By DON DUBUC

Although they didn’t return with the really big money, two Bayou State bass anglers recently made excellent showings in a Bass Angler Sportsmen’s Society (B.A.S.S.) tournament in Lake Okeechobee, Fla.

Both Roger Boler of Slidell and Mark Sabbides of Ball, qualified after the first three days to compete in the final on Sunday. While Sabbides went into the last day as the leader and couldn’t hold on, Boler made a late come from behind run to finish second and pick up a check for $40,000.

His total for the four days was 17 fish weighing 52 pounds 11 ounces. Boler also caught the biggest fish on both the third and fourth days (5-13 and 5-9) each of those fish earning him another $1,000 apiece.

Sabbides, who could only manage a 3 pound, 8 ounce total the last day, finished sixth and won $15,000. He also had an 8-11 lunker that was not only biggest fish for the first day worth $1,000 but was also the biggest fish of the tournament.

For the third time B.A.S.S. will hold bassfishing’s version of the Super Bowl, the Bassmaster Classic, in the Superdome in August.

Lunker bass wanted

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries encourages fishermen to donate bass they catch from now through April 30 in state waters to help restock and strengthen the bass population.

The only stipulation is a big one – the fish has to be at least 12 pounds!

Fish donated to the department are part of an on-going project known as the Lunker Bass Program. Donated bass are kept and spawned at the Booker Fowler Fish Hatchery in Forest Hill.

By restocking the resulting fingerlings with superior genes, biologists hope to increase the overall average size of Louisiana bass. Last year the LDWF Inland Fisheries Division stocked 53 waterbodies with bass fingerlings.

Is it working? Biologist Paul Whitehead thinks a new state record could be waiting in the wings.

“She’s out there and if she’s caught she will more than likely break the record. But she’s not alone. There are fish like that one all over the state,” he said.

Whitehead was referring to a certain Lake D’Arbonne female bass that weighed 15.31 pounds when donated to the program two years ago. The fish was without eggs that would have put her well over the current 15.97 pound record caught in Caney Lake back in 1995.

The fish was tagged and released back into D’Arbonne. When an angler donates a fish to the program, he or she receives a free replica of their fish and a certificate of appreciation.

Fishermen wanting to participate in the program are asked to call their local LDWF office as soon as the fish is caught. LDWF personnel are available to pick up the fish at any time. Anglers may also call the Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-442-2511 to report their lunker.

Award deadline nears

The state’s largest conservation organization, the Louisiana Wildlife Federation is accepting nominations for its statewide awards program through Feb 4.

There are eight categories for which nominations can be made. They are professional; non-professional; business; educator; youth; elected official; communications and organization.

Winners will be honored March 1 at the LWF Convention at the Holiday Inn-Downtown in Shreveport.

Anyone wanting to submit a nomination should contact the LWF in Baton Rouge at 225-344-6707 or email – lawildfed@aol.com for program details and a nomination form.

DON DUBUC is the outdoors reporter for L’Observateur.