Grand Lake Plays Host To Top Fishing Tournament

The best fishermen in the country are in Oklahoma fishing for a jackpot. Grand Lake has reeled in one of the top tournaments of the year. The Bassmaster's tour is like the PGA of angling. The News

Sunday, June 17th 2007, 9:03 pm

By: News On 6

The best fishermen in the country are in Oklahoma fishing for a jackpot. Grand Lake has reeled in one of the top tournaments of the year. The Bassmaster's tour is like the PGA of angling. The News On 6â€™s Joshua Brakhage reports there are 11 tour events and three majors, but folks competing this week say it doesn't get any bigger than this, and it's all happening in our backyard.

"Last year it was absolutely the best places that we've been,â€ said professional bass fisherman Brian Snowden. "There was probably 2,000 people out at the North Shore development."

Last year wasn't just good for attendance. It was good for Brian Snowden. He finished 23rd in the first ever Sooner Run. Snowden is angling to do even better as the Bassmaster Elite Series comes back to Grand Lake.

"The water's been a little high, so it's gonna be a little strange, because I think the water's going to be a lot more color than we're used to,â€ said Snowden.

"I like the level about where it is right now,â€ said professional bass fisherman Terry Butcher.

The water's just fine for Butcher. The hometown competitor wouldn't be sad to see the overcast skies stick around either.

The Sooner Run is a lot like the PGA Championship coming to Southern Hills. The event attracts the best competition in the world. There are several practice rounds before the main event. Play starts on a Thursday and the best score after four days wins.

You don't get paid if you don't make the weekend cut and fans follow competitors around and don't be surprised to hear a golf clap. Coping with the changing weather is paramount, and then there's the luck factor.

"You've gotta have some luck on your side, but you've gotta have the skill to put yourself in that position at all times. Just kinda like golf, you know the guy hits that right shot and he gets that right kick. Things have to go your way," said Butcher.

And he'll have to fight off competitors like Brian Snowden and the superstars of the rod and reel to take home the trophy. Competitors come from as far away as California and Canada. And just like in golf, they'll be watching the leaderboard after each weigh-in.

Practice starts Monday at sunrise. First place takes home $100,000.

Watch the video: Bassmaster Tour Coming To Oklahoma