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MARTIN
AND NEELEY WIN CHARGER AT MURRAY |
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17.80
Gets the Win - Limit Anchored by 10.83 Big Bass |
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Story
by Dru Smith
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Ardmore, OK
– On a picture perfect Sunday, Charger Fisherman’s Choice, LLC held their third event of the year at Lake Murray. 102 teams from all across Oklahoma and Texas entered the event for a chance at the guaranteed $3,000.00 prize money given to the winner.
After the cool start to the day, the temperature warmed into the 70s by the time the scales opened for weigh-in. When you mix the Charger Team trail with the abundant fish of Lake Murray it equates to almost 650 lbs of fish being weigh. In fact, the Charger Staff handle 70 limits and 422 fish before the scales were finally closed.
Even before the final fish was brought to the scales, the outcome of Sunday’s event was already determined. The one man team of Ray Martin and Donny Neeley -- Donny was absent for this tournament—brought a giant Lake Murray largemouth to the scales at 10.83 pounds to anchor the winning bag of 17.80 pounds. Ray single handedly earned $3,854.00 for his catch on Sunday.
Coming in with a hard earned, all be it a distant, second place finish was the Charlie Young and Allen Williams. The team representing a title sponsor, C and D Concrete, brought 12.51 pounds to the scales and left with a check for $2,315.00.
In third was the father and son team of John and Byron Biondi. The pair from Arlington, Texas came in with five fish that totaled 11.53 pounds to earn $1,434.00 for third place.
All told, 14 teams grabbed part of the $10,801.00 in prize money. As always with on the Charger trail, several door prizes were given away including two free entries to the next event to be held on Lake Eufaula, June 1st.
One Bite Pays Big
The key to winning on Lake Murray is getting that one quality bite. On Sunday that bite came in the form of 10.83 pound black bass. Ray Martin already had two fish in the livewell by 8 a.m., but his third bite of the day would seal the win for the angler from Lawton. “She was under the boat, under the trolling motor, I wasn’t sure I could get her in,” Ray said when asked about his catch. “The area I was in had a lot of grass and sticks in the water so I am fortunate to have gotten her to the boat.”
Ray caught several fish throughout the day and was able to cull up to his finishing weight of 17.80 pounds, but that one bite was enough to earn him and his partner an additional $1,000.00 along with the coveted Lake Murray trophy.
Payback For Second
Charlie Young along with C & D Concrete help sponsor the Charger Fisherman’s Choice, LLC tournament trail. By donating time and money, including a free entry fee to each event, C & D Concrete is a big part of why the Charger Trail has been so successful. On Sunday, Charlie and his partner, Allen Williams got a little payback. The team finished with a five fish limit totaling 12.51 pounds to earn $2,315.00. “We stayed in one spot all day long,” Charlie said. “I bet we didn’t burn two gallons of gas.” Charlie and Allen caught several limits of both small and largemouth fish and their final bag consisted of two smallies and three blacks. “We started the day throwing crankbaits and then switched to a Carolina rig,” Charlie revealed.
Momma Pays Her Dues
John Biondi, the father side of the father son team, admitted that his only sponsor is his wife Donna. “She used to be fish with me all the time,” laughed John. “I’ve changed partners over the last few years, but I enjoy fishing with my son.” John and his son Byron culled through several smallmouths caught from the southern end of the lake before heading north to chase the bigger largemouths. “Every smallie we caught was the same size,” he said. “If you don’t have nine pounds or better here, you won’t do any good.”
They were able to cull a couple of the smaller fish and finished the day with 11.43 pounds and a check in the amount of $1,434.00.
Once again, the men and women that make up the Charger Staff are to be commended. 93 of the 102 teams brought fish to the scales and the Charger Staff made sure the entire event, including the 422 fish weigh-in, went flawlessly.
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