The 2014 season came to an end this past weekend as 66 teams converged onto beautiful Lake Seminole in Donaldsonville, GA for their chance to win a Ranger Boats Z119 Powered by an Envinrude Outboard. The weather was picture perfect both days of competition and we couldn’t have asked for a prettier venue to hold a weigh in.
Before I get into the meat and potatoes of the event, I want to tell you a quick, feel good story. On the last day of practice, JR Tice and Richard Chapman from our Suwannee Division came across a 90 year old man that had fallen from his boat. When they pulled up to the man, he was exhausted and you could see the despair on his face. He was clinging to the side of his boat praying someone would see him. Fortunately, JR and Richard were able to pull him aboard their boat. The hearing aids in both his ears were water logged, he had lost his shorts struggling to get back into his own boat, and his color was not good. The man told the guys had they not pulled up when they did, he would have surely been a goner. He said he had just enough strength left to hold on for another couple of minutes, and that would have been it. The guys got him back to his camp, warmed him up and were on their way, back out to pre-fish. Chapman told me that affected him the rest of the weekend. He was full of reflection and realized how precious our time on this earth is. This field of anglers is full of class acts, and this is a shining example of that. I couldn’t be prouder of you guys for this great act of kindness. This gentleman will always remember you two as his guardian angels.
Lee Kitchens and Joey Wood show off a few fish from their 4th place bag.
Okay back to the event. Day one was full of ups and downs for the competing teams. We had a couple of blown motors to start Friday morning off. But as time got closer to weigh in, it started to be evident the fish were cooperative on day one. When the last team weighed in there were 5 teams in the 20-lb. range and the cutoff was just over 16 lbs. Denny McGlon and Jerry Kelley, (Talquin Division), led the charge with 24.65 lbs. 2nd was BJ Shirah and Tim Webb, (Suwannee Division), with 23.21 lbs. 3rd was Don Eady and Kevin Bivins, (Toho Division), with 22.42 lbs. 4th place was Matt Baty and Todd Needley, (Talquin Division), with 20.38 lbs. Rounding out the Top 5 was Matt Beck and Jimbo Denton, (Rousseau Division), with 20.35 lbs. Matt and Jimbo told me they should have had largest sack of fish they ever would have weighed, if they could have kept them buttoned up. There were several teams saying they missed large fish that would have catapulted them higher in the standings. That’s why they call it fishing and not catching. One of my favorite sayings is, ‘You can’t win it on day one, but you can sure lose it.’ Day one big fish honors went to Eady and Bivins weighing in an 8.55-lb. toad that netted them $660.00. McGlon and Kelley’s 24 lbs. didn’t come easy. Kelley had been sick for 3 days prior and struggled being on the boat day one. McGlon actually inquired if he could fish by himself on day one because Kelley was feeling so poor. Unfortunately, the rules stated both partners had to be on the boat, so Kelley toughed it out. After 24 lbs., I am sure he was feeling a little better at the end of the day.
Day 2 launch was a little foggy but the guys got out okay. Bluebird skies followed the rest of the afternoon. As weigh in approached the talk amongst the anglers were the fish weren’t as cooperative on day two. We were anxious to see how this played out, as several of our Lake Seminole events over the years have had flip flop days on the second day.
When final call to the scales was announced, there were teams that were going to be disappointed about the day 2 catch. Teams that had nice double-digit weights on day 1 ended up bringing 2 to 7 lbs. to the scales on day two. Teams that were out of the cut day one made a good comeback and ended up finishing within the top ten.
3rd Place finishers Mikey Keyso and Donny Bass show off part of their day 2 bag.
Titus Langston and Gary Weeks, (Talquin Division), moved up on day 2 to break into the top 5 with a 34.62-lb. total. Langston and Weeks also weighed in the Big Bass for day 2, a 7.61-lb. toad. That fish helped them win $1,160.00 Moving into 4th place with a 34.94-lb. total was Lee Kitchens and Joey Wood, (Swaunnee Division). They won $1,000.00 for the event. Mikey Keyso and Donny Bass (Istokpoga Division) had 35.91 lbs., enough for a 3rd place finish worth $1,250.00. In 2nd place was the team of Don Eady and Kevin Bivins. Their 36.68-lb. total and big fish for the tournament netted them $2,960.00. The big winners for the weekend were Denny McGlon and Jerry Kelley who held on to their day one lead. They took home a new Ranger Boats Z119 powered by an Evinrude Outboard valued at $40,000. All 8 divisions were represented in the top 15 payout spots for the tournament. Flipping, frogging, worming, and throwing a Rat-L-Trap seemed to be the more popular styles over the 2 day event.
Congratulations to Marshall Deakins and Bryan Gregory from the Lake Guntersville Division. Thanks to their 6th place finish, they claimed the Team of the Year award. For that, they were awarded a brand new Power-Pole, 2 Duckett Rods, and paid entries for the 2015 season. They also won the Big Bass of the Year award for the Alabama Divisions. The 11.64-lb. monster they caught in the 1st event of the season on Lake Guntersville won them an additional $400.00.
John Myers and Bill Rutkowski from the Kissimmee Division weighed in an 11.45-lb. giant in the 2nd event of the season out of Camp Mack. That fish won the Big Bass of the Year for Florida divisions, and netted them $840.00.
We couldn’t have asked for a more gracious host. Special thanks to Brenda Broome and the Donaldsonville Chamber for their support. They always make us feel very welcomed, and we look forward to making our way back up there in the next couple of years.
Another special thanks goes out to our sponsors. Without them this trail wouldn’t be possible; Ranger Boats, Toho Marine, Evinrude Outboards, Duckett Fishing, Power-Pole, Rat-L-Trap, Bass Assassin, and Snag Proof.
This is Xtreme’s 10th year in existence. In that time frame we have awarded 8 boats and over 2.1 million in cash and prizes on the team side alone. We couldn’t do it without the participation of the anglers. I want to personally thank each and every one of you for your support over the years. You guys mean more to me than you will ever know. Your support has helped allow me to take care of my son, who most of you know has special needs, for that alone I will be eternally grateful to each and every one of you.
We have some exciting news coming very soon. Keep looking for the new schedule for the 2015 season. Anyone interested in becoming a director we are looking to expand and try some new bodies of water. We’re very excited about the 2015 season, and it is set to be our best one yet! Congratulations to all the anglers for a terrific season, and I look forward to seeing you all next year!
For a list of the results, follow this link: http://www.xtremefishingseries.com/xtremefishing/resultsView.cfm?site=bass&id=1628&divisionID=94
Check out the Photo Gallery on the Xtreme Fishing Series Facebook Page.
