The 41st annual Cystic Fibrosis Benefit Bass Tournament drew 220 boats to Norfork Lake on April 18, bringing in hundreds of fish and raising thousands of dollars for a cure.
James Boyett and Gary Roberts, both of Mtn, Home, Ark., secured first place with a five-fish limit weighing a combined 16.58 pounds. The duo won a Bobcat BassCat boat and $1,000. Roberts also landed the tournament’s biggest bass, weighing in at 5.50 pounds, which earned the team an additional $825.
Kelly Hancock and James Peveto of Bull Shoals, Ark., took second place and $800 with five fish weighing 15.08 pounds. Craig Johnson of Alton and Brad Johnson of West Plains finished third, earning $500 for a five-fish catch of 14.87 pounds.
Clarence and Chance Snell of Wasola claimed fourth place and $400 with five fish weighing 14.61 pounds. Trey Anderson of Mtn. Home and Eli Powers of Yellville, Ark., rounded out the top five, winning $350 with a five-fish haul of 14.49 pounds.
According to the tournament's official results, every team in the top 10 managed to catch a full limit of five fish to secure their placements.
Sixth through 10th places went to Tyler Renshaw and Dylan Medley in sixth (14.30 pounds, $295), Conner Crafton and Wyatt Marler in seventh (14.23 pounds, $275), Brian Crecelius and Mark Gower in eighth (14 pounds, $245), Jacob Garrett and Kem Wallace in ninth (13.77 pounds, $220) and Nickey Robbins and Chester Jones in 10th (13.67 pounds, $195).
Out of the 220 boats entered in the competition, 116 successfully weighed fish. Anglers brought a total of 507 fish to the scales, combining for a total weight of 1,232 pounds.
Event organizers emphasized conservation, using an aerated fish truck provided by the Mammoth Spring (Ark.) National Fish Hatchery to ensure the weighed bass were released alive back into the lake. Quality assurance testing was conducted by Sheriff John Montgomery and Brian Williams of the Baxter County Sheriff’s Department.
Organizers reported the event raised $19,500, pushing the tournament's historical fundraising total to $604,000 for cystic fibrosis research and support since 1989.
Special thanks were extended to BassCat Boats for donating the first-place prize, to the volunteers and sponsors who donated time and merchandise, and to Jeff, Melanie and Macy Magness for hosting the event at Lake Norfork Marina.
For more information on the annual event, contact Dan Singletary at 417-257-8069, email dsingletary63@gmail.com, or visit hope4cf.org.
