Raw Results

[Phil Lilley]

In years past, our trout fishing- quality of trout caught- usually diminishes as the weeks go by but not this year. I go by trout tournaments. Boswell, the first of January, weighs in the heaviest bags (limits). Then the Masters, last of January, the RAW and then Team, the last of February.

The RAW, a private tournament, held it's 21st annual contest today. Most are from the St Louis area. RAW stands for Roger's Adventure Weekend. John and Ray Rogers, brothers, started weekend get-a-ways, hunting and fishing with friends. One of their weekends was a winter trout fishing excursion on Lake Taneycomo. Today, it's the only excursion that has survived the ages. You have to be invited by a RAW person to fish it. No guides or professional fisherman are allowed to fish it.

As you can understand, many of the original RAW guys are getting up in years. Most started their trips at middle age. Many have retired, some have passed on. But new generations are carrying on in their place. John and Ray still make the trip - John from St Louis and Ray from Colorado.

Back to fishing. The guys weighed in some great bags today. 45 teams headed out at 8 am, back to the dock at 3 pm. Eight trout weighed in by two-man teams.

2.46 lb rainbow won big trout

I'm doing this by memory - will get you real weights tomorrow.

About 10.3 took first. Wes Knopfel and his partner took first. Wes, a first place finisher in 1992, is one of the original RAW member. Second place was just under 10 pounds - Gerry Dwiggins and Bruce Wucher, top finishers in 2009. Third place was 9+ pounds.

More in a minute. I got to change computers.

[Phil Lilley]

I'll let you see what the weights were. I'll report more later. My grandson just hit town!

[Phil Lilley]

K- you can see the board and weights. Pretty amazing how many limits over 8 pounds. Lots of rainbow males milking and sows dropping eggs.

Most were caught down- from the Landing, as far down as Powersite.

[Chief Grey Bear]

That is pretty neat story about the tournament Phil. I think it would make a great blog story. I am assuming that they are launching out of your place????

[Gatorjet]

Thanks again Phil and everyone at Lilley's Landing for hosting another great R.A.W. Tournament. It's always so wonderful to see old friends and meet new ones at R.A.W.

Bob & Nick Wehnert