DeFoe hosts 3rd annual charity tournament

The 3rd Annual Ott DeFoe Charity Tournament was held Oct. 31 on Douglas Lake. Registration was held at the Kodak, Tenn., Bass Pro Shops on the Friday evening before.

Ott DeFoe starts the morning out on Douglas Lake. The lake is situated in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, is a favorite destination of B.A.S.S. for tournaments and anglers for its picturesque views and healthy bass population. Douglas will host a Southern Open in May 2016.

Thirty-two teams got to enjoy a beautiful sunrise and the opportunity to fish a tournament benefiting the Mountain Music Kids tournament, held each year on Douglas Lake in the summer. It is one of the largest kids fishing tournaments in the country.

Douglas holds largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass. The smallmouth bass are especially good at making their getaway, as one did here.

DeFoe worked a topwater bait early. Fishing with DeFoe was Dale Martin, who won the auction to fish with him throughout the day. The auction was a big part of the money raised at the event.

DeFoe won the 2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open on Douglas fishing way up the river. During his tournament, he stayed mid-lake for most of the day.

Herons are a common site on Douglas. The lake draws down up to 40 feet during the winter.

It is also common to see whitetail deer near the shoreline.

It is not common, however, to see otters. âIâve never seen otters in Douglas before in my whole life,” said DeFoe. The otters appeared to be living in the marina near the Point Restaurant. It seemed fitting they would make an appearance for “Ottâs” event.

DeFoe catches his best fish of the day on a topwater bait.

This bass was fortunate to be caught by an angler and not an otter.

Stanley Jackson has held the Mountain Music Kids Tournament for 25 years to encourage kids and get them involved in the outdoors. Last year, 312 teams competed and as many as 400 have competed. DeFoe fished the event as a kid and participates any year heâs not out on the road.

Bobby Crane and Johnny Morris of Nitro/Tracker made the longest drive — five hours — to participate in the event. They managed a limit. Pictured here was their attempt at winning the smallest fish award.

Rick Whitt and Mark McCowan weighed 13.75 and took home first-place honors, $1,000 cash and $500 in Bass Pro Shops gift cards.

The team of Anderson and Brewer weighed 13.00 pounds to take home $500 cash and $500 in Bass Pro Shops gift cards.

Several boats consisted of husband and wife teams.

The team of Rice and Bradley won a giant Rapala lure for weighing the smallest keeper of the day. They also won cash and Costa sunglasses for finishing third overall.