Okoboji -- Team Results: May 19, 2012
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Good Fishing at Okoboji for most all our fishermen ....
Okoboji greeted both the Iowa and Minnesota division FOM anglers with gusty winds and good fishing for our first Dual Division tournament. The Iowa and Minnesota directors (Jon Andresen & Dave & Tammy Shade) agreed early months ago to co-host this tournament on one of Iowa’s Great Lakes holding our meeting at the “Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp” for our Friday night meeting. Once again the fine folks at the Bible camp treated us with open arms, affordable housing, a meeting room and a speaker to bring the invitation message to our fishermen.
The dual tournament format presented a few unique twists to the normal single division tournament. I felt that with the Lord and the FOM Mission statement being used to guide the directors decisions we should be able to work the process. I had initial concerns about many activities that we would need to join, but knowing that both division staffs shared the same goal ‘to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and bring a professionally run tournament’. I was very pleased with the results that we brought to the fishermen; I hope the fishermen share my view of the overall process. Sharing how each director conducts their individual circuits, picking what we could make work or sometimes inventing something new provided us both with leadership growth opportunities. Thanks to both Dave and Tammy for being the good leaders they are and working with the Iowa team to realize the FOM Mission.
Special thanks to Stren Fishing Line - Lori Masad for her visit to our meeting, the words she shared with us, the rod-reel combos provided for our raffle and the GOODY BAGs given to each fisherman filled with line, hat and patch and a discount ticket to “Fisherman’s Factory Outlet”. Thank You Lori, you are always welcome to visit us …. : )
Our speaker for the Friday night meeting was Dan Antoine, Director of Programs at the camp. although young in years Dan was rich in wisdom as he shared his love for pizza and his willingness to try other things, even if it was of the health food sort of stuff. And so it is with God, the more you are around his people and exposed to the things of God the more you get a taste for and a desire for His Word, His Son, and Him. Thanks Dan for words of encouragement … to taste and see that the Lord is good. (thanks to Pastor Gary for this message review ... I didn't have any notes to write a review the speakers message .. my bad.)
Okoboji brought both division fishermen the same challenges -- day long gusty winds and a midmorning storm front with a bit of rain, lightning and wind. There were some comments about boat control on the big lake in the 20-30mph winds, welcome to fishing ‘Boji’. Even with all of this ‘Boji’ was a good host to the fishermen with 27 of the 29 teams weighing a limit of fish. Between the two divisions we saw many NICE bags of both Small and Large mouth bass. Big Bass of 6#+ for the Minn. Division and a 5.00# for the Iowa Division shows all the potential of this fine fishery. We hope you all enjoyed your day of fishing.
Derik and Jon Dunton presented a 18.35# bag to win the Iowa division, Paris Humm & Jeremy Langer close behind with 17.12# and a 5.00# kicker taking Big Bass for the Iowa division. Chris Calkins (FOM Iowa -- 'Weigh Master’) and his new partner Brodie Coughenour came in 3rd with 16.66 and 2nd Big Bass 4.31. (See the Iowa FOM Facebook page for an interesting story that Chris shared with me about losing … or not ….. a fish at the boat)
The next Iowa division scheduled event will be the Open tournament at 12 Mile on June 9, and the Team Tournament the next weekend June 16 on the same lake. Please help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ by promoting these events to fellow fishermen. Catching fish on this lake shouldn’t be a problem, finding a limit of keepers may be …. 12 Mile should provide our fishermen with plenty of action and sore arms at the end of the day, should be fun.
Fishers of Men would like to thank all of our fine sponsors; Skeeter Boats, Yamaha, Stren, Pflueger, Strike King Lure Company, Nester Hosiery, Markel American Insurance, Marshall’s Marine, Power-Pole, Duckett Fishing, Buckeye Lures, Keelshield, Solar Bat, Jacobs Glass, Helly Hansen Workwear, and Rejuvenade.
May God’s Blessing be with you,
Jon Andresen
295 2nd Street
PO Box 67
Ferguson, IA 50078
Phone: 641 478-3339
Fishin4Christ@heartofiowa.net
