West Neck Creek Ramblings: Our Numbers Were Small, But We Didn't Lack for Enthusiasm

Saturday, June 17, 2023

Our Numbers Were Small, But We Didn't Lack for Enthusiasm

I don't know many bass fishermen and women who don't get enthused about their fishing, and those 13 anglers in seven boats who fished today's Dewey Mullins Memorial Series Tournament were no exception. In the final analysis, these die-hards boated a total of 25 bass, weighing an aggregate total of 72.77 pounds. The average weight per fish was 2.91 pounds.

At the head of the line for today's payouts was the 1st-place team of Wayne Hayes (holding his two biggest fish from today) and Ken Testorff, who brought a five-fish limit to the scales, weighing 18.74 pounds. Their big fish weighed 5.84 pounds, which was good enough to also claim the day's big-fish honors and usher them into the lead for the season-lunker prize, which always is awarded at the end of the season. They further captured the side pot.

In 2nd place, also with a five-fish limit, was the team of (from left) Gary Coderre and Dave Anderson. Their total weight was 16.27 pounds, and their big fish weighed 4.80 pounds.

Here is how everyone else finished the day's competition:

* The team of Rob Peppers and Don Carter had five fish, weighing 14.28 pounds, and their big fish weighed 4.29 pounds.
* The husband-wife team of Andy and Diana Morath had five fish, weighing 11.93 pounds, with no big fish.
* The team of Jim Leavis and Ken Matthias had five fish, weighing 11.30 pounds after a 0.25-pound deduction for one dead fish. Their big fish weighed 3.17 pounds.
* The team of Dennis Dean and Steve Bailey, as well as the solo fisherman Jim Crist, didn't weigh any fish.

Congratulations to the winners today and thanks to everyone who came out to participate. I also want to express my thanks to Jim Crist for handling photographic duties today. For planning purposes, our next event in the Dewey Mullins Memorial Series is scheduled for Saturday, June 24, from safe light (about 5:30 a.m.) to weigh-in at 2 p.m. Hope you can join us.