“Because there are so many boats competing in each tournament the series is set up for 200 points per tournament, so it’s still anybody’s game with three tournaments left. Anybody could still make a run at it,” Lucas said.

The series continues Saturday with the fourth tournament of the year at Smith Mountain Lake. The final two qualifying tournaments will be June 11 at Smith Mountain lake, followed by the series final June 25 at Kerr Reservoir. The 2011 Classic will be held Sept. 24-25 at Smith Mountain Lake.

After three tournaments, only five points separate the top three teams in the standings. Ronnie Anderson and Jeremy Terry are leading Jim McCullough and Mike Stinette by a single point. Travis Towe and Daniel Towe trail McCullough and Stinette by only four points.

Ironically, none of the three teams has won a tournament this year and only twice has any of the three finished in the top 10 in a tournament.

The highest finish came in the first tournament March 5 on Smith Lake when the Towes finished 7^th. The next highest finish was 8^th, posted by Anderson and Terry in the second tournament March 26 on Lake Gaston. The best finish in the first three tournaments for McCullough and Stinette was 12^th, also in the Gaston tournament March 26.

“It’s just been a matter of those guys being very consistent,” Lucas said. “They have just been consistent in bringing in five-fish limits and that has kept them up there in the points.”

Lucas said the series continues to attract big fields despite the growing problem of rising gasoline prices.

“We had 191 at Smith Mountain for the first tournament, 135 at lake Gaston for the second tournament and we had 152 last month at Buggs Island,” Lucas said. “Everybody is telling me we are going over 200 this week, but I will believe that when I see it.”

However, he noted, 130 boats have already pre-registered and 126 pre-registered for the first tournament which eventually drew 191 boats. In reality, Lucas said he is anticipating at least 150 to 175 boats Saturday.

Pre-registration ended at noon Thursday, but Lucas will hold registration from 5 a.m. to 6:45 a.m. Saturday at Parkway Marina.

“Our numbers are so big. We continue to stay big and to grow,” Lucas said. “Good things are happening with this tournament trail. I am just hoping the gas prices don’t shy people away – and so far it has not. They do get a free meal out of it, too.”

The entry fee per tournament is $100, with an optional $20 Big Fish pot. Payback will be to one in every five boats registered, with $2,000 guaranteed for first place with at least 70 boats entered.

Anglers must fish four of the six scheduled tournametns to qualify for the championship. First place in the classic will win a new Ranger Z118 bass boat with a Mercury Opti Max motor and trailer.

Always a very popular tournament, this year Lucas said more new sponsors have come on board and there is plenty of bonus money to be paid out. The series is Triton Gold registered which means this year that a winner in the right Triton package can take home an extra $7,000. Anglers can also win with the Ranger Cup program and the Stratos 2X program.

Saturday could be feast or famine as far as the fishing goes, Lucas said.

“The nighttime bite is phenomenal, but the daytime bite has been a little tough. We’ve had some fish on the beds and you can find some bucks up there, but you are not going to win the tournament on bucks,” he said. “I am hearing there are some fish in the 10- to 12-foot range and they are catching them on a jig and a drop shot.”

Lucas admitted he does not know what to expect for Saturday, so the fishermen will have to show him.

“I’d say it will take between 16 and 20 pounds to win Saturday. It may even take 22 to 25 pounds if somebody finds a couple of spawners up there shallow.”

 

Anglers Choice Marine Team Trail 2011

Smith Mountain Lake

Parkway Marina

Sat, May 7, 2011

Call Chris Lucas 276-358-0844

www.anglerschoicemarine.com/TournamentTrail