Special to The Lake Murray News
The Midlands Striper Club opened its new tournament trail with its January Lake Murray event held out of Acapulco on Jan. 17.
A total of 21 teams competed, bringing 33 striped bass to the scales for a combined weight of 251.58 pounds, averaging 7.62 pounds per fish. Fifteen teams weighed in a full two-fish creel.
Team Sea-n-Stripes, captained by Chip Bragg and joined by Ryan Eubanks and Kendal Eubanks, claimed first place with a total weight of 21.11 pounds.
Second place went to Team Reel Guys, captained by Joby Wetzel with Bruce Brown, totaling 20.21 pounds.
Team Been Lure’d In, captained by John Temple and Ty Taylor, finished third with 19.75 pounds.
Team Been Lure’d In also earned the Team Wildman Big Fish Award, sponsored by The Nichols Store, with a 12.87-pound striper, and captured the Sea-n-Stripes Guide Service Live Release Award.
The Lady Angler Award went to Laura Richardson of Team Laidback, while the Youth Angler Award was claimed by Kendal Eubanks of Team Sea-n-Stripes.
The Middle of the Road Award for seventh place went to Team River Rats with 13.76 pounds, while Team Even Kreel received the Smallest Creel Award with 5.10 pounds. The TWT Award was won by Team Laidback.
The Midlands Striper Club is a family-oriented fishing organization dedicated to preserving fisheries for future generations.
The club’s next monthly meeting, the annual State of the Lake, is scheduled for Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. at The Flight Deck in Lexington. For more information about the club or how to get involved, visit www.midlandsstriperclub.org or email [email protected]
