2007 MSTA Fish-Off
 

Stroud and Glenn Bring in Almost 20 Lbs. To Win Over $30,000 in Cash and Prizes

by Tom Alsop

Smithville Marine, Stratos Boats and Evinrude motors held their Mid States Championship Sunday October 7, 2007 out of Camp Branch Marina at Smithville Lake. The MSTA circuit is a unique circuit in that the boater and the non-boaters fish are combined to make up total weight for the boat. It makes for a very relaxing and fun day for both anglers in the boat, as each wants the other to do well. A total of 74 Boaters and Non-boaters (37 boats) made it to the no-entry fee championship. With a Stratos 285 powered by an Evinrude 150 hp engine valued at $27,000 going to the boater winner and a fully transferable certificate for $2,500.00 for the purchase of a new Stratos boat from Smithville Marine and $1,000.00 in cash for the non-boater winner, expectations were high for competitors. Today’s championship also paid back "loyalty cash" to anglers, just like all of the regular season qualifying tournaments, where extra cash paid out of pocket by Joann and Catfish Austin just for running boats purchased from Smithville Marine. Please give Smithville Marine the opportunity to earn your business when making your next boat purchase, they have been taking care of tournament fisherman for almost 25 years. Find out for yourself what "service after the sale" is all about!

Steve Altis from Stratos boats was on hand at the pre-tournament meeting held on Saturday at Smithville Marine and was happy to announce that Stratos boats would sponsor the 2008 MSTA events.  Next years championship will feature both the boater and the non-boater taking home new Stratos boats professionally rigged by Smithville Marine.  Deposits are now being taken to determine boat numbers for the 2008 MSTA season.  Call 816-532-4000 for more information.

The tournament weigh in was delayed for a short time, when a torrential downpour and lightning showed up right before the 3:00 weigh in.  Many gathered under the “bar-b-que” tent, where Smithville Marine provided anglers and their guests with complimentary food and beverage.

First place went to the team of Steve Stroud from Smithville, MO and his non-boater partner Justin Glenn from Overland Park, KS with a five fish limit that weighed 19.95 lbs.  Steve had spent many hours on the lake preparing for this tournament, and his hard work paid off big time! This team fished one bait all day long, jigs in 3 to 5 foot of water were the ticket for cash and prizes worth over $30,000!  Steve threw a black and blue jig and Justin threw a brown jig.  Steve, on top of winning a brand new Stratos boat powered by an Evinrude outboard also won $2,000.00 in cash just for running a Stratos boat purchased from Smithville Marine. 

Second place went to Rick Wilson from St. Joseph, MO and his non-boater partner Kenny Shinn from Liberty, MO with a five fish limit that weighed 18.20 lbs.  This team had a total of 9 keeper fish on the day catching them on jigs, brush hogs and crankbaits in 4 to 8 foot of water.  Rick took home $2,500.00 in cash and Kenny took home $1,000.00. 

Third place went to the team of Keith Leftridge from Overland Park, KS and his non-boater partner Greg Bennett from Parkville, MO with 4 fish that weighed 12.95 lbs.  This team caught two fish out of the grass, with one fish on a big bite top-toad in white, one fish on a Spro frog and 2 fish on ½ ounce Tru-tungsten black and blue jigs in 10 foot of water.  The combination of tru-tungsten jigs, Falcon Rods and Maxima fluorocarbon gave this team the extra sensitivity they needed when they encountered the extremely light biting fish when fishing the jig.  Keith won $1,000.00 for third place and Greg won $500.00. 

Big bass on the boater side went to Rick Wilson with a 6.50 lb. toad - $420.00

Second big bass on the boater side went to Tom Alsop with a 6.25 lb. fish - $280.00 

Non-boater big fish went to Justin Glenn with a 4.80 lb. fish - $216.00.

Second big fish on the non-boater side went to E.W. Martin with a 3.76 lb. fish - $144.00. 

Highest finisher to run a “non-Stratos” Smithville Marine boat was Dave Letourneau who finished in 20^th place with 4.70 lbs., and because he purchased his boat from Smithville Marine he won $500.00.  As you can see, it pays to run a boat from this dealership!  

Year-end awards were also handed out at the weigh in today. 

Points champions for the 2007 season were Tom Alsop on the boater side and Dave Kendrick on the non-boater side.  Both were awarded with free entry fees in the 2008 MSTA season. 

• 4^th place – Bob Kitterman and Joe Dorcy Sr.  – 3 fish, 11.20 lbs.

• 5^th place – Al Sneed and Roy West – 4 fish, 11.15 lbs.

• 6^th place – Tom Alsop and Mark Shomaker – 3 fish, 9.80 lbs.

• 7^th place – Jeff Stout and Chad McVey – 4 fish, 9.35 lbs.

• 8^th place – Mike Payne and Jin Nguyen – 3 fish, 7.95 lbs.

• 9^th place – Bryce Rieder and Jeff Coleman – 4 fish, 7.90 lbs.

• 10^th place – David Ackermann and Dan Hudlemeyer – 4 fish, 7.35 lbs.

Reported by Tom Alsop
Smithville Marine, Stratos Boats, Evinrude Motors,
7/24 Outdoors, Big Bite Baits, Falcon Rods,
Flying Fisherman Sunglasses, Maxima Line, Spro and
Tru-tungsten sponsor Tom.

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