| Get5Bass.com "Covering the Arkansas Bass Fishing Tournament Scene" |
News: 03/20/10
Jeff Miller and Mark Doss, Win the Bill Sanders-Bo Piper
Memorial Benefit Bass Tournament on the Arkansas River
1st place
Story Provided by Cynda Piper
Jeff Miller and partner Mark Doss, both of Crossett are veteran anglers of
the Bill Sanders-Bo Piper Memorial Benefit Bass Tournament in Pine Bluff,
but this year proved to be quite different for the pair. They managed to
capture first place Saturday in the 13th Annual event that benefitted the
Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas. The team is preserving the
tradition of Ashley County taking bragging rights, as the team of Trey
Hawkins of Hamburg and Chris Watkins of Crossett took first place in the
2009 tournament.
Miller and Doss caught their limit of five fish and topped the scales at 19.01
pounds during the weigh-in that started at 3:00 p.m. under the Pine Bluff
Regional Park Pavilion.
Doss said, “It was tough fishing today…one of those days when you get a
bite, you better make it count…only had 7-8 keepers.” When asked about
the baits that were used, he said, “Did some jig fishing, used some smaller
finesse baits and was just trying to do something a little different.”
Although not revealing the exact “honey hole”, Doss said, “We fished in
and around the port and only got out on the Arkansas River once.” In
previous years, Doss and Miller had placed in the top ten. In 2009, they
placed third weighing in with 15.70 pounds, but this year took top honors
making it their first Sanders-Piper Benefit Bass Tournament win.
In a follow-up interview, Doss said, “The folks up there with the tournament
do a really good job and we always have a good time…fishing is a lot of luck
and we were lucky to win…some people will say how good they are, but a lot
of it is luck…looking forward to next year’s tournament.”
With inclement weather forecasted for sometime during the day, blast off
took place without any weather related incidents at 6:50 AM with only a few
clouds surrounding the approaching sunrise.
Picking up second place was Bart Moore of Pine Bluff and Reed Heagler of
White Hall, with a total weight of 18.58 and picked up $1000 cash for their
efforts.
Third place went to Kenny Heroman of Pine Bluff and John McNeil of Star
City with a total combined weight of 18.12. Along with their trophies, they
collected $800 cash.
Claiming the Big Bass Lunker with a fish weighing 6.78 pounds was Jack
Bray of Greenbrier. Bray was presented a trophy and a $500 check for his
enduring efforts of catching the big fish of the day. The closest to touch that
weight was the team of Jared Langston and Ray Doering of Pine Bluff with
a 5.81 fish.
As usual, within the tournament, there was some inside friendly family
competition occurring. Bill Sanders sister, Linda Baxter, of Star City, who
usually fishes with her husband Gary, gave up her spot to her son, twenty-
six year old Michael Strachota, who recently returned from a tour in Iraq
and is in the Army, on leave from Ft. Hood Texas, and fished with his
stepdad, Gary Baxter. Sanders brother, Dennis Bradshaw of White Hall,
fished with his youngest son, 11-year old, Blake Bradshaw; with Blake’s
older brother, 19-year old Brett Bradshaw of White Hall choosing to team
up with friend, Brett Craine, of Pine Bluff for the event. In addition, Bill
Sanders’ son, Trey Hawkins and partner Chris Watkins blasted off in the
number one position with hopes of repeating their 2009 tournament win.
When boats were checked in and tournament chips collected, it was the
team of Hawkins and Watkins that had top family bragging rights with their
total combined five fish weight of 14.60 pounds and placing them seventh in
the tournament ahead of Dennis and son, Blake, who weighed in at 5.43
pounds with two fish and placing next and also with two fish, was Strachota
with stepdad, Gary Baxter, weighing in at 4.80. Looking on in the crowd was
Strachota’s wife, Lauren, holding their infant son, “Will”.
If you didn’t come up to the scales being overseen by Gary Henderson,
Weigh Master, with over 12.01 pounds, you were not going to place in the
top ten and actually, ninth place weighed in at almost fourteen pounds.
After the winning team of Miller-Doss was presented with the prize check of
$2500, sponsored by Southeast Arkansas Transportation (SEAT) and the
Big Bass $500 Cash, sponsored by Central Arkansas Storage.Com awarded
to Jack Bray, there were drawings for prizes which included $50 cash bills
and selected items donated by Milam’s Honda Kawasaki. Fisherman had
to be sporting the official Tournament tee shirt, donated by Gary Sullivant
of Vision Graphics, in order to be eligible to win the prizes. Two fishermen
went home happy after winning a Polaris ATV Outlaw donated by Mr. Parts
Stores of Pine Bluff. When asked if they had children, one of the anglers
said, “Have one and one on the way.” The four-wheeler proved to be a big
hit with the youngsters as all were taking turns sitting on the non-moving
recreation sport vehicle during the weigh-in.
Betty Bradshaw, Sanders’ mother and President and CEO of the Area
Agency said, ”The 2010 tournament was a tremendous success as noted by
the 84 team entries. Bradshaw said, “We are very pleased with today’s
turnout…it’s grown so much and I don’t know if Bill would believe it...it
really surprised me that we had a lot of young people fishing with their dads
and granddads…seems like it has sort of turned into a family-oriented
fishing tournament.”
Formerly the Reeling for Meals Benefit Bass Tournament, it was named in
honor of the late Sanders following his death in 2001. In 2008, Bo Piper was
added to the event. Both Sanders and Piper had worked hard to ensure the
success of the tournament and to promote fishing on the Arkansas River.
The tournament benefits the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas,
an organization that provides quality care and affordable services to people
of all ages across the southern part of the state. One hundred percent of all
the proceeds benefited the Area Agency Programs and Services.
After all 108 fish totaling 318.12 pounds were weighed in, and winners
announced and polygraphs declared official, everyone headed across the
road to the Pine Bluff Regional Park Waterfront Facility to be treated to a
catered fish fry provided by King Kat, Inc of Carlisle and Three Rivers
Distributing Company of Pine Bluff.
Additional photos and results of the tournament will be available on the
Agency’s webpage: www.aaasea.org
Jeff Miller and Mark Doss, Win the Bill Sanders-Bo Piper
Memorial Benefit Bass Tournament on the Arkansas River
1st place
Story Provided by Cynda Piper
Jeff Miller and partner Mark Doss, both of Crossett are veteran anglers of
the Bill Sanders-Bo Piper Memorial Benefit Bass Tournament in Pine Bluff,
but this year proved to be quite different for the pair. They managed to
capture first place Saturday in the 13th Annual event that benefitted the
Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas. The team is preserving the
tradition of Ashley County taking bragging rights, as the team of Trey
Hawkins of Hamburg and Chris Watkins of Crossett took first place in the
2009 tournament.
Miller and Doss caught their limit of five fish and topped the scales at 19.01
pounds during the weigh-in that started at 3:00 p.m. under the Pine Bluff
Regional Park Pavilion.
Doss said, “It was tough fishing today…one of those days when you get a
bite, you better make it count…only had 7-8 keepers.” When asked about
the baits that were used, he said, “Did some jig fishing, used some smaller
finesse baits and was just trying to do something a little different.”
Although not revealing the exact “honey hole”, Doss said, “We fished in
and around the port and only got out on the Arkansas River once.” In
previous years, Doss and Miller had placed in the top ten. In 2009, they
placed third weighing in with 15.70 pounds, but this year took top honors
making it their first Sanders-Piper Benefit Bass Tournament win.
In a follow-up interview, Doss said, “The folks up there with the tournament
do a really good job and we always have a good time…fishing is a lot of luck
and we were lucky to win…some people will say how good they are, but a lot
of it is luck…looking forward to next year’s tournament.”
With inclement weather forecasted for sometime during the day, blast off
took place without any weather related incidents at 6:50 AM with only a few
clouds surrounding the approaching sunrise.
Picking up second place was Bart Moore of Pine Bluff and Reed Heagler of
White Hall, with a total weight of 18.58 and picked up $1000 cash for their
efforts.
Third place went to Kenny Heroman of Pine Bluff and John McNeil of Star
City with a total combined weight of 18.12. Along with their trophies, they
collected $800 cash.
Claiming the Big Bass Lunker with a fish weighing 6.78 pounds was Jack
Bray of Greenbrier. Bray was presented a trophy and a $500 check for his
enduring efforts of catching the big fish of the day. The closest to touch that
weight was the team of Jared Langston and Ray Doering of Pine Bluff with
a 5.81 fish.
As usual, within the tournament, there was some inside friendly family
competition occurring. Bill Sanders sister, Linda Baxter, of Star City, who
usually fishes with her husband Gary, gave up her spot to her son, twenty-
six year old Michael Strachota, who recently returned from a tour in Iraq
and is in the Army, on leave from Ft. Hood Texas, and fished with his
stepdad, Gary Baxter. Sanders brother, Dennis Bradshaw of White Hall,
fished with his youngest son, 11-year old, Blake Bradshaw; with Blake’s
older brother, 19-year old Brett Bradshaw of White Hall choosing to team
up with friend, Brett Craine, of Pine Bluff for the event. In addition, Bill
Sanders’ son, Trey Hawkins and partner Chris Watkins blasted off in the
number one position with hopes of repeating their 2009 tournament win.
When boats were checked in and tournament chips collected, it was the
team of Hawkins and Watkins that had top family bragging rights with their
total combined five fish weight of 14.60 pounds and placing them seventh in
the tournament ahead of Dennis and son, Blake, who weighed in at 5.43
pounds with two fish and placing next and also with two fish, was Strachota
with stepdad, Gary Baxter, weighing in at 4.80. Looking on in the crowd was
Strachota’s wife, Lauren, holding their infant son, “Will”.
If you didn’t come up to the scales being overseen by Gary Henderson,
Weigh Master, with over 12.01 pounds, you were not going to place in the
top ten and actually, ninth place weighed in at almost fourteen pounds.
After the winning team of Miller-Doss was presented with the prize check of
$2500, sponsored by Southeast Arkansas Transportation (SEAT) and the
Big Bass $500 Cash, sponsored by Central Arkansas Storage.Com awarded
to Jack Bray, there were drawings for prizes which included $50 cash bills
and selected items donated by Milam’s Honda Kawasaki. Fisherman had
to be sporting the official Tournament tee shirt, donated by Gary Sullivant
of Vision Graphics, in order to be eligible to win the prizes. Two fishermen
went home happy after winning a Polaris ATV Outlaw donated by Mr. Parts
Stores of Pine Bluff. When asked if they had children, one of the anglers
said, “Have one and one on the way.” The four-wheeler proved to be a big
hit with the youngsters as all were taking turns sitting on the non-moving
recreation sport vehicle during the weigh-in.
Betty Bradshaw, Sanders’ mother and President and CEO of the Area
Agency said, ”The 2010 tournament was a tremendous success as noted by
the 84 team entries. Bradshaw said, “We are very pleased with today’s
turnout…it’s grown so much and I don’t know if Bill would believe it...it
really surprised me that we had a lot of young people fishing with their dads
and granddads…seems like it has sort of turned into a family-oriented
fishing tournament.”
Formerly the Reeling for Meals Benefit Bass Tournament, it was named in
honor of the late Sanders following his death in 2001. In 2008, Bo Piper was
added to the event. Both Sanders and Piper had worked hard to ensure the
success of the tournament and to promote fishing on the Arkansas River.
The tournament benefits the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas,
an organization that provides quality care and affordable services to people
of all ages across the southern part of the state. One hundred percent of all
the proceeds benefited the Area Agency Programs and Services.
After all 108 fish totaling 318.12 pounds were weighed in, and winners
announced and polygraphs declared official, everyone headed across the
road to the Pine Bluff Regional Park Waterfront Facility to be treated to a
catered fish fry provided by King Kat, Inc of Carlisle and Three Rivers
Distributing Company of Pine Bluff.
Additional photos and results of the tournament will be available on the
Agency’s webpage: www.aaasea.org
