Big bass, big cash highlight Top Rod Classic
Two big, big bass and a lot of money were the highlights of what was the final Top Rod Big Bass Classic.
Elvis Jeanminette’s fundraising event, a fishing contest unique to this region because it offers cash awards for the biggest three bass each hour in the eight-hour duration, featured 6.54- and 6.36-pound bass — “hawgs” by any standards around here and both from the same boat — and proved to be the most productive as a fundraiser with a gross take of about $23,000 for the Louisiana PepperPlex.
Seventy boats entered the Big Bass Classic, founded six years ago by Jeanminette, 55, a Grand Marais angler who has been active bass fishing-related worthy causes for two decades. The Lydia postmaster announced last month that this would be the final fishing contest he stages.
Those big bass and the money put an exclamation point on his swan song or, as he phrased it, his riding off into the sunset.
Todd Citrano, a St. Martinville bass fisherman, set the unbeatable pace early, one hour after his BBC partner Mike Sinitiere of New Iberia warmed up the crowd in the first hour by putting a 6.36-pound bass on the scale. Citrano trumped that in the second hour with his 6.54. (See related story on Page B6.)
Those bass were the talk of the day at the weigh-in site and on the water as word spread by word of mouth and from live reports by KANE AM-1240.
“I never expected to see big fish like that the first hour of the tournament, especially when the weather was windy and cool,” Jeanminette said.
Citrano was just pleased to participate. He is one of many bass anglers from the Teche Area to as far away as Texas, Pasadena and Houston, specifically, who took the time and the money to help the state-of-the-art sports complex off Sucrose Road.
It isn’t all about winning money, he said. Citrano and Sinitiere collected $600 with those two big bass and another third-place fish that hit the board.
“Well, it was for the kids and it was fun. I enjoyed it. I had a good time. It’s nice if your name comes up on the board. If it don’t, it’s fun. It’s still fun,” Citrano said.
“It was a good time for the last one. I wish it would never end. Elvis did a good job. I appreciate what he did for the kids,” he said.
“I hope it continues,” said Sinitiere, who fished 19 of the 20 events hosted by Jeanminette over the years. “Of course, it’s for the kids. (But) I love the competition and it also benefits the kids. You get to do something that you enjoy and it helps out the kids. I hope someone picks it up for next year.”
That feeling is shared by New Iberian Scott Behringer, a charter member of the Iberia Sports Complex Commission who recently became president of the ISCC, appreciated the fundraising effort. He volunteered to help before, during and after the banquet and also was at Marsh Field Boat Landing before 5 a.m. Sunday to help park tow vehicles that launched 70 boats that headed out to nearby Lake Dauterive-Fausse Pointe.
“It’s just a wonderful event. Elvis just does a wonderful job, Elvis and his committee. It’s so well-run. Hopefully, we can someone to step up for us,” Behringer said.
He said the last event was the biggest fundraiser of them all. After expenses, an estimated $17,000 will go to the ISCC.
“Oh, yeah, that’s the best. We usually clear $8,000. What we made this year is double what we usually make,” Behringer said.
Also, he said, for the last six year, the BBC has emerged as the second-largest private contributor to the Louisiana PepperPlex.
“We’re so thankful for Elvis,” he said.
How popular has it become? Several dads fished the event with a son or daughter. Lyle Owens of Milton, formerly of New Iberia, brought his 6-year-old son Lucas with him and they came back twice to hit the board with a second-place 3.65-pound bass for $150 and a third-place 3.09-pound bass for $100.
“We fish the lake occasionally. I definitely enjoyed it. It’s a great event and a good cause,” Owens said.
Jeanminette thanked the sponsors, big and small, and his wife Bernadette and father Horace for their unwavering support. He pointed out that Academy Sports+Outdoors once again donated an 12-foot long aluminum boat that this year went to BBC registrant Craig Meche, the lucky winner of the door prize.
Most of the money was raised at a banquet the night before. (See related column on Page B6.)
“The banquet was first class,” Jeanminette said.