almost bass masters

[mrhobbs]

Does anyone here belong to ABC? Our tourney is in may at otis res.. It is a great time starts on Fri. night with registration at 6:00 pm. ends Sunday at 3:00 pm with final weigh in. It is a wild time Beerchug Fishing1 what else is there, ohh yea, a big bbq on Sat nite.
Any one interested in going let me know will get more details for you.
This is a very well organized tourney,prize monies, shirts, jackets etc.
If you like bass fishing this is it!!! Entry fee is 15.00 before friday sign in, 20.00 on fri nite
This t has been going for about 25 years a great bunch of guys.

[JayW]

Sounds like a very organized and fun tourny. Where does everyone launch out of and do we need a certain size boat? Maybe a missed it but do you allow teams and of how many per boat? Sorry for the questions but Im seriously interested in doing this. I have never fished in a tourney before and I have a friend on this site with a nice 16ft boat and another friend with a boat up in Otis.

[fisher16]

That sounds like a nice event. I have relatives that live on the lake, and sometimes moore my boat off their dock. In fact I was just up there this afternoon, they just bought a new ski boat for spring. Beerchug Beerchug

[GILL FINN]

is an individual type event, but you can fish with anyone you want, in fact, that's what it's all about. There were about 150 entrants last year, and they have a junior division, incase some of you would like to fish with your kids.

Mass fishing regs apply. You can use live bait if you'd like.

Launch anywhere you want(or can, depending on the water level).
Weigh-ins are at J & D Marina

Last year it was $15.00 per person(not sure of junior rates). Pay outs aren't great, but, again, it's about a good time, and not some high-pressure all-business fishing.

If you've never fished a tourny before, please make sure you have an adequate live well, or aerated cooler to keep your trophies alive for the weigh-in.

[JayW]

My friend has a nice livewell. We used it last year in fact up in Otis while Smally fishing. I heard J and D marina was going to be converted into Condos. Did anyone here anything like that?

[fisher16]

I heard that they are running into difficulties with the permits for the condo's.

[Bass17]

[quote=GILL FINN]is an individual type event, but you can fish with anyone you want, in fact, that's what it's all about. There were about 150 entrants last year, and they have a junior division, incase some of you would like to fish with your kids (quote]

Hi just found this site and hate to make this my first response but the above statement is not entirely true. Sadly the female gender is not allowed to enter the tournament.

[GILL FINN]

And here I was thinking that it was only a matter of not finding any girls/women lacking enough common sense to put up with the rain, wind, snow, and untold number of stories about all the 11 1/2" smallies that were caught.

My apologies for not being clear about the gender issue. I should know better.

This didn't even post where I wanted it to. Dang!

[Bass17]

I dont want to refer to it as "lacking the common sense". I refer to it as "having the DESIRE" to fish! In this day and age when even the real Bassmaster Tournament has recognized the need for a womens division those in charge of the ABM should be ashamed of themselves!!!

[mrhobbs]

heard about the condos too, can't say if just a rumor or true, but if true j.d. marina will be sadly missed by a lot of people had my boat docked there for a couple seasons, a great place to be.

[mrhobbs]

About the female thing never heard you couldn't I just never had the chance to enter my exwife in one {hmmm could be a connection there}.
as far as what size boat don't matter the size as long it passes safety regs you are ok. .Camp overflow opens up for us to camp out it is reasonable rates and they have docks available if you want to keep it in the water either way it is a great time every one helps each other out with stuff.

Now the bad part the otis curse every one that enters gets the curse once at otis got mine the 4th year I was there just put boat in (16 ft glastron with a 40hp merc) started it up at the state ramp and the next thing I knew the engine was shooting flames out from the cowling got it out but couldn't get full power all weekend. ask around every one has a story to tell.it's all good times. look forward to seeing new people this year the weekend before memorial day is usually the tourney will get more info when I receive it.

[fisher16]

I got the curse when I made my maiden voyage on Otis Res. two years ago. It was a chilly swim thats all I have to say about that.

[Toad]

Perhaps a drain plug that was not installed prior to launching? Been there....done that!

It didn't turn into a chilly swim but the feet got nice a wet before the motor was started and a full power run made to drain off the water.

Just curious about your swim? You can tell us. You know nobody here will bust your bells. Yea right!

[fisher16]

Nope not the drain plug, Lets just say I watched my boat float off the trailer out into the res. approximately 100 yards and sit there. Just happy I had my bathing suit on underneath my wind pants or some of the locals would have had a free peek. Smashhead Yikes When I mean locals the squirrels, and the birds. There was nobody else around that could assist me so I had to take a swim. Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Toad]

I haven't managed that mishap yet. I have screwed up in several other ways though. Don't it make ya feel foolish when something like that happens. If ya can;t laugh at yerself who can ya laugh at.