Hard Core (Major League Fishing format) is pretty cool getting to count every fish you catch.

Like the real TV show every fish Over 10" counts. You must catch 6 LB + in one of the qualifying tournament to move into the semi-final. We set it low so most of our members would make to the second level. Then in the semi-final on a portion of the lake drawn that morning:

The first ten members to catch 8 lbs will record it on the back of their score sheet and have the other person in the boat sign the sheet and record the time. They will qualify for the finals in November. Which will be held in one of the two remaining lake sections.

Today (1/19) was qualifying tournament # 1

I'd like to tell you the fishing was easy and the weather warm because the weather man said it would be. Not so for sure.
Cold and windy all day and very unusual for us that someone didn't step out of the pack and really smack them. Water temps around 51.

Boaters:
First place went to Randy Steele of Sulphur Springs with 8 bass for 8.94 with a 2.36 lunker.
Second place went to Jerry Krone of Hawkins with 4 bass for 7.78 with a 3.31 lunker
Third place went to Brian Dick of Alba with 2 bass for 6.72 and the 3.7 lunker.

Co-Anglers (Judges)
First place went to Jack White of Yantis with 5 bass for 6.53 and a 2.81 lunker.
Second place went to Ken Kielbas of Arlington with 3 bass for 3.87 with a 1.77 lunker.
Third place went to Bruce Allen of Emory with 3 bass for 3.46 (I know pitiful) with a 1.49 lunker
The lunker went to Gene Shoemaker with a 3.09 bass.

4 members advanced to the semi-final. Jack White, Randy Steele, Jerry Krone and Brian Dick.

For info in fishing this tournament and others put on by the Lake Fork Anglers contact me at sjbasser@aol.com or PM me on here. We have openings for both boaters and co-anglers right now. This is a club that fishes only on Thursday daytime.Dues are $5 a year.

All of our tournaments are priced for seniors as follows. $10 entry 100% payback, $1 for club and $1 for the Top 6 team* So Total entry of $12. Optional lunker pool 80% payback of $5. Optional 100% payback side pot for $10 per person.

In addition to this format that we call "Hard Core" we also fish our regular every other Thursday tournament all at Lake Fork on a draw style fishing. All of our tournament "paper" the bass and slot fish count.

If you are as "Hard Core" as some of us you can fish every Thursday like we do. And some Fridays too. And then Opens on the weekend.

Hey we are seniors and we are supposed to be doing something to keep us healthy and our minds sharp and get some vitamin D. LOL At least that is what you need to tell your wife.