Can I say wow! The Marks' Outdoors "Lay Lake Open" is done! This year saw a bunch of everything that really makes for a tournament that you can't soon forget. The parent child division was the hit of the event. Zebco and Quantum paired up to provide 100 parent child teams a free entry into the tournament.

Needless to say, this filled up in less than two weeks when the news has released. We are now talking with them about the same deal, but this time 250 parent child teams! I watched so many dads walking thru the crowd with their sons and daughters it made all the sleepless nights planning the event worthwhile.

You can't forget the pros, seeing Jimmy Houston and Bill Dance go after each other, good naturedly, for over an hour during the weigh-in was priceless. The fans that stood in line to get an autograph, photo or just a handshake really tells you how big these guys are, but also tells you how down to earth they are. Every kid got a "T" hat from Bill and everyone that stood there got whatever signed - no one left or got turned away. Hours after most had gone home the guys where still there, signing away.

Once again Airport Marine stepped up with a 21 foot Skeeter boat with a big Yamaha motor on back. This years winner was the father daughter team of George Hulsey and Leslie Brosz. I have seldom seen a pair so happy. If she said a word during the interview after the tournament I can't remember it. By now I'm sure it has soaked in, Ken Hollis said they where like two kids picking out the colors and options on the new rig. Over 940 ladies, guys and kids test drove these great Skeeter boats during the 3 days of test drives. Jackall, Lee Sisson Baits and Mossy Oak fishing line gave out over $27,000 in products for all to use. Plus the weather was great.

The statistics for the event are over the top! The maximum number of entries "500 boats" filled up months before the tournament date. Matter of fact, we have signed up for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 only a few days after the event. 127 parent child teams, 38 mixed couple teams, and well over 1000 entries fished a mid 70's day. 180 boats weighed in over a ton of fat Lay Lake fish, some of which the past tournament participants released into Lay Lake thru the 13 years of stocking program that the tournament proceeds buy each year. This year we passed the 2,000,000 mark for bass released in Lay Lake. Without the help of everyone in the tournament, this could never happen.

The sponsors really stepped up to the plate in a big way this year. Of course Airport Marine with the Skeeter and Yamaha rig, Pure Fishing, Jackall, Lucky Craft, Pradco, Berkley and G-Loomis donated over $10,000 each. Check out our web site for the complete listing of all the companies that gave. The list (coming soon) will blow your mind. Also this year we posted over 800 High Res photos to the web site for you to down load free of charge. Check it out- you might just be on there.

Thanks to everyone that fished and helped put on the best Lay Lake Open tournament ever. We are all tired and sleepy, but we started planning next years tournament the next day.

To everyone, have a great year in the outdoors and see ya next april 28th. at Lay Lake.

Thanks Mark