Good Fishing Expected For Sc Tbf 6-Man Tournament On Lake Wateree This Weekend
The Bass Federation of South Carolina has moved its two-day Six-Man Tournament to Lake Wateree this weekend because very low water levels created a dangerous situation for anglers at Santee Cooper where the annual tournament was originally scheduled.
Participants in the Six-Man will launch out of Clearwater Cove for the two-day event which begins Saturday. The lake is open for practice this week until 3 o’clock Friday afternoon when it will go off limits until the start of the tournament Saturday morning, according to Rich Gerken of Chapin, president of TBF SC.
In addition to the honor of finishing first for the winning team this weekend, the Six-Man tournament also decides the final two members of the South Carolina 12-Man Team that will fish in the Southern Divisional on Lake Okeechobee next June, Gerken said.
The top five boaters and top five non-boaters on the 12-Man Team are decided by points earned during six qualifying tournaments held each year by TBF SC. The top individual finisher this weekend will become the sixth man on the boaters half of the 12-Man Team and the second place finisher will become the sixth non-boater on the 12-Man Team.
Although they will be fishing Lake Wateree instead of Lakes Marion and Moultrie, the TBF anglers can expect to enjoy very good fishing success if several tournaments on the lake last weekend are any indication. Fishing has been good on Wateree this fall with lots of 2 ½- to 4-pound bass weighed in local tournaments.
Last weekend, Josh McGregor and Randall Driggers weighed in a limit at 13.75 pounds to win the Carolina Anglers Team Trail qualifier on Lake Wateree. “Just like the past few weeks,” noted the CATT website, “if you can catch a few solid bass and one in the 4-pound neighborhood you’ll be a winner.”
Tom Rubbo of Lexington, president of the St. Andrews Bass Anglers, would love to repeat the success he had last Saturday on Lake Wateree when he won his club’s tournament there with a little under 17 pounds.
“The fish are there to be caught,” Rubbo said. “It’s just a matter of getting on the right pattern. Obviously, timing will be critical as well because there is a transition through the day. The guys will have to follow through and make the right changes through the day.”
Rubbo said the St. Andrews Bass Anglers have worked all year long on making the Six-Man tournament a success.
“St. Andrews is an old club – and a strong club. We had an open summer tournament, the Iron Man, to raise money to pay our way to the Six-Man and we are sending two teams to the tournament,” he said.
TBF of South Carolina Six Man Tournament
Nov. 19-20, 2011
Lake Wateree
Clearwater Cove
Call Rich Gerken at 201-772-6401
