2022 Dewey Mullins Memorial Bass Classic in the Record Books

All 14 eligible competitors in this year's two-day season-ending tournament spent the last two days vying for the final payouts of the current season. At day's end today, they collectively had weighed a total of 51 bass, for a combined total weight of 98.91 pounds, or 1.93 pounds per fish.

Capturing 1st place for the tournament was the team of (from left) Dave Anderson and Gary Coderre, who weighed five-fish limits each day for a tournament total of 22.99 pounds. They also walked away with big-fish honors for the tournament with a bass that weighed 4.27 pounds. They further claimed today's side pot 1.

Finishing in 2nd place after two days was the team of (from left) Rob Peppers and Don Carter, who also weighed back-to-back limits for a total weight of 20.96 pounds. They also walked away with side pot 2, as well as the seasonal-lunker pot for a 6.33-pound bass they caught back on Aug. 13th. Their big fish today weighed 4.25 pounds.

Meanwhile, the team of (from left) Dennis Dean and Steve Bailey took 3rd place, with a total of eight bass for the two days, weighing 14.57 pounds. Their big fish for the tournament weighed 4.24 pounds.












The remainder of the field finished as follows:

     * The husband-wife team of Andy and Diana Morath, a total of eight bass, 13.51 pounds total weight, 3.09-pound big bass.
     * Chris Napier, a total of five bass, 12.57 pounds total weight, 4.07-pound big bass.
     * The team of Wayne Hayes and Ken Testorff, a total of six bass, 8.77 pounds total weight, 1.75-pound big bass.
     * The team of Craig Jones and Rob Chatham, a total of two bass, 2.77 pounds total weight, 1.66-pound big bass.
     * Gabe Himmelwright, a total of two bass. 2.77 pounds total weight, 1.88-pound big bass.

Congratulations to all the Classic winners, and thanks to everyone who participated this season. Hope you'll be back in March 2023 to begin another tournament year.

One Last Cast

My wife had saved this comic strip for me when I arrived home from Day 1 of our Classic. It reminds me of what has happened to many fishermen (including yours truly) over the years after you've taken a friend fishing with you. Show him your favorite spot, and more times than not, you'll find a scene reminiscent of what you see in the last frame above the next time you go back to that spot for a quiet day alone on the water.

I also recall a good friend of mine (who shall remain anonymous) who really got burned by a former tournament partner. For a good spell, he had been allowing this fishing partner to spend the night before a tournament at his home, providing dinner, a shower, and lodging that night, as well as breakfast on tournament morning and a snack to take to the tournament. Furthermore, that partner often wouldn't have enough money to cover his share of the tournament expenses, so my boater friend would have to take care of that, too.

The straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak, came when my friend had to miss a tournament, and his partner found a new fella to ride with at the next tournament. My friend then happened to show up for weigh-in at that event, and upon learning that his partner and this other fella had finished in the money, asked him if he had shared any of their spots with the new guy.

"I didn't show him just one of our spots...I showed him all of 'em!" came the reply.

Suffice it to say that marked the end of a tournament partnership.