Lake Info
Normal Lake Level is 322.00 feet above Mean Sea
Level.
Current level for Cedar Creek Lake is: 320.37 Water Temperature:
84 degrees - top
81 degrees - bottom
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Big
Catfish Tales tourney debuts at Cedar Creek Lake
By Luke Clayton
Special to The Monitor
GUN BARREL CITY–Edward Malkey is a man on a mission – to launch the inaugural
Cedar Creek Lake catfish tournament.
Now retired from his career in law enforcement, and after a serious automobile accident
with a drunk driver, Malkey has not been sitting around twiddling his thumbs!
“My wife encouraged me to begin doing something that I had a real passion for.
I’ve always loved fishing, especially catfishing. After doing some research, I saw
the need for more catfish tournaments,” he said.
“I enjoy working with people and decided to start up a brand new tournament series,
‘Big Catfish Tales’ (www.bigcatfishtales.com). A portion of the proceeds of
every tournament will go to help disabled veterans,” Malkey said.
In an interview recently, the energetic Malkey took a break from planning the Sept. 25-26
tournament, headquartered at Big Chief Landing in Gun Barrel City.
“I chose Cedar Creek as the site for my first tournament for several reasons,”
he said. “The lake is chock-full of big blue catfish, and the big fish bite usually
turns on about this time each year.
“Being close to the Metroplex is another plus,” he added. “North and East
Texas is home to lots of devout catfish anglers.”
Catfish guide Jason Barber, whose grandparents ran Big Chief Landing for many years,
expects some big catfish to be weighed in.
“We’ve been catching large numbers of fish in the 10-20 pound range, with an
occasional bigger fish over 20,” Barber said.
“In a few weeks, drift fishing will be my preferred method of catching the big ones,
but right now, they are stacking up on bits of isolated structure,” Barber added.
“We’re marking fish holding near bottom, around abrupt bottom changes in water
16-22 feet, and using live shad on circle hooks,” he noted.
The best advice Barber can give competitors coming to fish the hourly big fish tournament
is to bring a big net!
“Truthfully, many oversized catfish are lost boatside simply because anglers often
don’t think ahead to make a big net part of their catfishing arsenal,” Barber
said.
The tournament will pay out hourly prizes from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
First place for each hourly big fish is $300, fourth place is $100. The grand prize is a
14-foot flat-bottom catfishing boat, motor and trailer. Registration forms are available
at Big Chief Landing or, register through the website at www.bigcatfishtales.com.
Lady Bulldogs sweep Mildred to open
district
Monitor Staff Reports
EUSTACE–The Eustace Lady Bulldogs opened district volleyball play in dominating
fashion Tuesday night, sweeping the visiting Mildred Lady Eagles 3-0.
Now 21-6 on the season and 1-0 in loop play, the Lady Bulldogs were scheduled to visit
Buffalo Friday night before returning home Tuesday, Sept. 21, to host the Malakoff Lady
Tigers.
Next Friday, Sept. 24, the Lady Bulldogs will visit Blooming Grove before two straight
home matches, against Teague Sept. 28 and the first-round finale against No. 3 Leon
Friday, Oct. 1.
Against Mildred Tuesday night, the Lady Bulldogs started slow, but quickly began
dominating the contest, winning 25-21, 25-12 and 25-9.
The Lady Bulldogs played most of the match without last year’s district Newcomer of
the Year, Catania Grant, who rested her injured shoulder, contributing one kill and three
digs during brief back-row stints.
Three seniors led the Lady Bulldogs, as Allison Cass notched 16 kills and two ace serves,
while Harmony Allen added eight kills and two assists and Vanessa Lopez had six kills,
four digs, two assists and two aces.
Bethany Strickland added one kill and two blocks, while setter Shelley Temple had 27
assists and added two kills.
The Lady Bulldogs also got two kills and one block from Kacie Richards and two digs from
Mallory Keeling.
Eustace also won the sub-varsity contests, each of which went to three games.
The Lady Bulldog freshmen won 25-21, 21-25 and 25-20, while the junior varsity won 25-16,
22-25 and 25-12.
Mabank girls sweep Malakoff
Monitor Staff Reports
MABANK–Mabank’s hosting Lady Panthers used a strong game at the net to power
past the Malakoff Lady Tigers, 3-0, Tuesday.
Now 12-16 on the season, the Lady Panthers had an open date scheduled Friday and will
visit the Rains Lady Wildcats Tuesday, Sept. 21, for their final non-district match.
Mabank opens District 13-3A play at home Friday, Sept. 24, against the North Forney Lady
Falcons, in what is seen as a crucial first-round matchup, opening with 5 p.m. sub-varsity
contests.
Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Mabank Lady Panther Meagan Royal (left front) goes up to block a Malakoff hit during the
Lady Panthers' 3-0 sweep of the visiting Lady Tigers Tuesday. Also shown are Lady Panther
Torrie Garrett and Lady Tigers Brianna Denis (5), Katie Burks (14) and Danielle Brookins
(11).
Tuesday, Sept. 28, the Lady Panthers will host Ferris before going on the road Friday,
Oct. 1, to visit Crandall.
Tuesday evening, the Lady Panthers controlled the contest from the start, sweeping the
Lady Tigers in three games, 25-14, 25-10 and 25-18.
“We played very well tonight,” veteran Mabank coach Stacy Shelton said later.
“We had great serving and team unity tonight,” she said. “My middies
(Torrie Garrett and Meagan Royal) played great and really led the team, while Kourtney
(Holyfield) set the ball very well, as usual.”
Garrett had 10 kills and three blocks, while Royal had six kills and four blocks, along
with one dig and one assist. Holyfield finished with 20 assists and one save.
“It was very good to see Mikayla (Adams) back and playing with us,” Shelton
said. Adams, who has had some serious health issues recently, contributed five kills, two
blocks and had four digs.
The Lady Panthers also got two kills, one block and three digs from Makenna Allen, along
with five digs and one save from Sadie Roberts.
Morgan Gaona had one kill, two digs and one assist, while Natalie Torres added two digs.
“I know our record doesn’t reflect the way our team can play,” Shelton
said. “However, we have had a tough preseason schedule, and I believe this will pay
off for us during district play.
“We are playing a lot of young athletes, and I think we are going to peak at the
right time,” she added.
Upcoming Events |
| Yachting Sept.
25
Race Day
Oct. 9
Fun Sail
Oct. 23
Race Day
Nov. 6
Fun Sail or Make-up race |
Football Sept.
24
MHS @ Brownsboro
KHS vs Fairfield
EHS @ Ferris
Oct. 1
MHS idle
KHS idle
EHS idle |
| Cross country Sept.
25
MHS @ Canton Relays
KHS @ Canton Relays
EHS @ Lions Den Relays
(Ennis) |
Volleyball Sept.
21
MHS @ Rains
KHS vs Quinlan Ford
EHS vs Malakoff*
Sept. 24
MHS vs NForney*
KHS vs Kaufman*
EHS @ Blooming Grove*
Sept. 28
MHS vs N.Forney*
KHS @ Crandall*
EHS vs Teague*
(*district contest) |
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