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SKINIOTES
& MCKINNIS WIN CHARGER AT LAKE EUFAULA |
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16.16
Gets the Win |
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Story
by Dru Smith
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Eufaula, OK – The second tournament of the ’08 season on the Charger Fisherman’s Choice, LLC team trail launched on Lake Eufaula, Sunday. Saturday’s cooler conditions gave way to clear skies and blustery western winds. Following the BFL event that took over 22 pounds to win, 103 teams went out with hopes of catching five bass large enough to secure the guaranteed $3,000.00 first place money.
The state had seen some heavy rainfall and with more to come, the Corps of Engineers continued to release water from the lake dropping the lake level almost six inches during the competition. However, the water had warmed over the last week and pre-spawn bass were staging in the shallow waters.
The team of Bishop and Briggs found the largest bass of the day weighing in at 5.61 pounds to secure the big bass honors and $1,030.00 in cash. George Skiniotes and Wade McKinnis boated the second biggest bass of the tournament at 5.52. That fished anchored their winning limited of 16.16 pounds giving the jovial team a $4,614.00 pay day.
David Landes and Kevin Kooke continued their hot streak posting a second place finish at Lake Eufaula. A limit totaling 15.97 pounds earned the team $2,303.00 pushing their total winnings over $3000.00 so far this year on the Charger trail.
The father and son team of Ronnie and Garret Cooley came in third with five fish that weighed 15.88 pounds earning the Oklahoma City anglers $1,446.00 cash.
Overall, 11 limits were brought to the scales. The 103 teams combined to catch 155 fish totaling almost 400 pounds. The Charger Fisherman’s Choice LLC staff handed out more than $14,000.00 in cash and prizes.
The next Charger event will take place on Lake Murray the 4th of May.
Big George Finds Five
With his trademark cigar stuck in the corner of his mouth, George Skiniotes waited patiently to see if his team’s limit of 16.16 pounds would hold up. Once it was determine they were the winners, the cigar could not hide his huge smile. “We had just five bites today,” he said. “I think one was on a bed and the others were staging.”
After practicing on Saturday with just one bite to show for their efforts, they returned to the same area with hopes of the fish turning on. “I thought it ought to be a good spot. We toughed it out all day and finally got the bites. We beat the same bushes over and over. Sponsored by Falcon rods, Charger Boats and Thomas Marine, George and Wade added another $1,000.00 to their winnings as part of Thomas Marine’s incentive program that pays their customers incentive money for each win.
Landes and Kooken Move into Second
With their second place finish on Eufaula and their third on Texoma, the team sponsored by United Rentals moved into second place in the Angler of the Year race. “We had eight bites today and caught five fish,” David said. “The fish were all pre-spawn bass that came off secondary points.”
Sticking to one area, the team spent all day searching for the right fish. “It was slow. The whole key to getting these fish to bite was being patient. You had to work the bait slow.”
Father and Son team up on Eufaula Bass
The Cooley’s continue to be a force on the Charger Team Trail. Having won the Lake Murray event last year, Ronnie and Garret are poised to make a serious charge at the AOY title. “We caught 9 keepers today,” Ronnie said. “We cover a lot of water and all our bites came in about an hour and a half.”
The team sponsored by Champion Boats, Hart Tackle and Nichols Marine, stayed in the muddy water of Lake Eufaula to boat their third place sack of 15.88 pounds. “The dirtier water didn’t seem to affect the fish. These bass were staging bass, weighting to come up and spawn.”
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