logo
Login Subscribe
Google Play App Store
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinion
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
      • Opinion
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
Big payday for fishing tournament winners
News
October 12, 2023
Big payday for fishing tournament winners

One winner from McAlester

Boater Cody Carl of Lotawana, Missouri, brought a three-day total of 14 bass to the scale weighing 41 pounds even to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula.

Ian Leybas, of McAlester, placed second with 13 bass weighing a total of 32 pounds, 13 ounces. He won $11,450 For his victory, Carl earned $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000. Carl also received automatic entry into the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, May 29-31, at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee.

“This was a whirlwind,” Carl said. “I didn’t get a keeper bite in four days of practice. The first day of the tournament I started out running points where I thought maybe I could get a keeper bite. That didn’t happen for me, so, I just started fishing my strength – flipping docks.”

Carl said he had never fished Lake Eufaula, and decided his best approach would be to fish how he would on his home water of Lake of the Ozarks and see what happened.

“Before the first day of the tournament I wanted to pack it up and go home,” Carl said. “I knew I just had to put my head down and grind. So, I just started fishing like I knew how, and I stumbled across this ‘magic’ dock that produced all my fish for three days.”

Later in the afternoon on the tournament’s opening day, Carl said he came across a dock that had set up just right for bass at this time of year. There was a cold front moving in, water temperatures were dropping, the dock sat in 8 feet of water on one side and 17 on the other, and shad were funneling into the dock, providing a perfect ambush spot for bass.

“I didn’t have anything else,” Carl said. “I left it Thursday just hoping the fish would be there again on Friday.

“On Day 2 I tried to run some other things early in the morning, but it didn’t pan out, so I returned to the dock about 10:30,” Carl said. “Within an hour and a half, I had my limit. Saturday, I did the same thing and had a limit of fish by 9:30.”

All told, Carl said he caught 40 keepers off the dock throughout the tournament. In addition to fishing just one dock, Carl said he used just one bait during the tournament to catch his bass – a Zoom Brush Hog with a 3/8-ounce weight.

Carl said when he had landed around 13 pounds by 1:30 p.m. on the second day of competition, he left the fish biting to save them for the final day.

“It occurred to me I really had something going on and that I could win it if the fish stayed,” Carl said. “The cold front that moved in late Friday night scared me a little bit, but I rolled in there and caught a 5-pounder on my third cast. I just kept grinding it out for almost 18 pounds Saturday.

“This feels great,” Carl said. “This is my first year as a boater. It’s emotional for me because you want to prove what you can do out here and when it’s your time, it’s your time.”

The top six boaters that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were: 1st: Cody Carl, Lotawana, Mo., 14 bass, 41-0, $60,000 2nd: Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla., 13 bass, 32-13, $11,450 3rd: Austin Lawson, Charleston, Ark., 15 bass, 31-13, $6,000 4th: Phil Smith, Orange, Texas, 12 bass, 31-12, $3,000 5th: Jeff Clark, Van Buren, Ark., 15 bass, 28-14, $2,300 6th: Thomas Rallo, Eldon, Mo., 12 bass, 28-14, $2,800 Rounding out the Top 10 boaters were: 7th: Lance Williams, Billings, Mo., 13 bass, 28-5, $1,600 8th: Alton Wilhoit, Noble, Okla., 12 bass, 28-0, $1,400 9th: Trevor Bartlett, Grain Valley, Mo., 14 bass, 26-6, $1,200 10th: Christopher Smith, North Branch, Minn., 11 bass, 25-1, $1,600 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus) Complete results can be found at Major-LeagueFishing.com.

Local church supports those with disabilities
A: Main, News...
Local church supports those with disabilities
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
July 17, 2025
Last week His Ability Ministries with Checotah First Assembly of God offered training for disability friendly churches with Lonnie and Janet Nance from Unlimited Ministries of Springfield, Missouri. L...
this is a test
Checotah says goodbye to cowboy legend Bill Duvall
A: Main, News...
Checotah says goodbye to cowboy legend Bill Duvall
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
July 17, 2025
Memorial Service for Bill Duvall Friday, July 18 at 11 a.m. First Baptist Church, Checotah When Bill Duvall was called to meet His Maker in the Great Round Up in the sky this past Sunday, Checotah los...
this is a test
Whole Hawg Days on the horizon
A: Main, News...
Whole Hawg Days on the horizon
July 17, 2025
Get ready for another funfilled weekend as the 41st Annual Whole Hawg Arts & Crafts Festival prepares to get underway, Friday and Saturday, July 25-26. The festival will consist of Arts & Crafts, a ro...
this is a test
A: Main, News...
Annual Memorial Service planned at Honey Springs Battlefield
July 17, 2025
Honey Springs Battlefield will hold its annual memorial service on Saturday, July 19, at 10:30 a.m. to honor the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah. The service will be hel...
this is a test
A: Main, News...
Man facing obscenity charges
July 17, 2025
Ryan Troy Dick, a 52-yearold Sallisaw resident, is being held in the McIntosh County Jail pending his preliminary hearing on charges related to indecent photographs and videos sent to a former girlfri...
this is a test
A: Main, News...
Carey trial set on rape charge
July 17, 2025
Arnold Willard Carey Jr., 28, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on July 9 and his rape case was placed on the Sept. 29 sounding docket for the next trial. The McIntosh County resident has been...
this is a test
United for Oklahoma
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
A: Main, News...
Juvenile dies following accident near Longtown
July 17, 2025
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports that a juvenile, whose name and age are being withheld, was fatally injured in a single-vehicle accident that took place at about 10:30 p.m. on July 4. The deceased...
this is a test
Checotah bandies recognized at TMALA
News
Checotah bandies recognized at TMALA
July 17, 2025
Class of Checotah band students were recently recognized at Texoma Marching Arts and Leadership Academy (TMALA). TMALA Band Leadership was led by Ryan Edgmon, Director of Bands for Mustang Public Scho...
this is a test
Supporters walk to raise awareness against sexual assault
News
Supporters walk to raise awareness against sexual assault
By SHAUNA BELYEU GENERAL MANAGER 
July 17, 2025
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation held its Sexual Assault Awareness Walk (SAAM) last Friday, July 12, at 12 p.m. in Posey Park. The event was originally scheduled for April but was rained out. Community sup...
this is a test
News
Oktaha Trinity Baptist Church Vacation Bible School
July 17, 2025
The Great Jungle Journey An Epic Cruise from Genesis to Revelation July 21- 25 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Ages: 4-12 years Dinner will be provided.
this is a test
Preliminary hearing set for man charged with murder
News
Preliminary hearing set for man charged with murder
July 17, 2025
Following a competency hearing on July 9, Wilburton resident Glen Edward Calvin, 54, was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing in McIntosh County District Court at 2 p.m. Aug. 20. On a charge of...
this is a test
Facebook
Twitter
Tweets
Twitter
Tweets

MCINTOSH COUNTY DEMOCRAT
300-A S. Broadway
Checotah, OK
74426

(918) 473-2313

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Mcintosh Democrat

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy