The Next MWBA Tournament

It’s March 17-18, at Burnt Corral, Apache Lake, Tonto National Forest (TNF). On both days, the Tmx starts at Safelight and runs until 2:00 p.m (1st Flight check-in time). The starting order for Flights 2 and 3 reverses on Day 2. It stays the same for the 1st Flight because those guys have to get back to set up the Weigh-In Station and weigh YOUR 20-lb limit of bass and a huge Goon Fish.

The Burnt Corral campsites and ramp-use require a TNF, but the cost is minimal. Half of them can be reserved online. The other half are first-come, first-served. You pay for them with a credit card at the campground entrance (near the USFS Host). The campground and ramp parking lot are patrolled regularly, so expect a ticket if your vehicle doesn’t display a valid permit.

For non-campers, lodging is available at much higher prices downlake at the Apache Lake Marina & Resort and back around Roosevelt Lake in the Roosevelt Resort Motel, Roosevelt Resort RV Park, Tonto Basin, Punkin Center Lodge and Spring Creek Inn & RV Resort. The Roosevelt Lake Marina has a restaurant and a small store for groceries and fishing/camping related needs, but the gas station in Tonto Basin has a much better inventory of supplies and is cheaper.

Downsides to lodging elsewhere than Burnt Corral: (1) It costs more. (2) You’ll have to tow your boat back and forth to the Launch Ramp, or launch at the Apache Lake Marina & Resort and drive it uplake to Burnt Corral. (3) The road into Burnt Corral and the Marina is paved now, but it’s one-lane only in some places. Some folks find it challenging to tow a boat and/or an RV in or out. The traffic is worse now that the road is paved.

Upsides to camping at Burnt Corral: (1) The Launch Ramp and Weigh-In Station are right there. (2) You’ll be close to other MWBA members, which facilitates telling lies and swapping information over communal campfires. (3) MWBA will provide a no-cost gastric extravaganza on Tuesday at about 5 p.m. The menu is hot dogs and possibly brats (nonhuman type), beans and salad. Sometimes, someone contributes chips, salsa, brownies (non-hallucinogenic) or other treats. It’s BYOB! Occasionally, someone brings a deck of cards and chips for post-meal enjoyment.