Bass Moving Up, ‘doing Their Thing’ Just In Time For Tom’s Marine Tournament On Cherokee Lake
Lowell Caudill and Teddy Lloyd won the most recent tournament on Douglas with a 23.6-pound limit!
The April 5 Tom’s Marine Team Trail Tournament on Douglas Lake had an outstanding outcome with the winning team weighing in a whopping limit at 23.6 pounds, and tournament director Richard McMaster is expecting another impressive weigh-in Saturday in the third tournament of the season on Cherokee Lake.
“Congratulations to Lowell Caudill and Teddy Lloyd for that big bag on Douglas. We are going back to Cherokee and we are not expecting a big bag like that, but we are expecting some big catches of smallmouth. The fish are moving up and spawning. The largemouths are doing their thing,too, on Cherokee,” McMaster said.
“They are catching them on main channel points and there could be some sight fishing, too. We are looking probably for action on a Rat-L-Trap, a swim bait and the Alabama Rig. Some fish have already spawned, so some are starting to be caught on topwater also.”
Although a cold front moving through was expected to drop temperatures into the 20s Wednesday night, McMaster said conditions should rebound by Saturday.
“It looks like it will be warm, about 72 degrees, with a slight chance of rain. Some showers would actually make the smallmouth fishing good. The nastier the better for them.”
McMaster also reminded all anglers that the tournament Saturday will be held out of the ramp at Cherokee Dam, not the 23 Bridge ramp.
After the first two tournaments Ron Hyatt and Johnny Parks have moved into the lead in the points standings. Hyatt and Parks finished 7th March 15 in the first tournament of the year on Cherokee Lake and they were 6th April 5 on Douglas Lake.
McMaster said anglers fishing the Tom’s Marine Team Trail this year will have a chance to qualify for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. Teams can qualify for a chance to fish for the Classic by paying a $10 per angler membership fee. Up to three teams, based on points, could qualify to fish the Bass Team Classic Championship, where the top three teams will break up into individual boats to fish for a berth in the Bassmaster Classic.
McMaster also announced that Tom’s Marine is bringing back a summer nighttime tournament this year after a three-year absence. The night tournament will be held July 12 on Cherokee Lake with a three-fish limit.
The rest of the 2014 schedule includes: April 19, Cherokee Lake, the Dam; May 24, Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge; June 7, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove; July 12, Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge; Sept. 13, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove; and Oct. 25-25, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove and Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge.
The entry fee per tournament is $100, plus a $10 lunker fee.
New incentives for the Tom’s Marine Team Trail in 2014 include :
– Toms Marine will pay $250 to anyone who wins out a boat purchased new from Toms Marine since 20110.
– Glow Max will pay the winner of the night tournament $250 in cash and $250 merchandise if they use Glow Max black lights in their boat. In addition, Toms Marine will pay the winner an additional $100 if the Glow Max black lights were purchased from and installed by Toms Marine.
– Linex has teamed up with Toms Marine Team Trail to sponsor a drawing for a new spray-in Linex bed liner this season. Anyone making a purchase from Linex and letting them know you are a member of Toms Marine Team Trail will be entered into this drawing to be held at the end of the 2014 regular season.
Tom’s Marine Team Trail
Sat, Apr 19, 2014
Cherokee Lake
Dam Access – TVA Cherokee
Call Richard McMaster 423-748-3240
