| Get5Bass.com "Covering the Arkansas Bass Fishing Tournament Scene" |
News: 04/04/09
Trey Hawkins and Chris Watkins Win the Bill Sanders-Bo
Piper Memorial Benefit Tournament on the Arkansas River
Trey Hawkins and Chris Watkins Win on the Pine Bluff Pool !!!
Story Provided by Cynda Piper
Trey Hawkins of Hamburg and partner Chris Watkins 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 12th
Annual event that benefitted the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast
Arkansas.
Hawkins and Watkins caught their limit of five fish by 8:00 a.m. and
continued to improve their catch well before the 3:00 p.m. weigh-in set
for the Regional Park Pavilion.
Topping out the scales at 17.26 for the win, Hawkins and Watkins were
also the only team in the tournament to catch over 17 pounds.
Commenting about the win, Hawkins said, “We had a lot of fun today,
and we didn’t mess up too much…it feels awesome to win this…this is
the first time we’ve ever won something like this, and it was a good one
to win!” “A good one to win” is a good description because of Trey’s
family connection to the tournament. It was Trey’s dad, Bill Sanders,
that was instrumental in organizing the very first tournament in 1997
and later in 2002 renamed in his memory.
Unlike the wet, cold and stormy weather conditions of 2008 that also
combined with elevated water levels and flow, this year’s blast off took
place with a beautiful colorful sunrise in the backdrop. Hawkins and
Watkins took advantage of the calm conditions very early in the
morning, however, conditions went “downhill” as the winds began to
pick up from the northeast.
Watkins said, “It wasn’t bad early on…it was pretty calm early this
morning…wind picked up in the afternoon and fishing slowed down…it
should’ve picked up, but it slowed down…but we did good and caught a
lot of fish.”
Prior to Boat No. 1 (Hawkins/Watkins) weighing in, the team of Teddy
Bogard of White Hall and Terry Hopson of Pine Bluff were in the lead
with total weight of 16.56 pounds. They collected $400 dollars and two
32 inch flat screen televisions along with fillet knives for their enduring
effort.
Third place went to Jeff Miller and Mark Doss, both of Crossett, with a
total combined weight of 15.70 pounds. They had the lead early on at
the weigh-in, but shortly after weighing in, Doss said, “I knew the lead
wouldn’t hold up…I’m just glad to have fish today…had to turn in early
after my livewell sprung a leak…after everything that happened, it’s
pretty good to be on the leaderboard.”
Picking up the Big Bass Lunker with a fish weighing 5.90 pounds was
Joe Henson of Sheridan and Jimmy Dowen of White Hall. Henson said,
“it was quite a struggle because I hooked it at about 2:00 p. m. and she
came off…I came back at about 2:30 and caught her the second time…it
was pure luck, but I was frustrated I lost her the first time…other than
that, it was a pretty easy fight.” They collected trophies for bragging
rights and $500 cash. Hawkins and Watkins picked up the win for
second biggest lunker weighing 5.71.
As usual, within the tournament, there was some inside friendly family
competition occurring. Bill Sanders sister, Linda Baxter, of Star City,
who was fishing with her husband Gary, and Sanders brother, Dennis
Bradshaw of White Hall, fishing with Jimmy Easterling of Benton, were
having a little friendly sibling competition to see who would place
highest in the tournament. Bradshaw and Easterling weighed in their
five fish limit of 12.38, placing 13th and beating sister Linda Baxter and
husband, Gary, who weighed in three fish totaling 6.91 pounds for 22nd
place.
If you didn’t come up to the scales being overseen by Gary Henderson,
Weigh Master, with over 13.31 pounds, you were not going to place in
the top ten.
After the winning team of Hawkins-Watkins 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 the team of Henson-Dowen, there were
drawings for prizes which included $50 cash bills, a Honda Tillar and an
ATV windshield 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. It was the
team of Fullerton and Agee that won the Polaris ATV Outlaw donated by
Mr. Parts Stores of Pine Bluff. 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 2009 tournament was a tremendous success as noted
by the 81 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…..he’d be very proud of how far we’ve come, but I think he would be
especially proud that his son, Trey, won this year’s 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 309.70 pounds of fish were weighed in, 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 are available on the
Agency’s webpage: www.aaasea.org
Trey Hawkins and Chris Watkins Win the Bill Sanders-Bo
Piper Memorial Benefit Tournament on the Arkansas River
Trey Hawkins and Chris Watkins Win on the Pine Bluff Pool !!!
Story Provided by Cynda Piper
Trey Hawkins of Hamburg and partner Chris Watkins 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 12th
Annual event that benefitted the Area Agency on Aging of Southeast
Arkansas.
Hawkins and Watkins caught their limit of five fish by 8:00 a.m. and
continued to improve their catch well before the 3:00 p.m. weigh-in set
for the Regional Park Pavilion.
Topping out the scales at 17.26 for the win, Hawkins and Watkins were
also the only team in the tournament to catch over 17 pounds.
Commenting about the win, Hawkins said, “We had a lot of fun today,
and we didn’t mess up too much…it feels awesome to win this…this is
the first time we’ve ever won something like this, and it was a good one
to win!” “A good one to win” is a good description because of Trey’s
family connection to the tournament. It was Trey’s dad, Bill Sanders,
that was instrumental in organizing the very first tournament in 1997
and later in 2002 renamed in his memory.
Unlike the wet, cold and stormy weather conditions of 2008 that also
combined with elevated water levels and flow, this year’s blast off took
place with a beautiful colorful sunrise in the backdrop. Hawkins and
Watkins took advantage of the calm conditions very early in the
morning, however, conditions went “downhill” as the winds began to
pick up from the northeast.
Watkins said, “It wasn’t bad early on…it was pretty calm early this
morning…wind picked up in the afternoon and fishing slowed down…it
should’ve picked up, but it slowed down…but we did good and caught a
lot of fish.”
Prior to Boat No. 1 (Hawkins/Watkins) weighing in, the team of Teddy
Bogard of White Hall and Terry Hopson of Pine Bluff were in the lead
with total weight of 16.56 pounds. They collected $400 dollars and two
32 inch flat screen televisions along with fillet knives for their enduring
effort.
Third place went to Jeff Miller and Mark Doss, both of Crossett, with a
total combined weight of 15.70 pounds. They had the lead early on at
the weigh-in, but shortly after weighing in, Doss said, “I knew the lead
wouldn’t hold up…I’m just glad to have fish today…had to turn in early
after my livewell sprung a leak…after everything that happened, it’s
pretty good to be on the leaderboard.”
Picking up the Big Bass Lunker with a fish weighing 5.90 pounds was
Joe Henson of Sheridan and Jimmy Dowen of White Hall. Henson said,
“it was quite a struggle because I hooked it at about 2:00 p. m. and she
came off…I came back at about 2:30 and caught her the second time…it
was pure luck, but I was frustrated I lost her the first time…other than
that, it was a pretty easy fight.” They collected trophies for bragging
rights and $500 cash. Hawkins and Watkins picked up the win for
second biggest lunker weighing 5.71.
As usual, within the tournament, there was some inside friendly family
competition occurring. Bill Sanders sister, Linda Baxter, of Star City,
who was fishing with her husband Gary, and Sanders brother, Dennis
Bradshaw of White Hall, fishing with Jimmy Easterling of Benton, were
having a little friendly sibling competition to see who would place
highest in the tournament. Bradshaw and Easterling weighed in their
five fish limit of 12.38, placing 13th and beating sister Linda Baxter and
husband, Gary, who weighed in three fish totaling 6.91 pounds for 22nd
place.
If you didn’t come up to the scales being overseen by Gary Henderson,
Weigh Master, with over 13.31 pounds, you were not going to place in
the top ten.
After the winning team of Hawkins-Watkins 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 the team of Henson-Dowen, there were
drawings for prizes which included $50 cash bills, a Honda Tillar and an
ATV windshield 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. It was the
team of Fullerton and Agee that won the Polaris ATV Outlaw donated by
Mr. Parts Stores of Pine Bluff. 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 2009 tournament was a tremendous success as noted
by the 81 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…..he’d be very proud of how far we’ve come, but I think he would be
especially proud that his son, Trey, won this year’s 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 309.70 pounds of fish were weighed in, 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 are available on the
Agency’s webpage: www.aaasea.org
