CPAA owner Jim Thompson, left, presenting 1st place check for $7,000 to the tournament winners Robbie and Robert Dodson

On a cloudy overcast day that was the opposite of the clear bright conditions teams encountered on day one of the two day tournament, the father and son team of Robert and Robbie Dodson won the first Central Pro-Am Association’s (CPAA) Shoot Out and its first place prize of $7,000. The two day team tournament was headquartered out of the Moonshine Beach Boat Ramp on Branson’s Table Rock Lake.

Their day two 5 fish bag weighed 18.12 pounds for a combined two day bag weight of 29.94 pounds.
At the end of day one, the Dodson’s were in sixth place with a day one bag of 5 fish weighing 11.82 pounds. The Dodson’s day two total was 5 pounds more than their closest competitor and Robbie said they missed about three more bass in the four pound category.

Second place and a check for $3,000 went to the team of Mike Webb and Tim Sainato for a combined two day bag weight of 28.91 pounds. They were in second place at the end of day one with a 5 fish bag weighing 15.86 pounds. The next three places in order were the teams of Brian Snowden and Pete Wenners with a combined two day bag weight of 26.05 pounds, Clyde Frey and Jamie Kowalsky with a combined two day bag weight of 23.82 pounds and Kelly Power and Kyle Power with a combined two day bag weight of 23.27 pounds.

The team of Bobby Sullivan and Matt Jones won the tournaments big fish prize of $324.00 with a fish weighing 7.17. The Dodsons added to their prize winnings by taking the second place prize of $176.00 with a fish weighing 6.81 pounds.
Over the two day tournament the 25 teams weighed in a total of 115 bass weighing a total of 372 pounds. Because of the emphasis put on keeping the fish caught alive all of the fish weighed in went to the Ulrich Marine catch and release boat and were returned to the lake to be caught another day.

This update is sponsored by the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services and sellers of Branson show and attraction tickets and lodging and a proud sponsor of the Central Pro-Am Association. BTC can be reached by calling 800-785-1550 or through its website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

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The team of Guy and Teddy Lindstrom coming in for the weigh-in.

The first day, October 24th,  of the two day Central Pro-Am Association (CPAA) Team Shootout is history. It was a crisp 41 degrees when the 25 teams took off from Moonshine Beach on Branson’s Table Rock Lake at about 7:10 a.m. After a day fishing post frontal conditions in beautiful bright sunny weather, the temperature at the weigh in was about 67 degrees.

Based on the number of boats entered in the tournament, fishermen are competing for a first place prize of $7,000.00 and a second place prize of $3,000. The two person teams could weigh in a “bag” containing up to five fish per team with the winning team being determined by the total bag weight for the two days of the tournament. At the end of the tournament’s first day the Team of Brian Snowden and Pete Wenners was in the lead with a 5 fish bag weighing 16.17 pounds. The next four places in order were Mike Webb and Tim Sainato with a 5 fish bag of 15.86 pounds, Bobby Sullivan and Matt Jones with a 4 fish bag weighing 13.9 pounds, Eric Prey and Alex Sahliyeh with 5 fish bag weighing 13.11 pounds and Clyde Frey and Jamie Kowalsky with a 5 fish bag weighing 11.83 pounds.

The 25 teams weighed in a total of 91 bass weighing a total of 223 pounds all of which were returned to the water alive and unharmed. The competition includes a mixture of the area’s finest amateur and professional fishermen including Brian Snowden, who placed third in this year’s Bass Master’s Classic held on the Red River in Shreveport, LA, Eric Prey, who contributes to the weekly Branson.Com Table Rock Fishing Report, and the team of Guy Lindstrom and his 75 plus year old mother “Teddy.” Although in 23rd place at this point, after a full day of fishing Teddy, with a big smile on her face said, “I had a great day and will be back tomorrow.”

The weather for tomorrow is forecast to be between 48 and 61 degrees and cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain. Take off will be at Table Rock Lake’s Moonshine Beach at 7:10 a.m. with the weigh-in taking place at 3:00 p.m.

This update is sponsored by the  Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services and sellers of Branson show and attraction tickets and lodging and a proud sponsor of the Central Pro-Am Association. BTC can be reached by calling 800-785-1550 or through its website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

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The Central Pro-Am Association (CPAA) will close out its very successful 2009 season with a new two day Team Shootout. Originally scheduled on October 24 & 25 out of Millcreek on Table Rock Lake the tournament has been changed to Moonshine Beach, located just north of the Table Rock Dam on State Highway 165. CPAA owner, Jim Thompson, stated the change was necessary because of Table Rocks high water levels caused by the recent rains.

Thompson said this is a special CPAA event that will pay one place for every ten boats entered. The entry fee is $500.00 per team with an optional big bass prize buy in of $20.00. Based on 50 boats participating in the tournament the payouts will be:

1st place $10,000.00
2nd place $4,000.00
3rd place  $3,000.00
4th place  $2,000.00
5th place  $1,000.00

The payouts will be adjusted according to the number of entries. Registration may be made by calling Kris Maples in the CPAA main office at (417) 335-5075 prior to 5:00 p.m. October 23 or at the ramp on the morning of October 24 prior to 6:30 a.m. Thompson said that any questions about the tournament or the CPAA can also be addressed to Kris at the same number.

Paul Miller, General Manager for the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), a CPAA sponsor and one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services and sellers of Branson show and attraction tickets and lodging reminds fishermen that this is an extremely busy time in Branson and suggests that advanced reservations be considered for lodging and shows to insure availability. Tournament participants needing assistance with lodging, shows, or attractions are invited to call BTC toll free at 1-800-785-1550.

A rare site, even if only incrementally. Water being released from all ten of the flood control gates of the Table Rock Lake Dam in 2008.

“50 years of live music shows” is not the only 50th anniversary Branson is celebrating this year. Along with the Baldknobbers starting Branson’s first live music show in 1959 there was the completion of Table Rock Dam which was officially dedicated on June 19, 1959. The two primary purposes for building the dam was flood control and the generation of electric power.

The 6,423 foot long dam rises an impressive 252 feet above its White River riverbed. The concrete portion of the dam is 1,602 feet long and its earth embankment adds another 4,821 feet. It has 10 spillway crest gates each is incrementally controlled and capable of releasing 50,000 cubic feet of water per second for flood control purposes. Since the dam was completed, as shown in the accompanying photo taken during 2008, there have been times when all 10 of its flood gates have been open, but only incrementally. There has never been a release from Table Rock Dam that has exceeded the capacity of just one of its ten flood gates or the major downstream flooding that occurred prior to the construction of the dam.

The dam has four generating units which are used to both generate electricity and for flood control purposes. Each generating unit is capable of releasing 3,750 cubic feet of water per second and generating 50,000 kilowatts of power.
The impoundment created by the Table Rock Dam, Table Rock Lake and its 43,100 square acres and 745 miles of shoreline added an exciting water element to the Branson area. Generation of electricity and flood control aside, Table Rock Lake has become an inherent vital part of what makes Branson the unique entertainment destination it is, but like Branson’s live music shows it had a beginning and for Table Rock Lake that beginning was Table Rock Dam.

An excellent view of the Dam, its generation units and the Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery is available from the viewing area just off the south end of the dam on its downstream side. There is plenty of parking and is the location where the accompanying photo was taken.

In an effort to enhance the Branson experience through a “bit” of information about the area we love and service, BTC Branson Bits is sponsored by the Branson Tourism Center (BTC). BTC is one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services and sellers of Branson show and attraction tickets and lodging. BTC can be reached by calling 800-875-1550 or by visiting their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.