The East Kentucky Division’s 2010 season came to a hot close at the Ohio River on July 24th. Hot muddy water from heavy rains earlier in the week proved to be a challenge for our anglers on Saturday, but the excitement from Friday evening meal and meeting carried everyone through a muggy day on the water.
Summit Church of the Nazarene 310 Summit Rd. Ashland Ky 41102 provided a great meeting location with member Phil Robinson (and family) providing a delicious meal of fried fish, fries, hush puppies, garden tomatoes, pasta salad, baked beans. The meal was completed with “momma” Robinson’s homemade blackberry cobbler, topped with vanilla ice cream. We noticed more than one angler (and staff) rubbing their stomachs at the end of the meal from eating too much. Thank you to all who helped with the meal.
The devotional portion of the meeting began with Ben Mollett delivering two beautiful upbeat Gospel songs. Phil Robinson followed with his personal testimony of how God has used a special daughter to turn a “rough” man into someone that “is not perfect, just forgiven”. Phil then asked the anglers present if anyone would like to share their testimony. Scott Rowland told us of his battle with cancer and how God used the illness and friends to draw him closer. Scott read the story in Luke chapter 16 starting at verse 19 of the rich man and Lazarus, and how during treatment he could not drink water for six weeks. Scott not only identified with the “rich man” wanting water, he challenged each of us to be prepared, challenged each of us to be with him in Heaven and to not get caught on the other side of the “great chasm that is fixed”.
Tournament morning was muggy and warm with the muddy water dropping slightly. As the early morning clouds gave way to a scorching sun the temperature climbed to 98.9 under the canopy at weigh in time. Hot, muddy, fast water provided a difficult test for our teams. Two teams were able to plow the muddy water for a total of five keeper size bass. Although the fishing day had not been great, as sense of excitement was in the air as all the teams present had qualified for the Regional on Kentucky lake on September 24 and 25, and the team of Mike Castle and Ben Cox claimed the Division Points Champion award.
As we said our goodbyes, the excitement of planning a second (and many more) East Kentucky Division seasons could be felt from the anglers and staff above the feelings of lonesomeness, longing, and just not wanting the season to be over.
Results for the event were:
First place team of Mike Miller and Tommy Kouns with 4.73
Second place team of Mike Castle and Ben Cox with 1.87.
Big fish first place was won by Ben Cox with 1.87,
Big fish second place was won by Mike Miller with 1.48.
Thanks,
Artie, JimBy: Jim Skidmore
