First fishing tournament of the season held at Roosevelt Lake

On Saturday, Sept. 14, Roosevelt Lake was still in the 100 degrees range. The fishing was just as hot — 44 of the 51 teams in the first fishing tournament of the season caught their limit of five fish. A total of 233 fish were caught weighing 605 pounds for an average of 2.60 pounds.

First place went to the Payson team of Kyle Edwards and Tanner Thomason with 20.42 pounds with a big fish of 4.96 pounds. Second place went to Ri and Mike Nay from Tucson with 18.05 pounds and a big fish of 4.27 pounds.

Third place went to Brandon Morton and Mason Smook from Glendale with 16.15 pounds. Fourth place went to Brad McKinney from Mesa and Chad McKinney from Payson with 15.99 pounds with second place big fish of 5.32 pounds.

The fifth place Team of Danny Uptain from Mesa and Brian Mathus from San Tan had 15.92 pounds with the big fish of the tournament at 5.88 pounds.

Other local anglers were Alex and John Whaley from Payson with 14.49 pounds coming in 11th Place; 20th place went to John Fuqua and Tyson Christman from Star Valley with 13.69 pounds; 25th Pplace went to Kasey Chamberlin and Hannah Chapman; 29th Place went to Jimmy and Trevor Johns; and 39th Place went to Bob and Mary Hayn from Tonto Basin. Others were Jeff Purington from Heber and Grant Cooper from Forest Lakes, Arnold and Nathan Tsosie from Payson.

In the Crappie Division, first place went to Florin Nesiu from Phoenix and Randy Blachley from Mesa with seven Crappie weighing 12.19 pounds and their big Crappie was 2.03 pounds.

Second place went to Robert Geist, Josh McKnight and Barbie weighing in 11.77 pounds with a big fish of 1.88 pounds. Big Crappie of the tournament went to the team of James Rollins, Gilbert Seballos, Max and Todd Talliman with 2.21 pounds.

In the Crappie division you can have up to four team members fishing. Live bait and trolling is also allowed.

Also, The “Goon Fish” for Crappie can be anything but Crappie and the Bass Division “Goon” Fish is anything except Bass. The Crappie Team of Delong caught a 22-pound Flathead Catfish with a four-pound test line, It broke the pole as it was being netted. The Bass side had a 33-pound Flathead caught by Chris Dispain.

Go to letstalkfishin.com for full results and more pictures.

We would like to thank our sponsors that help make these tournaments possible: A&M Graphics, Big O Tires-Globe, KRIM, LIL Chunk Baits, Lucas Oil, Mountain Home Interiors, Myers Metal Works, Payson Packaging, Peregrine 250, Rim Country Custom Rods, Roadrunner Rubbish, Ridgetopp Insulation, Lowery’s Windows and Doors, Slate Creek Concrete, Rim Country Taxes, State Farm, 260 Roadhouse-Forest Lakes, DD26, Garage Custom Baits, and Mudshark Marine.

Next Tournament is Oct. 26 at Roosevelt Lake Windy Hill. Come join us.