The Miles Meyer Tournament
Our 3rd annual Miles Meyer Tournament came off without a hitch this past Monday at Montauk State Park. This tournament honors our good friend and FATC member Miles Meyer who passed away two years ago. We miss him.
The weather was perfect. A crisp, cold day with no wind gave the “contestants” hope for getting their name on the coveted Miles Meyer tournament plaque. The tournament was originally scheduled for the Friday before, but inclement weather moved in and the date was changed. Nine FATC members participated – last year’s champion John Muckerman, Scott Payne, Jim Craig, Bob Hassett, Al Blair, Mike Bisaga, Harold Bates, Vernon Preston, Rick Doerr, and Kenny Klimes as tournament judge. This year we changed the tournament slightly as we allowed the participants to “pre-fish” the area (although they did not know their “beats/area” for the tournament). The morning fishing was very good as the trout were rising all over the area and many fish were caught. This put in the minds of all that this could be a high fish count tournament.
After a fellowship lunch, the contestants picked their beats (area where they will have to fish for the tournament), and the tournament started at 1pm and ended at 4pm. Most trout in the net wins the tournament. The pressure was on, and the trout knew it and did not want to cooperate at first. But then a midge hatch started and those FATC contestants that went small (flies’ sizes eighteen or less) did well.
This year’s winner knocked it out of the park as he brought in nineteen trout to the net – a new Miles Meyers tournament record. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Rick Doerr!! Rick had the area above the dam but below the “boulder” and went to small flies early and the trout loved them. Jim Craig was second and also went small to bring in ten trout.
All ten FATC members enjoyed a Mexican dinner to celebrate another successful tournament and to toast our new champion, Rick Doerr. We hope to see more of you participate next year!
