We take pride in wishing the Centenary Methodist Church in Quincy, Fla., on their 180th anniversary this past weekend.

The Crab Festival at the St. Mark’s Waterfront, hope they had a good-un.

The Wal-Mart BFL Tournament out of the Boat Basin in Bainbridge was this past week with 155 boats fishing the first day with 310 anglers. It was one of the most unusual first day results where the co-angler landed 17.11 pounds of fish and the angler only boated 15.09 pounds.

It greatly reminded me of the early days of B.A.S.S. on Westpoint Lake. The temp was down below 25 degrees on the first day of practice and got steadly worse by day one. There was 6-foot of ice dutting out all over the banks and it never got above 30 all day. The final weigh-in showed one small fish, which won all the money. Tough but fair. They paid the man all the prize money and we went on home.

The second day, 155 boats left the basin, when they came to the scales, Jay Brewer of Collenwood, Tenn., had 12.01 pounds of bass to take the lead. Patrick Dobbins of Opelika, Ala., had 10.04 pounds to take second, then Jason Counsel of Casselberry, Fla., had 9.09 pounds to take third.

Now we look to the co-anglers side. Ray Holloway of Snellville, Ga., had 17.05 pounds to take the lead, Michael Corbett of Oxford, Ala., 0:0 to drop to second place, then Joe Edwards Jr. of Kissimmee, Fla., who 0:0 on the first day had 17.08 pounds to take third place.

Now, the top 12 fishermen was picked from this group. The lowest to make the co-angler side was Jett Loach, from Rossville, Ga., with a two-day total weight of 11.09 pounds.

Now back to the anglers, the low man on the boaters side was No. 12, Charles Cummings of Leeds, Ala., with a total weight of 17.09 pounds of bass.

Now on day three, the co-angler of Lake Wales, Fla., Wayne Montgomery, held his lead and had 25.02 to win the Ranger Boat, Ray Holloway of Snellville, Ga., added to his lead, had 21.15 pounds to win a big cash prize and second place, then Michael Corbett of Oxford, Ala., added to his catch to place third with 20.11 and another cash prize.

On the Angler’s side, Patrick Dobbins of Opelika, Ala.,, added five fish to his two-day catch to take first place with 36.05 pounds, winning a Chevy truck and a Ranger boat. Second place went to Billy Bowen Jr., from Ocala, Fla., with 28.10 pounds to win a very big cash prize, and Ty Garrett of Pulaski, Tenn., took third with 26.4 pounds to win a big cash prize.

Now that it’s over, we found out that the same tournament will be back next year, the same week and B.A.S.S. will be a week ahead of it.

Last year’s B.F.L. winner had 90 pounds of bass to take the lead and win. Shows you what a little cold snap will do for you and muddy water mixed with falling water will slow down the bite.  The 24 fishermen will only weighed in 22 fish the last day.

The reason for such a detailed weigh-in, is that it could go to anyone who could get 3- or 4-, 6-pound bass in a day.

The Fishermen for the Hungry Classic will take place this coming weekend out of Wingate’s Landing.  You can bet your bottom dollar the Sneads twins, Benny Hatton and son and the Albany father and son duo will be there and in the money.

Several big hybrids were reported in this week along with one or two talapia came in. It looks like a very good winter coming up.

Duck season will be very good this year. Don’t forget the Youth Duck Day a week ahead of everyone.

Jake Jeter placed second in the Georgia BASS Federation Nation State Junior Club Tournament on West Point Lake this past Saterday, Joey Sloan was third. We are still trying to find out how Nic Jeter did. Tough lake.

Wingate’s Fishing Report

October 25, 2009

Lake surface temp: 68Lake level: Down someLake clarity: Clear ‘cept channellFlint: MuddyChattahoochee: Cloudy & fastSpring Creek:Clear