By Thomas Grant Jr.
Before going full steam award on a new year, the Midlands Striper Club recognized its top performers from the old one.
The annual banquet was held Jan. 12 at Saluda Shoals River Club. Among the main awards presented were for Team of the Year:
1st Place – Fish Whistle (Capt. Mitch Crapps, Aaron Hatfield and Tim Shumpert)
2nd Place – Laidback (Capt. David Richardson)
3rd Place – Carolina River Rats (Capt. Brent Sires)
4th Place – Knot Right (Capt. Allen Rodgers)
5th Place – Even Kreel (Capt. John Sightler)
The following awards were also presented at the banquet:
Team Wildman Big Fish Award sponsored by the Nichols Store
Team Reel Guys (Capt. Marshall West / Joby Wetzel / Jim Gibbs) June 2023 (25.91 lbs.)
Diehard Dynasty second place fish sponsored by Advance Auto Parts – Team Knot Right (Capt. Allen Rodgers) July 2023 (19.22 lbs.)
Brian Thomas Spirit Award (only the third time awarded in club history) – Liz Sineath (Team Stone Age)
The club also recognized its support and DNR Open Sponsors:
Nichols Store 2024 Big Fish Sponsor (Darin Nichols), Flight Deck Restaurant (Ted Stambolitis), Ned’s Better Bait & Tackle (Ned & Carolyn Davis), Synergy Therapy (Kayce Bragg), Mosley’s Diamond Showcase (John and Jeremy Mosely), Richardson Roofing (David Richardson), Bravo Services (Brian Barb), Nelson Preferred / Zee Chemicals / Braun & Co. (Nate Stout) Browning Appraisal (Riff Browning), Moore Bradley Myers Law Firm (Liz Sineath), Liberty Corporate Services (Tim Parks) and Leading Creel Sponsor (Bill Eisele).
In all, 345 fish were brought to the scales with a total weight of 2,452 lbs. (7.27-pound average). The average was 1/3 higher than 2022.
The first tournament in Lake Murray took place Saturday.
Photos Courtesy of Rick Sineath