Small Boat Bass Club Calcutta Results

The 2008 Calcutta season is now in the books.  This year saw us fishing almost all of the usual local lakes and at least one new one.  We began the year at Zorinsky where John K. showed us that there were still good numbers of bass if you know where to cast your jig.  Next we fished Wehrspann at the Chalco Hills Recreation Area.  This was our first time fishing the lake in the spring in some time, and it did not disappoint.  Nick V. started the day with 21 and ½" bass on a buzzbait, the largest of the year.  Our next event ended up being a bit of a problem as heavy rains brought Standing Bear up to levels where you could no longer use the launch ramp.  Most of the other lakes in the area were affected as well, so back to Wehrspann we went.  This event proved to be a bit tougher with Dan P. edging out Rod F. on the strength of a 19 and 5/8" bass.  Dan caught his fish on a ring fry.  Quinn P. who was fishing with Dan also caught an important fish that day on his way to 3^rd place.  Quinn's 18" bass was the second largest fish caught on the non-boater side for the year.  The plan for June was to travel to Lincoln to fish a twofer.  Pre-fish reports for Stagecoach and Wagon Train lakes were promising, but once again the rain made both of these lakes all but impossible to get a boat on.  After some quick work by our Calcutta Director (yours truly) we were on our way to Iowa to fish Anita and Prairie Rose.  The morning event at Lake Anita was worth the trip generating over 11,000 fish points for the folks that made it.  When the smoke cleared, Dave A. was the clear winner, fishing a brown Chompers grub in the brush piles.  After a quick stop for lunch, it was over to Prairie Rose where Bill Collins fished shady banks with a ring fry earn his spot in the winner's circle.  Summit Lake was our destination for July.  The lake is known for turning out large numbers of fish, but not so many big ones.  As expected, we did catch a lot of bass, but what else was encouraging was that there were more larger fish caught than the last time we were there.  Dan P.  stepped up for his second calcutta victory of the year, edging out Dave A. and his 3 Missouri limit, with a limit of his own that included the second big bass of the year, a 20 and ½" bass that he caught on a topwater frog.  Man I am jealous!  Larry P.  earned his way into calcutta history as a non-boater when he landed an 18 and ½" bass on a really expensive crankbait.  Good thing it was the non-boater big bass for 2008, as Larry lost the bait and one other like it later in the day.  Finally we made it to Walnut Creek.  We will need to fish out here earlier in 2009.  This lake turned out several limits and a lot of good fish in spite of being held in August.  From what I heard, fishing during practice was better than during the event.  Anyway, Scott G. notched his first calcutta win of the year with a limit that included a 20 and ¼" bass, the third largest fish on the boater side for the year.  Scott was fishing his favorite technique, pitching a beaver in the brush.  The season ended at Prairie Rose, with much at stake, including the points championship.  Scott G. was trying to hold off several fisherman including Rod F., Dave A., Mark L. and Alex N.  The fact that you earned 1.5X the normal fish points for this one meant that anyone with a 1000 point card was probably going to win the entire year.  There was one 1000+ point card turned in that day, but it was not turned in by anyone previously mentioned.  Instead, Randy M. ended up lapping the field with his 1035 points which included the events big bass of 17 and ¼".  Fortunately for Scott G., Randy was not entered in the calcutta pool for the year, and  even though he did pass Scott for total points, he will not be receiving an entry fee rebate at the next banquet.  Randy, I will buy you a drink at the banquet….

Here are the winners for the 2008 calcutta season series.

Calcutta Boater Division:

1^st   Scott G.  – 3,717.5 points

2^nd  Rod F. – 3,542.5 points

3^rd  Dave A. – 3,100 points

Big Bass Boater Division:

        1^st   Nick V. – 21.5"

        2^nd  Dan P. – 20.5"

        3^rd  Scott G. – 20.25"

Calcutta Non-boater Division:

        1^st   Larry P. – 2,435 points

        2^nd  Quinn P. – 2,242.5 points

Big Bass Non-boater Division:

        1^st   Larry P. – 18.5"

        2^nd  Quinn P. – 18"

The only thing that remains to be decided is the Calcutta of Champions this weekend at a mystery lake near you.