“It could take 30 pounds. We’ve seen several of those this year,” Medley said.

Although there is a topwater bite early in the morning, most of the recent tournaments have been won deep, he said.

“Most guys wait on the generators to get going and then fish deep in the afternoon,” Medley said.

“I expect Chris Coffey and Nick Pratt to have a good showing, but with that deep bite it could be anybody’s game.”

Coffey and Pratt won the last CBA tournament and just won another tournament on the lake this past weekend, so they are on a roll right now, he noted.

“It’s too early to pick out anybody as favorites in the points race, but Alan Dysart and Jamie Copenhaver have been fishing really consistent this spring,” Medley said. “If they can maintain the top five finishes they have been getting they will have a good shot at the title. They are really good fishermen – but so are a lot of other guys in this field.”

After four tournaments, Dysart and Copenhaver lead the second place team of Greg Lamb and Mark Heatherly by 35 points. Rick Camp and Jamie Hatcher are tied with Rogne Brown for third, just two points behind Lamb and Heatherly.

Things could change soon in the lake, which would give some of the other teams a summertime edge, he noted.

“The grass has just started growing and if it comes along like it should some of the grass fishing guys could move up and shake up the points race.”

First place in the CBA tournaments pays $2,000. Fishermen must fish seven of the regular season events to qualify for the classic at the end of the year. At the classic first place is guaranteed $10,000 guaranteed by TowBoatUS. Last year more than $60,000 in cash and prizes was awarded at the classic, Medley said.

The tournaments are family-friendly, he noted, with special divisions for adult-youth teams and new teams.

“Both the new and youth teams will compete against other new and youth teams. The youths in youth teams get to fish at half the entry fee and the highest finishing youth team in an event wins free entry into the following tournament The same applies to the new teams. The highest finishing new teams get free entry into the next event.”

The Chattanooga Bass Association requires a one-time $50 process feet for each participant who wants to receive points towards entry into the year-end classic and receive year-end prizes and new team prizes. The entry fee is $120 per boat for each tournament, $60 for a youth division team.

A youth division team must have one participant who is 16 years or younger at the time he purchases his process number. A new team is one that did not compete in more than one CBA open event during the 2012 season.

The Chattanooga Bass Association is a non-profit community service organization founded by community leaders in 1976. It was designed to offer a top quality open fishing circuit to Chattanooga and surrounding areas; while enhancing Chattanooga’s economic growth and recreational potential.

After Saturday’s tournament the schedule includes June 22 (night), July 13, July 27 (night), August 10, August 24 (night), September 14 and October 12, with the Classic Nov. 2- 3.

Chattanooga Bass Association

Sat, Jun 8, 2013

Chickamauga Lake

Chester Frost Park

Call Justin Medley 423-667-5054

www.cbatournament.com