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LAKE CITY ANGLERS

MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 20255

The Lake City Anglers met for our monthly meeting via ZOOM on October 1, 2025.  Attendees:  Andy, Alan, Dean, Hunter and potential member Drew Lepchitz.

Fall Fishing Plans and Updates

The group discussed recent fishing tournaments, with Alan noting that September’s tournament on Carters Lake was challenging due to difficult fishing conditions. Drew Lepshitz introduced himself as a new member interested in joining the club to expand his fishing experience and catch more fish. The group agreed to fish Lake Lanier on the 18th, launching from Van’s Tavern, with Alan mentioning that the fall season should provide better fishing conditions.

New Tournament Format

The meeting discussed the structure and operations of a fishing club, focusing on their new tournament format. Andrew explained that the club has switched to a team format where each boat competes with the 5 best fish, implementing a catch, weigh, and release system using Bubba Scales. Alan and Andrew highlighted the club’s efforts to simplify operations and reduce costs by not being affiliated with larger organizations, allowing for more flexibility in tournament planning. They also described the club’s current membership of about 12 people, with typically 4 boats participating in tournaments. Drew expressed interest in joining the club, and the members discussed the potential for more participation in future tournaments.

Bass Club Participation and Updates

The meeting discussed the challenges of maintaining a bass fishing club, noting a decline in participation due to increased tournament options and members’ distractions. Andrew provided an update on Brad, who is recovering from surgery but still battling cancer, and mentioned that Bogue might fish as a co-angler if his son’s football team doesn’t win. The group also noted that John Doolittle will be fishing the National tournament in New York, while others like Carini and Andy won’t be participating due to work commitments or new jobs.

Tournament Format and Financial Updates

The club discussed tournament format changes, with Alan explaining that the new format would be more friendly for co-anglers by eliminating competitive pressure and allowing teams to share lures and information. Alan reported the club’s financial status at $1738, with Alan indicating he might withdraw some cash for tournament expenses. The group agreed to postpone dues payments of $50 per member until January and confirmed the December tournament would be held on the 13th at Altoona. They also established a new process for selecting tournament lakes, choosing them during the current month’s meeting except for the two-day tournament, which will be selected at the two-day event.

Club Reforms and Recruitment Strategies

The group discussed plans for their April meeting at Watts Bar and decided to eliminate the Sergeant at Arms position, agreeing that the president, tournament director, and treasurer positions were sufficient. They explored strategies for recruiting new members, particularly focusing on youth, and discussed using social media platforms like Facebook to promote their club activities. Alan agreed to create a Facebook post about the club’s format changes and would share it with the group before publishing.

Angler of the Year Point System

The group discussed implementing a point system to determine Angler and Co-Angler of the Year. Alan proposed a simple system where first-place finishes would earn 10 points and second place finishes 5 points, with additional points for big fish. Andrew suggested using a higher point value system similar to other clubs, awarding 100 points for first place. The group agreed to explore different point systems, potentially based on the number of boats or participants, and decided to test different scenarios using past tournament data before finalizing a system.

Lanier Tournament Pairings and Logistics

The group discussed tournament pairings and lake selection for an upcoming fishing event. Hunter presented the pairings. We will be launching out of Vann’s Tavern ramp.

Lake for November Tournament:  Hartwell was chosen location for the November tournament on the third Saturday. They also discussed the need to arrange accommodations at Watt’s Bar and mentioned that Andrew would handle this task.

Tournament Results and Logistics Discussion

The group discussed tournament logistics and results, with Danny Peter winning at Carter’s with over 4 pounds. They agreed to implement a group chat system where tournament participants would share fish photos and weights throughout the event, with Alan offering to handle the initial setup. Andrew explained that Drew needed to attend two meetings and fish a few tournaments before becoming an official LCA member. The group also briefly discussed a tournament on Lake Lanier being affected by the government shutdown, noting that permits were unavailable but enforcement might be limited.

Next steps – Task Assignments:

  • Alan to create a point system for Angler of the Year and Co-Angler of the Year based on number of boats/participants.
  • Alan to create a Facebook post about the club’s new format and share with the team before posting.
  • Alan to send Drew an email to get his contact information and send him a release form.
  • Alan to create a group chat for tournament participants to share fish pictures.
  • Hunter to check if Broyles ramp at Lake Hartwell is operational for the November tournament.
  • Hunter to finalize pairings for the upcoming tournament.
  • Andy to contact Watts Bar to arrange accommodations for the April two-day tournament.
  • Dean to send Andy information about Watts Bar from previous trips.

Meeting was adjourned by Andy Shields.  Next meeting is November 5, 2025.

Minutes submitted by Alan Buckner.