***NOTE: THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18^TH, DUE TO THE HOLIDAY SEASON!!!  ****

Our club fished good ole Lake Welsh on Saturday, December 1^st.  While most reported prefishing that was less than spectacular from a keeper fish perspective, the day of the tournament saw some high numbers of over 18” fish come in.  First place went to the team of Riley Hamilton and Cody Spoerl with 3 solid fish at 13.29 pounds.  The team of James Cannon and Tom Baxter finished a close second with 3 fish at 11.59 pounds.  Bringing in the third place sack was the team of Martin Kralik and John Duhon with 3 fish at 11.24 pounds.  Big bass of the event went to James Cannon, who barely beat out Riley with a fine 5.45 pound hawg.   Five of the nine boats in the event brought keepers to the scales, with four boats weighing in three keepers each.  Cranks, wacky style finesse worms, and other soft plastics fished Carolina rigged seemed to be the predominant patterns from the early reports.   Seventeen anglers total brought in 14 bass at 53.25 pounds, a 3.80 pound average.  Thanks to everyone for participating and congratulations to the winners. We hope to see everyone next month at the next event of the 2007-2008 season on the popular power plant lake, Lake Monticello, January 5th.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

We ask that you all please keep long time member Dino Francis and his family in your thoughts and prayers as Dino continues his battle with a very aggressive cancer.  Dino is one of the classiest and nicest competitors every to grace our club.  I’m very proud to have met a quality person such as himself through our group.  Going back to the very first full season of Rodbenders Bass Club in 1992, Dino was a role model to many of us that were new to bass clubs and tournament fishing in general.  He won or placed in the majority of the tournaments he fished in, served as a past president, and even won the coveted Angler of the Year Award.  He is what most of us aspire to be all about – great competitor, class act, role model, mentor, friend, and brother on the water.  Tight lines to you Dino, my friend.  May your livewell always be full and your smile be as bright as the sunrise when the pattern comes together.