When Brandeis Machinery & Supply Company’s Paducah, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., branches set out to host a fun and unique customer appreciation event, they had no idea how it would be received. Nine years later, the Brandeis Western Region Customer Appreciation Fishing Tournament is a proven success.

“The first year we had 27 boats,” recalled Machine Sales Rep Chad Porter. “This year we planned to cap the event at 80 boats and we still ended up with 82, the most on record. The way this event has grown is amazing.”

This year, more than 200 customers, families and Brandeis employees again made their way to Lake Barkley/Kentucky Lake in Kuttawa, Ky., for a weekend of fun. 

The weekend kicked off with a welcome dinner at Lee S. Jones Park inside the Lyon Convention Center in Eddyville, Ky. Attendees enjoyed door prizes and a barbecue buffet as Bassmaster Elite Series professional fisherman and Paducah native Mark Menendez spoke about the importance of promoting the health of Lake Barkley/Kentucky Lake.

Afterward, Brandeis representatives awarded door prizes and held drawings for several larger gifts. Joe Barnes won the grand prize, a Humminbird Helix 9 fish finder. 

Competition day saw the team of Jerry Bond and Drew Lynch defend their 2017 and 2018 titles for the event’s first three-peat with an overall catch of 13.72 pounds. Joey Schmidt and Bobby Griffith snagged the Big Fish at 5.81 pounds.

Total Weight Winners 

Big Fish Winner