Cliff Armstrong

Hi, my name is Cliff “ dark cloud follow me around “ Armstrong. I have been nominated for the annual “ Hammer Award “. I received my nomination following the first tournament of the new fishing year of 06-07 ( November ). The circumstances surrounding my nomination are as follows: On November 4^th, I launched my boat along with fellow boater at Miller’s Ferry ( Ellis landing ). This is where the similarity ends. Once in the water my motor wouldn’t crank. Plan “b” I tried to use the trolling motor. This too failed. In addition my steering was frozen. I sat there in my boat contemplating what my next move would be. Meanwhile the other boaters gathered for blast off. Once they had left the dock area I decided this was not my day so I backed my trailer into the water, got back in my boat and used my oar in an attempt to guide the boat back to the trailer. While doing so, the oar slipped from my hand and into the water. In my attempt to retrieve my oar, “ You guessed it “ I fell into the water, which was very cold to say the least since the outside temperature was a brisk 19 degrees.

I managed to get my boat on the trailer and headed home. Once I got home I explained all that had gone wrong to my wife and to prove to her how bad things were I took her out to show her how nothing worked. Well by then everything had thawed out and everything worked fine. Then I made my mistake, I called fellow member’s of the club and told them all that had happened. No one, to my knowledge, had seen any of this.

So my nomination was for the things that happened to me and my own doing by revealing these events.

*** Added note: To strengthen my present position on my nomination for the coveted 'Hammer Award " while running interference for other club member, I was stopped for speeding by the local police at the March 2007 tournament. My efforts succeeded. While I was diverting the police's attention fellow members continued to the launch site unimpeded.

****To further add to my " Hammer nomination resum'e. I Challenge the dock at Miller's Ferry and lost. While trying to manuver out of the way of another club member's boat I mamaged to collide with the dock with the right side of my boat. I did manage to avoid contact with said member's boat and he was able to put his boat on the trailer. I did learn my lesson about telling members about this however I was observed by several who were quick to point it out..

It seems that things happen to " Black cloud Cliffy "even when he is minding his own business and sitting still. Like the time at Cooter's pond where he is waiting in line to put his boat on the trailer and an over zealous boater was in a hurry and tried to squeese by Cliffy in line and managed to clip his right trailer tail light. Poor Cliffy comes from all directions. That black cloud incompasses him no matter how he tries to avoid it.

Once again the " black cloud "encompassed me on a tournament weekend. Things started happening on my way to the tournament site, Lay Lake. While traveling to Lay Lake I experienced a blow out on on boat trailer. This for most people would enough, but not ' black cloud Clifffy ". This was merely the beginning. While I did mange to catch a fish on Saturaday it proved to be a bit costly. That cost was a brand new Pflueger reel and rod that had just been newly purchased. Then if that weren't enough, I came head to head ( the head being the trolling motor head ) to a dock and the dock won, breaking the trolling motor head off.Then to top it all off I had a blowout on the way home. " Wow is me ", and to think my favorite tournament site is coming up. I wonder what will befall me at Guntersville. I guess that remains to be seen.

Ken Repine

Hi, my name is Ken Repine. I have been nominated for the annual “ Hammer Award “. I received my nomination following the 3^rd tournament of the new fishing year 06-07 ( January ). The circumstances surrounding my nomination are as follows: While backing my trailer down the launch ramp at Cliff’s landing I failed to note how high the water was up on the ramp. Having launched out of Cliff’s several times, I was used to the water level being at a certain level on the ramp. I had backed up and was preparing to exit my truck when I noticed that no one approached my truck to take over backing the my boat into the water after I got into the boat. I hadn’t heard anyone hollering since my window was up trying to conserve the warmth in the truck as long as possible before getting out. I saw a few members motioning to my boat. It was then I noticed that my boat was floating in the water. I looked down and noted that my truck was farther down in the water than I had intended and the trailer was completely submerged. I pulled forward to a point I could get out and while someone parked my truck I got on board another boat to be taken out to get on my boat. By this time I got to my boat it had drifted toward the dock and my brother-in-law, Wayne Thomley, had secured it to the dock. All this time I had tried to act nonchalant hoping few had noticed, but it hard for them not to notice with the light from the dock shining brightly upon the very spot my boat was drifting too and those who had noticed what I had done laughing uncontrollably.

Hi, my name is Mitch Gardner. I have been nominated for the annual “ Hammer Award “. I received my nomination following the 5th tournament of the new fishing year 06-07 ( March ). The circumstances surrounding my nomination are as follows: While attempting to locate my prey, the “ big bass “ on beds, I failed to not notice some pilings close behind my boat. I was depending on my rearview mirrors and by backup sensors to keep from hitting any objects while I conducted my visual scan of the river bottom for beds where my hunted quarry might be. I knew I was in contention for the “ money positions”. What I failed to remember was, # 1 boats don’t have rearview mirrors and # 2 neither do they have backup sensors. You guessed it, I ran into the pilings behind me. I sustained no damage to either my boat or motor, just my pride. I was able to throw my “hat into the ring” for the coveted “ Hammer Award”.

Adding to my resume and trying to keep up with " black cloud Cliffy " ( somewhat anyway ) I managed to equal Cliffy in running into a dock with my trolling motor and breaking the head off my trolling motor. That, however is where the similarity ends. This is the only calamity that befell me this tournament.

Hi, my name is Rich Hardy. As the reigning “ Hammer Award winner , I have been nominated to defend my “ Crown “. I received my nomination following the 5^th tournament of the new fishing year 06-07 ( March ). The circumstances surrounding my nomination are as follows: While searching for those illusive bass on Saturday morning, one of the areas I chose as a potential good spot to fish in also proved to be a good spot to sharpen my pinball skills, my boat being used as the ball. I managed to hit a submerged dock going in and an aluminum pier going out. This adventure did cause some damage to my foot and prop.I may not have finished in the money for the tournament, but I did get the high score for that round of pinball.

Hi, my name is Frank,”Hook,line,& Sinker”, Kelly. I have been nominated for the prestigious “ Hammer Award “. I received my nomination following the 6^th tournament of the new fishing year 06-07( April ). The circumstances surrounding my nomination are as follows: I was observed leaving one of my hot spots and trying to get to another hot spot ahead of the competion. In my haste I was attempting to get on plane prior to realizing I had failed to pull my trolling motor out of the water. I managed to get a very cold shower at this point. Perhaps I was trying to kill 2 birds with one stone. Get a shower ( fully clothed and get to my next spot and already be ready to start trolling in an effort to find that “ lunker “. I doubt I needed to try to wake myself up since the wind was quite brisk and cool all day long.

It seems I have joining Cliffy in adding to my resume for the hammer award. I seem to have this bad habit of mistaking the hood release for the brake release when asisting other members in launching their boats. It might be a good idea for those I might assist to check all their hood releases, brake releases and any other levers within their truck after I have assisted you.

Hi, my name is Fred Raby. I have been nominated for the annual “ Hammer Award “. I received my nomination following the eight tournament of the new fishing year of 06-07 ( July ). The circumstances surrounding my nomination are as follows: While assisting fellow members load their boats on their trailers I was assisting Rich Cornelius. While backing his trailer down the launch ramp I apparently miscalculated the distance from the pole located to the right of the trailer, bumping Rich's trailer against the pole ever so slightly. According to Rich I put a dent in his trailer. " Oh well "dents " happen!!