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The Dixie District opened its 2004 tournament season with a March 13th. event at Decatur, AL. on the beautiful Tennessee River. As the tournament blastoff began, weather conditions could not have been any better with sunny skies and temperatures reading over 70 degrees and becoming partly cloudy later.

As the day unfolded, Mike King, president of the Mid-South District set a pace that would surely set him apart as a front runner in the tournament. Weighing in a 12.48 # and a 28.5 # Bluecat by 10:40 that morning. Only to return to the weigh in site an hour later with a 41.1 pound giant Bluecat! Wow! Only half of the tournament had passed and Mike had already weighed in 82.08 pounds worth of fish.

The tournament day came to a close with the participants coming in for the final weigh-in. Mike King, unfortunately, did not catch any more fish to register. The team of Harold Davis and Michael Schuerer turned in 9 fish, 5 Channel and 4 Blues. Total weight of 23.55 pounds. Waiting in the distance was the 2002 U.S.-C.A.T.S World Champion, Clifton Crutcher and partner Rodney Dunnam. I asked Rodney if they had any fish to weigh and he quietly answered, "nine". Everyone watched anxiously as Rodney handed me a basket of 5 Bluecat, which weighed in at 18.75 #. Clifton then pulled 3 more fish from his boat. All flatheads weighing respectively 19.65, 18.75 and 31.15 pounds.

Mike King observed as he knew the Crutcher / Dunnam team had just passed him on the leader board. Would his big fish stand? Clifton reached a final time into his livewell and emerged with a large Blue catfish. As I placed it on the scales, they came to rest at 41.20 pounds. The Crutcher and Dunnam combo had beat the big fish pot by only .10 of an ounce! The final combined weigh in for Clifton Crutcher and Rodney Dunnam was 150.77 pounds, an unbelievable new U.S.-C.A.T.S District Tournament weigh-in record!

We are looking forward to the April 3rd. tournament to be held at Chattanooga, TN. at the Tennessee River Park where the tournament action should only get better.

I remember reflecting on my thought at the end of that tournament day. I could not help but keep from thinking, I wonder how much Clifton and Rodney would have weighed - in if only they had 10 fish??