At the 16th Annual Muzzy Classic, there was some serious competition. With a nice payout of $10,000, tough weather conditions, this really added a strain on competition .
With a 33 percent increase in participants from last year’s tournament and a record-breaking 84 teams, the 16th Annual Muzzy Classic Bowfishing Tournament, held April 25 and 26 in Guntersville, Ala, had some serious competition vying for the top cash pay-out of $10,000. This all was despite looming threat of major storms in the forecast. And while the storms split to the north and the south leaving mostly clear skies, cloudy waters along the fishable areas of the Tennessee River proved this tournament to be extremely tough for competitors, yet again.
In the end—with a massive 399.6 lbs. of qualifying fish—Georgia’s three-man “Thrills & Kills Outdoors” team of Tommy Woods, Hunter Woods and Scott Baxter took the title and the grand prize of $10,000. This team also captured the award for the largest grass carp, coming in at 70.9 lbs. and winning an Oneida Osprey bow. This whopping fish also took the overall Big Fish Title and a cash stash of an additional $1,850.
Second place and a $5,000 cash prize was awarded to the “BBB Bowfishing” team of Bob Esper, Bradley Britt and Brett Miller for their 379.5 lbs. of fish. “Making Daylight,” the third-place team of Ken Lister, Glenn Ledbetter and David Stockstill claimed $1,300 for their 357.1 lbs. of fish. This three-man Alabama team also took the title for the largest common carp weighing in at 31.6 lbs. and winning a Mathews Drenalin bow.
Continuing the excitement were the wins for Backwater Outdoors, Bryan Hughes, Scott Jennings, and Robby Elliott, who won the Biggest Buffalo category with a fish that tipped the scales at 51.8 lbs. awarding them a Cajun Sucker Punch bow outfit. Rounding out the Big Fish portion of the tournament, team 81, consisting of Ben Turner, Cody Turner and Robbie Robertson won the longest fish with a gar at 49.5 which got them a new PSE Tidal Wave bow.
The annual Muzzy Classic Bowfishing Tournament is the world’s most respected bowfishing tournament. Participants fished the 14-hour period from 6 p.m. on the 25th through 8 a.m. on the 26th in teams of up to four to compete for the $10,000 grand prize and sponsored equipment, totally nearly $50,000 in cash and prizes. The top three teams won cash prizes, while other participants won prizes from tables full of sponsored product. Every participant left a winner.
“We would like to thank everyone for making this the biggest and best Muzzy Classic ever,” said Mark Land, Muzzy bowfishing promotions and pro staff director. “This event grows each year, and Muzzy is extremely proud to be the event host for the 16th year. We would like to thank everyone who helped to make this year an overwhelming success, from the participants to the sponsors and volunteers to the town of Guntersville. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event.”
