That’s because the Oakley tournaments are set up a little different from regular bass tournaments.

Here’s how the Oakley tournament concept works. Hourly payouts are based on the overall number of entries, but typically they range around $500 for first place, $400 for second, $300 for third, $200 for fourth and $100 for fifth place.

That means the angler must use a little strategy on when he weighs in his fish. A 2-pounder might be worth $100 one hour, but another hour it might be worth five times that. There will be seven hourly weigh-ins on Saturday and seven on Sunday.

Tournament director Mark Jones and his staff help the anglers with their strategy, providing real time weigh-in reports available on their cell phones.

“So the guys on the water will know what has come on stage in the last 15-20 minutes and can run in and catch a weigh-in,” he said. “It’s a fun format, really exciting. Each hourly weigh-in is non-stop action and guys can make 2, 3, 4 or five weigh-ins a day.”

And, while everyone is fishing for an hourly winner, everybody will also be hoping to land the largest fish of the two-day tournament. The largest overall big bass of the tournament will win a 2011 Nitro Z7 powered by a Mercury 150 motor valued at $25,000!

Entry fee is $100 for a one-day entry, $150 for a two-day entry with the first 100 two-day entrants getting a Quantum Custom Rod. To enter the anglers must be amateurs – no pros or guides.

“We have partnered with Fish Virginia First, an initiative of the State of Virginia created to bring in major events for the Blue Ridge Big Bass Classic,” Jones said. “We’ve hit Lake Conroe in Texas, then Table Rock in Missouri and Lake Norman in North Carolina and this will be the last stop of the spring tour.”

Jones said registration will be held from 12 noon to 7 p.m. Friday at Bridgewater Plaza on the lake near Moneta, Va. Hourly payouts will be determined by the size of the field, with 250 total entries needed for the top hourly payouts.

“We don’t know if we will get 200 entries or 600, but pre-registration has gone very well.”

Jones said most of the fish appear to be in post-spawn.

“So, some of the females that might have been 7-7-8 pounds are probably 4-5-6 pounds now, but the guys are telling me a 5 1/2- 6 1/2-pound fish will take the top prize. But, there have been some 7-8-9-pound fish caught this spring on this like.”

Since no pros or guides are allowed in the tournament, Jones said it is the perfect atmosphere for husbands and wives and fathers and sons – and the weather forecast indicates this will be an excellent time to be on the water fishing. Temperatures are expected to range from 60 to 80 degrees with the average temperature during the tournament both days in the 70-degree range.

Oakley is a worldwide leader in performance optics including premium sunglasses, goggles and prescription eyewear. Headquartered in Southern California, the company’s optics brand portfolio includes Fox Racing, Mosley Tribes, Oliver Peoples and Paul Smith Spectacles. In addition to its worldwide wholesale business, Oakley operates retail locations including Oakley Stores and The Optical Shop of Aspen. The company also offers a wide selection of Oakley-branded technical and active apparel, footwear, watches and accessories. Additional information is available at www.oakley.com.

 

Oakley Blue Ridge Big Bass Classic

Smith Mountain Lake

Sat & Sun, May 21-22, 2011

www.oakleybigbass.com