Everybody Is A Winner In Florida Stratos Owners Tournament On Kissimmee
Robbie McGohen with a nice 6.30 lb bass he caught during the Accent Marine tournament on Kissimmee Apr. 17, 2011
The 18th Annual Florida Stratos Owners Tournament on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes this weekend will pay back 10 places plus two big bass pots, but everybody who fishes gets something, said Ted Meyer, who owns Accent Marine, a Stratos dealership near Tampa, with his wife, Maxine.
“We give away all kinds of door prizes, depth finders, jackplates, power poles, televisions, bicycles and fishing poles for the kids. Everybody gets something and we have a raffle, with all the money it raises going back to the fishermen, also.”
Fishermen who did not place in the money used to leave early on Sunday after the tournament, Meyer, said, but now they stay.
“They found out that if they stick around they may get a hat or T-shirt and it may have $100 or $200 in it. We have a good time,” he said.
Entry fee is $120 per boat with 100 percent payback, The tournament is for Stratos owners, but Javelin owners can also fish.
“Fishing is fine right now,” Meyer said. “I would say it probably will take 45 to 48 pounds to win for two days, maybe more than that.”
Meyer said the fish are coming off the beds now, while there are a few late spawners still going to the banks.
“They will catch some deep and some on the grass lines,” he said, “as long as we have good weather and we are supposed to have good weather this weekend. If you want to have a good time, come and go fishing.”
Entries will be taken right up to Saturday morning at the ramp, with take-off position determined by the timing of the entry. Take-offs will be reversed on the second day.
Accent Marine also sponsors a 10-tournament series culminating with the Classic Oct. 30, all out of Camp Mack’s River Resort near Lake Wales, Fla. The series includes tournaments May 22, June 26, July 31, August 28 and September 25.
“The regular season is going fine,” Meyer said. “The lowest entry we have had was 76 boats. Last month it took over 29 pounds to win and you had to have 25 pounds to be in the money.”
Entry fee for the tournaments is $65 and teams must fish seven of the nine regular season tournaments to qualify for the classic. Teams that qualify do not pay an entry fee to fish in the classic.
Entry fees must be received by 5 p.m. On the Friday before a tournament; no entries are accepted after that deadline. The tournament payback is 75 percent, with 20 percent held for the classic purse.
“If a team is fishing out of a 2009 or newer Stratos, Stratos will match the win pot up to $10,000 so they will double the purse for first place in out tournaments,” Meyer said.
Accent Marine, a Stratos dealership and a full-service provider for Evinrude, is located on Highway 92 East at Tampa, Fla.
For details on the Accent Marine tournaments, call (813) 620-1042 or (813) 620-1309, or email: [email protected] or [email protected].
Florida Stratos Owners Tournament
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
Camp Mack’s River Resort
Sat, 2011-04-30 – Sun, 2011-05-01
Call (813) 620-1042 or (813) 620-1309 for information
