Mission of the Association • Promote sportsmanship and the protection of natural resources • Promote the quality of Lake Fork fishery and other outdoor recreational activities • Promote the future of angling through youth programs • Promote a spirit of cooperation with local, county, state, and federal governmental agencies, and other civic organizations for the purpose of improving Lake Fork and its surrounding communities • Promote items of interest of the membership at large Next LFSA General Meeting Our next regular meeting will be March 12 . We will meet at Oak Ridge Marina. The meeting will start at 7:00 pm. See you there. PRESIDENTS REPORT Arlan updated the membership on the following topics: 1. Button Bushes – The Yantis FFA has planted 1,000 bushes and many of them have begun to leaf out. 2. Catfish Flyer and Posters have been printed and will be ready for distribution. Bruce Allen volunteered to chair the Distribution Committee. 3. The Carp and Buffalo Challenge will have 42 teams. 4. The Sadler property has been fished and has produced Carp and Buffalo. 5. The Peg Sites will be open to teams on Wednesday afternoon, all day Thursday and until noon on Friday. 2 nd Carp and Buffalo Challenge We all know fishing is big business. In one way or another everyone in the Lake Fork Area is affected by this activity. Whether it is the frustration of the crowds on the weekend, the excitement of catching the bass of a lifetime, the thrill of tournament competition, or just a First, we will be paying out more money. We will now pay out eight overall places and five places hourly. good meal from our renowned crappie fishery, we are all affected in some way by fishing. If you are a business owner, an employee of a local business, or a lake front resident you may be affected even more so. But what about going beyond “BIG BASS”? A new type of fishing tournament has hit our area with a tremendous impact. The Texas 44 Carp & Buffalo is the largest carp and smallmouth buffalo tournament in the United States and will be hosted by the Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association and Oak Ridge Marina February 28 through March 3. In an interview with Richard Summerville, an avid carp & buffalo angler and participant in this tournament, we concluded that this one weekend tournament will bring in excess of $100,000 to the Lake Fork Area. Best of all, it is a totally new revenue stream. Since the first tournament Lake Fork Carp Fishing has been featured on the World Fishing Network TV show Real Fishy Jobs, and an episode is now scheduled to be filmed for The In-Fisherman TV show. The one single thing that is limiting Lake Fork from more carp fishing is access for bank fishing, since these guys typically do not fish from boats. Something to think about, how do we as a residents and business community capitalize on this overlooked resource? The LFSA would like to thank Randy Bunch, LFSA member and new Lake Fork Area Chamber of Commerce President, for contributing to the above article. 5th Annual Catfish Classic The Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association sponsored Catfish Classic will be held June 22 nd and 23 rd at OAK RIDGE MARINA. Some important changes are planned for 2013. Newsletter February 2013
Transcript
Mission of the Association• Promote sportsmanship and the protection of
natural resources• Promote the quality of Lake Fork fishery and
other outdoor recreational activities• Promote the future of angling through youth
programs• Promote a spirit of cooperation with local,
county, state, and federal governmental agencies, and other civic organizations for the purpose of improving Lake Fork and its surrounding communities
• Promote items of interest of the membership at large
Next LFSA General MeetingOur next regular meeting will be March 12 . We will meet at Oak Ridge Marina. The meeting will start at 7:00 pm. See you there.
PRESIDENTS REPORTArlan updated the membership on the following topics:
1. Button Bushes – The Yantis FFA has planted 1,000 bushes and many of them have begun to leaf out.
2. Catfish Flyer and Posters have been printed and will be ready for distribution. Bruce Allen volunteered to chair the Distribution Committee.
3. The Carp and Buffalo Challenge will have 42 teams.
4. The Sadler property has been fished and has produced Carp and Buffalo.
5. The Peg Sites will be open to teams on Wednesday afternoon, all day Thursday and until noon on Friday.
2nd Carp and Buffalo Challenge
We all know fishing is big business. In one way or another everyone in the Lake Fork Area is affected by this activity. Whether it is the frustration of the crowds on the weekend, the excitement of catching the bass of a lifetime, the thrill of tournament competition, or just a First, we will be paying out more money. We will now pay out eight overall places and five places hourly.
good meal from our renowned crappie fishery, we are all affected in some way by fishing. If you are a business owner, an employee of a local business, or a lake front resident you may be affected even more so.
But what about going beyond “BIG BASS”? A new type of fishing tournament has hit our area with a tremendous impact. The Texas 44 Carp & Buffalo is the largest carp and smallmouth buffalo tournament in the United States and will be hosted by the Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association and Oak Ridge Marina February 28 through March 3.
In an interview with Richard Summerville, an avid carp & buffalo angler and participant in this tournament, we concluded that this one weekend tournament will bring in excess of $100,000 to the Lake Fork Area. Best of all, it is a totally new revenue stream.
Since the first tournament Lake Fork Carp Fishing has been featured on the World Fishing Network TV show Real Fishy Jobs, and an episode is now scheduled to be filmed for The In-Fisherman TV show. The one single thing that is limiting Lake Fork from more carp fishing is access for bank fishing, since these guys typically do not fish from boats.
Something to think about, how do we as a residents and business community capitalize on this overlooked resource?
The LFSA would like to thank Randy Bunch, LFSA member and new Lake Fork Area Chamber of Commerce President, for contributing to the above article.
5th Annual Catfish Classic
The Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association sponsored Catfish Classic will be held June 22nd and 23rd at OAK RIDGE MARINA. Some important changes are planned for 2013.
NewsletterFebruary 2013
The Yantis Catfish Classic wants to break the Lake Fork lake record Channel Catfish. The Lake Fork record was caught by Derek Wedding on March 9, 2003. The cat weighed in at 17.73 lbs. We would like to see this 10 year old record broken. The first registered angler to break the current Lake Fork record of 17.73 lbs will win a bonus of $500. The channel catfish must be caught during tournament hours using a rod and reel, and it must break the existing Lake Fork record.
And finally, in order to encourage greater participation by young anglers, the Yantis Catfish Classic has established an optional youth only division. Youth anglers may still compete in the Open Individual Competition for the major cash prizes by paying the full entry fee. The following are the rules for participating in the youth division.
1. All existing tournament rules apply.2. Only youths under 17 years of age at the time
of the tournament may participate in the youth division. A birth certificate may be required if age is questioned.
3. Youths participating in this division are not eligible for cash prizes in the regular tournament.
4. Cash payout for this division will be a minimum of 1st place $100, 2nd place $75, 3rd place $50, 4th
place $25. The number of payout places may be increased based on the number of youth participants at the discretion of the tournament director.
Watch the Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association website www.lakeforksa.com for more details regarding the tournament in the very near future.
Highway Signs on Lake Fork Bridges Becomes a Reality!The LFSA has completed the highway identification project on Lake Fork bridges. All major bridges now have a sign identifying the highway crossing the lake. We believe this will lead to better boater tracking in an emergency. As information, here are the GPS Coordinates for the highway bridges:
We want to thank our member volunteers for all of their efforts in making this project a success. Giving back to the community is what we are about.
One of six signs on the Highway 154 bridge.Photo courtesy Micheal Rogge.
LFSA members installing bridge sign.Photo courtesy Larry Marler,
Chili Cook Off Winners Again!Sam Scroggins and his LFSA team of Bayou Chili Cookers took top honors for the second year running in the annual Quitman Pilot Club Chili Cook Off. The theme this year was Marie Laveau's Voodoo Cafe with Sandra Livingston making an awesome Marie Laveau.
The team was made up of chief cook Sam Scroggins, Bart Martin, Bob Biggs and Sandra Livingston.
Keeping up what has become an annual tradition, the team also won the Most Fun Award.
Congratulations team, you make us proud.
“Handsome Jack” Sam Scroggins serving up his award winning Chili.
Pictured left to right are the Bayou Chili Camp staff “Handsome Jack” Bobby Biggs, “Handsome Jack” Barty Martin, “Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau” Sandy Livingston, and “Handsome Jack” Sammy Scroggins.
Christmas Sharing
The LFSA wants to thank the many area businesses and residents for their generous contributions to our Christmas Sharing project. Through your generosity we were able to provide for twelve families this year. We appreciate the efforts of LFSA members Randy Bunch, Leta Bunch, David Waddell, Larry Marler, Bruce Allen and Jim Leggett in making Christmas a little brighter for these families.
Pictured left to right David Waddell, Randy Bunchand Leta Bunch.
Support our Member Guides and Merchants
The Sportsman’s Association is made up of Guides, Merchants and Home Owners. Our guides and merchants are important to the economic well being of Lake Fork. Encourage your friends and neighbors to schedule their next fishing trip with one of these member guides and be sure to patronize these merchants
Anglers Pest and Termite ControlRandy & Leta Bunch, Owners903/383-2023Email: [email protected]: www.anglerspetcontrol.com
“Bassin’ with Bubba Guide ServicesDon Hampton903/383-7748 or 902/360-6994Email: [email protected]: www.bassinwithbubba.com
Fisherman’s One StopJohn & Jo Anne Heimgartner, Owners 7933 W FM 515Yantis, Texas 75497903-383-7121Email: [email protected]:www.etssystems.com/fishermansonestop/index.htm
Lake Side Cove RV ParkP.O. Box 523Alba, TX 75410903-765-2614Email: [email protected]: www.lakesidecoverv.com
Oak Ridge Marina2919 West State Highway 154Quitman, Texas 75783Barry & Tracy Hatton, Owners903-878-2529903-878-2513 FAXEmail: [email protected]: oakridgemarina.com
S&A Sportswear Sam & Martha Scroggins, Owners405 S. Hart St., Suite 9BQuitman, Texas 75783903-763-2191Email: [email protected] Website: www.sewinsams.com
Want to get InvolvedIf you are interested in becoming a member of the Lake Fork Sportsman’s Association you can go to our website www.lakeforksa.com or find us on facebook. You can also e-mail Dick Walker at [email protected] with questions regarding information provided in this article or potential membership.
