Get to tying those fly lures and working on your fly casting.
The inaugural Pat Daly Invitational is an Oklahoma bass fly fishing tournament from July 15-17. Tournament founder Jake Miller says it is named after Oklahoma conservation leader Pat Daly, a Tulsan who died in 2021, “to commemorate Pat’s legacy of fishing and conservation efforts in regard to warm-water bass fisheries.”
It is a podium-style tournament where points are awarded for the longest three fish caught in four bass categories: largemouth bass, small-mouth bass, white bass and striped bass. The tournament champion will be decided by total points accrued across all categories.
“I really like that anglers who want to win will have to get out of their comfort zones,” Miller says. “Most fly-fishing anglers who target bass are really good at catching one particular type of bass, but the angler who will become the overall tournament champion will have to also make it happen with the other species of bass as well.”
Eligible bass can be caught in any public Oklahoma water on fly rods and fly imitation lures. Bass can be caught by wading or boat access. Registration costs $50 and can be done online at the Trout Unlimited Tulsa Chapter’s website, tu420.com.
“The best part about fly fishing for bass is that anybody can do it with minimal equipment. You don’t have to have boats or a lot of gear to be competitive in this tournament,” Miller says. “Since everyone has to catch their fish from public waters for it to count, it really levels the playing field. There are probably good bass-saturated waters within a 30-minute drive for most folks in the state, so I really hope that a bunch of folks sign up to have a shot at some really great prizes (like brand new fly rods), and to support a really great cause as all proceeds go to local conversation projects.”
An awards ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. on July 17, at Miller’s Heirloom Rustic Ales, 2113 E. Admiral Blvd, with live music, special beer releases and food trucks until 9 p.m.
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