Staff Reports

The 9th annual Old Nick’s Speckled Trout Shootout was held from May 23-31 with many avid fisherman hauling in some of the largest specimens during the last few days of the event.
Nick’s Restaurant in Basin Bayou sponsors this annual event which brings out lots of local fishermen and their families who enjoy the large variety of divisions that allows everyone who weighs-in a fish receive a tournament t-shirt. Trophies, rods and reels, tackle boxes, gift certificates and cash prizes were awarded to several of the 120 anglers who participated in the event.
Miles Hicks won the overall competition and the speckled trout prize with a catch that weighed in at 6.21 pounds and was 26.5 inches long.
The Catfish Classic, for children under the age of 12, was captured by Andrew Ham, who posted the highest combined weight total of 74.38 pounds. Children were allowed to weigh-in three saltwater catfish per day with the total over the nine-day tournament determining the winner.
Don Graff took home the Most Dedicated Fisherman Award for 2009 as he vigilantly fished for all nine days, despite inclement weather at times during the event.
Divisions also included the Gator Trout Division, for the five best speckled trout that were 24 or more inches in total length. The Leonard Smith Special for the largest trout weighed-in on Saturday, May 30. The Weekend Warrior Division for trout weighed-in on May 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31 only and the Trash Fish Division for under-17-year-old fisherman for anything caught except trout or catfish. The Junior Division was made up for fisherman ages 13-17.
Trey Nick once again weighed-in every fish and kept the leader board updated as the event progressed to its conclusion. Nick’s Restaurant hosted a fish-fry dinner and awards ceremony on Monday, June 1, in Basin Bayou.

Division Standings:
Under-12 Speckled Trout Winners
1. Case Woodard     4.49 pounds
2. Levi Sasser              3.10
3. Eli Smith                2.66
4. Max Smith                2.46
5. Matthew Lovejoy      2.34

Catfish Classic (combined weight)
1. Andrew Ham       74.38 pounds
2. Levi Sasser              69.81
3. Laura Ham               58.54
4. Matthew Lovejoy      52.39
5. Emma Pilcher     51.29
6. Case Woodard     38.36
7. Jade Dalton              8.50

Junior Division
1. Case Pilcher           5.78
2. Nick Donaldson      5.10
3. Austin Woodard       4.85

Junior Division-Trash Fish
1. Levi Sasser              42.74
2. Dalton Morrison       27.02
3. Daniel Colburn         16.57

Leonard Smith Division
1. J.R. Cox                   9.02
2. Thomas Smith       8.58
3. Miles Hicks            8.21

Overall Winners- Speckled Trout
1. Miles Hicks            6.21
2. Sid Little                 6.05
3. Kermitt Miller          5.89
4. Case Pilcher           5.78
5. Rob Hock                   5.45
6. Nick Donaldson       5.10
T7. Raymond Johnson 5.03
T7. Darryl Frazier        5.03
9. Greg Noble               4.91
10. Austin Woodard      4.85
11. Jake Dearman        4.83

Weekend Warrior
1. Patrick Pilcher          12.51
2. Cindy Jones          10.07
3. Junior Cox                 9.28

Gator Trout Division
1. Sid Little               21.40
2. Darryl Frazier       14.92
3. Raymond Johnson 14.14