Cooper 'Hooks' New Boat In KLOT Classic

The Kentucky Lake Outdoor Tournament Trail held its two day Fall Classic at Birdsong Resort, Marina and Campground, Camden, October 15 and 16. Sullivan Outdoors' annual KLOT open bass tournament trail runs March through October with seven tournaments, and the season-end championship event on the Tennessee River's beautiful Kentucky Lake. This is the fourth year the trail has returned to Birdsong.

Over 500 spectators were on hand each day to witness the weigh-in of the fishermen competing for the championship cash and prizes totaling over $43,000. Trail participants must fish at least 6 of the 7 tournaments to qualify for eligibility in the championship event. The team event sported 150 fishermen - 75 boats – 50 of which were Stratos. Stratos Boats offered Stratos-owning tournament fishermen cash bonus incentives added to tournament win pay outs through a Platinum Program for 2006.

The Stratos-sponsored tournament boasted a additional giveaway for all qualified fishermen – a 2006 fully-rigged, tournament-ready Stratos 285, with a 150 HP Johnson outboard and trailer. The name of every participating fisherman who was a Stratos owner was put in a "pot" for a reverse draw at the end of the day, until the last man was standing. Out of the 60 entered, Terry Cooper, Camden, TN, remained and took home the new boat, motor and trailer valued at $21,000.00.

KLOT Classic first place was captured with 2-day total weight of 36.10 lbs. by Greg Upton and Jay Veazy, Jackson. Upton and Veazy took home a KLOT payout of $3,000.00, plus $3,000 matching Stratos bonus money because they fished in a Stratos boat, and an additional $1,000.00 from the Stratos Platinum Program for being the highest-finishing Stratos-owning fishermen. The team took home a total of $7,000.00.

Randy Hollingsworth, formerly from Camden and now from Waverly and Jason Thompson, New Johnsonville, claimed second position with their 2-day total weigh in of 34.41 lbs. The team took home a $2,000.00 KLOT payout plus an additional $600.00 for the second-highest Stratos-owning fishermen. Third place was taken with 30.68 lbs. by Terry Cooper, Camden, and Eric Hensley, Waverly. Cooper and Hensley took home $1,500.00 KLOT payout, plus an additional $400.00 for third-highest Stratos owning fishermen.

Jeff Skelton and Chad Spears, Hohenwald, captured the first place big fish on day one with 6.58 lbs. Skelton and Spears won $450.00. Second place big fish on day one was Jeff Davis, Nashville, and Sam Lashlee, Camden with 5.85 lbs. Davis and Lashlee took home $300.00. Robert Hodge and Brian Hodge, Camden, took Day two's first place big fish and $450.00 with a phenomenal fish weighing 8.29 lbs. Vance Fawcett and Brian Johnson, Jackson, took the second place big fish on day two with 5.65 lbs. taking home the $300.00 payout.

The Kentucky Lake Outdoor Tournament Trail will host its year-end banquet for all fishermen and trail sponsors on Saturday, October 22, 2005 at the DuPont JERA Building from 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Trail-sponsor Scott's BBQ will cater the event, all fishermen, sponsors and children eat free, spouse/guest $5.00 per person. Announcement of 2006 tournament schedule, presentations, and awards for Angler of the Year, Points Champion of the Year, Biggest Largemouth, Biggest Smallmouth and more, are all on the itinerary for the evening. For more information about the event, contact Randy Sullivan at 731-423-4450.

Birdsong Resort, Marina and Lakeside RV Campground is a highly visible recreational facility committed to growing tourism - while promoting conservation and preservation of our natural resources and environment. They prominently position their organization in the tourism industry through effective local, regional and national coverage and by special event promotions. Birdsong's mission is to elevate total family recreation to a higher level of public awareness through recreational participation, competition, accomplishment and wholesome out of door activities. Their quality and dedicated staff will accomplish this mission by promoting fishing, hunting, camping, boating, touring and watching wildlife among all outdoor enthusiasts in a very clean, neat and safe environment. Their commitment to the avid outdoor recreationalist offers a second generation family operated facility with over four decades of consistent operations at a venue located in the western most Grand Division in the Great State of Tennessee on the placid shores of Birdsong Creek embayment which peacefully flows into the scenic Tennessee River's beautiful Kentucky Lake. By carrying out their vision, they will accomplish their mission to grow the sport of leisure by effectively promoting new activities to those who are dedicated to God's gift of the great out of doors.

For story and complete photo gallery about the KLOT Classic, or information on how to make Birdsong Marina your next tournament site, visit www.BirdsongResort.com. Bob Keast and staff has been supporting fishing tournaments for 45 years as a major destination for tournament fishing This tournament marked the end of the tournament season as # 54, the largest number of fishing tournaments ever to be held out of Birdsong in one year.