Although bass clubs seem to be a thing of the past, with young fishermen wanting to fish for money and not joining clubs, they are still very important to me. I joined the Spalding County Sportsman Club in 1974, the Flint River Bass Club in 1978 and the Potato Creek Bassmasters in 2015 and currently fish three club tournaments each month.
All three clubs start their new tournament years this month, with Flint River starting Sunday, January 8. All are accepting new members and I have an open seat in my boat for the Flint River Club if anyone is interested in joining and trying club fishing.
The Flint River club meets the first Tuesday each month at Panda Bear and fishes our tournaments the following Sunday. We have two two-day tournaments each year. Dues are $20 annually and tournament entry fee is #25 with a $5 daily big fish pot. We also have two additional optional pots, $5 for the cumulative pot that increases until someone catches a six-pound bass and a $5 points pot that is split with half going to the points winner at the end of the year and half going to a raffle for all that are paid up.
The Potato Creek Bassmasters meet the Monday after the first Tuesday and fish our tournaments the following Saturday. We have three two-day tournaments each year. Dues are $50 a year and entry fees are $30 and the daily big fish pot is $5. There is an optional $5 cumulative pot.
The Sportsman Club meets the third Tuesday each month and fishes our tournaments the following Sunday, with two two-day tournaments. Dues are $50 each year and entry fee is $25 with a $5 daily big fish pot. There is an additional $5 cumulative pot.
Both Potato Creek and Sportsman Club have Club Classics. For those a member must fish at least 8 of the 12 monthly tournaments or finish in the top 8 in the points standings the previous year. Part of club entry fees are saved all year to make a nice payout in those tournaments for the top five fishermen in them.
There is a point system in each club and the top fishermen each year get plaques. Trying to place high in each club is important to me, probably more so than for most other members. Club competition is at a lower level that other types of bass tournaments but as long as I can compete at the club level I will keep trying.
In the Flint River Club 100 points are awarded to first place in each tournament. Second gets 90 points dropping ten points per place like that to 10 points for 10th. Fishermen catching a fish but finishing lower than 10th gets five points. In addition, ten points are awarded for attending the meeting and 20 for attending the tournament.
In Flint River this past year I placed first with 1410 points and caught 46 keeper bass weighing 75.7 pounds in 12 tournaments. I was the only one to attend all 12. Don Gober placed second with 890 points and 26 bass weighing 35.63 pounds. His grandson Alex was third with 800 points, 25 bass and 32.03 pounds.
Fourth place went to Niles Murray with 660 points, 35 bass and 46.25 pounds. Fifth was Lee Hancock with 530 points, 25 bass and 35.38 points. Doug Acree rounded out the top six with 480 points, 22 bass and 28.13 pounds. My 4.19 pound largemouth caught at Sinclair in March was big fish.
Potato Creek awards 100 points for first down to 10 for tenth and five points for catching a fish if you fish lower. Each meeting will get you five points and you get an additional 20 points for attending the tournament.
In the Potato Creek club I placed first with 1015 points and 72 bass weighing 131.09 pounds. Raymond English came in second with 900 points, 65 bass and 111.44 pounds. Third was Lee Hancock with 760 points, 58 bass and 91.67 pounds.
Fourth place went to Michael Cox with 680 points, 36 bass and 65.85 pounds. Fifth was Kwong Yu with 595 points, 61 bass and 83.91 pounds. Caleb Delay completed the top six with 560 points, 44 bass and 72.60 pounds. Tom Tanner had big fish for the year with a 5.78 pounder.
The Sportsman Club gives 25 points for first dropping one point per place down to one point for 25th. One bonus point is awarded for each meeting attendance, tournament attendance, weighing in a limit and having big fish.
With 301 points and 56 bass weighing 93.01 pounds I won the Sportsman Club standings. Jay Gerson was a close second with 299 points, 56 bass and 82.17 pounds. Raymond English placed third with 289 points, 55 bass and 95.14 pounds.
Fourth place went to Kwong Yu with 283 points, 53 bass and 73.93 pounds. Fifth was Zane Fleck with 39 bass, 55.56 pounds. Glenn Anderson was sixth with 199 points, 31 bass and 48.34 pounds. My 5.63 pound largemouth caught in September at Oconee was big fish for the year.
Club fishing is a lot of fun and can be educational. Contact me at [email protected] for more information on the clubs in Griffin.