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| Lance Williams, of Billings, Mo, winner of the Professional Division of the Skeeter/Yamaha CPAA Tournament at Beaver Lake, displays two of bass contributing to his tournament winning total of 22.17 pounds. |
The first tournament of the “2009 Central Pro-Am Association (CPAA) Schedule,” sponsored by Skeeter/Yamaha is history. The bass tournament was held recently on Beaver Lake with the take off and weigh in at Prairie Creek. It was the first tournament under the new ownership of Jim Thompson and using the new format of two separate tournaments, a one day Pro-Am Tournament on Saturday followed by a separate Team Tournament on Sunday.
Prior to the tournament Thompson said, “We are getting everything ready and are very excited about it.” When asked how he felt, after the tournament he said, “We were just tickled to death,” the fishing was great and all the participants just seemed glad to be there and were having a great time.
He went on to explain that in the “Pro-Am” tournament there are two divisions, “Professional” and “Amateur.” For the “Pro-Am Tournament” on Saturday, March 7, Thompson said that 78 fishermen fished in the “Professional Division” and 54 fished the “Amateur Division.” Each “Professional” has to have a boat for the tournament. Each “Amateur” is randomly assigned to fish with one of the Professionals.
He said that although there are two people in the boat they are not fishing as a team, but against the other anglers in their respective divisions, the professionals are fishing only against the other professionals and the amateurs only against the other amateurs. Thompson also pointed out that the professional controls the boat, fishes from the front of the boat while the amateur must fish from the back of the boat and has no control over where the boat goes.
Although Beaver Lake is the smallest of the Tri-Lakes’ lakes some hefty bass were caught. In the Professional Division Lance Williams, Billings, MO, won the first place prize of $2,615.00 with a five bass limit of 22.17 pounds. Matt Jones, Spokane, MO, won the second place prize of $1,802.00 with a five bass limit weighing 19.94 pounds and the top three was rounded out by Don Woolsey, Rogers, AR, who won the third place prize of $1,495 with a five bass limit weighing 14.78 pounds.
In the Amateur Division Matt Pruden, Springdale, AR, won a first place prize of $1,022.00 with three bass weighing 8.04 pounds. Scott Jones, Rogers AR, won the $730.00 second place prize with three bass weighing 7.84 pounds and Bobby King, Gentry, AR, won the third place prize of $620.00 with three bass weighing 7.05 pounds.
On Sunday, March 8, the tournament was a “Team Tournament” composed of two angler teams. Each team could weight in a total of five bass with the highest team weight determining the winner and placement. The first place prize of $1,476 was won by Mike Webb and Tim Sainato with five bass weighing 15.79 pounds, second place with a prize of $996.00 went to David Barker and Billy Bird with five bass weighing 15.78 pounds and the third place prize of $756.00 went to JR Beehler and Kyle Sarratt with five bass weighing 14.95 pounds.
In addition to the prize money for the tournament, each of the top ten finishers in each division of the Pro-Am Tournament held on March 7 and the Team Tournament held on March 8 qualifies to fish the no fee “Skeeter-Yamaha Central Pro-Am Association Championship” providing they have fished in at least five of the seven “2009 Skeeter-Yamaha CPAA Schedule” Tournaments.
The Pro-Am Championship, with a minimum 1st place prize of $12,000 for the Professional Division and $6,000 for the Amateur Division will be held at Stockton Lake Sep. 12-13. The Team Championship, with a minimum 1st place prize of $10,000 will be held at Bull Shoals Lake Oct. 3-4.
