RSS Feed
 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fun, entertainment and giving back at Beaumont Boys weekend
Tracy Byrd began this legacy more than a decade ago. Being so proud and appreciative of his community that gave him such support while he was trying to make it in his singing career, he put together the Tracy Byrd Big Bass tournaments with a concert afterward to give something back. Each year, there was a beneficiary designated, from the Boys & Girls clubs to the Children's Miracle Network. When hurricane Rita devastated West Louisiana and East Texas, his annual coming home weekend was postponed. Taking two years to re-organize and re-group, a couple of his friends, Mark Chesnut and Zona Jones wanted to join in and make it an even bigger annual weekend event. The Coushatta Casino Resort and Ranger Boats came on board to help sponsor the tournament in a big way, as well as several others. This years' beneficiaries include the Children's Miracle Network, Netcasters Youth Ministries, the Garth House, Boys' Haven, Girl's Haven, and The Humane Society.
It was the most beautiful entire weekend we have seen so far this year. Anglers and onlookers gathered at the Umphrey Family Pavilion for the big bass tournament Saturday April 26. 7:00-8:00
Radio Station KJCS 103.3 out of Nacogdoches was on site keeping the listeners informed with the up to the minute standings. The first angler of the day to weigh in was Jim Robins with an exact 4 pound bass. As more anglers came in to weigh, Jim warmed each of the top 5 seats until he was eventually bumped out of the standings. Damon Rogers brought in the bass to beat during this hour.
More anglers came trickling to the scales during the 8:00-9:00 hour. The first to weigh in this hour was at 8:44, Victor Jones of Lake Charles. He ended up winning the last place and $100. With only minutes to spare on the official time clock, more and more fishermen came to the pavilion holding their fish in the back tanks debating on whether to hold 'em or weigh 'em this hour or next. The clock was ticking down, and with only seconds left Kevin Biskamp brought his fish to the scales, weighing 7.73 to take the top seat and $1,000! Top Five 8:00-9:00 Ranger Boats representatives were on hand to answer questions about Ranger Boats and special financing incentives they have to offer. They also offered demo rides!
The first person to weigh in this hour was 10 year old Ashley Biskamp with a 4.36 lb bass. More anglers on stand-by in the back tanks waiting till the last minute to weigh. Here's an interesting note - the Biskamps won checks during two hours at this point in the tournament. The boat they are fishing out of, a Ranger Comanche, that Kevin won in the 2002 Tracy Byrd Big Bass tournament catching a 9.01 lb bass! He fished that tournament with his mom. Today he is fishing with his daughter, and mom is fishing with his brother. Three generations - it's a family tradition! There were a lot more fish brought in, but when it was all said and done the five pounders ruled the board. Top Five 10:00-11:00
1st $1,000 5.57 lbs Dave Cormier Pt Neches, TX
There were a lot of anglers ready to weigh as soon as the hour opened. The bar was already beginning to rise in the plight for a check. Top Five 11:00 - 12:00
The smell of BBQ filled the air as the Triple "S" Industrial Corp brought its chuckwagon and cooked hot links for all the hungry people.
Tracy made it in, and socialized with everyone in the crowd. Of all the hours, the most fish were brought in and weighed this hour. Many of the bigger fish of the day were reported to be caught shallow, about three feet deep, and most of them on wacky worms. Damon Rogers of Beaumont, Texas won the tournament with his 9.05 lb bass he weighed during the first hour. "I caught her in about 8' on a watermelon/chartreuse lizard" he said. In addition to the $1,000 hourly check he also won the Grand Prize package of a 2008 177TR 40th Anniversary Edition Ranger ass Boat with trailer and Yamaha motor valued at $25,000. After the hourly checks were divvied, the top 40 anglers were given additional prizes that included Berkley & Lucky Strike lure packages, American Rodsmiths rods, Justin Boots certificates, Mossy Oak camo, a mini Motorcycle from Tyler County ATV and for the 2nd place winner Kevin Biskamp, $5,000 in cash. Saturday night the Boys put on an outdoor concert for everyone to enjoy. It was held outdoors back on Crocket Street in Beaumont, and more than 1,000 people came out to enjoy the event. Of all the charities that benefited from the weekend, special emphasis was given to the Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The unit has been in dire need of refurbishing and remodeling. |
for larger version       Ads have a Patent Pending. Click Here for More Information |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
)
)
)