”. David’s blue weighed a whopping 23.62-pounds.

  Sunday fishing proved to be slower but with a better weight average. Anglers brought to the weigh-in 109 catfish weighing 554-pounds for an average of 5.08-pounds. All catches had to be alive and were all released back into Lake Fork via the live release boat.

  Most anglers during the tournament were trying their best to catch a 7-pound exact weight catfish. This fish would have paid an additional $2,500 to the angler making this catch. Many anglers came close but no catch proved to be the exact weight. Since all prizes in Sealy Outdoor events are guaranteed, five lucky anglers took home an unexpected bonus check of $500 when their entry was drawn. These lucky anglers were Kenneth Blanks from Princetown, Texas, Dewayne Roach, Sr. from Greenville, Texas, Warren Best from Apple Springs, Texas, Billy Robertson from Golden, Texas, and Brian Richardson from Benbrook, Texas.

The heaviest catfish of the tournament was weighed in on Sunday in the 10 to 11 o’clock hour by Wes Mears from Springtown, Texas and weighed 29.94-pounds. Wes was here fishing with his father and caught his winner on a shad they had caught earlier with a throw net. “We had just pulled up to a stump and tied off.” Wes said. “My dad hadn’t even got his rod ready when I dropped my line down beside the stump. When I felt the hit and set the hook I thought I was hung on a limb until it started moving off. Then I hollered get the net!” His record catch won him $500 for first place in the hour and for overall heavy fish and first place in the tournament he won a Triton 1550 Crappie Boat powered by Mercury. Wes also now holds the record for the largest catfish to be caught in the 4 years of Sealy Outdoors “Big Catfish Splash” on Lake Fork.

David Messer from Tyler, Texas had that record for one day. On the first day of the tournament in the first hour David brought to the weigh-in a blue cat weighing 23.62-pounds. Everyone including myself thought he was a shoe- in for first place overall. His weight was 13.58-pounds heavier than the previous year’s winner and 11.05-lbs heavier than second place in the tournament. But, on Lake Fork no record is sacred or safe. David’s catch did secure him second place overall in the tournament rewarding him with $500 for the hourly and he took home with him a new Triton 1550 Crappie Boat and trailer.

Third place overall winning a check for $2,000 to accompany his hourly winnings of $500 was caught by Phil Lasswell from Lufkin, Texas and weighed 12.57-pounds. Phil weighed his fish in on Saturday in the 1 to 2 o’clock hour.

Fourth place overall was caught by Billy Henry from Vernon, Texas. His catch weighed 9.09-pounds and was weighed in on Saturday during the 8 to 9 o’clock hour. His catch netted him $1,500 plus $500 for first place in the hour.

Fifth place overall was won by Alex Johnson from Rowlette, Texas. Alex’s fish weighed 8.87-pounds and was weighed in on Saturday during the 8 to 9 o’clock hour. Alex took home a check for $1,000 plus the second place hourly for $400.

Amanda Obenoskey from Simms, Texas may not have won and hourly but she took home a Triton 1546 Crappie Boat and trailer she won in the open drawing.

For everyone that loves catfishing, which includes everyone in the family, don’t miss the 5^th Annual Sealy Outdoors “Big Catfish Splash” to be held on Lake Fork July 11^th and 12^th, 2008.