25th ANNUAL KCKL 95.9 FM BIG BASS TOURNAMENT Cedar Creek Lake March 29-30, 2008 By The KCKL Tournament Staff 2008 marked the 25th Annual gathering of anglers of all ages participating in Annual KCKL Big Bass Tournament. It is amazing how many of the participants have fished 10 to 20 years with us. A handful of faithful supporters have fished the event for all of the 25 years. With a full Cedar Creek Lake, mild temperatures and gentle breezes, the 915 contestants weighed over 450 big bass during the two day event. When all the fishing was concluded, it took a bass over 6 lbs. to stay in the Top 20 of the Final Standings (40 Places were awarded in the Final Standings and 80 Hourly Prizes).

The lucky winner of this year's Tournament was Gene Dodson of Ennis with a 9.72 big bass. Gene took home the $14,000 + Grand Prize of a Triton VT 17 with 50 HP Mercury Outboard, trailer and accessories from North Texas Marine of Fort Worth and Gainesville, a Kistler Helium II LTX rod, and specially embroidered Tournament Champion Tackle Bag and Tournament Champion Hat. 2nd Prize was won by Clifford Wiedman of Magnolia with a 8.02 lb. bass. Clifford took home over $1500 for his catch.


L to R - 2nd Place, Clifford Wiedman of Kistler Rods,
Tournament Director Mike McBurney, 1st Place winner
Gene Dodson, & Tournament Operations
Manager Pat Isaacson

On Saturday morning it quickly became apparent that fishing was going to be good as many anglers were bringing fish into the Hourly weigh-ins. Fishing with a homemade plastic lizard, Gene Dodson of Ennis landed a 9.72 to set the pace for the field to shoot for.


Gene Dodson - 9.72 lbs. 1st Place
in the 25th Annual KCKL Tournament


Clifford Wiedman shows off his
8.02 lb. 2nd Place bass

This year, the bait of choice was soft plastics in the way of lizards, worms, Flukes and Senkos. 2nd Place finisher Clifford Wiedman reported catching his fish on an "ugly" colored brown Senko with a chartreuse tail while testing a new rod. Clifford is Sales Manager for Kistler Rods and has fished with us for the past five years.

In addition to the 125 + Cash Prizes for fish catches, there were over 80 Door Prizes valued at $45 to $225 each including Kistler Rods, Lure Packs from Strike King Lures and Bumper Stumper Lures, and Gift Certificates and merchandise from Wulf Outdoor Stores.

Jason Zapata (a military serviceman on 10 day leave from Iraq) fished the Tournament and won a Kistler rod and Strike King Tackle Pack in the daily Door Prize drawings

One of the increasingly popular aspects of the Tournament is the Youth Division. Under 16 anglers can enter for $10, win prizes in the Youth Division, and they are eligible for all other Tournament prizes including the boat. This year's Youth Division Winner is Austin Megallon of Eustace with a 4.85 lber.

Many years, the Tournament winning bass has been landed on Sunday. Just knowing the history and possibility of a double digit weight bass made 1st day leader Gene Dodson rest a little uneasy. Sunday saw even more 7 lb. + bass weighed in which changed the standings below 3rd Place. This impacted Saturday's 4th Place angler more than most. During the Tournament, Sonny Wilson of Waxahachie landed two bass over 7 lbs. on a Strike King "Sexy Shad" colored crankbait. For his catches, Sonny won both Hourly and Final Standings prize money.

With the flurry of big fish weighed in on Sunday, Sonny dropped to 11th Place overall and just barely missed winning the $500 Cash Bonus Prize from Strike King (the 10th Place angler wins the Bonus if using a Strike King Lure).

With the final weigh-in completed on Sunday afternoon, Gene Dodson's 9.72 lber. held on to take the 1st Prize Triton/Mercury rig. Thanks to Triton Boats, Mercury Outboards, and North Texas Marine for helping us make this Prize package possible.


Austin Megallon - Youth Division Winner

Cody Easley of Canton

We would like to thank and acknowledge all our sponsors and supporters for the 25th Annual KCKL Tournament including Radio Station KCKL 95.9 FM, Triton Boats, Mercury Motors, North Texas Marine, Wulf Outdoors, Dairy Queen, Strike King Lures, Kistler Rods, Sufix Line, Sewin Sam's Embroidered Graphics, and Bumper Stumper Lures.

Mark you calendar now for next year's 26th Annual Tournament. Dates are March 28-29, 2009. More info will be posted at the Tournament web site www.fishingworld.com/kcklbass Hope you can join us.

25th ANNUAL KCKL 95.9 FM BIG BASS TOURNAMENT
Cedar Creek Lake
March 29-30, 2008

OVERALL FINAL STANDINGS

1. Gene Dodson, Ennis 9.72 Triton/Mercury bass rig valued
at $13,900, $200 cash Hourly winnings,
a $329 Kistler Helium II LTX rod, &
a "Tournament Champion Logo" Tackle Bag & Hat
2. Clifford Wiedman, Magnolia 8.02 $1500
3. Brian Markgraf, Ferris 7.98 $1200
4. Mitchell Hulsey, Gun Barrel City 7.82 $1000
5. Chris Ivey, Athens 7.66 $700
6. Carl McCord, Rowlett 7.64 $400
7. Michael Hulsey, Tool 7.55 $375
8. William Palmer, Arlington 7.47 $350
9. Cebo Smith, Scurry 7.45 $350
10. Shawn McCullough, Mabank 7.32 $350
11. L.L "Sonny" Wilson, Waxahachie 7.28 Overall $$ and Hourly $$
12. Greg Norrell, Mabank 6.60 $$
13. Brian Robinson, Grapevine 6.53 $$
14. Roger Mahoney, Blooming Grove 6.52 $$
15. Ricky Phillips, Trinidad 6.46 $$
16. Grady Baker, Malakoff 6.29 $$
17. Tommy Climer, Mesquite 6.23 $$
18. Daman Lewis, Mabank 6.20` $$
19. Blake Oliver, Forney 6.12 $$
20. John Vaught, Wills Point 6.01 $$

40 Places were paid in the OVERALL FINAL STANDINGS

LADIES DIVISION

1. Michelle Richardson, Mabank 4.35 $250 + Kistler Magnesium Rod
2. Meg Hughes, Malakoff 3.59 $150
3. Sharee Anglin, Mabank 3.46 $100
4. Anita McLeod, Springtown 3.43 $75
5. Joanna Tapley, Corsicana 3.14 $75 (also Placed in Youth Div.)

YOUTH DIVISION

(The Youth Division has a $10 Entry Fee, but the Youth contestants are also
eligible for all other Tournament competition awards and Door Prizes)

1. Austin Megallon, Eustace 4.85 $100 + Kistler Magnesium Rod
2. Tucker McCullough, Mabank 4.39 $100
3. Cody Easley, Canton 4.24 $100
4. Christopher Gallepego, Royce City 4.11 $100
5. Jonathan Crocker, Trinidad 3.58 $100
6. Joanna Tapley, Corsicana 3.14 $100
7. Kenny Regal, Kemp 3.10 $100
8. Hunter Morgan, Italy 2.91 $100
9. Cruz Lopez, Waxahachie 2.79 $100
10. Devon Lopez, Waxahachie 2.70 $100 + Kistler Magnesium Rod

Overall, 220 Tournament and Door Prizes were awarded. In addition to the 1st Prize Boat, there were 54 Final Standings checks in three Divisions, 80 Hourly checks, and two even 3.00 lb. $100 checks awarded to the winning anglers. The 80 Door Prizes valued at $45 to $225 were given to contestants attending the final 3:00 Weigh-ins on Saturday and Sunday. This takes more preparation and time to distribute the many prizes, but the contestants continue to prefer to have the prize money spread widely across the field.

More Pictures from the 25th/2008 KCKL Tournament