First Annual Central Utah Bowfishing Open

The Utah Bowfishing Association hosted the First Annual Central Utah Bowfishing Open at Utah Lake.  Blake, Brandon, and Jed all participated.  Blake and Brandon were a two-man team and Jed teamed up with another partner.  Tyson came along with Brandon and Blake with high aspirations of getting some good pictures and video of the event.  Due to some serious equipment failure we were stuck with a crappy point and shoot, but we at least got some pictures.  Congrats to Blake and Brandon for winning the tournament with a total of 83 carp!  I'm not sure how many total carp were shot in the tournament, but there were 13 teams and I have heard around 600 fish were shot.  Not only a fun time, but a good cause in helping to remove this invasive non-native species from a lake that desperately needs the work done.  

Brandon with first fish of the day.  That green garbage can you see filled up quickly.  

Blake with an early prize.
The team stalking in the flats.  This area was so chuck full of carp it was sick.  When we pulled into the bay there were literally hundreds of carp cruising everywhere around us.
Brandon getting ready for one of his "Best of the West" shots.
Putting the stock on in the vegetation.

The garbage can filled up quickly with the first 51 fish.  So they used an ingenious "stringer" system to rig up the carp, hook them to the boat, and pull them back into the launch so the fish could be counted.  I'm almost positive we lost at least 5 fish on the way back.  32 made it back with us.  That made a total of 83 fish.
Blake and Brandon taking her easy on the way back in for check in and official counting.  It was a great "victory lap".  

Here is an impressive pile of 83 carp, the final days take.  The winning take.  Not a bad slab of carp meat, huh?

The guys were able to score some sweet prizes for winning, including a camp chef stove, AMS reel, and cash.  Pictured here with Josh, one of the guys in charge at the event.  

Congrats boys on taking the tourney!  Not bad for a couple of rookies.  Especially with some of the competition there being pros who do it a lot more.  Team Lock Em and Rock Em definitely represented!  Here's to the next one.....

-Tyson