Thanks KRA/ Big Bass Big Cash!!!!!!!!!

I just want to send out a BIG thanks to the KY Restaurant Association (Mark, get well soon) Stacy, Christine and everyone from the KRA that made this tournament possible. Outback provided a great meal for everyone at the awards dinner, a big thanks to John Benjamin for all his hard work. Jim Strader for his promotion of the tournament and Jim Dicken for his updates and coverage for Fishin.com. Thanks to Fuji film and the KBF for supporting this event. Thanks to Linds Hill for starting this concept last year and for all your support. A BIG shout out to G-money my right hand man and fishing partner!!!
I figured after all the media coverage received from last year's win we would be covered up with boats all 3 days this year. We were on the water and in our spot by 4AM each morning with an anchor thrown out and asleep on the deck. We made sure NO ONE would beat us to our spot. It turns out it didn't matter because no one ever showed up. We ended up catching our big fish in the first hour of the tournament on a D&S Lures 1/4 oz Z bend buzzbait with a gold plated blade. I never thought the 4.70 largemouth would hold up for 3 days. We were really sweating it out. Some how, some way we were blessed again!
I've been reading all the posts on here and I'm really suprised with the lack of participation. I could understand last year no one really believed the KRA would really pay the $50,000. This year I thought we would have easily have 1500 entries. I know gas prices are extremely high and some might say that $255 for 3 days of fishing is high. But those same guys spend $200 to fish one day of a BFL where they only pay approx $6000. Or they'll pay $80 to fish a one day open tournament where they only guarantee $2000 to win and only pay back 80% of the money taken in. Guys the KRA has paid Danny and I $70,300 in less than 11 months. I'm not trying to glote or start any kind of contraversy, I'm stating a fact. The concept for this tournament started in Arkansas from a tournament call Big Bass Bonanza. It's held on the Arkansas river every year and pays $100,000 to the winner. Can you imagine the average weekend fisherman winning that kind of money for 1 big fish. Everyone has an equal chance to catch a big fish. The KRA, Outback and everyone else has done everything they can to make this tournament a success. I know a lot of people hate fishing the river, the river is an awesome fishery and is getting better every year. Sure a lot of people want this to go to KY/ Barkley but do you really want to donate your money to a local that spends 5 days a week on the water and all winter setting up brushpiles and rock piles. My point is the KRA is using this tournament to promote the fishing on the mighty Ohio river and all it's tributaries. The concept is simple, pay your entry, launch from anywhere you want, start fishing at 6AM and fish for a big bite. The KRA which is a non profit organization has lost their tail 2 years in a row trying to make this tournament a success. They do not deserve all the bashing they have received, they are great people and have done an excellent job. Is this tournament perfect, NO but no tournament is. Some people want it at different times of the year, some want it to go all the way to Paducah, some want it off the river, while othersare satisfied with the way things are. We as fishermen should all be happy that an organization like the KRA and Outback stepped up to the plate and offerred this tournament to all of us. I just hope they bring it back for a 3rd year, win or lose I'm fishing it and having fun.
Again thanks to KRA, Outback and everyone for participating, I hope to see everyone on the water.

Conratulions on the win I sure that it is well deserved. I agree with the fact that no tournament is perfect but this one is darn good. I fished all three days and won nothing but I still had a great time and would do it again next year. But we do need better participation. I hope that some how we can get KRA to do it again.

Thank you for your kind words Kevin. Congratulations again from KRA! We're thrilled for you and Danny and hope the majority of our BBBC fishermen enjoyed fishing the tournament and understand the risks we've taken for the fishing community these past 11 months.

I welcome all comments and thank those of you who participated in the 2007 Big Bass Big Cash Tournament.

Thanks for putting on such a great tournament guys. I fished all three days and had a great time. I fished out of tar creek boat ramp and I would like to thank the fine people that set up an weighed our fish. Maybe next year we can do it again. Congrats to Kevin, great fish!

First congrats to the winners; i hate to here the number of entries was not enough to cover total payout two years in a row. Know one has ever put on a tournament in this area for a chance to win this kind of money. thanx to KRA. This is just my two cents also talking to tournament anglers every day if you had the same format like your choice of Nolin; Rough; Barren; Taylorsville; you could double your entries in my opion. One other thing and i am in know way implying anything but this i heard from a ton of fisherman before last years tournament. For this large of a payout the winner should be subjected to of a polygraph of at least three hours i am only saying this because i know a very large number of guys not fishing it for that reason. But giving a tree hour polygragh which is normal time to do a polygraph to truly be able to get a true exam a examiner could stand behind i have been downtown and seen how a true polygraph is given by a guy that did them for 27 years for the police department. and it takes that amount of time for a examiner to show deception before they stand behind there readings . just my opinion and two cents for what thats worth. once again thanx to KRA!!!!!