Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Fills West Tawakoni Park

A crowd cheered participants Saturday as they weighed in their catches at West Tawakoni City Park in the annual Cabela’s King Kat Tournament.

The tournament was the first of a 12-event calendar to qualify participants for the Cabela’s King Kat Classic on Oct. 8-9 in Columbia, Mo.

The City of West Tawakoni, officially recognized by the state as the Catfish Capital of Texas, hosted the event at the West Tawakoni City Park.

"It was a hectic three days," West Tawakoni City Administrator Cloy Richards said. "Clearly, everyone was surprised at the fishing conditions. As little as five days prior, several had caught well north of 200 pounds. It was tough as again 21 of the 39 teams were from out of state."

Richards noted participation by guides from North Carolina, "Our little tournament has come a long way."

He added, "In case you haven’t noticed, a lot has happened in the city park. We hope by late summer to be able to host a 150-boat tournament rain or shine as our boat ramp will be installed and we have been promised help with rock for all the roads."

Richards said at Saturday’s event, the mayor cooked the beans, three council members helped serve meals, two guys from maintenance cooked, two more helped set up and tear down, and we raised $912 that will go back to the park."

"That’s why I have chosen to live and work in small towns for the last 31 years," Richards said. "A few committed people who come to common agreement that we can do something fairly well, can pull it off and make it a success. And, we are getting better at it. If you have suggestions, let us know."

City employees, Mayor Pete Yoho and Council members Carol Welch, Ed Watson, Carol Solomon and Winston Dennis as well as members of the City Park Planning Committee participated and served hundreds of sliced and chopped barbecue brisket that was smoked onsite.

Planners were already looking forward to activities under discussion for May to be held in the park.

Cabela’s Tournament Director Tanner Tabor announced results as team after team weighed in after the 3 p.m. fishing cutoff. Suspense built as the big fish weights increased from amounts in the 40 pounds up to 49.4 pounds and finally the Big Fish winner at 53.45 pounds.

Likewise, the winning team total weight of up to five catfish hit a top weight of 120.95 pounds.

C.J. Blankenship of Topeka, Kan., and Ryan Gnagy of Tecumseh, Kan., took home a check in the amount of $3,000 for the top team weight. Their big fish weighed 46.85 pounds. The team said they were fishing at depths of 12 to 15 feet in the southwest part of Lake Tawakoni and were using large shad heads for bait.

Second-place team winners of $1,300 were Chris Taylor of Pocola, Okla., and Jesse Pantlick of Stigler, Okla., with a total weight of 109.95 pounds for their five fish. They fished near the dam in seven-foot water and used cut shad for bait. Their biggest fish of the six they caught weighed 42.85 pounds.

In third place were Jason Moore of Garland and Chase Gipson of Wylie for $550 with their five-fish catch that weighed 106.65 pounds. They said most of their fish came from three and a half feet of water and one was caught 47 feet deep on the southeast corner of the lake. They caught six fish using cut shad.

The fourth-place win went to Roy Ewing of Moody and Jason Cummings of Moody for their five-fish catch that earned $450. They along with Jason’s son, Dalton, were fishing in the northwest part of the lake three feet deep using cut shad. Their biggest fish of the five they caught weighed 40.90 pounds.

Winners of the Big Fish Award were Paul Miles of Lake Dallas and Dan Miles of Irving with a 53.45-pound Blue Cat that brought them $500. They also took fifth place with a catch of four fish that weighed a total of 100.65 pounds for an additional $300. They fished on the south end of the lake using cut shad in 20 feet of water.

Sixth-place winners were Jeff Haas of Sallisaw, Okla., and David Copeland of Marble, Okla. They caught two catfish with a total weight of 85.45 pounds. The largest weighed 48.15 pounds.

First team out of the money were Rickey Snow of Quinlan and Sonny Batchelor of Wills Point. They caught two fish weighing 84.15. Their largest weighed 45.45 pounds. They were awarded a trolling motor for their catch.

The 38 teams entered were from far and wide including six teams from Kansas. Ron Howard’s North Carolina team weighed in a 49.4-pound fish that was leading for Big Fish honors until the 53.45-pounder took the win.

Future dates and places for the Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail include Pickwick-Wilson, Ala., March 20; qualifier to be announced, April 10; Henderson, Ky., April 24; Lexington, Mo., May 15;, Dixon, Ill., June 12; Morgantown, W.V., June 26; Metropolis, Ill., July 31; Crystal City, Mo., Aug. 14; Gallipolis, Ohio, Aug. 28; New Madrid, Mo., Sept. 18; and Pine Bluff, Ark., Sept. 25; before the Cabela’s King Kat Classic on Oct. 8-9 at Columbia, Mo.

Park Planning Committee Chairman Ed Watson said, "I am very pleased with the outcome of the first event for The City of West Tawakoni’s Park Planning Committee. The committee members and volunteers did an amazing job making this event a success."

Watson acknowledged the support of sponsors that "donated their money and/or time to make our vision a reality. We truly live in a community where quality living is the focus of our leadership and citizens. It was refreshing when the Cabela’s Tournament Coordinator expressed how well they are treated when hosting their event in the City of West Tawakoni’s Park. Whether you are relocating or visiting our community, it is exciting to know our leadership and citizens have a passion for welcoming everyone with open arms."

Watson said, "I look forward to our May Day event, which will be Saturday, May 1, at the West Tawakoni City Park. There will be live music, fried catfish, and fun and games for all families to participate and enjoy."

The councilman recognized "Sabine River Authority of Texas, American National Bank of Texas, Farmers Electric Cooperative, Hope of Glory Church, Cloy Richards, Bill Creede, the City of West Tawakoni’s personnel, Steve Staggs, Karen Lockhart, Pete Yoho, Carol Solomon, Adam Slaughter, Lamont Jenkins, Ash Harmon, Terri Walsh, Carol Welch, Cindy Johnson, Winston Dennis, Susan Roberts, Kym French, Tony Brown, Edythe Archer and all of their respective family members."