Paul George with Jacob Wheeler (left) after their big haul on Geist Reservoir.
Paul George’s passion for fishing is well-documented. It’s his outlet, a place for him to tune everything out and just relax.
On Tuesday night, George participated in a fishing tournament and came out on top with his friend and pro fisherman, Jacob Wheeler.
George holds two of his catches, including the best catch of the night.
For Gary’s Tuesday Nighters,”one- or two-man teams have from 5 p.m. until weigh-in at 9 p.m. to collect the best five fish with all of them having to be at least 14 inches in accordance with the Indiana State law.
George brought in 20.17 pounds of fish, and tied for big bass with a largemouth bass weighing 5.49 pounds, Kenny Phillips, who runs the tournament, confirmed to VigilantSports.com by phone Thursday morning.
“This time of year, 20 pounds is a really, really good bag,” Phillips, who has fished for more than 25 years, said. “14, 15 pounds up until this past Tuesday had been the normal because it’s spawning season.”
The Tuesday night tournament on Geist, which was started by Gary Brewer, is in its 34th year. About 40 boats were out on Geist Reservoir Tuesday night and George’s first-place prize was a few hundred bucks.
With a home on Geist, George frequently takes his boat out — he bought a new one last year — on the Reservoir whenever the weather is nice. Wheeler seems to be his best fishing buddy, although George Hill, his neighbor and teammate, often joins him.
Last August, I asked Hill who was the better fisherman.
All smiles after the tandem got the victory Tuesday evening.
“He’s not that good of a fisherman,” Hill told me. “I’m still better. He can practice everyday and I’m still better.”
Phillips says he sees Hill and George on the water a lot during the offseason, but Hill has not joined in for Gary’s Tuesday Nighters.
“He will now,” joked Phillips, who runs another tournament, Anglers Dream, which recently paid out $1,035 to the winner.
That’s because these guys are competitive no matter what they are doing.
“These things are pretty intense but I’m hooked now,” George posted to Instagram after coming away victorious Tuesday night. “Love the competition!”
Watch video below of Paul George and Jacob Wheeler gathering their five fish, walking up to the weigh-in station, and seeing their winning weight below:
[Photos and video by Russ Chargualaf/Hook and Look Images for VigilantSports.com]