The Baldwin Backlashers Bass Club held their annual awards banquet on Jan. 6 to recognize angling accomplishments of their club members in 2006. My wife Wanda and I were invited to attend the banquet that is held annually at the Baldwin County Shriner’s Club. We and all the attendees were treated to a delicious steak dinner prepared by the club members and their wives.

After the meal was concluded, club president Bob Williams recognized several club anglers for their fishing accomplishments in 2006. The top award, the Angler of the Year was presented to Chuck Eubanks who caught 141 pounds of fish in the club’s 12 tournaments that were held during 2006. That is an average of almost 12 pounds per tournament and was quite an accomplishment.

Other awards were presented to Mike Yates, Backlasher of the Year; Dawson Harris, Most Improved; Stan Dunn, Most Dedicated and Brian Bishop, Big Fish. One additional award is presented each year by the club president and is known as the President’s Award.

The 2006 recipient of the President’s Award was Emory Mimbs. Apparently Mimbs did not divulge to other club members that he could not swim. He had promised his wife that anytime he was in the boat, he would be wearing his life jacket and true to his promise he always had it on and secured during the club’s tournaments.

Lake Sinclair Fishing Forecast

Lake Level — The main lake remains somewhat clear down lake with mostly stained water elsewhere. Little River above Haslam's Marina is very stained to muddy and Cedar Creek is muddy from recent heavy rains.

Lake Temperature — The surface water temperature is 55-60 degrees.

Largemouth Bass — FAIR to GOOD. The unpredictable weather continues to play havoc on the fishing, the anglers and the fish. More seasonable cold weather was due to return this week. To be successful right now anglers must adapt and use various patterns and techniques to catch their fish.

Crappie — FAIR. Weather continues to play havoc on the crappie bite. Trolling should be the primary technique for catching wintertime crappie now but better success is coming from shooting jigs around and under deep docks with brush.

Hybrid /Striped/White Bass — FAIR to GOOD. Many striped and hybrid bass have moved to deeper water locations in 18-25 foot where they can be caught on jigging spoons around schools of shad. You have really got to search for the shad. Some large areas of the lake seem to be completely devoid of shad. Some hybrid and striped bass are showing up in the warmer waters of Beaverdam Creek.

Catfish — NO REPORT.

For the full story, see the Jan. 20-22 edition of The Union-Recorder