It was a beautiful day on the Tchefuncte River as the new Double Nickel West Tournament kicked off. Their were only 3 anglers who fished the event and in the end it was Richard Alloto who came out in first place with a 3-fish bag weighing 2.50 pounds. Alloto also won the big fish pot with a bass weighing 1.35 pounds. 

The Double Nickel (west) tournament will be held on Tuesday, April 30 at the Tchefuncte River. For more information place contact Joe Picone at 985-630-4170

The Double Nickel Bass Club (East) held their tournament at the East Pearl River with 17 boats showing up to compete. There were dobts among the anglers before blast off. Many were worried about the full moon affecting the fishing. Also an incoming tide during the morning hours. Their worries were justified as the wiegh-in proved that the fishing was tough. Bill Dorris managed to figure out the fish and brought in a 3-fish limit weighing 5.90 pounds. Dorris also brought in the big fish of the day: a 2.94-pound bass. Second place went to Brian Sollberger who weighed in a total of 3 fish that weighed 3.27 pounds. Jerry Bullock placed thrid with 3.21 pounds 

As the wildly popular Double Nickel Bass Club continues to grow in numbers, anglers on the west side of St. Tammany Parish will have an option for to fish closer to home. The Double Nickel conducts their tournaments on Tuesdays, which makes it popular with those fishermen who are retired. Joe Picone is with the Double Nickel Club and said the club has grown quite considerably since its inception. “We’re seeing upwards of 25 anglers showing up on the East Pearl River now so I think the addition of another tournament at the Tchefuncte River is going to be a hit as well,” Picone said. “The shorter time between blast-off and weigh-in is one thing that people like but having a tournament option on a weekday is really why we’ve grown.” The Double Nickel tournament on the Tchefuncte will operate the same as the one held at the East Pearl. Blast-off will be at the 4th St. Launch (Menetre Park) in Covington. The event will be 5 hours starting from blastoff at daybreak to weigh-in. There is a 3-fish limit with a minimum length of 11 inches. Only those who are 55 years of age or older can compete. 


The Double Nickel Bass Club (West) is holding its next tournament at the Tchefuncte River on April 16. For more information, please contact Joe Picone at 985-630-4170.