Wares Needed Just One Ounce More Of “mo” In Toyota Team Tournament On Guntersville
Every angler who has fished a lot of tournaments has been there. One ounce. Just one ounce from a possible big payday.
That's what happened to Kent Ware and his wife Shannon, fishing in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship on Lake Guntersville in early December. Momentum, or “Mo,” determines the outcome of ballgames and many other events in life. The Wares needed just one more ounce of “Mo” in the Toyota Team Championship earlier this month.
Kent and Shannon, who moved to Lake Guntersville from South Carolina a year ago, brought 26 pounds, 9 ounces, of bass to the scales to grab second place and position themselves just 13 ounces out of the lead in the first day of the championship.
All they had to do was stay in the top three for the first round in order to make the fish-off that would determine the individual champion who would earn a berth in the 2016 Bassmaster Classic. But then Mother Nature intervened. The second day of the team competition was wiped out by heavy fog in the Guntersville area.
“So, we fished on Friday rather than Thursday,” said Ware, who qualified with his wife through the Fishers of Men Tournament Trail. “We had momentum and then the delay kind of shot our momentum. We caught plenty of fish on Friday, but we just could not get the big ones.”
On Friday the Wares weighed in more than 18 pounds of Guntersville bass for a two-day total of 45 pounds, 3 ounces. They were one ounce behind the third place team of Nickolas LeBrun and Randy Deaver – one ounce away from the championship round.
“That's all a part of it,” Ware said philosophically.
The march to the Toyota Team Championship started in earnest in October when Ware and his fishing partner from Sumter, S.C., Sean Skey won the SPRO Frog Tournament on Guntersville, but it actually began more than a year ago when Ware retired as manager of the Bears Bluff National Fish Hatchery on Wadmalaw Island just south of Charleston, S.C.
At the hatchery Ware worked with redfish, sturgeon, cobia, American shad and even oysters. But his passion is bass fishing, especially bass tournament fishing, so he and his wife made the decision to move to Lake Guntersville so he could follow his dream.
“Winning the SPRO tournament kind of got things going,” Ware said. “Then my wife and I started practicing for the Bassmaster tournament. Amazingly, the fish stayed super shallow for the most part so we were able to keep up with them. We had a big time and we both caught a lot of fish.”
Ware and Skey caught their fish on a frog, of course, in the SPRO tournament in October, but he and his wife were working homemade jigs on the same fish in the Toyota Team Tournament because the water had got colder, he said.
While Ware was considered an angler to beat in order to win a tournament on the Santee Cooper Lakes when he lived in South Carolina, he is definitely happy with his move to Guntersville.
“”I am learning the lake. It takes a long time. It took a long time for me to figure out Santee,” Ware said. “The fishing here has been incredible this winter. It's hard not to like it here.”
Wares Needed Just One Ounce More Of “mo” In Toyota Team Tournament On Guntersville
Every angler who has fished a lot of tournaments has been there. One ounce. Just one ounce from a possible big payday.
That's what happened to Kent Ware and his wife Shannon, fishing in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship on Lake Guntersville in early December. Momentum, or “Mo,” determines the outcome of ballgames and many other events in life. The Wares needed just one more ounce of “Mo” in the Toyota Team Championship earlier this month.
Kent and Shannon, who moved to Lake Guntersville from South Carolina a year ago, brought 26 pounds, 9 ounces, of bass to the scales to grab second place and position themselves just 13 ounces out of the lead in the first day of the championship.
All they had to do was stay in the top three for the first round in order to make the fish-off that would determine the individual champion who would earn a berth in the 2016 Bassmaster Classic. But then Mother Nature intervened. The second day of the team competition was wiped out by heavy fog in the Guntersville area.
“So, we fished on Friday rather than Thursday,” said Ware, who qualified with his wife through the Fishers of Men Tournament Trail. “We had momentum and then the delay kind of shot our momentum. We caught plenty of fish on Friday, but we just could not get the big ones.”
On Friday the Wares weighed in more than 18 pounds of Guntersville bass for a two-day total of 45 pounds, 3 ounces. They were one ounce behind the third place team of Nickolas LeBrun and Randy Deaver – one ounce away from the championship round.
“That's all a part of it,” Ware said philosophically.
The march to the Toyota Team Championship started in earnest in October when Ware and his fishing partner from Sumter, S.C., Sean Skey won the SPRO Frog Tournament on Guntersville, but it actually began more than a year ago when Ware retired as manager of the Bears Bluff National Fish Hatchery on Wadmalaw Island just south of Charleston, S.C.
At the hatchery Ware worked with redfish, sturgeon, cobia, American shad and even oysters. But his passion is bass fishing, especially bass tournament fishing, so he and his wife made the decision to move to Lake Guntersville so he could follow his dream.
“Winning the SPRO tournament kind of got things going,” Ware said. “Then my wife and I started practicing for the Bassmaster tournament. Amazingly, the fish stayed super shallow for the most part so we were able to keep up with them. We had a big time and we both caught a lot of fish.”
Ware and Skey caught their fish on a frog, of course, in the SPRO tournament in October, but he and his wife were working homemade jigs on the same fish in the Toyota Team Tournament because the water had got colder, he said.
While Ware was considered an angler to beat in order to win a tournament on the Santee Cooper Lakes when he lived in South Carolina, he is definitely happy with his move to Guntersville.
“”I am learning the lake. It takes a long time. It took a long time for me to figure out Santee,” Ware said. “The fishing here has been incredible this winter. It's hard not to like it here.”
Anglers Will Be Fishing The Mud In Aft Division 96 Tournament On Lake Greenwood
That's the refrain being sung by those who live in the Southeast U.S. for months, none with more urgency than those who live in South Carolina where devastating floods in early October left many homeless and continuing rains since have hampered renovation and rebuilding.
And 2015 is expected to go out with a huge splash as steady rains this week have brought rivers and streams to flood stage while dams along the way have floodgates open as lakes have filled to capacity. That's the situation facing anglers in the Ram American fishing Tour Greenwood division tournament on Lake Greenwood Sunday, said tournament director Phil Morris.
“The water in the lake is really high and muddy. It looks like it's going to be a challenge to catch a fish,” Morris said. On Monday, he said, the mud was down to Greenwood State Park and by Tuesday the entire lake was rolling red.
The National Weather Service reported another 1 ½ inches of rain was expected to fall through early New Year's Eve, bringing the total for the week to around 5 inches. Adding to the challenge for anglers is the prediction that with the skies clearing temperatures will drop. After a week of record high temperatures for late December, highs will be in the mid-50s through next week with nighttime temperatures approaching freezing.
Despite the unusual rainy season this fall, Morris said the tournament series has gone well since it kicked off at Lake Murray in July. Following tournaments at Lake Greenwood in August and Clarks Hill in September, the Oct. 4 tournament at Lake Murray was canceled due to the torrential rains that fell that weekend, flooding homes and washing out roads and bridges.
The schedule picked back up with a tournament on Clarks Hill in November and another on Lake Russell in December. The season continues Sunday, Jan. 3, with the tournament on Lake Greenwood, followed by tournaments Feb. 28 on Lake Murray, March 20 on Clarks Hill, April 10 on Lake Murray, May 1 on Lake Greenwood, with the two-day final May 21-22 on Clarks Hill.
Anglers can register on-line or at the ramp. American Bass Anglers charges a $5 late fee to sign up at the ramp, but a lot of anglers take that route anyway for convenience, Morris said. There is no late fee for an angler who is active military, a lifetime ABA member, or if an angler fishes 15 ABA tournametns a year.
“There is no off-limits for the qualifying tournaments,” he said. “They can pre-fish the day before the tournament and then fish the tournament.”
All of the information on the AFT in the western part of South Carolina can be found at www.aba-sc.com, Morris said.
“It has information on Division 25, Division 26 and Division 96 on it, along with the results of our tournaments and pictures and descriptions of who won and what happened in the tournaments,” he said. “You can also 'like us' on Facebook at D-96 American Fishing Tour.”
Ram American Fishing Tour – SC Greenwood Division
Sun, Jan 3, 2016
Lake Greenwood
Greenwood State Park
Call Phil Morris at (864) 993-0346
http://www.drawtrail.com/2016DivPage.php?Division=96
Davy Hite Finds Time For Hunting, Fun Fishing And Family, Plus Sponsors During Off-Season
The Bassmaster Elite season ends in September and does not crank back up until early March, which means pro angler Davy Hite gets to enjoy pursuits other than bass fishing. Like deer hunting, duck hunting, fishing for fun – say for crappie to enjoy a nice fish fry – and spending quality time with his family and close friends.
But, for pros like Hite the off-season is not all about play. Although the competition season is on hiatus there is still plenty of work to be done.
“Recently, I was in Texas for a week with one of my sponsors, then I went to Minneapolis to the Rapala Headquarters. I will go back to Rapala in January, too. Then there are the outdoors shows starting in January just about every weekend. I occasionally have to work for my sponsors,” Hite said with a chuckle,” adding, “but that's a good thing.”
When he is not working for sponsors, Hite said he sneaks in some hunting, mostly for deer and some for ducks.
“One of the cool things about traveling all over the country fishing I get to meet a lot of people who don't necessarily like to fish, but they like to hunt. And I enjoy hunting.”
Earlier this fall Hite hunted with a fellow who was his marshal in a tournament last year. Later, he drove to Louisiana – where he won the Bassmaster Classic in 1999 – to do some deer hunting and duck hunting with one of those people he has made friends with.
“It seems like there are a lot of good people in the hunting and fishing community who invite you to go on their land, stay in their hunt cabin – or even in their home – and enjoy the outdoors with them,” Hite said.
Hite himself is one of those friendly outdoors people who invites friends to his hunt cabin and hunts with them on his land along the Salud River near his home in South Carolina.
“I had Casey Ashley over to my river cabin a while back and I got him to get out his guitar and play it. I like doing fun stuff like that – hunting and fishing in the off-season, sitting around the campfire, enjoying good food. That's all part of it and the guitar playing made it even more enjoyable.”
This has been an especially enjoyable off-season for Hite because he got to have some quality time with both of his boys.
“I did not leave for Louisiana until I was able to spend some time with both boys at home,” Hite said. “Peyton is at Newberry College and Parker was home after finishing Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga. I was not going to leave until Parker was ready to leave.”
Parker, the oldest son, played football at Newberry College until he got an appointment to West Point. On Nov. 6, Hite was a proud Ranger Dad, pinning the tab on Parker at Fort Benning.
“I am proud of both boys, proud of how good both of them have done in school and Parker is now in the military. I am really proud of him,” Hite said.
Hite is a two-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year, won the 1999 Classic and was the first winner of the FLW Championship. He has won nine national tournaments and qualified for the Classic an impressive 14 seasons.
In a Bassmaster Elite season a pro angler may travel from Florida to the Great Lakes to California to Texas and back to the East Coast in a period of seven months, logging hours, days and weeks on the road and 12-hour-plus days on the water practicing for tournaments. There is no time for hunting or recreational fishing – and little time for family.
So, when that opportunity arises during the off-season Hite tries to make the most of it.
Fishing Should Be Excellent For Aft Alabama North Division Tournament On Guntersville
It's Christmas week and the way Michael Garlen has it figured by Saturday a lot of anglers should be ready to get out of the house and away from the hullabaloo and go fishing. And, if they do, he suggests they come to Lake Guntersville and fish the Ram American Fishing Tour Alabama North Division tournament.
“With Christmas on Friday by Saturday everybody will be going back to the stores to return gifts and swap things, so it will be a good time for the men to get away and relax on the water,” said Garlen, who has been an AFT tournament director for 15 years.
If they enter the tournament, he said, they will probably experience some outstanding fishing Saturday.
“We have a chance of rain every day this week and every day is going to get a little warmer. By the weekend it's supposed to me in the mi-70s,” Garlen said. “With the water warming up the fish should be really active. At least, that's what I am hoping for – I'm fishing it myself.”
Garlen said the fish are hitting spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and swimbaits.
“It's unreal what they are feeding on right now. It will probably take 25 to 28 pounds to win Saturday.”
Garlen said that despite competition with numerous other tournament trails that have sprung up, participation in the Alabama North Division is actually up slightly this year. And he noted, he and all the other AFT tournament directors are volunteers.
“Most of us have real jobs and we do this on weekends. We are just there for the fishermen.”
The remaining Alabama North Division schedule includes: Dec. 26, Jan. 9, Feb. 6, March 19, April 23, May 21, June 25, July 23, and August 6-7, all on Lake Guntersville out of Goose pond except for the April 23 tournament which will be held on Wheeler Lake out of Ingalls Harbor.
Entry fee for the tournaments is $70, with $5 for Big Fish. Anglers can register at DrawTrail.com or at the ramp the morning of the tournament.
American Bass Anglers charges a $5 late fee to sign up at the ramp, but there is no late fee for an angler who is active military, a lifetime ABA member, or if an angler fishes 15 ABA tournaments a year.
The top 500 Ram American Fishing Tour anglers in national points standings for the 2016 season will be invited to fish the 2016 Ram American Fishing Tour National Championship at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, AL on October 16-21.
Ram American Fishing Tour - Alabama North Division
Sat, Dec 26, 2015
Lake Guntersville
Goosepond
Call Michael Garlen at (256) 998-0171
http://www.americanbassanglers.com/districts2016.php?Division=29
Pro Field Announced For 2016 Walmart Flw Tour Season
FLW announced today the complete professional angler roster of 171 for the upcoming 2016 Walmart FLW Tour season, the 21st season of the FLW Tour. The 2016 FLW Tour will feature six regular-season tournaments, along with the addition of two fall Invitational tournaments, with competition kicking off Feb. 4-7 at Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Florida.
The top 100 pros and top 10 co-anglers from the 2015 FLW Tour, the top 10 pros from each of the five 2015 FLW Series divisions, the 2015 TBF National Champion, and the 2015 All-American boater champion all received priority invitations to join the Tour.
“We couldn’t be more excited to kick off our FLW Tour season in just six short weeks at Lake Okeechobee,” said Kathy Fennel, FLW President of Operations. “We have a fantastic mix of anglers and the race for the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup is going to be more exciting than ever.”
In addition to the $125,000 pro paycheck that is awarded to FLW Tour winners, FLW will pay out at least $10,000 to pros down to 50th place and $4,000 to pros and $700 to co-anglers based on one additional payout per boat over a 160-boat field. The season opener on Lake Okeechobee, scheduled to fish 171 boats, will pay out 61 places.
The 2016 FLW Tour roster is headlined by 2015’s Angler of the Year (AOY) Scott Martin of Clewiston, Florida, and Forrest Wood Cup champion Brad Knight of Lancing, Tennessee. Martin and Knight will be joined by fellow FLW Tour AOY winners Andy Morgan, (2013, 2014), David Dudley (2008, 2011, 2012), Bryan Thrift (2010), Clark Wendlandt (1997, 2000, 2009), Jay Yelas (2002, 2007), Anthony Gagliardi (2006), Shinichi Fukae (2004), Dan Morehead (2003) and Peter Thliveros (1996).
Eight former Forrest Wood Cup champions will also be competing on Tour this season, including David Fritts (1997), Darrel Robertson (1999), Dudley (2003), Scott Suggs (2007), Martin (2011), Jacob Wheeler (2012), Gagliardi (2014), and Knight. (2015).
The Tour will also feature such bass fishing legends such as Larry Nixon, Jimmy Houston and Gary Yamamoto competing for the sport’s top prizes against established stars and promising rookies, like 2014 FLW Tour Co-angler of the Year Braxton Setzer and 2014 FLW College Fishing National Champion Austin Felix.
The entire 2016 Walmart FLW Tour roster can be found at FLWFishing.com.
In FLW Tour competition anglers are vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing. The 2016 Forrest Wood Cup will be in Huntsville, Alabama, Aug. 4-7 on Wheeler Lake and is hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Anglers could win as much as $300,000 – professional bass fishing’s richest prize.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Berhorst is Lew's Speed Fishing AOY; The incentive program returns for 2016
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Dec. 21, 2015) - Lew's announces that Missouri's Dennis Berhorst is the first to win the company's new Speed Fishing Angler of the Year title, and also that it will be offering the awards incentive program again for 2016.
Pro Brandon Cobb Chasing Birds, Bass On Lake Greenwood In December
For pro angler Brandon Cobb of Greenwood December is as much about the birds as it is about fishing.
First, there are the ducks. Duck hunting provides a welcome break from the rigors of tournament fishing as the pro circuits pretty much go idle until well after Christmas.
“I like to duck hunt on the lakes around here, on public lands and a few swamps I know about,” said Cobb, who finished 2015 ranked 17th in points in his sophomore season on the FLW Tour. He also fished his way to third place in the Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Ouachita in Arkansas in August.
“I mostly fish the lakes, though. I hunt wood ducks until the mallards and teal migrate down later in the fall,” Cobb said. “Actually, there are a lot more duck hunters than there area ducks, but it's fun and it's something to do for a couple of months.”
And then there are the seagulls. Time to lay down the shotgun and pick up a fishing rod again, Cobb said.
In December as the temperatures begin to go down the gulls migrate in from the coast to look for easy pickings when the water temperatures in South Carolina's lakes get low enough to cause threadfin shad and other baitfish to start dying off.
“Once the water temperature gets down into the 50s in Lake Greenwood the bass will gang up on brushpiles and channel drops. If you see sea gulls feeding I like to throw a jigging spoon. You will catch perch, catfish, crappie and largemouths mixed in with them,” said Cobb who honed his fishing skills while a student as a member of the Clemson University fishing team.
“The seagulls make it easy to find the fish in Lake Greenwood. When the birds are actively diving and feeding, the fish are more than likely pushing bait to the top. A small ½-ounce or .6-ounce Berry's Spoon is my favorite for this. Drop the spoon to the bottom and use short hops, bumping the bottom each time.”
Fish can be caught this way on points with sharp drop-offs and around channel swings in 20 to 30 feet of water, he said.
“With the jigging spoon for the most part you are catching perch, white bass, crappie, everything,” Cobb said. “That is what makes it so much fun. You are occupied all day catching fish and you can catch some big bass, too.”
When the bird activity gets really concentrated, Cobb said he likes to throw the Alabama Rig into the pods.
“When the birds are diving like that the fish have pushed the bait up to the top and the gulls see it. Throw the Alabama Rig into where the birds are diving and you can usually catch a big largemouth – or a striper.”
While most of the activity is out over open water in depths of 20 to 30 feet, Cobb said there should still be some shallow bass to be caught this time of year.
“Some bass will still remain shallow and can be targeted with small crankbaits along rocky banks. These fish are easiest to catch on warm sunny days when they move up to feed,” he said.
Cobb said he will enjoy bass fishing for fun on Lake Greenwood until the middle of January when the pro season cranks up.
“The first tournament I have is the third or fourth week of January, the B.A.S.S. Southern Open on Toho, and then I drive south to Okeechobee for the first FLW Tour tournament.”
Meantime, he will spend his time around Christmas and New Years working that jigging spoon magic on the Greenwood bass and playing Santa Claus angler to people who don't get to fish very much.
“I like taking those people fishing and I especially like taking kids out. You can take that Berry's Spoon and catch all the fish you want – all species,” he said. “It's a simple thing. Anybody can do it.”
Crankbaits on shallow rocks the key on Weiss for AFT Alabama East Central tournament
It took 23 pounds to win a buddy tournament on Weiss Lake weekend before last and Doug Orazine expects it will take close to that weight to win the Ram American Fishing Tour Alabama East Central tournament on the lake this Saturday.
“That 23 pounds was first and 21 pounds was second. Fishing is really good right now and with the weather the way it is it should still be good Saturday,” said Orazine, tournament director for the East Central Division, noting that temperatures are in the 70s in the Birmingham area. “It's supposed to cool off, but stay dry all week. It will be a little cooler but we don't look for any bad weather for the weekend.”
Orazine said the bass are being caught off shallow rock on square-billed and flat-type crankbaits.
“That's pretty much how you catch them there in the winter. They are also biting a jig, but that's on the rocks, too. In our last tournament I caught a 4.6-pound spot on the rocks on a crankbait.”
The series is held on Lakes Weiss and Neely Henry, he noted, and there are 12 to 15 regulars who show up for every tournament.
“We have a good group of guys who fish about every tournament with us and then we have some other guys who show up occasionally,” he said.
After two tournaments on Neely Henry and one on Weiss, which was held out of the Highway 9 Ramp, the series moves back to Weiss Saturday out of Little River Marina for the rest of the season, then will return to Neely Henry Jan. 23. The rest of the schedule includes: Feb. 13, Weiss; March 12, Neely Henry, out of Coosa Landing for all tournaments this season; and then a three-tournament stretch, all on Weiss – April 16, May 28 and June 4; followed by the two-day fish-off July 16-17 on Neely Henry/Weiss, out of Coosa Landing/Little River Marina.
Entry fee for the tournaments is $70, with $5 for Big Fish. Anglers can register at DrawTrail.com or at the ramp the morning of the tournament.
The top 500 Ram American Fishing Tour anglers in national points standings for the 2016 season will be invited to fish the 2016 Ram American Fishing Tour National Championship at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, AL on October 16-21.
Ram American Fishing Tour - Alabama East Central
Sat, Dec 19, 2015
Weiss Lake
Little River Marina
Call Doug Orazine at (205) 910-6694
http://www.americanbassanglers.com/districts2016.php?Division=88
Good Weights Expected For Aft Alabama Central Tournament On Lake Martin Saturday
Fishing is always good in December and January on Lake Martin, said Tom Storm, tournament director for the Ram American Fishing Tour Alabama Central Division which will hold it 3rd tournament of the season on the lake Saturday.
“A lot of big fish are caught on Lake Martin this time of year. One time I was fishing from the back of the boat and took first place while my partner finished second,” Storm said. “We were coming around a corner towards a point and I turned the reel handle one time and 'Boom!' I had a 3 ½-pound largemouth. I threw back and 'Boom!', another 3 ½-pounder.”
Storm said they fished that bank until noon and the fishing began to lay off, so they went to another spot. They came back later and started fishing deeper, catching largemouths. His biggest for the day was 4 pounds.
“Later in January I was fishing out of my boat and caught a 5-pound largemouth close to that same spot,” he said.
“You can catch fish on crankbaits and Shakey Heads this time of year. I like small crankbaits during cold weather and reel them really slow. My favorite is a Deep Baby N and the color I use most is a kind of a green back with white sides and a flash of red on the throat.”
Storm said he had 13 entries in the Nov. 21 tournament on Lake Mitchell, up some from previous tournaments.
“I expect that many, maybe more, Saturday. People want to get out of the house this time of year and fish.”
Entry fee for the tournaments is $70, with $5 for Big Fish. Anglers can register at DrawTrail.com or at the ramp the morning of the tournament.
The top 500 Ram American Fishing Tour anglers in national points standings for the 2016 season will be invited to fish the 2016 Ram American Fishing Tour National Championship at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, AL on October 16-21.
The remaining Alabama Central Division schedule includes: Dec. 19, Lake Martin; Jan. 23, Lake Martin; Feb. 20, Lake Jordan; March 26, Alabama River; April 23, Lake Mitchell; May 21, Lake Jordan; and June 18-19, Alabama River.
Ram American Fishing Tour - Alabama Central Division
Sat, Dec 19, 2015
Lake Martin
Wind Creek State Park
Call Tom Storm at (334) 567-0351
http://www.americanbassanglers.com/districts2016.php?Division=24
Flw Re-Signs Brp To Multi-Year Sponsorship Agreement
MINNEAPOLIS (Dec. 15, 2015) – FLW, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that BRP’s Evinrude brand has re-signed a multi-year agreement to remain an official outboard engine sponsor, marking their 15th consecutive year as a sponsor of FLW. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The Evinrude brand will receive exposure and have prominent presence across all of FLW’s platforms, including on-site activation at all FLW tournaments and Expos, the “FLW” television program which airs on the NBC Sports Network, World Fishing Network and the Pursuit Channel, FLW Bass Fishing magazine, promotion on FLW’s social media outlets and FLW’s fully-responsive website.
“FLW is proud to continue its longstanding partnership with Evinrude,” said Trish Blake, FLW President of Marketing. “Evinrude’s dedication and support to tournament bass fishing is unparalleled.”
As part of the sponsorship agreement, Evinrude will launch a contingency award programs for boaters competing in the Walmart Bass Fishing League (BFL). BRP will award $300 to the highest Evinrude finisher in each qualifying tournament, $1,000 at regional events, and $5,000 at the BFL All-American if he or she is the registered owner of a 2012 or newer 90- to 250-horsepower Evinrude E-TEC outboard engine. All contingency payouts will be administered by FLW, allowing for immediate payouts at each tournament. For additional details on the Evinrude contingency program and a complete list of official rules and eligibility requirements, visit FLWFishing.com.
“BRP and the Evinrude brand are proud to announce this multi-year sponsorship renewal with FLW, the premier professional sports organization that has set the standard for competitive fishing,” said Christopher Berg, global director – marketing and strategic planning, Evinrude. “We share a passion for the sport, the anglers and the entire industry that FLW helps promote. FLW affords us the unique opportunity to showcase the unrivaled power, bold, breakthrough design and unmatched lifetime value of our new Evinrude E-TEC G2 outboards to passionate anglers, from amateur to pro, across the country.”
BRP's Evinrude engine line-up from 3.5 to 300 horsepower offers customers superior value across a full range of applications. Engines are available at authorized Evinrude dealerships worldwide. Become part of the online Evinrude community at www.evinrudenation.com and customize your Evinrude E-TEC G2 engine at www.ChooseYourETEC.com. Follow Evinrude on Facebook at www.facebook.com/brpevinrude.
Eaton, Risner Win Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship On Guntersville
The Michigan anglers, who qualified for the event through their home state’s D&R Sports Center Tournament Trail, caught five bass that weighed 24 pounds, 13 ounces and claimed the national team championship with a two-day weight of 48-7. Two of their best fish came around mid-morning on one magical cast.
“Chris had just finished telling me that he needed me to catch an 8-pounder,” Eaton said. “Then on the very next cast, I got a bite and set the hook. I couldn’t believe it. It was 8 pounds of fish, but it was two of them on the same bait — a 5-pounder and a 3-pounder.
“That’s when we started to feel like maybe it was just meant to be. This is our biggest dream come true.”
Risner and Eaton finished just ahead of the Texas team of Dean Alexander and Thomas Martens (46-10) and the Louisiana pairing of Nickolas LeBrun and Randy Deaver (45-4).
Now the six anglers from the Top 3 teams will compete individually against one another on Saturday in a fish-off. The winner will earn a bid to the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, March 4-6.
Risner and Eaton said they might have been aided by the heavy fog that forced the postponement of the second round Thursday. During the fog delay, they sat at the dock worrying they might not be able to put together a good limit if the anglers were sent out to fish a shortened day.
“I truly think that it helped us, because I don’t think the conditions were right for how we wanted to fish,” Risner said. “We sat there and talked about it, and we felt like if we only had four hours to fish, we didn’t know if we could get it done.
“It was taking us the full day to get a big bag. That’s what it took us today, and we were fortunate to have it.”
Excitement and nervousness was obvious for both anglers during Friday’s award ceremony. Risner even complained of his hands cramping because he had gripped his winner’s trophy so tight.
During Saturday’s Classic fish-off, they said they’ll share the spots they’ve fished as a team all week and fish without pressure.
“This is what we came here for,” said Eaton, gesturing to the trophy he was awarded for the team title. “Anything else that happens from this point on is just extra. If one of us is going to win, I’d honestly rather it be Chris.”
The format will change radically now as the tournament shifts to an individual competition. Three anglers will fish in their own boats, while their team members move to Nitro Boats provided by B.A.S.S.
The Classic fish-off was originally slated for Friday and Saturday. But since Thursday’s round of team competition was wiped out by fog, the fish-off has been shortened to one day with two separate sessions.
The six anglers will leave Lake Guntersville State Park at 6:30 a.m. Saturday and return to the park for the day’s first weigh-in at 10:30 a.m. Then as soon as the morning weigh-in is completed, they will go back onto the lake for a second four-hour session.
They’ll be allowed five fish for each session, and the angler with the highest total weight at the end of the day will earn a Classic berth.
“Several things played into the decision to do it this way, including the threat of severe weather Sunday,” said Jon Stewart, tournament director of the Team Championship. “Instead of stretching it to Sunday and fishing two more days, we’re basically going to have two tournaments on one day.”
Unlike the Team Championship where landing nets were allowed, anglers will be forced to hand-land their bass in the fish-off — just as anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series do all season.
Team members will be forced to decide among themselves Friday night who will start where and how all of their best spots from the week will be divided.
“We’ll discuss it tonight, and however it works out is however it works out,” said LeBrun on the subject of fishing against Deaver, his Louisiana teammate and friend. “At the end of the day, we’re still going to be best friends — and that’s all that matters.”
| Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/9/2015 - 12/10/2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lake Guntersville - Lake Guntersville State Park - Guntersville, AL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| STANDINGS BOATER DAY 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Name | # Fish | # Live | Lbs - Oz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Christopher Risner - Timothy Eaton | D&R Sports Center Tournament Trail | 10 | 10 | 48- 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Dean Alexander - Thomas Martens | Texas Bass Nation | 10 | 9 | 46-10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Nickolas LeBrun - Randy Deaver | H&W Marine TNT | 10 | 10 | 45- 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Kent Ware - Shannon Ware | Fishers of Men Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 45- 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Jay Hulsey - Kyle Hulsey | Ozark Mountain Team Trail | 8 | 7 | 43-11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Josh Busby - Timothy Taylor | Joe Bass Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 43- 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Billy Sharp - Kevin Stubblefield | Alabama Bass Trail | 10 | 10 | 42- 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Blake Hall - Dustin Connell | Alabama Bass Trail | 10 | 10 | 41-15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Brent Algeo - Jim Copeland | Ozark Mtn Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 40- 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Chris Rutland - Coby Carden | Alabama Bass Trail | 10 | 10 | 39- 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Keith Baird - Michael Thompson | IN BN Team Trail | 8 | 8 | 39- 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Jon Canada - Bo Hunter | Airport Marine Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 38-15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Rickey Knight - Randall Carter | Airport Marine Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 38- 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Dan Mohn - Josh Mohn | IA BN Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 38- 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Randy Despino - Kevin Lasyone | H&W Marine Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 38- 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Joshua Price - Eric Silverstrim | TN BN Team Trail | 10 | 9 | 38- 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Andrew Lambert - Lacey Lambert | Fishers of Men Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 38- 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | Don Warren Jr - Jeff Salmon | AC Tournament | 10 | 10 | 37-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | Jason Wilson - Kelly Logan | Carolina Bass Challenge | 10 | 10 | 37- 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | Ben Reynolds - Brandon Reynolds | Anglers Choice | 10 | 10 | 37- 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | Justin McClelland - Michael Hubbard | Anglers in Action | 10 | 10 | 37- 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | Donald Amsden - Edwin Oilar | AC Tournament Trail | 10 | 10 | 36- 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | Nicholas Turner - Joe Lay | Alabama Bass Trail | 10 | 10 | 35-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | Jonathan Pelfrey - Jonathan Bowling | TN Valley Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 35-12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | Brent Crow - James Morgan | Alabama Bass Trail | 10 | 10 | 35- 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | Tim Hurst - Mark McCaig | Alabama Bass Trail | 10 | 10 | 35- 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | Todd Dixon - Larry Sisk | NTBA | 10 | 10 | 35- 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | Brandon Gray - Robert Perkins | Anglers Choice | 10 | 10 | 35- 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | Jody Hughes - Jim Smith | PBC Tournament Trail | 10 | 10 | 34- 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | Hunter Grounds - Tyson Shoot | AC Tournament Trail | 10 | 10 | 34- 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31 | Joseph Lamar - Mac Lamar | Alabama Bass Trail | 10 | 10 | 34- 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 32 | James Wall III - Jimmy Wall Jr | Carolina Bass Challenge | 10 | 10 | 34- 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 33 | Rob Messenger Jr - John Levesque | New Hampshire BN Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 33-15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 34 | Justin Spraske - Joseph Parrott | NH Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 33-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 35 | Gregory Weber - Stewart Weber | NTBA | 10 | 10 | 33- 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 36 | Jimmy Mason - Lance Walker | Alabama Bass Trail | 10 | 10 | 33- 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 37 | Wayne Vaughan Jr - Mitch Blankenship | James River Priority | 10 | 10 | 33- 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 38 | Shawn Skobel - Logan Crayton | Fishers of Men | 10 | 10 | 32-14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 39 | John Hodges - Chris Colley | Big Bucks Team Trail | 8 | 8 | 32-11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 | Kurt Mitchell - Alan Draper | DE BN Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 32- 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 41 | Keith Dees - Tommy Walley Jr | Alabama Bass Trail | 10 | 10 | 32- 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 42 | Rick Imler - Scott Newlon | Great Lakes Largemouth Series | 10 | 10 | 32- 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 43 | Robert Lutes - Daylon Smith | Top Stick Tour | 10 | 10 | 32- 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 44 | Carter Day - Scotty Gilley | Chattanooga Bass Association | 10 | 10 | 31-15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 45 | Damien Willis - Mark Steward | Alabama Bass Trail | 10 | 10 | 31-15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 46 | Flannagan Fife - Royce Davis | 2014 Champs - Fishers of Men | 10 | 10 | 31- 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 47 | Kevin Williams - Cliff Williams | McNider Marine | 9 | 9 | 30-15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 48 | Stephen Humphrey - Tony Campanell | NTBA | 10 | 10 | 30-15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 49 | Kelly Power - Mark Wiese Jr | Ozark Mountain Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 30-10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 50 | Robert Crask - Richard Dossey | Ultimate Bass Team Tour | 8 | 8 | 30- 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 51 | Galen James - Anthony Townsend | Chattanooga Bass Association | 10 | 10 | 30- 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 52 | Kevin Miller - Timothy Dube | NH BN Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 30- 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 53 | Justen Fain - James Brown | Fishers of Men | 10 | 10 | 29-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 54 | Johney Weaver Jr - Adam Ross | Media Bass Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 29-10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 55 | Doug Brownridge - David Chong | Renegade Bass Team Trail | 8 | 8 | 29- 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 56 | Brian McCarter - Jason Fowler | NTBA | 9 | 9 | 29- 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 57 | Tom Goins Sr - TJ Goins Jr | Fishers of Men | 10 | 10 | 29- 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 58 | Marc Deschenes - Ray Walsh | Carolina Anglers Team Trail | 9 | 9 | 29- 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 59 | Mike Sisco - Josh Kritch | Joe Bass Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 28- 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 60 | Tracy Phillips - Mark Vest | NTBA | 9 | 9 | 28- 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 61 | Allen Williford - Austin Moore | IL BN Team Trail | 8 | 8 | 28- 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 62 | Chuck James - Brad James | Chattanooga Bass Association | 10 | 10 | 28- 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 63 | Ashley Medley - Scott Clift | Ozark Mountain Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 28- 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 64 | Jacob Roundtree - Robert Yniguez | Ultimate Bass Team Tour | 10 | 10 | 28- 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 65 | Michael Sentore - Henry Mckee IV | NJ BN Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 27-12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 66 | Al Gagliarducci - Sean Lloyd | MA BN - Classic Rumble | 8 | 8 | 27-11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 67 | Rob Genter - Darren Potts | Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit | 9 | 9 | 27-11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 68 | Tom Rufenacht - Jimmy Rufenacht | Fishers Of Men | 10 | 10 | 27- 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 69 | Jay Kendrick - Danny Bishop | Fishers of Men | 7 | 7 | 27- 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 70 | Shawn Grover - Mark Lodge | Maine BN - Man vs Bass | 8 | 8 | 26-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 71 | Ronald Cancilla - Leo Cancilla | Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit | 10 | 10 | 26-10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 72 | Chris Johnston - Lynn Johnston | Renegade Bass Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 26- 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 73 | Tom Campagna - Chris Lucas | Anglers Choice | 10 | 10 | 26- 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 74 | Eddie Levin - Cory Hartfield | Ohio BASS Nation Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 26- 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 75 | David Barnes - William Centra | Maine BN - Man vs Bass | 9 | 9 | 26- 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 76 | Daniel Gray - Scott Sirakos | Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit | 10 | 10 | 25-10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 77 | Raymond Trudeau - Frederick George | FL BN Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 25-10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 78 | Curtis Lewis - Steve Fairtrace | FL BN Team Trail | 6 | 6 | 25- 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 79 | Shaun Ford - Jeff Elliott | D&R Sports Center Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 25- 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 80 | Ray Hogge - Kevin Whitehurst | James River Priority Team Trail | 9 | 9 | 25- 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 81 | Mark Warner - Jeffrey Nolte | KS BN Team Trail | 8 | 8 | 25- 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 82 | Michael Kopelic - Mark Towne | Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit | 10 | 10 | 25- 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 83 | Andrew Larson - Matt Becker | Fishers of Men Team Trail | 9 | 9 | 24- 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 84 | Shannon Denson - Webb Collums | Fishers of Men Team Trail | 9 | 9 | 24- 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 85 | Byron Albrecht - Jason Windham | TX BN Team Trail | 10 | 10 | 24- 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 86 | Kyle Kempkers - Brett Haveman | BBT Bass R Us Tournament Trail | 8 | 8 | 24- 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 87 | Mark Mounts - Matthew Farrabee | Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit | 10 | 9 | 24- 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 88 | Dan Miguel - Michael Slocki | Bassmania Team Trail | 7 | 7 | 23-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 89 | Joshua Moore - Ty Humphries | H&W Marine TNT | 9 | 9 | 23-10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 90 | Charlie Signorino - Bill Kellman | Upstate Anglers | 9 | 9 | 23- 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 91 | Hunter Hamilton - Joshua Goan | Morristown Marine Team Trail | 8 | 8 | 23- 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 92 | Mack Cook - Patrick Cook | Carolina Bass Challenge | 8 | 8 | 23- 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 93 | Mike Bird - Ted Roper | Ultimate Bass Team Tour | 8 | 8 | 22- 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 94 | Michael Gibson - Dwayne Hughes | Anglers Choice Team Trail | 7 | 7 | 21- 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 95 | Reggie Pickett - Larry Kirk | Carolina Bass Challenge | 9 | 9 | 21- 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 96 | Douglas Eubank - Daniel Eubank Jr | Anglers Choice | 6 | 5 | 21- 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 97 | Dennis Chavez - Donnie Coleman Jr | NV BN Team Trail | 9 | 9 | 21- 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 98 | Craig Hodges - Blake Newton | NTBA | 8 | 8 | 21- 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 99 | Glenn Harrison - Rusty Darnell | Joe Bass Team Trail | 7 | 7 | 20-11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 100 | Justin Romines - Cory Stuart | Fishers of Men | 9 | 9 | 20-10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 101 | Eric Deering - Adam Kaufmann | WABTA | 9 | 9 | 20- 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 102 | Tom Statler - Dillon Statler | Joe Bass Team Trail | 7 | 7 | 19-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 103 | William Padgett Jr - Meredith Havird | Carolina Bass Challenge | 8 | 8 | 19- 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 104 | Kyle Smith - Bill Jenkins Jr | Morristown Marine Team Trail | 6 | 6 | 18-15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 105 | Timothy Chaffin - Curtis Poggenpohl | Priority James River | 6 | 6 | 18-15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 106 | Wayne Cox - Jimmy Harrison | Alabama Bass Trail | 8 | 8 | 17-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 107 | Paul Vandentoorn - Nate Westrate | BBT Bass R Us Tournament Trail | 6 | 6 | 17-12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 108 | Rogne Brown - Cary Dotson | Chattanooga Bass Association | 5 | 5 | 17- 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 109 | Thomas Gavin - Bobby Winn | Carolina Bass Challenge | 7 | 7 | 17- 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 110 | Eric Bozeman - Thomas Proudfoot | Carolina Bass Challenge | 5 | 5 | 17- 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 111 | Trace Myers - Mandy Myers | Ultimate Bass Team Tour | 6 | 6 | 17- 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 112 | Mike Rains Jr - Taylor Gorton | AC Tournament Trail | 5 | 5 | 16-13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 113 | Charlie Machek - Scott Wiley | Anglers Choice | 6 | 6 | 16-10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 114 | Jeremiah Beatty - Clint Benbow | Carolina Bass Challenge | 5 | 5 | 16- 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 115 | Matt McCoy - Dennis Davis | IN BN Team Trail | 5 | 5 | 16- 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 116 | Benny Roberts - Todd Nidiffer | Morristown Marine Team Trail | 5 | 5 | 16- 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 117 | Shane Gray - Pete Henry | Media Bass Teams | 5 | 5 | 15- 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 118 | Nick Runo - Dave Tierney | Northeast Bassmaster Team Trail | 6 | 6 | 15- 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 119 | Ronnie Siress - Daniel York | AC Tournament Trail | 5 | 5 | 15- 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 120 | Jack Belt - JD Kyle | IN BN Team Trail | 5 | 5 | 15- 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 121 | Mel Hedrick Jr - Eduardo Trevino | IL BN Team Trail | 5 | 5 | 15- 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 122 | Rusty Strickland - Chuck Hemm | Alabama Bass Trail | 5 | 5 | 14-12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 123 | John Knowles - Michael Rezendes | Connecticut Bass Nation | 5 | 5 | 14- 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 124 | Frank Poirier - Warren Poirier | James River Priority Team Trail | 5 | 5 | 14- 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 125 | Eric Nelson - Robert Grike | Priority James River | 5 | 5 | 13-15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 126 | Shane Lineberger - Jerry Lineberger | Carolina Bass Challenge | 5 | 5 | 13-14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 127 | Mike Goff - Kevin Goff | WV Team Trail | 5 | 5 | 13-12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 128 | Bryan Baker - Darren Baker | Joe Bass Team Trail | 6 | 6 | 13-12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 129 | Chad Allison - Derrick Wright | Joe Bass Team Trail | 5 | 5 | 13- 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 129 | Justin Atkins - Drew Long | Alabama Bass Trail | 5 | 5 | 13- 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 129 | Chris Atwell - Gary Atwell | James River Priority Team Trail | 5 | 5 | 13- 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 132 | Jason Buchanan - Terry Kircus | Texas Bass Nation | 5 | 5 | 13- 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 133 | Jeff Hampton - Ed Roberts | AC Tournament Trail | 5 | 5 | 13- 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 134 | Greg Loveday - Timothy Hatcher | Big Bucks Buddy Trail | 5 | 5 | 13- 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 135 | Todd Walters - Jason Threadgill | Carolina Bass Challenge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No, The Other Martens Wins Bassmaster Classic Berth On Guntersville
The current he had relied on all week disappeared, and that may have caused him to lose a couple of good fish Saturday morning. He also had to share his best spot with the crowd of recreational fishermen who always flock to Guntersville on the weekends.
But none of it was enough to keep Martens from his biggest accomplishment as a tournament angler.
Martens caught just two fish that weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces during the morning session of the fish-off. But he rebounded with four giants that weighed 22-12 during the afternoon session and claimed the individual title with a combined weight of 28-14.
The victory earned Martens a berth in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro, which is scheduled for March 4-6 on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.
“We found a bridge in practice that was really good, along with about 20 other boats,” said Martens, who qualified for the fish-off by teaming with fellow Texan Dean Alexander to finish second in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship earlier this week. “We had to wait in line to get to it during the week, but it was worth it. Then today, there were a lot of crappie anglers there, and I had to go inside of them. But they were great about it.”
Martens used a 7-inch Basstrixx Swimbait in the ayu color pattern to catch the fish he needed to slip past Nickolas LeBrun who finished second with 23-13. That swimbait was the same one used by California pro Skeet Reese to win the Bassmaster Elite Series event held on Guntersville back in April.
“There was no current today, and I had a couple of pull-offs that could have helped,” Martens said. “You could see the fish down there (on an electronic fish finder), and it was just a matter of dropping the bait down to them and waiting for a bite. I was literally getting about one bite an hour.
“I lost another fish this afternoon, and I was afraid that fish was going to be the one that really hurt me.”
The original plan for this week’s Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship was for 197 teams to compete Wednesday and Thursday for the national team title, with anglers from the Top 3 teams advancing to fish solo in the Bassmaster Classic fish-off Friday and Saturday.
But after a solid day of fishing in Wednesday’s opening round, the weather threw a kink into everyone’s plans.
Thursday’s second round of the team portion was wiped out by heavy fog in the Guntersville area. That forced the anglers to complete the team competition on Friday. Michigan anglers Chris Risner and Timothy Eaton claimed that team title with a two-day weight of 48-7, ahead of Alexander and Martens (46-10) and LeBrun and Randy Deaver (45-4).
Then instead of fishing the originally scheduled two days for the Classic fish-off, the six remaining anglers fished one day with two four-hour sessions. All anglers were attempting to catch five bass during the morning session and five more during the afternoon.
Saturday’s morning session saw LeBrun jump into the lead with four bass that weighed 12 pounds, 14 ounces. His closest competition was from Risner, who brought three bass to the scales that weighed 10-4.
After a short break, the anglers went back onto the lake at 11 a.m. for the afternoon session. While Martens was working his magic at the bridge, LeBrun was flipping and pitching grass for a modest five-bass limit that weighed 10-15.
“With a lack of current on our main spot, I kind of just went into survival mode,” LeBrun said. “I figured my best chance was to get five fish of some sort and just let the cards fall. So I went and did something that I had confidence in, something I know how to do. That’s how I caught what I caught.
“When it’s your day, it’s your day, and it was (Martens’) day today.”
Risner finished third with six fish in the two sessions that weighed 18-2. He was followed by Alexander with 5-7, Deaver with 4-9 and Eaton with 0-0.
Martens said he’s never seen Grand Lake, but he’s looking forward to doing some research on the fishery before he takes on the challenge of fishing the Classic.
“I’ve never even fished in Oklahoma before,” Martens said. “But how much different from Texas can it be? It’ll be a great experienced for sure.”
Europe proposes bass ban, anglers upset; confused
The European Union Commission has proposed a complete ban on bass fishing for the first half of 2016 with stringent restrictions thereafter.
This was, of course, met with strong opposition at first. Now recreational anglers think they may be off the hook (sorry, couldn't help making the obvious pun).
According Angling International:
The European Anglers Alliance (EAA) has identified that the technical detail in the Commission’s proposal does not make it clear whether the January to June ban covers recreational fishing or just commercial interests.
EAA Secretary General and EFTTA lobbyist Jan Kappel said that both organizations were working on input for the European Council of Ministers meeting on December 14th and 15th, where the proposal will be adopted, amended or dismissed.
The Trust, an EAA member, published a response to the EU proposal saying that while it welcomed further restrictions on the commercial harvesting of bass, “it is monstrously unfair to lump all forms of bass fishing together” and that the Commission “is picking the wrong target.”
The Commission introduced new bass fishing management measures less than a year ago and followed this by enforcing catch limits as recently as June 2015. It says that it is now building on those measures to further slow the dramatic decline in bass stocks.
- See more at: http://www.angling-international.com/confusion-reigns-over-european-bass-ban/#sthash.4vlj4ePT.dpuf
Pure Fishing parent company said to be in merger talks
Jarden Corporation, owner of Pure Fishing since 2007, is reportedly in merger talks with fellow corporate giant Newell Rubbermaid, maker of iconic Rubbermaid food storage products, among other things.
Jarden, current market capitalization of 10.65 billion dollars, also added Sebile to its portfolio in 2011.
Newell is said to be valued at nearly $12 billon.
How will this affect the Pure Fishing brands and anglers who like to fish their products? How will it affect sponsored pros and others in the industry? If talk turns to action, we'll all find out soon.
Ram American Fishing Tour Division 96 Results - Lake Russell - Dec 6, 2015
Our winner, Gene Parker, was fishing the middle part of the lake. He caught all his fish on a spoon in about 50 feet of water.
Phillip Anderson finished in second place a caught his fish on a shakey head. He was fishing brush piles on the upper part of the lake.
Cason Nickles finished in third place with 10.93 pounds. He fished the middle part of the lake and caught his fish on a spoon and a blade runner in as deep as 35 feet.
The day was mostly sunny with a NE wind at 10 to 15 for most of the day. Water temps were in the mid to lower 50’s. The main lake was clear and a little stained in the backs of creeks.
Here’s how we finished:
1 – Gene Parker Asheville, NC – 5 fish 12.64 lbs. BF 5.61 lbs. 200 pts.
2 – Phillip Anderson, Saluda, SC - 5 fish 11.91 lbs. 199 pts.
3 – Cason Nickles, Due West, SC – 5 fish 10.93 lbs. 198 pts.
4 – Bill Pinion, Fair Play, SC – 5 fish 10.53 lbs. 197 pts.
5 – Jay Treon, Greenwood, SC – 5 fish 10.19 lbs. 196 pts.
6 – Kevin Fulmer, Prosperity, SC – 5 fish 9.90 lbs. 195 pts.
7 – Curtis Temples, Saluda, SC – 5 fish 9.57 lbs. 194 pts.
8 – Phil Morris, Saluda, SC – 5 fish 8.72 lbs. 193 pts.
9 – Allen Murray, Reidsville, Ga. – 5 fish 8.68 lbs. 192 pts.
10 – Steve Christie, Gray Court, SC – 5 fish 8.42 lbs. 191 pts.
11 – Paul Tickerhoof, Appling, Ga. – 5 fish 8.26 lbs. 190 pts.
12 – Don Kneece, Saluda, SC - 5 fish 8.19 lbs. 189 pts.
13 – Bill Cain, Greenwood, SC – 5 fish 7.10 lbs. 188 pts.
14 - Mike Strickland, Watkinsville, Ga. – 4 fish 6.80 lbs. 187 pts.
15 – Stanley Harkins, Fletcher, NC – 5 fish 6.12 lbs. 186 pts.
16 – James Salter, Athens, Ga. – 4 fish 6.03 lbs. 185 pts.
17 – Richard Presnell, Westminster, SC - 5 fish 5.49 lbs. 184 pts.
18 – Rodney ‘Krowbar’ Cromer, Pomaria, SC - 4 fish 4.65 lbs. 183 pts.
19 – Jason Moyer, Hodges, SC - 5 fish 4.23 lbs. 182 pts.
20 – Mike Dimatteo, Spartanburg, SC - 3 fish 3.46 lbs. 181 pts.
21 – Arthur McBride, Toccoa, Ga. - 3 fish 3.35 lbs. 180 pts.
2 anglers did not weigh in fish - 50 pts.
From left to right; 1st and Big fish winner Gene Parker / 2nd place Philip Anderson / 3rd place Cason Nickles / 4th place Bill Pinion / 5th place Jay Treon / 6th place Kevin Fulmer
Money
Gene Parker – 1st place plaque $579 / BF plaque $115 /1st place option $110 Total - $804
Phillip Anderson – 2nd place plaque $346 / 2nd place option $70 Total - $416
Cason Nickles – 3rd place plaque $115
Bill Pinion – 4th place $86
Jay Treon – 5th place Gene Parker Spinnerbait
Kevin Fulmer – 6th place ALX Rods Hat
ALX Rod Big Fish Leader for 2016
Will Anderson – 5.91 lbs. Lake Greenwood, August 23, 2015
ALX Rods Big Fish Award for the 2015 Season (New ALX IKOS Series Rod for Season Big Fish Winner www.alxrods.com )
Local Sponsors:
Our local sponsors will be providing products or money for products for the anglers fishing Division 96 tournaments. Please give them your support by looking to them first when considering your purchases. They are supporting you!
Kneece Investigations, LLC Saluda, SC www.kneeceinvestigations.com (864-445-3713) (one stop for both your Investigative and Surveillance Equipment needs)
ALX Rods Aiken, SC www.alxrods.com (803-645-5392) Email: [email protected] (ALX Rods are available locally at The Tackle Shop (Martinez, GA), Palmetto State Armory (Columbia on Fernandina Road & also store in Mt. Pleasant, SC), Wacky Riggers (Salisbury, NC), Calyx Outdoors (Piedmont, SC) Grady’s Great Outdoors (Anderson, SC), Lake Hartwell Outdoor Center (Anderson, SC) and direct at www.alxrods.com )
Gene Parker’s Spinnerbaits Asheville, NC - the baits that Gene Parker used to win the 2011 ABA National Championship on Lake Murray, SC www.parkerbaittechnology.com (828-691-2277)
Results and news on www.aba-sc.com and see your photos on ‘facebook’ at D-96 American Fishing Tour
Upcoming ABA Tournaments:
D-25 Dec. 13, 2015 Hartwell Green Pond
D-96 Jan 3, 2016 Greenwood Greenwood State Park
D-26 Jan. 31, 2016 Clarks Hill Wildwood Park
D-25 Feb. 21, 2016 Hartwell Green Pond
D-26 Feb. 21, 2016 Clarks Hill Wildwood Park
D-96 Feb. 28, 2016 Murray Dreher Island State Park
D-25 Mar. 13, 2016 Clarks Hill Dorn Facility
D-26 Mar. 13, 2016 Clarks Hill Wildwood Park
D-96 Mar. 20, 2016 Clarks Hill Dorn Facility
D-25 Apr. 3, 2016 Russell Hwy 72 Ramp
D-96 Apr. 10, 2016 Murray Dreher Island State Park
D-26 Apr. 17, 2016 Clarks Hill Wildwood Park
D-25 Apr. 24, 2016 Clarks Hill Dorn Facility
Weekend Bass Series - 2016 Ray Scott Championship – April 6-10, 2016 – Lake Hartwell, Green Pond Landing, Anderson, SC
Thanks to everyone for fishing,
Phil Morris
Martens Auctioning Off Winning Rods For Wounded Warriors
Now Martens is auctioning off the very Enigma rods he used to win the 2015 Angler of the Year award. All of the proceeds received from the auctions will go directly to the Wounded Warriors In Action Foundation (WWIAF) to fund world-class outdoor experiences for these Heroes.
“I can’t think of a better cause to contribute these rods to than an organization dedicated to getting Wounded Warriors in the outdoors,” Martens said. “Those injured soldiers put our freedoms above their own personal safety to protect our way of life. No price can be put on that.”
In all, some 30 rods will be auctioned off on eBay. Some of the rods are casting, some are spinning and they vary in actions and sizes.
“All of these are the Enigma rods I used all season on the Elite Series,” Martens said. “Some of them are one-of-a-kind prototypes that I was experimenting with when designing the rods. Some of them are the ones I used to win on Havasu and on the Chesapeake. They are special rods to me, but I want people across the country to bid on them to raise money so we can get these amazing Warriors into the great outdoors where they can experience miracles.”
All of the money raised in the auctions will be donated to WWIAF, a nonprofit organization, whose mission is to provide world-class outdoor sporting activities to wounded combat veterans who have received the Purple Heart Award.
WWIAF was founded in 2007 by retired Lieutenant Colonel John McDaniel who served in the U.S. Army for 20 years. McDaniel’s vision was to harness the healing powers of the great outdoors by arranging exceptional fishing and hunting experiences for combat wounded veterans at no cost to them.
Today WWIAF serves more than 200 Wounded Warriors a year across 36 states and three foreign countries. The sporting adventures are vast and varied; some of the more popular destinations include muskie fishing in Wisconsin, bass fishing in Texas, offshore fishing in Mexico, bear hunting in British Columbia, pheasant hunting in South Dakota and even gator hunting in Florida.
“We are extremely humbled and honored that Aaron would think of the Wounded Warriors In Action Foundation as a place to donate the contributions from his Enigma rod auctions,” McDaniel said. “When great champions like Aaron and quality companies like Enigma team up and work together to do good things, everybody wins – and this partnership is tremendous example of that.”
“Our foundation works very hard to get wounded combat veterans back in action in the outdoors,” McDaniel added. “The activities of fishing and hunting serve as tremendous catalysts for the healing process for these great Heroes. And because of partnerships like this, these outdoor pursuits do not cost them a single penny. So to all who bid on these proven tournament-winning rods, I wish you the best of luck.”
In all there will be four sets of auctions for Martens’ Enigma rods. The auctions will be held each quarter on eBay. Every rod will include a rod sock, Enigma hat, and a certificate of authenticity as a rod used by Martens during his 2015 Angler of the Year campaign.
The first set of auctions will be held Dec. 4, 5, 6 and 7. Two rods per day will be auctioned off. Each of the auctions will last for a period of 7 days. Rods in this December auction will ship before Christmas.
Some of the highlights of the first auctions will include Martens’ famous dropshot rod (6’10” medium-light), his favorite shakey head rod (6’11” medium-light), a cranking rod (7’2” medium), a flipping stick (7’8” heavy), a jig and toad rod (7’3” heavy) and several more.
For more information on the auctions visit www.enigmafishing.com
For more information on the Wounded Warriors In Action Foundation visit www.woundedwarriorsinaction.org
Huk Performance Apparel Increases Support As Premier B.a.s.s. Sponsor
Huk, a performance apparel company offering quality, technical fishing clothing to anglers, has upgraded its sponsorship and signed a three-year agreement with B.A.S.S. to become a Premier Sponsor of all Bassmaster tournament circuits.
Huk signed on as a supporting sponsor shortly after it was launched in 2014. Headquartered in Charleston, S.C., Huk aims to serve all anglers, especially bass anglers, with clothing designed for their sport. As part of their Premier Sponsorship, Huk has entered into an apparel licensing agreement with B.A.S.S. and will also become the official merchandise vendor at B.A.S.S. events.
“We’re very pleased to continue our partnership with a brand as strong as B.A.S.S. and to support the growing sport of bass fishing,” said Ben Verner, president of Huk. “We are a company that shares their passion for fishing and the sport.”
Under the deal announced today, Huk will be a premier-level sponsor of the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro, Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series and Costa Bassmaster High School Series.
“By becoming a Premier Sponsor, we are honored to support some of the very best anglers in the world by providing them with the most technically advanced and innovative performance apparel on the water today,” Verner said.
Bassmaster Elite Series pros including Kevin VanDam, Skeet Reese, Gerald Swindle and Brandon Palaniuk are members of the Huk pro team. Testimonials and tips from the pros can be found on its website, www.hukgear.com.
Huk will also share its performance apparel lines with the fishing public at the Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. The apparel company will also be activating at the Bassmaster Classic takeoff at Wolf Creek Park and the Classic weigh-in at the BOK Center. The 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic will be held in Tulsa, Okla., March 4-6.
“B.A.S.S. is proud to have Huk as a member of our sponsor family,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “Bass anglers and fans are Huk customers, and the company’s commitment brings a strong presence to the ever-expanding sport of bass fishing. We look forward to continuing our joint efforts in growing our sport.”
After Long Absence From Tournaments, Fired-Up Scott Martin Headed To Toyota Team Championship
After fishing Bassmaster tournaments from the mid-90s to early 2001, Scott Martin stepped away from tournament fishing for nearly a decade and a half so he could spend more time with his family.
But now he's back and has served notice he is still just as good an angler as he was before.
Martin and teammate Cole Winn are heading to the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship next week on Lake Guntersville after winning the Carolinas Bass Challenge 2015 Classic Oct. 23-24 on Clarks Hill Lake. Winn and Martin, both from Salulda, S.C., completed the 2 Day CBC Classic with a whopping 44.69 pounds, earning them a brand new Skeeter ZX200 Package with a 200 SHO Yamaha.
Although they did not join up until after the Lake Murray tournament, the first of the South Carolina Division for 2015, they are one of 22 teams from the Carolinas Bass Challenge to qualify for the Toyota Team Championship, the second year in a row CBC has sent that many teams, according to Brett Collins who directs the series.
Martin grew up on Lake Murray, fishing team tournaments with his eventual brother-in-law, 1999 Bassmaster Classic Champion Davy Hite of Ninety-Six, and with his dad, the late Russell Martin who was a local bass tournament icon in South Carolina.
“The Clarks Hill tournament brought back memories of one of the last years Davy and I fished the South Carolina Team Trail,” Martin said. “We won the Clarks Hill tournament back in the early '90s before Davy started fishing what is now the Bassmaster Elite Series. Winning that tournament was one of my first big licks as far as winning that kind of money.”
Martin ventured into the Bassmaster series himself, fishing 44 tournaments over a decade or so, earning almost $84,000, with four top 10 finishes, including a win in the 1998 South Carolina Invitational at Santee Cooper, and qualifying for the 1998 Bassmaster Classic on Hick Rock Lake in North Carolina.
“Cole and I did not fish the same areas at Clarks Hill that Davy and I did back then, but we fished the same way,” Martin said. The water was dirty just like it was when Davy and I caught them oh so many years ago. I just knew we had a chance to win.”
Martin said he will depend on the knowledge of Lake Guntersville he developed in two previous tournaments there to help him and Winn prepare a strategy for next week.
“I made a check in a Bassmaster tournament there years ago and back in '99 my dad and I fished there in a Jerry Rhyne tournament. It was a different time of year, but we won that tournament and we won a boat,” he said.
“There are basically going to be two scenarios. It all depends on how cold the lake is and how much cold weather they have had. If the grass is still in good shape I imagine it will be a grass scenario. But if the grass is dying, then the fish will have left it to go out to deeper water and suspend,” Martin said.
“When we get there for the official practice on Monday and Tuesday we are going to look for good grass in some of the areas I am familiar with. We'll see if we can get bit in the grass. You have to either punch through the grass with a jig or fish the edges and breaks with a spinnerbait or a shallow-running crankbait.”
If the fish are not in the grass, he said, the suspended bite will be a total gamble.
“We'll have to find the bait and the fish will be with the bait. It will be just like finding stripers on Lake Murray when the fish are hung up with those bait balls. We'll fish jerkbaits, swimbaits, that kind of deal.”
Martin was away from competitive fishing for a long time, except for some local tournaments with his dad, including crappie fishing.
“He always said from the bottom of his heart I had the potential,” Martin said. “I enjoy fishing with Cole. He is young, energetic and he is a good fisherman. I give him a lot of credit for getting me back into it.”
And now that he's back – and winning – Martin said he is in it for the long haul.
“I am pumped up to be back in it. I'm looking forward to next year. We feel like we can make a good showing in the tournaments and make some money next year,” Martin said. “Even though we missed the Lake Murray tournament this year, they are going to Lake Murray in May – and that is going to be a lot of fun.”
Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship
Dec 9-12, 2015
Lake Guntersville
Lake Guntersville State Park
Spotted Bass Will Be Winning Catch In Sc Greenwood Division Tournament On Lake Greenwood
With a cold front coming this week the American Fishing Tour South Carolina Greenwood Division tournament on Lake Russell is expected to primarily be a spotted bass tournament, Phil Morris, tournament director, said.
“The spotted bass are prevalent in December anyway, so most of the anglers will be trying to target them because they are the most aggressive,” said Morris, who added that spotted bass don't have a lot of weight.
“We always have a lot of anglers who come in with less than 10 pounds for a sack, but then there are always one or two that come in with the right fish to win it,” he said. “It usually takes 15 to 16 pounds to win this time of year on Russell.”
Morris said the key tactic will likely be a drop-shot in 30 to 40 feet of water.
“That is how it is usually won this time of year,” he said. “I don't know how cold it will get this week, but if it comes on strong and the temperature drops, that deep water bite will win it.”
Morris said the season has gone well since it kicked off with a tournament on Lake Murray in July. That was followed by a tournament on Lake Greenwood in August and then on to Clarks Hill in September. The Oct. 4 tournament on Lake Murray was canceled due to the torrential rains that swept across South Carolina that weekend, flooding homes and washing out roads and bridges, with the last tournament back on Clarks Hill in November. The schedule continues Sunday with the tournament on Lake Russell, followed by tournaments Jan. 3 on Lake Greenwood, Feb. 28 on Lake Murray, March 20 on Clarks Hill, April 10 on Lake Murray, May 1 on Lake Greenwood, with the two-day final May 21-22 on Clarks Hill.
“I've had 40 anglers fishing so far and we usually end up with at least 75 by the end of the season,”Morris said. “We are always looking for new anglers. We have several that come from North Carolina up around the Asheville area, some from down in Georgia and some from both the upstate and lower state in South Carolina.”
Anglers can register on-line or at the ramp. American Bass Anglers charges a $5 late fee to sign up at the ramp, but a lot of anglers take that route anyway for convenience, Morris said. There is no late fee for an angler who is active military, a lifetime ABA member, or if an angler fishes 15 ABA tournametns a year.
“There is no off-limits for the qualifying tournaments,” he said. “They can pre-fish the day before the tournament and then fish the tournament.”
American Fishing Tour - SC Greenwood Division
Sun, Dec 6, 2015
Lake Russell
Hwy 72 Ramp
Call Phil Morris at (864) 993-0346
http://www.americanbassanglers.com/districts2016.php?Division=96
Cold Front Could Help Fishing For Florida West Division Tournament On Toho
Fishing on Lake Toho has been tough recently, but a cold front expected at the end of the week could change things just in time for the American Fishing Tour's Florida West Division's fourth tournament of the season.
“We are looking for a front to come through Thursday and Friday that is going to drop the air temperature down into the mid-70s,” said tournament director Frank Marylander. “It's not going to be a big cold front, but it may affect the fish.”
Toho is not fishing as well as it should be this time of year, Derylak said.
“We're catching a few of the bigger bass, but for some odd reason they are just not biting like they should be. I don't know if it's because Florida Wildlife is killing too much of the grass which is moving the fish out or if we are just not finding them,” he said.
Or, perhaps the fish have moved into staging areas to get ready for spawning, he said.
“They should be getting to the pockets, getting ready to spawn. That's what normally happens in December and January. I do expect that with this cooler weather that will probably happen pretty soon and fishing will pick up.”
Right now the bass are still not responding to reaction baits, he said, because the water is still too warm.
“Usually this time of year they start hitting crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps and jerkbaits more, but that has not happened yet. We are primarily catching them on worms and jigs, slow-moving baits.”
Derylak, who won the November tournament, is currently leading the points, but that will change as the season goes on, he said, because certain anglers fish better during different seasons of the year. So far the division has held three tournaments; Craig Maxwell won the other two.
“We have to fish four of the one-day tournaments and the two-day tournament to qualify for the top 500 in the nation in order to fish the national championship, which will be held on Lake Eufaula in Alabama next October,” Derylak said.
The Florida West Division opened with a tournament Sept. 12, followed by tournaments Oct. 3 and Nov. 7. The schedule includes: Dec. 5, Jan. 9, Feb. 6, March 5, April 2, May 14, June 4, July 9, Aug. 6-7, all out of Southport on Toho.
American Fishing Tour - Florida West Division
Sat, Dec 5, 2015
Lake Toho
Southport Park
Call Frank Derylak at (407) 709-1632
http://www.americanbassanglers.com/districts2016.php?Division=21
Michigan Autoworker Wins $5,000 Shopping Spree Contest
After living on Lake St. Clair, Michigan, his whole life, Kelly Ray knows what lures he likes to use on the Northern fishery: tube jigs and spinners.
Now Ray can buy all the tube jigs and spinners he will need for quite a while, thanks to winning the Bassmaster Shopping Spree Sweepstakes for a $5,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card.
“I enter Bassmaster sweepstakes all the time,” Ray said. “When I learned that I won, that was unreal. I couldn’t believe it.”
Ray lives in Sterling Heights, Mich., about 8 miles from Detroit and works as a tool setter in the auto industry.
He said he is thinking about using his prize to put a down payment on a bass boat. It would be his first time owning a boat.
“I live really close to Lake St. Clair, so I fish it all the time in the summer,” Ray said.
However, he’s not too eager to head out on the lake right now and put some new Bass Pro Shops gear to the test. That will have to wait for warmer weather. “The fish have wintered down already,” he said. “They’re already down deep.”
Ray said his strategy in playing the Bassmaster Shopping Spree Sweepstakes was to log on every day and enter. He said he was trying to win the sweepstakes to fish with another Michigan angler — Kevin VanDam — when the shopping spree caught his eye.
“I grew up fishing with my father,” said Ray, whose personal best fish is a 5 1/2-pound smallmouth.
From now through Dec. 7, visit Bassmaster.com to enter the latest sweepstakes, the Bassmaster Winter Boat Giveaway. The first-place winner will receive a Triton 179 TrX, Yamaha F11LB, Triton single-axle trailer, MotorGuide trolling motor and Lowrance Mark 5. The total value of this prize is $25,095.
A second prizewinner will receive a Triton 17 TX, Mercury 60 ELPT, Triton single-axle trailer, MotorGuide trolling motor and Lowrance 3X depthfinder. This prize is valued at $17,395.
All entries must be received by midnight on Dec. 7 to be eligible, and the two winners will be selected on Dec. 9.
Happy Thanksgiving From Sportsman's Warehouse! All Zoom Products Marked Down 20% All Week Long!
Great deals galore this week at Sportsman's Warehouse! 20% off on all ZOOM products!! Spend your thanksgving shopping for some fantastic deals online or at any one of our 65 Nationwide locations! Here is SW Fishing Manager Craig Baird with some more amazing deals...
Neil And Tim Huffstefler Win The 6Th Annual Toys For Tots On Lake Murray-Full Results And Pics Here!
6th Annual Lake Murray Toys for Tots Champs
Tim and Neil hold up their winning check!
6th Annual “Mr. Lake Murray” & Toys for Tots
A cool morning and blue skies were the order of the day for the Mr. Lake Murray Open Bass tournament run by The Bass Federation of South Carolina (TBF)
The partnership this year with the Marines “Toys for Tots” program was a big success with abundant toys and cash donations from the anglers. It’s always good to give something back to those less fortunate and the Marines program is a great way of doing just that.
In all it was a pretty good day of fishing with 23 limits of 5 bass each being weighed in. The winning team for the second time in this event was Neil and Tim Huffstefler of Pomaria at 22.75 lbs. They anchored there catch with the Big Bass of the day that weighed 6.34 lbs. Rounding out the top five places were Paul Selle & Gabe Fogle 20.16 lbs. Rhett Manus & Doug Lown 20.06 lbs. Chris Epting & Johnny Mayer 17.94 lbs. Dean Chapman 17.86 lbs.
TBF of SC would like to thank all that participated in making this event a success and also Dreher Island State Park for the use of their facilities.
For more information on fishing please visit www.tbfofsc.com
Cody Kelley To Represent Flw Foundation In 2016
Arkansas Pro Adds Second Non-profit Organization to Sponsorship Portfolio
MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 19, 2015) – FLW announced today that second-year professional angler Cody Kelley of Conway, Arkansas, will represent the FLW Foundation on the Walmart FLW Tour in 2016. As part of the agreement, Kelley will organize and host a youth fishing-derby at each FLW Tour event held in 2016.
Entering his sophomore season on the FLW Tour, the 24-year-old Kelley received industry distinction and acclaim by naming the non-profit Special Olympics Arkansas (SOAR) his primary sponsor in his rookie season. In addition to his SOAR partnership, Kelley now becomes the first angler selected to represent the FLW Foundation as he travels the country competing against the sport’s best anglers on the FLW Tour.
“I look forward to representing the FLW Foundation and bringing awareness to the non-profit organizations that I serve in the 2016 season,” said Kelley. “I have been lucky enough to pursue my dream of becoming a professional angler while also remaining true to my passion of helping other people. The FLW Foundation’s commitment to connect youth to the outdoors lifestyle is a cause that I wholeheartedly support.”
Formed in 2010, the FLW Foundation was created to help connect youth to their natural resources and promote education, conservation and an active lifestyle. The FLW Foundation functions nationwide with thousands of volunteers at hundreds of fishing tournaments and outdoor expos to achieve measureable on-the-ground success in youth angler recruitment and retention. The FLW Foundation maximizes the impact of existing partnerships and expertise through experiential learning opportunities that meet the shared goals of partner schools, natural resource agencies and corporations. This hands-on approach allows the FLW Foundation and its partners to connect outdoor leisure activities with sound educational principles.
“We followed Cody’s work with the Special Olympics Arkansas closely while he was on Tour in 2015,” said Dave Washburn, FLW Vice President of Operations. “Cody’s values align well with the mission of the FLW Foundation and we are confident that he is going to do a great job increasing awareness of the Foundation and helping us to achieve our goal of connecting youth to their natural resources in meaningful ways.”
For complete details and updated information about the 2016 Walmart FLW Tour visit FLWFishing.com. For the latest updates, photos and tournament news about Cody Kelley, follow Cody on Facebook at Facebook.com/CodyKelleyFishing, on Twitter at Twitter.com/CKelleyFishing or his website CodyKelleyFishing.com.
Brad Novak Wins Gopro Best Catch Contest Powered By Bassmaster!
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Brad Novak gets up most mornings of the week at 4 a.m. and walks to the Chicago River from his home in a downtown skyscraper to fish for bass. The video he shot of his catch one morning this summer made him the grand-prize winner in the GoPro Best Catch Contest Powered by Bassmaster.
“I’m very shocked and very excited,” said Novak, 25, who works as an operations analyst at an investment firm.
For his win, Novak will receive a boat-and-motor package worth $57,989. He gets a 2015 Nitro Z 21 boat, a Mercury 250-horsepower ProXS motor, two Humminbird 1199 electronics, a Minn Kota Fortrex trolling motor and two 12-foot Talon Shallow Water Anchors.
“Right now, I only have a two-seater Sun Dolphin with a 30-pound trolling motor on it,” Novak said, “so this is a huge, huge upgrade.”
Novak just got his first GoPro four months ago so he could capture video of the things he likes to do in summer, such as fishing, boating and Jet Skiing. When he saw the GoPro Best Catch Contest, he set out to make the best video he could. That’s when he started walking to the river in the mornings.
“I saw a lot of the videos in the contest and thought they were really good, especially some of the underwater ones,” Novak said. “But none of them had skyscrapers. The lighting, the setting and the surroundings here were really good for capturing something different.
“Plus, most people don’t believe that anybody catches fish out of there,” Novak said. Now, there’s evidence to prove that they do.
Novak has been one of the beneficiaries of a recent city project to make the Chicago River more accessible to anglers. Before, the platforms rose too high over the water to be able to fish, but now three blocks have opened up to make it much easier for anglers.
He made the trip to the river with his GoPro attached to his rod with a Sportsman Mount multiple mornings, but he kept coming home fishless.
“I was trying to catch a fish for this competition, and I couldn’t get a bite,” he said. “So when I got this one, it was almost more exciting than normal because I finally had it.” He went home around 6 a.m. that day elated that he’d caught the 3-pounder.
One of the reasons he goes so early is to avoid the crowds — and the questions.
“Once it gets 6 o’clock or so, there’s tons of people out walking and asking all kinds of questions,” Novak said. “I’ll get asked at least a dozen times, ‘There’s actually fish in there?’ and ‘Do you eat them?’ So I like to get there before the rush.”
Novak currently has the dog harness mount and the Sportsman mount for his GoPro, but he’s about to get a lot more as part of his prize package. “I have no idea what I’m going to do with all of it,” Novak said, “but I think between me and friends, we can find some good uses for it all.”
In the contest, entrants uploaded raw, unedited video of their bass fishing catches. One winner was chosen each month of the five-month contest, and the winners received a prize package of GoPro products valued at $2,469.43. The package included a GoPro HERO4 Camera Black Edition—Adventure, 21 mounts/clamps/straps for holding a GoPro at the perfect angle, filters, batteries, replacement kits and more.
Each monthly winner was chosen based on cinematography/composition, perspective/degree of difficulty, character and catch, and overall beauty and lighting. Then, the five monthly winners were judged against each other for the grand prize.
Novak was one of the monthly winners in contention for the grand prize. Other monthly winners were Tyler Anderson of Lakeway, Texas; Jim Moretti of Howell, N.J.; Wilfredo Lugo-Sanchez of Pottstown, Pa.; and Hiroaki Tada of Irvine, Calif.
You can see all of the winning videos here.
“This contest was a great opportunity for us to see the amazing footage bass anglers were capturing with their GoPros,” said Todd Ballard, senior director of lifestyle marketing for GoPro. “With entries from all over the United States and tons of creativity and epic catches, getting to one winner wasn’t easy.”
The contest administrators had already awarded a winner for the grand prize, but the winning entry was later ruled ineligible.
The GoPro Best Catch Contest Powered by Bassmaster ran from March 15 to Aug. 15. The judges included seven-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam, B.A.S.S. co-owner Jerry McKinnis, and Bassmaster emcees Dave Mercer and Tommy Sanders.
Clarks Hill Toys For Tots Anglers Noted For Having Big Hearts, Open Pocketbooks
Fishermen are notorious for having huge hearts when it comes to children, especially disadvantaged or seriously ill children, so it's no wonder that the Toys for Tots Tournament on Clarks Hill Lake will be celebrating 34 years of giving in the tournament on Nov. 28.
The Clarks Hill Fish for Life Foundation, which supports programs that positively influence the lives of children in the Central Savannah River Area through fishing tournaments and other events, will mark its fourth year of administering the Toys for Tots tournament. The foundation took over the tournament when Bill Harley, who ran Southern Anglers Challenge and held the Toys for Tots Tournament for years, began having health problems since it fit right in with the foundation's mission.
“One of the things that always impresses me is how a lot of the local anglers who have fished the tournament for years and years – even though the entry fee includes two $10 toys – will bring five or six bicycles and donate them,” said Jay Jennings with the Fish for Life Foundation. “And we have a number of anglers who, instead of giving toys, will drop $100, some even $200, into the pot for the kids. Hosting the Toys for Tots Tournament is a really heartwarming thing for us to do.”
And, Jennings said, it's not just the anglers who open their pocketbooks for the kids.
“A lot of companies in the CSRA donate to the tournament and a lot of other businesses have their own Toys for Tots effort. There are a number of organizations that do Toys for Tots this time of year – we just happen to do the fishing side.”
Jennings said Bobby Jones Ford, which is a Fish for Life sponsor, has also come on board as a supporter of the Toys for Tots Tournament.
“We are holding our pre-registration at Bobby Jones Ford on Wrightsboro Road, Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 5 to 7 p.m.,” he said. Entry fee for the tournament is $100 plus $5 for the Big Fish Pot and two new toys valued at $10 or more each. First place is guaranteed $5,000 with a 100-boat field, plus one place will be paid for every 10 boats.
Not only is the tournament a heartwarming experience for the organizers and for the fishermen, Jennings said the fishing is expected to be very good for the tournament also.
“Paula Alexander, who supports most of our Fish for Life events, won the Saturday Morning Open Team Tournament last weekend with over 20 pounds and her big fish was about 6 ½ pounds,” Jennings said. “It's going to take some weight to win the Toys for Tots Tournament. My guess is it will take at least 20 to 21 pounds.”
34th Annual Toys for Tots Tournament
Sat, Nov 28, 2015
Clarks Hill Lake
Wildwood Park
Call Jay Jennings at 706-373-7677
Bass Should Be Feeding Up For Virginia Western Divisional On Smith Mountain Lake
Fishing should be good on Smith Mountain Lake Saturday for the second of eight regular season tournaments on the schedule for the Ram American Fishing Tour Virginia Western Division, said division director Elvin Jennings.
“The smallmouth bite should be pretty good and the largemouth bite is probably going to be decent,” Jennings said. “The fish should be on their fall feed and some may be starting their winter patterns.”
Most of the fish will probably come 12 to 20 feet deep over rock piles and other structure, he said.
“Fishing jigs is normally good this time of year up there, along with Shakey Heads and drop-shots. And if you can get on some schooling fish, topwater will come into play, although you might have to weed through the stripers. Depending on the weather, there could be a good crankbait bite, too.”
Jennings said the forecast calls for a chance of rain on Friday and a slight chance of rain on Saturday, with temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s.
“If it does do that I hope there will also be a slight breeze to get the surface churned up just a little bit,” he said.
Jennings said he anticipates anywhere from 15 to 25 anglers for the tournament, possibly even 30. In a five-fish limit two bass can be at least 12 inches long and the other three have to be 14 inches or better, according to Virginia fishing regulations, he said.
Entry fee for the tournaments is $70, with $5 for Big Fish. Anglers can register at DrawTrail.com or at the ramp the morning of the tournament.
The top 500 Ram American Fishing Tour anglers in national points standings for the 2016 season will be invited to fish the 2016 Ram American Fishing Tour National Championship at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, AL on October 16-21. Jennings said anglers must also fish four one-day tournaments and the two-day championship to qualify.
The remaining schedule for the Virginia Western Division includes: Nov. 21, Smith Mountain Lake; Dec. 5, Kerr Lake; March 26, Smith Mountain Lake; April 23, Philpott Lake; May 28, Kerr Lake; and June 25-26, Kerr Lake.
Ram American Fishing Tour – Virginia Western Division
Sat, Nov 21, 2015
Smith Mountain Lake
Parkway Marina
www.drawtrail.com/2016DivPage.php?Division=102
Lake Mitchell Has Big Bass Potential For Alabama Central Division Tournament
The first time Tom Storm fished Alabama's Lake Mitchell in a tournament, he went into a creek and tossed a jig and pig into a likely spot and something big hit it – hard!
“I set the hook and it bent my big, old stiff broom-handle rod and then he pulled off,” said Storm. “I threw back in there and another one hit it – and he did the same thing, pulled off in the grass. I was fishing Spiderwire at the time and he was so strong he just pulled off.”
Storm threw back and this time he landed a 4-pounder.
“That's the kind of stuff you get in Mitchell,” he said. “You can get in one spot and you are liable to catch a boatload.”
The entire Coosa River Chain of lakes is like that, Storm said.
“Mitchell is an excellent fishery. It's got a lot of rocky shoreline and that is where you find the spots in deep water with a Carolina rig. And it's got a lot of grass, especially back in the creeks. You can fish the grass with a spinnerbait, pig and jig and you can even throw a worm in some of the holes in the grass like a pig and jig.”
Lake Mitchell will be the site Saturday for the second tournament of the 8-tournament regular season schedule for the Ram American Fishing Tour Alabama Central Division.
Storm, who is director for the division, said entries these days are not like they were a few years ago before the economy went downhill.
“When we started several years ago we were having 45 to 50 anglers come out to the tournaments. Since the economy went down we are lucky to have seven,” he said. “The anglers who are not fishing just don't have the money. Some are like me, retired.”
Entry fee for the tournaments is $70, with $5 for Big Fish. Anglers can register at DrawTrail.com or at the ramp the morning of the tournament.
The top 500 Ram American Fishing Tour anglers in national points standings for the 2016 season will be invited to fish the 2016 Ram American Fishing Tour National Championship at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, AL on October 16-21.
The remaining Alabama Central Division schedule includes: Nov. 21, Lake Mitchell; Dec. 19, Lake Martin; Jan. 23, Lake Martin; Feb. 20, Lake Jordan; March 26, Alabama River; April 23, Lake Mitchell; May 21, Lake Jordan; and June 18-19, Alabama River.
Ram American Fishing Tour – Alabama Central Division
Sat, Nov 21, 2015
Lake Mitchell
Higgins Ferry
www.drawtrail.com/2016DivPage.php?Division=24
Alden Patterson And Logan Jennings Win The Collins Bass For Cash Youth Series On Buckhorn
Forty-one youth anglers from Clayton, North Johnston, Corinth Holders, Hunt, and Orange High, along with other various schools around the area made their way to Buckhorn Lake near Wilson, NC for the second annual High School Bass Classic open tournament, hosted by Clayton High. Met with a cool morning, the anglers seemed to struggle somewhat in the early hours of the event, but as the temperature began to rise and the wind began to increase the anglers started to find some active fish.
First Place
Targeting bass that were feeding on baitfish forage, Logan Jennings and Alden Patterson used multiple lipless crank bait lures to entice their bites throughout the event and secure the top spot in the tournament with a total weight of 17.39 lbs. The duo were awarded matching first place trophies and product awards from the event sponsors.
Patterson helped to secure the win with a late day kicker fish that ultimately ended up being the lunker for the event at 6.30 lbs and added a $75 Cabelas gift card to their earnings.
Second Place
Finding themselves in the early lead during the afternoon weigh-in, the tandem of Mason Medlin and Ethan Howard settled into the second position overall with their catch of 15.88 lbs. Medlin and Howard made a mid-day charge with most of their fish coming from deep diving crank baits. The pair were rewarded with matching second place trophies and product awards from the event sponsors for their efforts.
Third Place
The defending champs of this event, Tyler Little and Chase Crocker, ended the day in the third position with their catch of 12.78 lbs. Little and Crocker may have had a shot at earning the top spot once again, but the loss of what appeared to be a couple key large fish kept the two from repeating. Both Little and Crocker were rewarded with product awards from the event sponsors for their catch.
Coming home in the fourth position was the team of Josh Tutt and Joseph Whittington with their catch of 9.82 lbs. In the fifth positon was the duo of Conner Coats and Luke Farley with their catch of 5.84 lbs. Christian Prescott and Sam Hall filled the sixth position with their catch of 5.04 lbs. Rounding out the top seven positions was the pairing of Trey Deutsch and Ben Reichard with 4.34 lbs.
- 8th – Zachary Chamblee / Dylan Tisch – 3.73 lbs.
- 9th – Kaleb Wood – 3.57 lbs.
- 10th – Alex Tisch / Haden Myrick – 3.16 lbs.
- 11th – Austin Himmel / Tyler Parker – 2.36 lbs.
- 12th – Wyatt Long / Travis Beck – 2.09 lbs.
- 13th – Braxton Chase / Austin Morgan – 1.93 lbs.
- 14th – Brandon McCuroy / Garrett Joyner – 1.74 lbs.
- 15th – Zach Mills / Garrett Watkins – 1.49 lbs.
- 16th – Harrison Jancuska / Bennett Ragland – 1.36 lbs.
- 17th – Jesus Baldovinos / Trey Black – 0.93 lbs.
- 18th – Walter Karstens / Jacob Scott – 0.55 lbs.
- 19th – Ben May / Jordan Boland – 0.46 lbs.
- 20th – Austin Tate / Cameron Wall
- 20th – Brice Rambo / Sawyer Worrell
During the afternoon weigh-in session, a casting competition was held to allow the anglers to test their casting skills among their peers. Luke Farley nailed a perfect score of 100 points and took home the top honor and prizes associated with the win. Mason Medlin came home in the second position with a score of 90 points earning himself some great prizes for his efforts.
Event sponsor Outdoor Accessories Unlimited provided pizza for all the anglers and boat captains during the weigh-in period. Many door prizes were awarded from event sponsors such as Culprit, Vicious Fishing, Buckfin, Collins Inc. – Youth Educational Series, and Cabelas of Garner, NC provided a $50 gift card to one lucky boat captain.
A special thanks goes out to the members of the Five County Bassmasters and the Collins Inc. – Youth Educational Series staff for their help in making this event a success.
Video Recap:
Random Event Photos:
Mr. Lake Murray Partners With The Marines' Toys For Tots Campaign
The 6th annual Mr. Lake Murray Tournament will have “a few good men” helping out – and some even fishing – on Lake Murray Saturday. The Bass Federation of South Carolina, which sponsors the annual tournament, has partnered this year with the U.S. Marines' Toys for Tots campaign.
“It seems like we have been pushed further back each year in scheduling the tournament because the ramps at Lake Murray are so busy,” said Rich Gerken, TBF-SC president. “We are now so close to December that we decided to do something like this for Christmas. We are looking forward to doing something good for them.”
Gerken said the tournament is an “open tournament.” Anglers do not have to be a TBF member to fish.
“We try to use the tournament as a kind of membership drive,” he said. “We are hoping to get some people into TBF. This year we also brought in the Toys for Tots campaign to make the tournament as beneficial to as many people as possible.”
Gerken said some Marines will participate in the tournament and there will be some at the weigh-in to collect what the tournament has raised for Toys for Tots. Anglers are asked to bring a new unwrapped toy valued at $20 or more or make a cash donation of $20 or more to the program. The toys and donations will be collected at registration the morning of the tournament.
“We hope this will be a big success for Toys for Tots,” Gerken said. “It feels good to do something worthwhile for other folks.”
Entry fee is $140 per boat, cash only at the ramp. Registration at the Dreher Island ramp will begin at 5:30 and boat numbers will be assigned by order of entry.
First place prize will be $2,500, based on a field of at least 50 boats, plus there will be a Big Bass award.
If the fishing success following the early October storms and flooding is any indication, fishing should be good this weekend following the heavy rains over the weekend and Monday, Gerken said.
“The water temperatures have cooled down and that usually gets them going, feeding up for the winter. Generally, this is a topwater time of year and that is always a good pattern to go after, but there are always some locals who know their brushpiles and other structure, and that produces, too.”
Gerken said it usually takes 20 pounds or more to win the Lake Murray tournament this time of year.
Mr. Lake Murray Bass Tournament
Sat, Nov 14, 2015
Lake Murray
Dreher Island State Park
Call Rich Gerken at (201) 772-6401
Uncc Sigma Tau Gamma Benefit Tournament To Benefit Children's And Ovarian Cancer Initiatives
College fraternities often get a lot of bad press – most of it self-inflicted – but it's also newsworthy when a frat does something good, like the Sigma Tau Gamma Chapter at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. The chapter is holding a fishing tournament on Lake Norman Sunday to raise money for the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation which works to increase awareness and secure funding for childhood and ovarian cancer initiatives.
The Sigma Tau Gamma tournametn will be held out of Pinnacle Landing with an entry fee of $60, which also covers the entry in the Big Fish contest. First place will pay $500, second $100 and 3rd $50, with a Big Fish prize of $200, based on at least 20 boats. Each winner will also receive a No. 78 camo baseball cap, autographed by NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr.
“We have a goal for fund-raising each year and normally we raise money for the Special Olympics, but we partnered with the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation for this tournament,” said tournament organizer Ben Hagar, who is also a member of the UNCC Bass Fishing Club. “Once all the prizes are paid out we will give the rest to the Foundation.”
Hagar said that almost all the money raised in entry fees will go to the Truex Foundation as the $500 first prize and the $200 Big Fish prize are sponsored by local businesses.
The company of the father of one of the Sigma Tau Gamma brothers, Wastequip, LLC, based in Charlotte, is sponsoring the First Place prize. Wastequip is the leading North American manufacturer of waste and recycling equipment, offering a full line of steel and plastic products to collect, handle and transport waste and recyclables.
WIX Filters of Gastonia, N.C., which produces the No. 1 filter in motorsports, along with filters for automotive, diesel, agricultural and other industrial applications, is sponsoring the Big Fish cash prize. WIX Racing Products have been track tested and proven in all levels of stock car, dirt track, off-road and drag racing.
Truex Jr. and longtime girlfriend Sherry Pollex, who was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer in August 2014. announced a goal to raise $500,000 to support research of childhood and ovarian cancers during September and continuing through The Chase. Truex Jr. launched his foundation in 2007 to help children. Over the years, Truex Jr. and Pollex have become more passionate about helping children with cancer.
To donate, please visit www.martintruexjrfoundation.org. To learn more about ovarian cancer, please visit: www.OCNA.org. To learn more about childhood cancer, visit: www.CAC2.org.
With an 8th place finish in the AAA Texas 500 Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, Truex Jr. is in 4th place in the Chase and hopes to hold or improve on that position in the final race of the Eliminator Round at at Phoenix International Raceway Sunday. The final four in the Chase will compete for the 2015 NASCAR Championship in the final races on the schedule.
UNCC Sigma Tau Gamma Benefit Tournament
Sun, Nov 15, 2015
Lake Norman
Pinnacle Access
Call Ben Hagar 704-999-4494
Heavy Rains Could Impact Aba Division 12 Tournament On Lake Eufaula
It remains to be seen what impact the heavy rains that filled the Chattahoochee River Basin over the weekend will have on the American Bass Anglers Georgia-Eufaula Division 12 tournament on Lake Eufaula Saturday, said tournament director Deacon Collins.
“It's been raining a lot in Georgia and the water stacks up going down the Chattahoochee,” Collins said. “I fished West Point last weekend and it filled the lake up, so we are assuming Eufaula is getting that water in there, too.”
Otherwise, he said, the fish should be on a fall pattern and the weather is supposed to be good Saturday, with highs in the upper 60s to 70 degrees.
“It was really hard fishing in the tournament two weeks ago. They were still shallow and some were on brushpiles. They were not in the backs of the creeks then, but with this weather coming I look for the baitfish to start moving back in the creeks,” Collins said.
Collins said the Eufaula Division usually has 40 to 45 anglers competing in a draw tournament. Entry fee is $70, with $10 for Big Fish. Registration is held for an hour and a half to two hours at the marina until about 30 minutes before safe light, he said.
“Then we do a safety briefing, hold the partner draw, and the boats go out when we can see the buoys out across from the marina,” he said, adding that other anglers are welcome to come fish.
“If anybody wants to go fishing in Lake Eufaula, come on down. We will welcome them. And we have color in our water,” he said.
After Saturday the remainder of the Division 12 schedule will include : Dec. 19 this year and then Feb. 20,March 20, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 9 and Aug. 9-10, 2016.
After three tournaments Collins of Tyrone, Ga., is leading the points in Division 12.
American Bass Anglers Eufaula Division
Sat, Nov 14, 2015
Lake Eufaula
Lakepoint Marina
Call Deacon Collins at (404) 862-4233
Your 2015 Anglers Choice Marine Team Trail Champs!
Congrats to the 2015 Anglers Choice Marine TT Champs-Brandon Gray and Robert Perkins haul in 35+ over two days to win a brand new $36,000 Ranger 118 Boat-Motor-trailer pkg....click here so see how they did it!!
Brandon Gray And Robert Perkins Win The 2015 Anglers Choice Marine Tt Championship On Kerr-Full Results And Pics Here!
The 2015 Anglers Choice Marine Team Trail Championship was worth the wait......138 teams that qualified showed up at Kerr Lake for the the first ever delayed (due to floods several weeks back) 2 day CHampionship. Lots on the line including a new Ranger 118 Boat-Motor-Trailer pkg worth over $35,000. As with most 2 day events, day 1 was very different than day two. Weights on Day 1 peaked at slightly over 16 lbs with warm temps, humidity, and not much wind. Day 2 saw temps in the mid to high 50's (15-20 degrees less than Sat) with weights that were higher and much bigger quality overall. Gray and Perkins had just over 13 Lbs on Day one and came back with a 22 Lb monster sack on day two to give them almost a two lb cushion for the win. The difference was their BF, which came in at 7.52 Lbs and on Kerr, that is massive! Patterns were much shallower on sat, where on Sun they went much deeper and took advantage of the wind. Attached are the full results for both days as well as pictures at the final weigh-in on Sunday. Conrats to all the anglers and Anglers Choice Marine, on what once again proved to be one of the top team trails in the country!
Anglers Choice Marine TT Champs Brandon Gray and Robert Perkins
2nd place team of Galloway and Dickerson and their solid Day 2 Haul!
Anglers Choice Marine with the Champs!
The entire Anglers Choice Tournament Team!
Some 'really Good Fishermen' In Bfl Wild Card On Lake Hartwell
Just because the Walmart Bass Fishing League Wild Card tournament on Lake Hartwell Nov. 13-14 is the last chance for BFL anglers to qualify for the 2016 BFL All American it doesn't mean the 100-plus anglers in the tournament are stragglers just hoping for a chance to get in the big game.
There are some really good fishermen in the Wild Card who did not qualify for various reasons during the year, said tournament director Dave Maxfield.
“The thing about BFLs is that most of the guys who fish it work for a living and they fish when they can,” Maxfield said. These anglers have jobs and families that can interfere with hopes for qualifying for the All American, he added.
“A lot of things come into play with work. I have guys call me and say, 'I work for the power company and we've had a big storm. I have to work.' So they are not able to fish all the tournaments.”
Maxfield said an angler who fished at least two tournaments in a division, but paid for five tournaments, is eligible to fish the Wild Card.
“These were guys who did not finish in the top 50 and did not qualify for a regional, so this is their last chance. It's kind of like being in The Chase in NASCAR. One bad tournament will do you in and you won't make a regional. There are a lot of different scenarios for these guys to be in the Wild Card.”
He noted that these anglers have the option of fishing as a boater or a non-boater, no matter which they fished as during the year.
“You can fish all year as a boater and then when you get to the Wild Card you can fish as a non-boater, or vice versa. It comes down to what you prefer, what you think gives you the best chance of making the All American.”
A lot of good fishermen fail to qualify for the All American through the normal routes, but the Wild Card gives them a launching pad to have a successful ending to their year, he said.
For instance, last year Billy Schroeder of Paducah, Ky., finished 2nd in the Wild Card to advance to the All American on Kentucky Lake this year where he finished 2nd. Bobby D. Padgett of LaGrange, Ga., only fished three tournaments in the Bulldog Division, but he was 3rd in the Wild Card and moved on to the All American this year where he finished 7th.
Both Padgett and Schroeder will be among the 130 or so boaters fishing in the Wild Card on Lake Hartwell next week, Maxfield said.
“They are some really good fishermen. There are some really good sticks in this Wild Card.”
Walmart Bass Fishing League Wild Card
Nov 13-14, 2015
Lake Hartwell
Clemson Marina
Proctor Hoping Smaller Aluminum Boat Key To Success In B.a.s.s. Nation Championship
Normally, you are not too happy if you are the last boat drawn in a tournament because everybody gets out ahead of you and heads for the prime fishing spots before you can get there. But John Proctor, who is Boat No. 59 in a field of 59 in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Lake Ouachita in Arkansas this week, is not bothered at all.
“Being the last boat in the field is kind of a good thing,” Proctor said with a chuckle. “I won't have to be looking over my shoulder.”
The reason is that while 55 of the competitors will be driving modern bass boats, Proctor and three others will be fishing out of smaller aluminum boats pushed by outboards with much less horsepower.
“The reason I brought an aluminum boat is that I found some shallow, stumpy water in practice,” Proctor said. While he normally fishes out of a Triton, Proctor bought a 16-foot War Eagle 648 with a 60-horsepower Mercury 4-stroke outboard.
“We built a deck on it and put on a new trolling motor. I like fishing out of it and I can get anywhere in it. Some of the places here are really hard to get in,” Proctor said.
He's not the only one who decided to go small for a better shot at winning big. Former Elite Series angler Jami Fralick will also be fishing out of an aluminum boat – a 16-foot Bass Tracker with a 40-horsepower outboard.
An accountant at a bank, Proctor is a member of the Conway, S.C. Bassmasters. He earned a berth on the South Carolina Team that fished in the B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Divisional in April on the Pee Dee River Basin. Proctor was the overall tournament winner and also won the State of South Carolina team title to advance to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
The field of 59 anglers represents 47 states and one Canadian province, plus Japan, South Africa, Italy, Portugal, Mexico, Spain, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Australia. In addition, Jack Barber will represent the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). The PVA sends its Angler of the Year to the BNC each year, and this is Barber’s first year to qualify.
The overall winner of the championship will earn a berth in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic on Oklahoma's Grand Lake. Joining the champ at the Classic will be the top contender from each of the other five divisions. Six divisions make up the B.A.S.S. Nation: Western, Central, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Mid-Atlantic.
The payout extends to the top 30 anglers, with the winner getting a Skeeter ZX200 with a Yamaha VF200LA boat and motor package.
2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship
Nov 5-7, 2015
Ouachita River
Forsythe Park Boat Launch
Kizziahs Hope The Frog Is The Charm In Chattanooga Bass Association Classic On Chickamauga
There is something special about a father and son who spend time together doing something they both like and when Tom Kizziah III and his dad, Tom Kizziah Jr., fish the Chattanooga Bass Association Classic on Lake Chickamauga this weekend it will mark more than two decades they have teamed up to compete in tournaments.
“We have done it so long that it's not one of those things where we bump heads,” said Tom III. “We are so used to fishing together we complement each other. If I have a bad day I know he is going to catch them and if he is not catching them he knows I will.”
The Kizziahs, from Chickamauga, Ga., have basically fished the same patterns on Lake Chickamauga over the years with just slight variations.
“Years ago we threw spinnerbaits on the hydrilla mats. Now that the mats have got bigger we throw a frog around the grass. We fish the same way we have over the years. We also throw a spinnerbait, a chatterbait and sometimes a Spook,” Kizziah III said. “That's what we have always done from the end of September though October and November.”
The rains, however, could affect the frog bite this weekend, he said.
“We had a bunch of rain and the lake was dropped. They started to bring it down to winter pool. You never know what the weather is going to do. I thought we were going to get lucky, but it started raining again and now it's supposed to rain Thursday,” he said.
Kizziah III said he had a good day of practice on the lake Saturday, landing about 21 pounds in just four hours of fishing, but he does not know if that fishing will hold up in the Classic.
“I think the fishing is going to be tough with these fronts coming through. It's going to hurt the guys like us who frog fish.”
If the fish bite as good this weekend as they did last weekend, Kizziah III said it could take 42 to 45 pounds for two days to win the $10,000 first prize.
“But this is the same weather pattern we had last year. It took 13 pounds a day to get a check and 31 pounds to win it,” he said. “Wednesday is the last day to practice before the lake goes off limits for Thursday and Friday. I'm going to try to go Wednesday and maybe find something to add to what I found last weekend.”
Up to 70 boat are expected to fish in the Classic which is now called the Tow Boat U.S. Classic Championship. The field will include the top 50 in points who will pay only the $20 big fish fee. Also fishing for just the $20 big fish fee are the highest finishing Youth and Senior teams outside the top 50, plus teams that fished all seven tournaments and won at least one of them. Other teams that fished all seven tournaments without a first place can also fish by paying the full $240 entry fee, $120 for Youth teams, and $180 for College and Senior Division teams.
Kizziah III and Kizziah Jr. finished 22nd in the standings.
“Overall, we had a decent year,” Kizziah III said. “We were pretty consistent all year. We caught a five-fish limit every time.”
Chattanooga Bass Association Classic
Nov 7-8, 2015
Chickamauga Lake
Chester Frost Park
Call 423-593-3343
Local Angler Wins Lady Bass Anglers Association Triple Crown
Mayo began the quest for the title in March on Cross Lake in Shreveport, LA. As the LBAA arrived in Shreveport, Mother Nature had already begun unleashing the rain and chilly weather. As the anglers practiced each day and worked to navigate the unique and beautiful waters of Lake Caddo, Mother Nature continued to drop rain all across the region. The water was rising even to the point that the navigation makers were starting to disappear and the yards of homes on the lake were being taken over by high waters. With less than two days of practice left the LBAA had to make changes as the Sherriff’s Department was preparing to shut down the lake. The event was forced to be moved to nearby Cross Lake which historically never closes. Anglers scrambled to get in at least a little practice time on the new lake before the event was slated to begin on Friday. Anglers were cautioned to be wary of docks that were beginning to be covered with water. The most of the remainder of the lake was clear of debris and safe to navigate. Once the event started, the cold muddy water proved to be very tough for anglers. Angela Mayo was the only co-angler who was able to bring a keeper fish to the boat. Her 3.15-pound fish not only earned her a check, but gave her a commanding lead in the Co-Angler division Angler of the Year Points race. After the tournament, Mayo had this to say “That was a tough tournament. It’s difficult to stay focused when the bite is so slow, but that’s what I had to do. I kept my head down and fished deliberately.”
The next stop on the tour was Diamond City, Arkansas to fish on Bull Shoals Lake with waters ranging from dingy and dirty to clear enough to read a quarter in 20 feet of water. Often times, anglers are told to work the bait a certain way in order to get it to stand up or perform in a certain manner. Those fishing in the clear water could see what this rhetoric was really all about. Mayo had this to say about Bull Shoals. “I have never fished a lake like this before. I felt like I was standing on the side of the big aquarium at a Bass Pro Shop and watching my bait on the bottom in 25 to 30 feet of water. I actually saw the fish swim by, take the bait and swim off with it. It was unbelievably clear.” Mayo finished in 8th place, her lowest finish of the year.
Kentucky Lake, the third stop of the LBAA tour was quite a change from the clear waters of Bull Shoals Lake. It seems like the LBAA has a knack for bringing changes in weather patterns and fishing to an area. Almost every stop this year has had water and weather conditions that are out of the norm for those locations. It happened again on Kentucky Lake. Heavy rains and lots of moving water just prior to and at the beginning of practice for the ladies brought about changes in the fishing every day. Kentucky Lake is a river system lake with a lot of off shore areas to fish. In July, fish are typically found on the ledges. Mayo finished 3rd in this event. “Although the fishing is much different than what I see on my home lake, Lake Norman in North Carolina, I enjoyed fishing the ledges. Fishing in July is tough anywhere and this was no exception, but I am happy with how things went.”
The final regular season event was held in September on Old Hickory Lake near Nashville, TN. In the Co-angler division on Old Hickory, Angela Mayo led wire-to-wire and brought a 5.84 lb large mouth to the scales to win the big bass award for day one. Her total two-day weight allowed her to claim the LBAA Old Hickory Wildcard Co-Angler crown.
“For Old Hickory, I spent a lot of time researching the lake. I had several places to check in practice. Being able to stay with DeAnna Lovvorn and practice all week was important.” Mayo went on to say. "I caught several fish in practice on the same bait I caught most of my fish on here last year. After a week of practice, I knew exactly what I was going to throw" Mayo stated. With this win, Mayo secured the 2015 LBAA Co-Angler of the Year award. “It’s great to win this award. I’ve fished hard all year and it’s paid off. I’m look forward to the 2015 Lady Bass Classic on Lake Pickwick, Alabama,” Mayo said.
The final event of the year, the Lady Bass Classic, was held October 15-17 on Pickwick Lake in Alabama. “This is my first and possibly last opportunity to win the Triple Crown in the co-angler division,” stated Mayo. “If everything works out as I have planned, I will be making the move to the pro side next year. Regardless, I'm going to need to be consistent and hopefully have a limit each day.” When asked whether or not a reduced field (15 per division) would add pressure or make a difference at the 2015 LBAA Lady Bass Classic Mayo stated “Having a reduced field increases your odds however, I will be fishing against the best women co-anglers in the county. It's going to be tough, but I am ready." After two days of competition, Mayo was in 3rd place, but only a pound out of first. “I’m really excited to be paired with Lady Pro Amanda Godfrey. She has had a great tournament so far and I’m looking forward to being out on the water with her for the final day.”
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Mayo was able to bring a good limit to the scales on the final day of competition and win the 2015 Lady Bass Classic by over 6 pounds. “When Amanda netted my third keeper, I knew that I had a shot at winning.” “This has been an amazing year for me with the Lady Bass Anglers Association. I won two tournaments, qualified first in points for the Classic and won Angler of the Year in the co-angler division. Now to win the Classic, it’s just unbelievable! The Lady Bass Anglers Association tour is the only trail out there specifically for women and it is a great tour to fish. I’ve had the opportunity to fish with some of the best Lady Pros from all over the country. I’d like to thank each and every one of them for doing what they do. I’d also like to thank my sponsor, FishStyx Custom Rods, for custom building my rods for me this year. Finally, I’d like to thank my coach - also known as my husband when I’m not fishing – for his patience, love and support as I’ve travelled all over the country pursuing my dream.”
About Lady Bass Anglers Association (LBAA)
The Lady Bass Anglers Association was formed by professional bass anglers Cheryl Bowden and Secret York. In four short seasons, the LBAA has developed a popular series of women’s professional bass fishing tournaments and gained fans across the country. The LBAA offers valuable sponsorship opportunities for corporate sponsors and marketing partners. For more information about the LBAA, contact LBAA Headquarters at (214) 738-7518 or visit www.ladybassanglers.com. You are also invited to follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LadyBassAnglers.
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Lake Eufaula To Host 2016 Ram American Fishing Tour National Championship
Lake Eufaula to Host 2016 Ram American Fishing Tour National Championship
The top 500 Ram American Fishing Tour anglers in national points standings for the 2016 season will be invited to attend the 2016 Ram American Fishing Tour National Championship at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, AL on October 16-21, 2016. Event launch and weigh-in will take place at Lakepoint Resort State Park. The 2016 Championship is hosted by the Eufaula-Barbour Chamber Restricted Tourism Committee.
Eufaula Mayor, Jack Tibbs, was on hand at the 2015 Ram AFT National Championship awards banquet at Lake Hartwell to make the announcement of the 2016 event location. "It is my pleasure to let the AFT anglers know that the 2016 Ram AFT National Championship will be at Lake Eufaula. We've hosted several ABA events over the past few years and we are looking forward to another great ABA event for 2016. This is a great event for Eufaula, as this event will include anglers from across the country that will get to experience the excellent fishing on Lake Eufaula and all that the Eufaula, AL area has to offer the anglers and their families during their visit," said Tibbs.
"Lake Eufaula has always been a great place to hold a large scale event. The Eufaula area has everything needed to make a great event, including great restaurants, hotels, and excellent fishing. ABA is excited to be working with the Eufaula-Barbour Chamber Restricted Tourism Committee and Mayor Tibbs in effort to make the 2016 Ram AFT National Championship the our best one yet," said Morris Sheehan, ABA President.
The Ram American Fishing Tour offers low cost, close to home bass tournaments that are designed for the weekend angler. All ABA anglers fish for money and points. The points advance the angler to their divisional championship and the top 500 anglers in the US are invited to the Ram American Fishing Tour National Championship. For more information on the Ram American Fishing Tour visit this link.
About: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Ram Open Series, the Ram American Fishing Tour, the American Couples Series, the Military Team Bass Tournament, or the Ram 100% Plus Team Tour visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
American Bass Anglers, Inc. is supported by Ram Trucks, Triton Boats, Mercury Outboards, Carlisle Tires, Odyssey Batteries, T-H Marine, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Livingston Lures, Best Western Hotels, Simms Clothing, Garmin, Maui Jim, Power Pole, Dr Dan's, Navionics, and North American Fisherman. American Bass Anglers, Inc. can be contacted at (256) 232-0406 or visit AmericanBassAnglers.com.
Cole Winn And Scott Martin Win The 2015 Cbc Championship On Clarks Hill With 44+ Over Two Days!! Full Results And Pic Here!
Carolinas Bass Challenge 2015 Classic, October 24th, 2015 - Clarks Hill
Cole Winn and Scott Martin completed the 2 Day CBC Classic with a whopping 44.69lbs earning them a Brand New Skeeter ZX200 Package with a 200 SHO Yamaha!
Eric Self and Tyler Beam finished 4th and were our top Skeeter/Yamaha Team earning them a $2,500 Bonus and bumping their total pay day to over $4,800!!
Cole Winn and Scott Martin hold up their 50k winning stringer on Clarks Hill!
| Place | Team Name | Team # | Fish Weighed | Net Weight | Big Fish | Winnings |
| 1 | Cole Winn - Scott Martin | 63 | 10 | 44.690 | 7.070 | ZX200 |
| 2 | Bobby Gaston - David Whyte | 48 | 10 | 29.670 | 0.000 | $8,800 |
| 3 | Rodney Chastain - Jason Snyder | 17 | 10 | 28.270 | 7.130 | $3,800 |
| 4 | Eric Self - Tyler Beam * | 100 | 8 | 27.800 | 0.000 | $4,800* |
| * Includes $2,500 Highest Finishing Skeeter Bonus!! | ||||||
| 5 | Robert Guest - David Heatherly | 104 | 10 | 27.550 | 0.000 | $1,500 |
| 6 | Josh Gardner - Chris Marshall * | 92 | 10 | 27.090 | 7.260 | $2,000* |
| * Includes $1,000 Big Fish Bonus! | ||||||
| 7 | dustin henson - John Gibson | 94 | 10 | 26.110 | 0.000 | $800 |
| 8 | Jason Wilson - Kelly Logan | 98 | 10 | 25.290 | 0.000 | $600 |
| 9 | Robert Walser - Mack Lowe | 25 | 10 | 22.400 | 0.000 | $550 |
| 10 | Greg Davis - Dennis Parks | 110 | 10 | 22.310 | 0.000 | $500 |
| 11 | Bryan Welch - Mark Inman | 1 | 10 | 22.180 | 2.600 | $450 |
| 12 | Bradford Beavers - Dwight Beavers | 111 | 10 | 21.990 | 0.000 | $400 |
| 13 | Todd Garner - Shane Hartman | 54 | 7 | 21.660 | 5.380 | $375 |
| 14 | Glenn Gentry - Bart Blackburn | 3 | 10 | 21.580 | 0.000 | $350 |
| 15 | David Wright - Jeff Coble | 47 | 10 | 21.510 | 0.000 | $325 |
| 16 | Shane Abbott - Brian Jones * | 2 | 9 | 21.370 | 4.690 | $1,800* |
| * Includes $1,500 2nd Highest Finishing Skeeter Bonus | ||||||
| 17 | Jason Quinn - Tony Colacurcio | 82 | 10 | 21.200 | 6.710 | $275 |
| 18 | Thomas Vickers - Brian Huskins | 39 | 10 | 21.000 | 0.000 | $250 |
| 19 | Eric Jeter - Darren Jeter | 87 | 10 | 20.970 | 0.000 | $225 |
| 20 | Dennis Reedy - Jeffrey Thomas * | 42 | 10 | 20.930 | 0.000 | $1,200* |
| * Includes $1,000 2nd Highest Finishing Skeeter Bonus | ||||||
| 21 | Sean Anderson - George Berry | 89 | 10 | 20.800 | 0.000 | |
| 22 | Doug Easton - Pete Bejte | 49 | 10 | 20.700 | 5.380 | |
| 23 | Daryl Watson - Ken McFarland | 52 | 10 | 20.360 | 0.000 | |
| 24 | Brad Nappier - Nathan Luke | 11 | 10 | 20.340 | 0.000 | |
| 25 | Greg Osborne - Wyatt Blevins | 91 | 10 | 20.160 | 0.000 | |
| 26 | Roger Medlock - Todd Lawrence | 37 | 10 | 19.980 | 0.000 | |
| 27 | Audie Brantley - Hunter Ciccio | 51 | 10 | 19.860 | 0.000 | |
| 28 | Darren Sigmon - Brian Huffman | 59 | 10 | 19.810 | 0.000 | |
| 29 | Daniel Howell - Russell Anderson | 65 | 10 | 19.680 | 0.000 | |
| 30 | Robert Osborne - Bobby Osborne | 79 | 10 | 19.670 | 0.000 | |
| 31 | Matt Davis - Mike Guilbeau | 45 | 10 | 19.660 | 0.000 | |
| 32 | Robin Collins - Ronnie White | 77 | 10 | 18.960 | 0.000 | |
| 33 | Dale Surrett - Lee Endicott | 16 | 10 | 18.550 | 0.000 | |
| 34 | Mark Abbott - Jimmy Wilder | 27 | 10 | 18.400 | 0.000 | |
| 35 | Ronnie McCoy - Jason McCoy | 88 | 10 | 18.300 | 0.000 | |
| 36 | Wayne Skipworth - Don Sprinkle | 31 | 10 | 18.290 | 0.000 | |
| 37 | Rick Carson - Ricky Parrish | 9 | 10 | 18.230 | 0.000 | |
| 38 | Chad Hamm - David Carver | 105 | 9 | 18.120 | 0.000 | |
| 39 | Al Odom - Dane Odom | 70 | 10 | 17.990 | 0.000 | |
| 40 | Josh Rennebaum - Ross Burns | 103 | 10 | 17.980 | 0.000 | |
| 41 | Gene Gibbs - Keith Wilson | 19 | 9 | 17.830 | 0.000 | |
| 42 | John Gutierrez - Joe Anders | 85 | 10 | 17.760 | 0.000 | |
| 43 | Butch Zadlo - Bryan Lewis | 5 | 10 | 17.470 | 0.000 | |
| 44 | Chris Heath - Steve Debord | 20 | 10 | 16.940 | 0.000 | |
| 45 | Dwayne McVicker - Eddie Burgess | 57 | 10 | 16.670 | 0.000 | |
| 46 | Larry Moss - Michelle McLain | 40 | 8 | 16.610 | 0.000 | |
| 46 | Richard Greene - Kent Brewer's | 67 | 10 | 16.610 | 0.000 | |
| 48 | Mark Hutson - Gary Elsey | 93 | 10 | 16.540 | 0.000 | |
| 49 | Eric Bozeman - Clint Proudfoot | 101 | 10 | 16.430 | 0.000 | |
| 50 | Jimmy Cummings - Dean Collins | 83 | 10 | 16.330 | 0.000 | |
| 51 | Kevin Brock - Bubba Dennis | 90 | 10 | 16.300 | 0.000 | |
| 52 | Jeff Queen - Carroll Queen | 106 | 8 | 16.120 | 0.000 | |
| 53 | Sean Ravenscroft - Wilson Ravenscroft | 6 | 10 | 16.090 | 0.000 | |
| 54 | Allen Eaker - Kelly Homesley | 38 | 9 | 15.760 | 0.000 | |
| 55 | Julius Ledbetter - Chris Gould | 14 | 10 | 15.480 | 3.970 | |
| 56 | Alan Fletcher - Danny Johnson | 71 | 10 | 14.610 | 0.000 | |
| 57 | Ronnie Britt - Jim Britt | 29 | 10 | 14.530 | 0.000 | |
| 58 | Marty Quesada - Steven Story | 76 | 10 | 14.440 | 0.000 | |
| 59 | Dwight Dellinger - Doug Dellinger | 62 | 7 | 14.380 | 6.650 | |
| 60 | Eddie Smith - Michael Carson | 22 | 10 | 14.160 | 0.000 | |
| 61 | danny houck - Eddie Rogers | 30 | 9 | 14.060 | 3.050 | |
| 62 | brian morgan - anthony Lutz | 75 | 8 | 13.580 | 0.000 | |
| 63 | Jimmy Bass - Jason Baird | 112 | 9 | 13.520 | 0.000 | |
| 64 | Ron Brown - Bobby Brown | 46 | 9 | 13.130 | 0.000 | |
| 65 | Bo Morris - Ricky Roach | 41 | 8 | 11.270 | 0.000 | |
| 66 | Steve Blankenship - Jason Smith | 74 | 7 | 11.130 | 0.000 | |
| 67 | Derrick Compton - jonathan strickland | 26 | 7 | 10.480 | 0.000 | |
| 68 | Scott Allison - John parker | 21 | 5 | 10.270 | 0.000 | |
| 69 | Marcus Leech - Tim Chapman | 64 | 10 | 10.250 | 0.000 | |
| 70 | Rusty Bullard - Eric Martin | 97 | 6 | 10.220 | 0.000 | |
| 71 | Greg Rikard - Eddie Herlong | 68 | 5 | 9.350 | 0.000 | |
| 72 | Thomas Gavin - Bobby Winn | 18 | 6 | 8.890 | 0.000 | |
| 73 | Russell Hoyle - Jerry Pruitt | 13 | 5 | 8.540 | 0.000 | |
| 74 | David Arnold - Billy Collins | 53 | 5 | 8.430 | 0.000 | |
| 75 | Sandy Oliver - Shannon Bryson | 73 | 3 | 8.120 | 0.000 | |
| 76 | Mark Swink - Mike Sprouse | 12 | 5 | 8.100 | 0.000 | |
| 77 | Eric Mora - Donald Miller | 56 | 5 | 8.080 | 0.000 | |
| 78 | Robbie Carroll - Bryan Carroll | 36 | 5 | 7.840 | 0.000 | |
| 79 | Gary Love - Ricky Todd | 81 | 3 | 6.840 | 0.000 | |
| 80 | Greg Creech - Chris McDuffie | 10 | 4 | 6.770 | 0.000 | |
| 81 | Jerry Lineberger - Shane Lineberger | 108 | 5 | 6.730 | 0.000 | |
| 82 | Matt Lowe - Mark Hollifield | 32 | 4 | 6.650 | 0.000 | |
| 83 | Jimmy Counts - Gary Angel | 69 | 5 | 6.640 | 0.000 | |
| 84 | Tim Jones - Chris Bennett | 34 | 4 | 6.430 | 0.000 | |
| 85 | Paul Guthrie - Robert Church | 44 | 3 | 6.400 | 0.000 | |
| 86 | Bobby Wade - Pete Sherbert | 86 | 3 | 6.290 | 0.000 | |
| 87 | Shannon Jordan - Shawn Jordan | 24 | 5 | 6.250 | 0.000 | |
| 88 | Johnny Allen - Scott Stallings | 113 | 5 | 6.230 | 0.000 | |
| 89 | Jon Stringfield - Dan Geurtsen | 23 | 5 | 6.210 | 0.000 | |
| 90 | Tyler Hoopaugh - Chris Hoopaugh | 60 | 3 | 5.860 | 0.000 | |
| 91 | Lyn Langston - Thad Driggers | 35 | 2 | 5.820 | 0.000 | |
| 92 | Milton Yancey - Larry Yancey | 28 | 5 | 5.790 | 0.000 | |
| 93 | Richard Bradshaw - Adam Fincher | 107 | 3 | 5.240 | 0.000 | |
| 94 | Russ Padgett - Meredith Havird | 15 | 3 | 4.630 | 0.000 | |
| 95 | Jerry Goble - Scott Griffin | 84 | 2 | 4.460 | 0.000 | |
| 96 | Ben Parker | 115 | 3 | 4.160 | 0.000 | |
| 97 | Steven Austin - Roger Wood | 55 | 3 | 4.110 | 0.000 | |
| 98 | Ricky Self - Ben Stanton | 7 | 1 | 3.990 | 3.990 | |
| 99 | Kiel Kelly - Chuck Whittaker | 80 | 3 | 3.800 | 0.000 | |
| 100 | Reginald Pickett | 8 | 3 | 3.710 | 0.000 | |
| 101 | Phil Hennessee - Lee Hoilman | 96 | 2 | 3.420 | 0.000 | |
| 102 | Mack Cook - Patrick Cook | 95 | 3 | 3.230 | 0.000 | |
| 103 | Mitchell Cook - Todd Huffman | 72 | 2 | 2.000 | 0.000 | |
| 104 | Dale Luckey - John Brown | 50 | 2 | 1.940 | 0.000 | |
| 105 | Chad Sinclair - Caleb Conner | 114 | 1 | 1.860 | 0.000 | |
| 106 | Bradley Gunter - Stan Gunter | 4 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | |
| 106 | Juddie Revels - David Oxendine | 33 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | |
| 106 | Chris Dover - Robert Fowler | 43 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | |
| 106 | Greg Bragg - Christopher Terry | 58 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | |
| 106 | Dempsey Carter - Ted Mobley | 61 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | |
| 106 | Bill Grier - Robby Byrum | 66 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | |
| 106 | Jamie Thames - Barry Thames | 78 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | |
| 106 | Kevin Rake - Terry Morris | 99 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | |
| 106 | Jeff Murray - Derrick Murray | 102 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | |
| 106 | Johnny Houser - Deron Donohoo | 109 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 | |
Mcmillan Wins Bassmaster Open On Seminole
| Brandon McMillan of Clewiston, Fla., wins the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open #3 presented by Allstate held on Lake Seminole out of Bainbridge, Ga. McMillan brought 9 pounds, 13 ounces to Saturday's weigh-in, giving him a three-day total of 49-5.
Photo by James Overstreet/Bassmaster
|
BAINBRIDGE, Ga. — The fishing on the final round of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open No. 3 presented by Allstate was no different than it was on Thursday and Friday. It was a grind. Although Lake Seminole teems with big bass, October is the toughest month to catch them.
Brandon McMillan of Clewiston, Fla., started the day with 39 pounds, 8 ounces, which put him nearly 7 pounds ahead of Trevor Fitzgerald, of Belleview, Fla., who was in second place. Only the Top 12 of the 166 pros and 166 co-anglers fished on Saturday.
McMillan needed that cushion. At 2 p.m. today, he had only three bass with 90 minutes left to fish. He kept his composure and caught the final two bass that filled his pro limit of five fish. Saturday, his five-fish limit totaled 9-13, which paled in comparison to the 19-pound limits he brought in on Thursday and Friday. However, they gave him enough weight to earn the victory with a total of 49-5.
Every bass McMillan caught came by flipping a Zoom Z Craw that was Texas rigged with a 4/0 Mustad hook and a 1 1/4- or 1 1/2-ounce Elite Tungsten Worm Weight. He horsed his bass from the thick grassbeds he was fishing with a 7-foot, 11-inch, G. Loomis flipping rod sporting a Shimano Core reel spooled with 60-pound Gamma braided line.
For winning the tournament, McMillan received a Skeeter ZX200 bass boat powered by a Yamaha VF200LA along with an additional cash prize. He also earned a berth in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro because he fished all three of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open tournaments in 2015.
If that were not enough, McMillan also earned the most cumulative points in the Bassmaster Southern Open division. Any Bassmaster Opens angler that finishes among the Top 5 in the overall points standings qualifies for the Elite Series.
Elite Series pro Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., finished second with 45-6. Tharp failed to qualify for the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic through the Elite Series. Winning this event was his last chance to qualify for the Classic. He nearly pulled it off.
Tharp also flipped soft plastic baits into dense grassbeds to catch his bass. His 7-foot, 11-inch extra heavy action Halo Twilite rod was paired with 60-pound Gamma braided line. Two lures were his workhorses, Zoom’s Z Craw and Z Hog. One was rigged with a heavy Reins tungsten sinker and the other with a Reins Punch Shot Tungsten weight. The latter weight features a collar to which Tharp attached a skirt.
With a total weight of 44-10 Chad Grigsby of Maple Grove, Minn., claimed third place. On Thursday, Friday and most of today, Grigsby caught his bass with a FlippinBug soft plastic lure from Charlie’s Worms. He rigged the bait with a 1 1/2-ounce tungsten weight, 65-pound test Seaguar braided line spooled on a Lew’s baitcasting reel mounted to a 7-foot, 11-inch Halo flippin’ rod.
However, at 2 p.m. today, Grigsby had only two bass. He switched to a Zara Spook topwater plug and promptly caught three more bass, the biggest of which weighed 5 pounds.
Travis Kelehan of Broussard, La., won the co-angler division with a weight of 22-9. His prize was a Triton 179 TrX bass boat with a Mercury 115 Pro XS outboard.
“I fished with three outstanding pros this week,” Kelehan said.
Did he ever. He fished with Randall Tharp Thursday, Elite Series pro Greg Hackney Friday and Timmy Reneau on Saturday. All three of these anglers excel at fishing thick grass, which was just what Kelehan wanted.
Elite Series pro Chad Morgenthaler of Coulterville, Ill., caught the biggest bass on the pro side of the tournament with a largemouth weighing 8-12. He earned the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass award worth $750.
The 6-10 bass caught by Eugene Stinson of Dry Branch, Ga., was the biggest among the co-anglers. Stinson earned a $250 Bass Pro Shops Big Bass award.
For leading the tournament on Friday, McMillan received the $250 Livingston Lures Leader Award. Bailey Boutries of Daphne, Ala., claimed the co-angler Livingston Lures Leader Award, which is worth $250 in merchandise.
The $250 Allstate Good Hand Great Day Award went to Brent Bonadona. Larry Beauboeuf received the $150 Allstate Good Hand Great Day Award for the co-angler.
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open - Lake Seminole Presented by Allstate 10/22-10/24
Lake Seminole, Bainbridge GA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 15 49-05 200 $52,333.00
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 19-10 Day 3: 5 09-13
2. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 15 45-06 199 $17,321.00
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 14-15
3. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 14 44-10 198 $12,616.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 4 12-05 Day 3: 5 15-01
4. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 13 42-09 197 $11,288.00
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 4 09-02 Day 3: 4 15-03
5. Timmy Reneau Del Rio, TX 12 38-14 196 $9,849.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 4 12-14 Day 3: 3 09-09
6. Trevor Fitzgerald Belleview, FL 12 35-06 195 $8,411.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 17-09 Day 3: 2 02-12
7. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 13 35-04 194 $7,083.00
Day 1: 5 20-06 Day 2: 3 04-11 Day 3: 5 10-03
8. Scott Luster Prattville, AL 15 33-06 193 $5,644.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 06-08
9. George Kapiton Inverness, FL 11 33-02 192 $4,205.00
Day 1: 4 11-03 Day 2: 5 17-11 Day 3: 2 04-04
10. Jim Murray Jr Arabi, GA 15 32-14 191 $3,873.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 09-06 Day 3: 5 07-15
11. Kyle Fox Lakeland, FL 14 30-01 190 $3,541.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 4 05-04
12. Rich Howes Oviedo, FL 9 27-01 189 $3,320.00
Day 1: 4 11-00 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 0 00-00
BASS PRO SHOPS BIG BASS
Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 08-12 $750.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 48 449 1003-05
2 34 360 848-01
3 6 45 101-07
----------------------------------
88 854 1952-13
2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open - Lake Seminole Presented by Allstate 10/22-10/24
Lake Seminole, Bainbridge GA.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Travis Kelehan Broussard, LA 8 22-09 200 $30,000.00
Day 1: 2 07-13 Day 2: 3 05-04 Day 3: 3 09-08
2. Bailey Boutries Daphne, AL 6 18-07 199 $5,423.00
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 3 12-06 Day 3: 0 00-00
3. Scott Kirsch Edgewater, FL 8 16-15 198 $4,095.00
Day 1: 3 06-10 Day 2: 3 08-04 Day 3: 2 02-01
4. Jarrod Anderson New Iberia, LA 8 16-11 197 $2,767.00
Day 1: 2 02-04 Day 2: 3 09-02 Day 3: 3 05-05
5. Douglas Workman Cleveland, GA 9 16-05 196 $2,545.00
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 3 04-14 Day 3: 3 06-03
6. Marty Spears Tallahassee, FL 5 15-01 195 $2,435.00
Day 1: 3 10-11 Day 2: 1 03-03 Day 3: 1 01-03
7. Judy Reneau Del Rio, TX 7 14-07 194 $2,324.00
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 3 05-08 Day 3: 1 02-09
8. Luke Koch Campbellsport, WI 6 13-09 193 $2,213.00
Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 2 03-15 Day 3: 1 01-06
9. Eugene Stinson Dry Branch, GA 3 12-03 192 $2,353.00
Day 1: 1 06-10 Day 2: 2 05-09 Day 3: 0 00-00
10. Joe Thompson Clayton, GA 5 11-01 191 $1,881.00
Day 1: 2 06-12 Day 2: 3 04-05 Day 3: 0 00-00
11. Larry Mullikin Lauderhill, FL 3 10-08 190 $1,660.00
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 0 00-00
12. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 4 10-02 189 $1,549.00
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 08-04 Day 3: 0 00-00
BASS PRO SHOPS BIG BASS
Eugene Stinson Dry Branch, GA 06-10 $250.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 22 156 331-11
2 17 124 274-14
3 3 14 28-03
----------------------------------
42 294 634-12
Lucas Lovelace Wins The Oakley Big Bass With A Massive 9.42 Lb Bf-Full Results And Pic Here!
794 Anglers turned out for the final Oakely Big Bass event of the 2015 season on Lake Guntersville, and holy cow was it a great tournament! The weights below are beyond impressive for October, and the winning angler, Lucas Lovelace, took home a $30,000 boat-motor-trailer package for his efforts! Contrats to all the anglers that helped break the all time record for participation at any Oakly Big Bass event. Pic of Lucas and full results below:
Angler Lucas Lovelace is all smiles with this 9.42 Lb Kicker!
Look at these weights!
2015 Lake Guntersville, AL
Leaders
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LUCAS LOVELACE | 9.42 |
| 2 | JERRY PERKINS | 8.27 |
| 3 | JOHN PEPMEIER | 7.80 |
| 4 | JAY STUART | 7.70 |
| 5 | SCOTT RICE | 7.48 |
| 6 | TIM BUCKNER | 7.18 |
| 7 | GIL SUMMERLIN | 7.07 |
| 8 | MARK FRAZEE | 6.96 |
| 9 | HENRY BECKETT | 6.84 |
| 10 | KEITH SYKES | 6.45 |
Saturday 8-9
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GIL SUMMERLIN | 7.07 |
| 2 | JAMES GALLMAN | 5.66 |
| 2 | TIM PYERON | 5.66 |
| 4 | RICKY MURPHY | 5.55 |
| 5 | EUBA SHELLNUT | 5.05 |
| 6 | JERRY PERKINS | 4.63 |
| 7 | PHILLIP BROWN | 4.46 |
| 8 | MARK BRADSHAW | 4.35 |
Saturday 9-10
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TIM BUCKNER | 7.18 |
| 2 | RICHARD KROUT | 5.85 |
| 3 | GENE SPARKS | 5.22 |
| 4 | BOBBY SCHARBER | 5.10 |
| 5 | DOUG SARVER | 4.71 |
| 6 | JAMES STOLER | 4.69 |
| 7 | BYRON LUMAN | 4.60 |
| 8 | BO QUINNIE | 4.54 |
Saturday 10-11
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JERRY PERKINS | 8.27 |
| 2 | MARK FRAZEE | 6.96 |
| 3 | HENRY BECKETT | 6.84 |
| 4 | CHASE WHITE | 5.04 |
| 5 | DAVID HUIE | 4.55 |
| 6 | DUSTIN ALBRIGHT | 4.54 |
| 7 | DAMIEN WILLIS | 4.51 |
| 8 | CLINT PRICE | 4.35 |
Saturday 11-12
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JOHN PEPMEIER | 7.80 |
| 2 | MIKE BARNHART | 6.06 |
| 3 | ROBERT SMALLWOOD | 5.38 |
| 4 | MARK BRADSHAW | 5.35 |
| 5 | JAMES STEPHENS | 5.27 |
| 6 | RICKY MCBRIDE | 4.94 |
| 7 | RION SUMMERS | 4.90 |
| 8 | WESLEY PARTON | 4.85 |
Saturday 12-1
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SCOTT RICE | 7.48 |
| 2 | CHRIS BLACKMON | 5.94 |
| 3 | JOSH JACKSON | 5.83 |
| 4 | ELI WEAVER | 5.80 |
| 5 | GERALD OREY | 5.56 |
| 6 | ROBERT SMALLWOOD | 5.00 |
| 6 | ANTHONY WASCO | 5.00 |
| 8 | CRAIG LAMAR | 4.82 |
Saturday 1-2
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | KEITH SYKES | 6.45 |
| 2 | DOUG WEBSTER | 6.05 |
| 3 | GREG MIZE | 5.27 |
| 4 | RICHARD GARRETT | 5.03 |
| 5 | HUNTER BROTHERS | 4.95 |
| 6 | JOHNNY CHILDERS | 4.93 |
| 7 | KENNETH SHATZ | 4.89 |
| 8 | ROBERT ABERNATHY JR | 4.82 |
Saturday 2-3
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHANE JACKSON | 6.14 |
| 2 | MATT THOMAS | 5.66 |
| 3 | DOUG WEBSTER | 5.47 |
| 4 | JACK GUMBERT | 5.40 |
| 5 | LYNN SPEARS | 5.28 |
| 6 | STEVE REASONER | 5.19 |
| 7 | JON STEWART | 5.02 |
| 8 | STEVEN LETSON | 4.54 |
Sunday 8-9
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LUCAS LOVELACE | 9.42 |
| 2 | RICHARD AGNOR | 5.50 |
| 3 | JESSE RIGSBY | 5.49 |
| 4 | JEFF RAGSDALE | 5.31 |
| 5 | SHANE HASLEY | 5.21 |
| 6 | MICHAEL HUGHES | 4.28 |
| 7 | RALPH HOLLIFIELD JR | 4.20 |
| 8 | JOE HIX | 4.06 |
Sunday 9-10
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JAY STUART | 7.70 |
| 2 | BO TALLEY | 6.10 |
| 3 | FRANKLIN MARKLEY | 5.63 |
| 4 | DEWAYNE RICH | 5.12 |
| 5 | BILLY ADAMSON | 4.78 |
| 6 | MIKE JESSEE | 4.08 |
| 7 | FRANKIE OTWELL | 4.06 |
| 8 | LEE ADAMS | 3.87 |
Sunday 10-11
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JULIOUS LIVELY | 6.08 |
| 2 | ROGER BRANCH | 5.93 |
| 3 | JERRY PERKINS | 5.41 |
| 4 | MATT THOMAS | 5.25 |
| 4 | RYAN HANEY | 5.25 |
| 6 | HOWARD HOLLEY | 4.61 |
| 7 | BRANDT TUMBERG | 4.60 |
| 8 | ANDY VANDERPOOL | 4.52 |
Sunday 11-12
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DANNY BAILEY | 4.96 |
| 2 | WILL BATES | 4.47 |
| 3 | MIKE MCCALL | 4.11 |
| 4 | KYLE HOWARD | 3.96 |
| 5 | ANDY POPE | 3.76 |
| 6 | CLINT BLANTON | 3.73 |
| 7 | EDWARD LETSON | 3.63 |
| 8 | SHAWN HORNBUCKLE | 3.60 |
Sunday 12-1
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOBBY SYKES | 5.30 |
| 2 | BRAD KESLER | 5.24 |
| 3 | TAZ MATETZSCHK | 4.95 |
| 4 | ROBERT SMALLWOOD | 4.72 |
| 5 | DEWAYNE RICH | 4.64 |
| 6 | ANTHONY WASCO | 4.59 |
| 7 | TIM CLEVELAND | 4.54 |
| 8 | REID MCCALL | 4.28 |
Sunday 1-2
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MARK HINTON | 6.07 |
| 2 | COREY CAMPBELL | 5.56 |
| 3 | BRICE MCMASTER | 5.28 |
| 4 | COREY SMITH | 5.22 |
| 5 | CHUCK MAYFIELD | 5.06 |
| 6 | HERSHELL ROBBINS | 4.98 |
| 7 | RANDY BLANKENSOPP | 4.42 |
| 8 | DAYTON WAUFORD | 4.38 |
Sunday 2-3
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BRIAN DRAIN | 6.04 |
| 2 | KENNETH SHATZ | 5.15 |
| 3 | STEVEN LETSON | 4.97 |
| 4 | ROBERT ABERNATHY JR | 4.76 |
| 5 | MARK HINTON SR | 4.46 |
| 6 | KEITH SYKES | 4.37 |
| 7 | BOBBY SYKES | 4.36 |
| 8 | MARK BRADSHAW | 4.29 |
Good Weather €“ Finally! €“ Will Allow Anglers Choice Triton Classic On High Rock
The weather looks good – outstanding, in fact – so the Anglers Choice Invitational Tournament Trail finally appears poised to get one of its two classics completed this weekend.With plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the 70s – in stark contrast to torrential rains that flooded vast regions of the Carolinas and Virginia last week – anglers can look forward to enjoying a nice day on the water in the Anglers Choice Triton Classic on High Rock Lake Saturday and Sunday.
The first championship, the Anglers Choice Ranger Classic, originally scheduled for Oct. 3-4 on Kerr Reservoir, had to be rescheduled for Nov. 7-8 back on Kerr out of Occoneechee State Park.
“The Governor of Virginia declared a state of emergency that weekend, so for everybody's safety, we put it off until that weekend in November,” said tournament director Chris Lucas. In a letter posted on the Anglers Choice website, Lucas cited heavy flooding which made it dangerous to travel to and from the lake plus the danger posed by trees and other debris floating in the lake. The Dan River, which feeds into Kerr, reached the 19-foot flood stage late in the week, with that water estimated to pour into the lake by the afternoon before the tournament began.
“I think everybody was in favor of erring on the side of safety and caution and I think it has worked out all right,” Lucas said. “The fish will will be biting in November and if the weather stays like it is now it should be a good tournament.”
Prior to the original date for the Ranger Classic on Kerr, Lucas said he expected 130 to 140 boats and he hopes most of those will compete in the re-scheduled tournament in November.
“The only problem is it will be hunting season by then, but even though guys might rather be hunting they will be fishing for a new boat.”
Lucas said the entry at High Rock this weekend will be considerably less, probably 50 to 60 boats, but that actually favors the anglers.
“The odds of winning a new boat will be a lot more in your favor,” he noted.
While the weather has cleared off, he said, the water apparently has not. One angler told Lucas that he went to the mouth where the Yadkin River runs into High Rock and it is still muddy in that area.
“I haven't heard a lot other than the water is a little muddy at High Rock,” he said. Muddy water at High Rock is not that unusual, but I figure the weights will probably be down a little bit.”
But, he added, “One guy told me he caught some fish. They'll just have to catch them in the mud.”
David Wright and Jeff Coble repeated as points champions, he said, and they will have their entry fee paid for the B.A.S.S. Toyota Team Championship. Lucas said Anglers Choice will send 12 teams to the Toyota Championship at Lake Guntersville in December.
“We had one team finish second in the Toyota Team Championship this past year and one angler, Brandon Gray won the individual title and went on to fish in the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell. We are hoping to repeat that success this year,” he said.
Lucas said he expects to post the 2016 schedule on the website this week.
Anglers Choice Triton Classic
Oct 17-18, 2015
High Rock Lake
Southmont Wildlife Area Access
Call Chris Lucas 276-358-0844
Colorado Mesa Team Familiar With Grand Lake, Site Of College Southern Conference Championship
The Colorado Mesa University Fishing Team is already somewhat familiar with Oklahoma's Grand Lake where the FLW College Southern Conference Championship will be fished this weekend, having won a Southern Conference qualifier there in June 2014.
“We have a little experience on this lake so we are really excited. We have some idea of what the lake looks like and we know it holds some decent amounts of fish,” said Kennedy Kinkade of Midvale, Utah.
“I love that lake. It's a beautiful lake to fish on,” added Josh Worth of Grand Junction, Colo. “There are a few areas we already have mapped out, so we will divide up the lake for pre-fishing this week and see what that produces for us.”
Colorado Mesa University is in Grand Junction, in western Colorado, so what are these guys doing fishing the FLW College Southern Conference?
Kinkade explained:
“The first school out of Colorado to fish the FLW College Division was Colorado State on the other side of the state. Since they would have had to cross the Rockies to fish the Western Conference tournaments, FLW gave them the choice.
“FLW has given us the choice to fish the Western Conference, but we are happy in the Southern Conference. We have done well there, especially on this lake, so we thought it better to stay in the Southern Conference. We kind of know our competitors and we have some idea about the lakes.”
Kinkade added that they don't get to fish a lot of lakes like the ones they do in the Southern Conference tournaments.
“It's a lot of fun to be able to go down to the Southern tournaments and fish real southern lakes with real southern bass,” he said. “We had done a little recreational fishing in lakes and rivers around here, then in June 2014 we decided to do the college fishing competition,” Worth added.
Kinkade, a senior majoring in fisheries biology, and Worth, a senior majoring in biology with plans to become a teacher, have done really well since organizing the fishing team a little over a year ago. They won their first tournament on a southern lake – Grand Lake, in June 2014. They finished 14th on Lake Texoma in February. And they weighed in three limits, including the heaviest stringer in the championship round, for better than a 3.2-pound average to place 4th in the FLW National College Championship on South Carolina's Lake Murray in April.
Until now they have been the entire fishing team at Colorado Mesa, but some other students with boats have joined the team and plan to compete when qualifying starts in 2016.
As for the Southern Conference Championship this week, Kinkade said. “We are hoping to get a top 10 and make it back to the national championship.”
With the record these Western boys have made down South don't count them out.
FLW College Fishing Southern Conference Championship
Oct 17-18, 2015
Grand Lake
Wolf Creek Park
Super focus will be key for Anders in BFL Regional on Lake Wateree
The key for Michael Anders in the BFL Regional on Lake Wateree this weekend will be to focus on what he is doing and not worry about what anybody else is doing.
Anders, the Savannah River BFL points champion, will lead his division anglers against those from the North Carolina, Shenandoah and Volunteer Divisions in the Regional Championship on Wateree Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
“I've been on Wateree twice, in two separate tournaments in previous springs, and it's a lot different from springtime fishing,” said Anders who is practicing on the lake this week right up to the tournament. “The fish are already in a fall pattern and they are biting good.”
Anders said about two-thirds of the lake is muddy from the torrential rains over the past week and a half and the other third has a moderate stain.
While there is muddy water from all the rain, surprisingly the lake is not overfilling its banks, Anders said.
“It's surprising because I thought we'd be fishing a lot dirtier water,” he said. “From what I read on the Duke Power website they dropped the lake level in anticipation of the heavy rains. I think that allowed the volume of water than came in not to top the banks.”
But, while he is looking forward to competing in the regional later this week, Anders admitted he feels guilty being able to fish while people less than 30 minutes away are displaced from their homes and many have lost everything in the flooding last week.
“We did not get near the rain in Anderson that the Midlands got. I am trying to keep a positive attitude and praying for those people,” he said. “But I know we have a great state and strong people.”
Although he has come close in the past, Anders won the Savannah River Division points title for the first time this year, thanks to three top 5 finishes, a top 15 and a top 25. His worst tournament was finishing 22nd at Keowee in February, but he rebounded with a 4th at Lake Russell in March, finished 15th at Hartwell April 11, then won at Hartwell two weeks later, and finished the year with a 2nd place at Clarks Hill in September.
“I guess I made the right decisions this year, although I did not change the way I fish from any other year,” he said. “I was fortunate to get the win on Hartwell in late April. I had the bites to win the early April tournament on Hartwell, but just did not execute.”
Although he started out slow on Keowee, he said, things picked up in the next tournament on Russell and continued from that point on.
“I wish things could go that way all the time, but I'm fishing against some of the best fishermen in the state. A couple of years ago I was second in points going to Clarks Hill and had a terrible tournament. This year things came together for me and I really crushed them on Clarks hill.”
Anders said he will work with a variety of baits and try to maintain super focus during the regional this week.
“I am on a lot of fish. I have to have tunnel vision and not worry about the boat in front of me or the boat behind me. I'll just keep the trolling motor on high and keep my head down,” he said.
Walmart BFL Regional
Oct 15-17, 2015
Lake Wateree
Clearwater Cove
Jeremiah Carr Wins The Oakley Bb On Douglas Lake With A 7.20 Lb Catch
Big weekend on Douglas Lake for the Oakley Big Bass Event as 644 anglers showed up to see what kind of big boy bass they could bring to the scales over the two day event. In the end it was Jermiah Carr who brought in an impressive 7.20 Lb fish to claim the $30,000 Boat-Motor-Trailer pkg! Great tournment with lots of impressive hauls-here is a pic of the winner and full results below:
2015 Douglas Lake, TN
Leaders
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JEREMIAH CARR | 7.20 |
| 2 | JOEY FRANKLIN | 6.29 |
| 3 | CASEY LEAMON | 6.24 |
| 4 | TONY MCVEY | 6.15 |
| 5 | ROGER JONES | 6.02 |
| 6 | DUSTIN TURNER | 6.00 |
| 7 | TIM CAIN | 5.85 |
| 8 | ROBERT COUGHLIN | 5.51 |
| 9 | TONY PIERSON | 5.47 |
| 9 | CODY HARRIS | 5.47 |
Saturday 8-9
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CASEY LEAMON | 6.24 |
| 2 | MIKE HOBBY | 5.26 |
| 3 | JEFF HOLT | 5.18 |
| 4 | BART HARRIS | 4.78 |
| 5 | GUY TAYLOR | 3.69 |
| 6 | CHARLES HOPKINS | 3.36 |
| 7 | ROGER MCCRAY | 3.22 |
| 8 | GUNTER ODELL | 2.87 |
Saturday 9-10
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HENRY MAYNOR | 5.40 |
| 2 | WILLIE BRYAN | 5.34 |
| 3 | LOGAN BOHNERT | 5.23 |
| 4 | DEREK SAMPLES | 4.71 |
| 5 | NICK HATFIELD | 4.06 |
| 6 | GREG IRESON | 4.01 |
| 7 | JIM GRIIFIN | 3.83 |
| 8 | DANNY WHALEY | 3.65 |
Saturday 10-11
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROGER JONES | 6.02 |
| 2 | ALLEN SMITH | 5.18 |
| 3 | BILL COFFEE | 4.92 |
| 4 | RYAN ROGERS | 4.70 |
| 5 | KEITH ANDIES | 4.66 |
| 6 | DAVID MUNDY | 4.47 |
| 7 | NICK HATFIELD | 4.44 |
| 8 | GREG IRESON | 3.94 |
Saturday 11-12
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TOM HALL | 5.11 |
| 2 | SCOTT GARDNER | 4.86 |
| 3 | JEFFERY KIRK | 4.78 |
| 4 | JOSH ROARK | 4.38 |
| 5 | MARK BROWN | 4.22 |
| 6 | RONNIE DENTON | 3.82 |
| 7 | EDDIE COFFEY | 3.75 |
| 8 | JUNIOR MCGEORGE | 3.53 |
Saturday 12-1
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OSCAR BAILEY | 5.20 |
| 2 | ALLEN SMITH | 4.96 |
| 3 | BUDDY RUNYON | 4.69 |
| 4 | RICK GILL | 4.62 |
| 5 | KEVIN BARBER | 4.55 |
| 6 | TONY ALLGEIER | 4.08 |
| 7 | WILLIE BRYAN | 4.07 |
| 8 | ANN SMITH | 3.84 |
Saturday 1-2
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CODY HARRIS | 5.47 |
| 2 | JAKE GARDNER | 5.04 |
| 3 | HENRY MAYNOR | 4.77 |
| 4 | CHARLES RAMSEY | 4.39 |
| 5 | ROD O'BARR | 4.32 |
| 6 | JEFF HORTON | 4.20 |
| 7 | TIM KIDWELL | 3.75 |
| 8 | MARK BROWN | 3.63 |
Saturday 2-3
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DARYL HOBBY | 4.94 |
| 2 | RONALD MUSGRAVE | 4.88 |
| 3 | ERIC LAINHART | 4.51 |
| 4 | RUSTY REED | 4.42 |
| 5 | SCOTT GARDNER | 3.99 |
| 6 | RYAN JOHNSON | 3.87 |
| 7 | MICHAEL SAMMONS | 3.80 |
| 8 | STEVE REDMOND | 3.69 |
Sunday 8-9
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JEREMIAH CARR | 7.20 |
| 2 | JORDAN PAYNE | 5.22 |
| 3 | DANNY WHALEY | 4.89 |
| 4 | CLINT HARRISON | 4.08 |
| 5 | RONNIE KING | 3.73 |
| 6 | LARRY LAWSON | 3.67 |
| 7 | KEVIN ROBINSON | 2.95 |
| 8 | CHRIS TAYLOR | 2.74 |
Sunday 9-10
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DUSTIN TURNER | 6.00 |
| 2 | TIM CAIN | 5.85 |
| 3 | HAROLD DOTSON | 4.96 |
| 4 | BRADLEY FRANKLIN | 3.93 |
| 5 | MICHAEL SAMMONS | 3.84 |
| 6 | TONY OWNBY | 3.79 |
| 7 | TONY CRUZ | 3.78 |
| 8 | MARK MARSHALL | 3.63 |
Sunday 10-11
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JORDAN WRIGHT | 5.14 |
| 2 | BENNETT MAY | 4.04 |
| 3 | BRANDON HALL | 3.50 |
| 4 | BURTON BRYAN | 3.35 |
| 5 | MIKE GOLDEN | 3.26 |
| 6 | SHERIDAN TAYLOR | 3.24 |
| 7 | DAVID PICKELL | 3.06 |
| 8 | JEFF RUSSELL | 2.82 |
Sunday 11-12
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROBERT COUGHLIN | 5.51 |
| 2 | TONY PIERSON | 5.47 |
| 3 | JOSH ROARK | 4.80 |
| 4 | TRISTAN COLLINS | 4.11 |
| 5 | TIM WACKER | 4.07 |
| 6 | JEFF RUSSELL | 3.82 |
| 7 | CASEY FOX | 3.43 |
| 8 | KEVIN BARBER | 3.30 |
Sunday 12-1
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | EDDIE COFFEY | 5.38 |
| 2 | DUSTIN TURNER | 5.03 |
| 3 | NICK KIRKLAND | 4.82 |
| 4 | CLINT HARRISON | 4.71 |
| 5 | BRIAN HOLT | 4.37 |
| 6 | KELLEY MILLSAPS | 4.24 |
| 7 | JOHN VINSON | 4.05 |
| 8 | MIKE JOHNSON | 3.99 |
Sunday 1-2
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TONY MCVEY | 6.15 |
| 2 | MICHAEL LIVESAY | 5.23 |
| 3 | STEVEN HEADY | 4.35 |
| 4 | JOSH ROARK | 3.97 |
| 5 | RANDALL PENNY | 3.85 |
| 6 | DREW PAYNE | 3.67 |
| 7 | LEE MONDAY | 3.59 |
| 8 | BRYAN FAWVER | 3.40 |
Sunday 2-3
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JOEY FRANKLIN | 6.29 |
| 2 | EVAN KEITH | 5.44 |
| 3 | JOSH ROARK | 5.28 |
| 4 | KEVIN MULLINS | 5.08 |
| 5 | LARRY ROLEN | 4.95 |
| 6 | JOSEPH BRAKEBILL | 4.58 |
| 7 | LEE HORNER | 4.30 |
| 8 | BUTCH GODDARD | 4.13 |
Powered by A Leaderboard © 2014
Alabama Bass Trail Champs: Billy Sharp And Kevin Stubblefield Crush The Field At Wheeler
Sharp and Stubblefield Win 2105 Alabama Bass Trail Championship
Guntersville Area Team Runs Away with Phoenix Prize Boat
by Dan O’Sullivan
When the staff and crew of the Alabama Bass Trail began talking about the 2015 Alabama Bass Trail at Wheeler Lake out of Decatur’s Ingalls Harbor, the consensus was that fishing was tough. With ever changing weather conditions, the Tennessee River impoundment had yet to reach its fall pattern. The thought was that the winning team would weigh a little over 30 pounds.
Billy Sharp and Kevin Stubblefield shattered that estimate.
The Albertville and Guntersville, Ala. team placed consecutive limits that eclipse the 20-pound mark on the ABT scales and walked away with a victory and a nearly nine-pound margin of victory. Their total weight of 41.41 pounds earned them the keys to a Phoenix Boats prize package complete with a Mercury 200Pro XS, Garmin electronics, Garmin Virb cameras, HydroWave and a trolling motor valued at more than $40,000.
It was their first major victory. “This is an unbelievable feeling that hasn’t sunk in at all,” said Sharp and Stubblefield. “We would never have thought that we’d have been in the position to do this; it is an absolute blessing.”
In limited practice, the pair located an area that held quality bass that struck a green pumpkin orange colored Bo’s Jig and Strike King Rage Craw combo. After catching a couple solid fish in their final practice day, they decided to count on the main river spot less than two miles from Ingalls Harbor, and went looking for more.
When they returned on tournament morning, the fish were schooling. “We tied on bone colored Super Spooks and threw those to the school,” they said. “We caught our first fish at about seven o’clock the first morning and had the limit we weighed by nine o’clock; we had our final limit today by eight.”
They reported searching for similar areas, but did not find any that produced strikes. “We really weren’t concerned because we never saw another boat come within a quarter mile of us,” they said. “We had it to ourselves, and just had to go about executing.”
They reported catching a total of 15 keepers for the two-day event, and only losing one fish that would have added to their weight; a reported six-pound smallmouth that jumped off their topwater bait.
The team of Tim Hurst and Mark McCaig started the tournament in disappointing fashion with a 11-pound limit, but they brought a 20-pound limit to the scales on day two that brought their final weight to 32.48 pounds; good enough for second place and the $5,000 runner up prize. “We didn’t expect for things to go this well today after yesterday,” they said. “We started the day out of the money and had the goal of just getting a check; this is a lot better than we could have expected.” They reported catching fish on shad colored spinnerbaits and crankbaits as well as a jig on areas with significant presence of bait in the mid lake area.
The rest of the top 10 finishers of the 2015 Alabama Bass Trail Championship are as follows:
| 3 | Jonathan Canada/Bo Hunter | 5/0 | 30.82 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4000 | |
| 4 | Adam Bain/Kris Colley | 5/0 | 28.59 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3000 | |
| 5 | Damien Willis/Mark Steward | 5/0 | 28.53 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2500 | |
| 6 | Jeff Shelton/Tim Arnold | 5/0 | 28.40 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2000 | |
| 7 | John Welborn/Wesley Sams | 5/1 | 27.51 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 1800 | |
| 8 | Jimmy Mason/Lance Walker | 5/0 | 26.57 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1700 | |
| 9 | Greg Tucker/Dillon Tucker | 5/0 | 26.32 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1600 | |
| 10 | Jesse Wiggins/Jordan Wiggins | 5/0 | 26.18 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1400 |
ABT CHamps Billy Sharp and Kevin Stubblefield After thier big win!
Day One quality at the ABT CHampionship on Wheeler Lake
| 1 | Billy Sharp/Kevin Stubblefield | 5/0 | 41.41 | 0.00 | 5.76 | Phoenix Boat | |
| 2 | Tim Hurst/Mark Mccaig | 5/0 | 32.48 | 0.00 | 5.87 | 5000 | |
| 3 | Jonathan Canada/Bo Hunter | 5/0 | 30.82 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4000 | |
| 4 | Adam Bain/Kris Colley | 5/0 | 28.59 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3000 | |
| 5 | Damien Willis/Mark Steward | 5/0 | 28.53 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2500 | |
| 6 | Jeff Shelton/Tim Arnold | 5/0 | 28.40 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2000 | |
| 7 | John Welborn/Wesley Sams | 5/1 | 27.51 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 1800 | |
| 8 | Jimmy Mason/Lance Walker | 5/0 | 26.57 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1700 | |
| 9 | Greg Tucker/Dillon Tucker | 5/0 | 26.32 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1600 | |
| 10 | Jesse Wiggins/Jordan Wiggins | 5/0 | 26.18 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1400 | |
| 11 | Waylon Hancock/Timothy Little | 2/0 | 26.09 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1200 | |
| 12 | Craig Daniel /Jackie Flack | 5/0 | 25.99 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1200 | |
| 13 | Blake Hall/Dustin Connell | 5/0 | 25.91 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1200 | |
| 14 | Tony Boyett/Brian Metcalf | 5/0 | 25.73 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1200 | |
| 15 | Larry Blount/Robert Blount | 5/0 | 25.34 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1200 | |
| 16 | Tullis Lanier/Joey Davidson | 5/0 | 25.16 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1100 | |
| 17 | Nicholas Turner/Joe Lay | 5/0 | 25.07 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1100 | |
| 18 | Gabe Aldridge/Wes Wiggins | 5/0 | 24.48 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1100 | |
| 19 | Nathan Brewer/Michael Brewer | 5/0 | 24.12 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1100 | |
| 19 | Rickie Knight/Randall Carter | 5/0 | 24.12 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1100 | |
| 21 | Josh Bragg/Joe Hartley | 5/0 | 24.03 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1100 | |
| 22 | Hadley Coan/Scott Keeling | 5/0 | 23.57 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1100 | |
| 23 | Keith Dees/Tommy Walley | 5/0 | 23.56 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1100 | |
| 24 | Brock Mosley/Danny Mosley | 5/0 | 23.39 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1100 | |
| 25 | Taylor Lamar/Mac Lamar | 5/0 | 23.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1100 | |
| 26 | John Davis/Payton McGinnis | 5/0 | 22.99 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 27 | Michael Szokoly/David Shoop | 5/0 | 22.93 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 28 | Greg Griggers/Barry Landrum | 5/0 | 22.86 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 29 | Kyle Glasgow/Luke Glasgow | 5/0 | 22.80 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 30 | Tony Hogan/Keith Craft | 5/0 | 22.68 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 31 | Kevin Dees/Jim Smith | 5/0 | 22.41 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 32 | Jeremy Tomlin/Greg Tomlin | 5/0 | 22.31 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 33 | Rowdy Wade/Chad Hazel | 5/0 | 22.01 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 34 | Foster Bradley/Britt Lemley | 5/0 | 21.86 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 35 | George Crain/Allan Glasgow | 5/0 | 21.73 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 35 | Scott Luster/Jerry Cook | 5/0 | 21.73 | 0.00 | 5.97 | 0.00 | |
| 37 | Charlie Cummings/Greg Pugh | 5/0 | 21.27 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 38 | Scott Ashley/Taylor Ashley | 5/0 | 21.07 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 39 | Brian Morris/Brian Jett | 5/0 | 21.03 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 40 | Ralph Moseley/Terry Stevens | 5/0 | 20.94 | 0.00 | 4.66 | 0.00 | |
| 41 | Jeff Richey/Howard Richey | 5/0 | 20.90 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 42 | Jamie Smith/Michael Rains | 5/0 | 20.84 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 43 | Eddie Jewell/Bobby Simmons | 5/0 | 19.87 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 44 | Andrew Warbington /Taylor Teague | 5/0 | 19.49 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 45 | Jimmy Cook/Joey Mann | 5/0 | 19.40 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 46 | Lanny Guthrie/Lee Hurley | 5/0 | 19.32 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 47 | Craig Bellew/Jason Morgan | 5/0 | 19.07 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 48 | Scott Montgomery/Les Bratcher | 5/0 | 18.79 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 49 | Chris Minor/Chase Benson | 5/0 | 18.69 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| 49 | Brandon Staggs/Jerry Wright | 4/0 | 18.69 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Eric Self And Tyler Beam Hold On To Win The Cbc Div Champ On Norman
148 boats with about 140 limits (Not really, but that's what it felt like!!) Great turnout on one rainy, rainy day! Congrats to Eric Self and Tyler Beam with their huge win! Payouts were strong as usual and real kudo's to all who fought thru a downpour from blast off to weigh-in!
| Place | Team Name | Team # | Fish Weighed | Net Weight | Big Fish | Points | Winnings |
| 1 | Eric Self - Tyler Beam | 127 | 5 | 17.190 | 0.000 | 310 | TZX190 |
| 2 | Nathan Webber - Dale Webber | 39 | 5 | 15.360 | 4.680 | 309 | $10,000 |
| 3 | Butch Zadlo - Bryan Lewis | 97 | 5 | 15.280 | 5.150 | 308 | $4,500 |
| 4 | Adam Waters - Dylan Fulk | 1 | 5 | 14.970 | 4.880 | 307 | $3,000 |
| 5 | Johnny Guffey - Wesley Bell | 43 | 5 | 14.760 | 0.000 | 306 | $2,000 |
| 6 | Scott Hamrick - Roger Hoover | 137 | 5 | 14.630 | 0.000 | 305 | $1,400 |
| 7 | David Winters - Russell Winters | 21 | 5 | 14.270 | 3.550 | 304 | $1,000 |
| 8 | Thomas Vickers - Brian Huskins | 2 | 5 | 14.000 | 0.000 | 303 | $800 |
| 9 | Steve Addington - Matt Stout | 29 | 5 | 13.870 | 0.000 | 302 | $750 |
| 10 | Cory Leonard - Paul Rigsbee | 63 | 5 | 13.770 | 0.000 | 301 | $700 |
| 11 | Graham Rushing - Artie Phillips | 131 | 5 | 13.450 | 0.000 | 300 | $650 |
| 12 | Jason Wilson - Kelly Logan | 75 | 5 | 13.440 | 0.000 | 299 | $535 |
| 13 | Greg Whittington - Danny Hucks | 102 | 5 | 13.380 | 4.560 | 298 | $475 |
| 14 | Doug Easton - Pete Bejte | 146 | 5 | 13.200 | 0.000 | 297 | $445 |
| 15 | Michael Smith - Roger Pope | 57 | 5 | 13.190 | 0.000 | 296 | $420 |
| 16 | Wayne Hauser - Anthony Rife | 37 | 5 | 13.090 | 0.000 | 295 | $385 |
| 17 | Ricky Byrd - Chris Graham | 42 | 5 | 12.820 | 4.850 | 294 | $360 |
| 18 | Steve Dyer - Derek Lilley | 110 | 5 | 12.810 | 0.000 | 293 | $330 |
| 19 | Russell Hoyle - Jerry Pruitt | 89 | 5 | 12.710 | 0.000 | 292 | $315 |
| 20 | Robin Collins - Ronnie White | 68 | 5 | 12.640 | 0.000 | 291 | $300 |
| 21 | Aric Dwyer - Robert Anderson | 120 | 5 | 12.590 | 0.000 | 290 | $290 |
| 22 | Robert Osborne - Bobby Osborne | 111 | 5 | 12.410 | 0.000 | 289 | $270 |
| 23 | Johnny Allen - Scott Stallings | 69 | 5 | 12.370 | 0.000 | 288 | $250 |
| 24 | Marvin Godard - Robert Adams | 70 | 5 | 12.080 | 0.000 | 287 | $225 |
| 25 | Chris Wagner - Chase Deal | 7 | 5 | 12.020 | 0.000 | 286 | $200 |
| 26 | Adam Fillmore - Matt Queen | 129 | 5 | 12.000 | 0.000 | 285 | |
| 27 | Wayne Ingram - Chris Brown | 90 | 5 | 11.950 | 0.000 | 284 | |
| 28 | Klaus Hadschin - Jerry Hadschin | 91 | 5 | 11.920 | 0.000 | 283 | |
| 29 | Bill Grier - Robby Byrum | 55 | 5 | 11.870 | 4.100 | 282 | |
| 30 | Michael Kinard - Tony Lambert | 58 | 5 | 11.870 | 4.210 | 281 | |
| 31 | Stacey Richards - Brian Triplett | 96 | 5 | 11.760 | 0.000 | 280 | |
| 32 | Tyler Hoopaugh - Chris Hoopaugh | 135 | 5 | 11.600 | 0.000 | 279 | |
| 33 | Dennis Hensley - Steve Yoder | 80 | 5 | 11.570 | 0.000 | 278 | |
| 34 | Jeff Coble - David Wright | 8 | 5 | 11.370 | 0.000 | 277 | |
| 35 | Ricky Self - Ben Stanton | 144 | 5 | 11.280 | 0.000 | 276 | |
| 36 | Mike Davis - Gerald Ritchie | 62 | 5 | 11.150 | 0.000 | 275 | |
| 37 | Thomas Richmond - Reggie Pollock | 100 | 5 | 11.120 | 0.000 | 274 | |
| 38 | Kenny Seagle - Thomas Simmerson | 17 | 5 | 11.040 | 0.000 | 273 | |
| 39 | Eddie Smith - Michael Carson | 140 | 5 | 11.040 | 0.000 | 272 | |
| 40 | Zack Jeney - Mike Smith | 107 | 5 | 11.010 | 0.000 | 271 | |
| 41 | Joshua Queen - Mike Queen | 114 | 5 | 11.000 | 0.000 | 270 | |
| 42 | Craig Chambers | 141 | 5 | 11.000 | 0.000 | 269 | |
| 43 | John parker - Scott Allison | 61 | 5 | 10.970 | 0.000 | 268 | |
| 44 | Milton Yancey - Larry Yancey | 31 | 5 | 10.930 | 0.000 | 267 | |
| 45 | Jerry Craig - Bobby Lateuch | 128 | 5 | 10.890 | 0.000 | 266 | |
| 46 | brian morgan - anthony Lutz | 123 | 5 | 10.820 | 0.000 | 265 | |
| 47 | Thomas Hardwick - Tommy Williams | 27 | 5 | 10.800 | 0.000 | 264 | |
| 48 | Dale Duncan - Donnie Woody | 119 | 5 | 10.750 | 0.000 | 263 | |
| 49 | Jeff Queen - Carroll Queen | 25 | 5 | 10.730 | 0.000 | 262 | |
| 50 | Michael Kelley - Terry Wike | 50 | 5 | 10.610 | 0.000 | 261 | |
| 51 | Paul Guthrie - Robert Church | 134 | 5 | 10.610 | 0.000 | 260 | |
| 52 | Bryan Welch - Mark Inman | 4 | 5 | 10.590 | 0.000 | 259 | |
| 53 | john drew - mitch drew | 56 | 5 | 10.560 | 0.000 | 258 | |
| 54 | Drew Stankwytch - Dave Whitehead | 72 | 5 | 10.490 | 0.000 | 257 | |
| 55 | Greg Osborne - Wyatt Blevins | 145 | 5 | 10.490 | 0.000 | 256 | |
| 56 | Adam Ridings - Chris Beaird | 19 | 5 | 10.460 | 0.000 | 255 | |
| 57 | Reginald Pickett - Larry Kirk | 139 | 5 | 10.410 | 0.000 | 254 | |
| 58 | Robert Walser - Mack Lowe | 23 | 5 | 10.390 | 0.000 | 253 | |
| 59 | Vince Parker - Mark Parker | 22 | 5 | 10.330 | 0.000 | 252 | |
| 60 | Mike Ray - Orlando Giles | 59 | 5 | 10.300 | 0.000 | 251 | |
| 61 | Allen Eaker - Kelly Homesley | 79 | 5 | 10.190 | 0.000 | 250 | |
| 62 | Brian Travis - Ashley Brotherton | 99 | 5 | 10.190 | 0.000 | 249 | |
| 63 | Dale Surrett - Lee Endicott | 44 | 5 | 10.180 | 0.000 | 248 | |
| 64 | Terry Wien | 15 | 5 | 10.140 | 0.000 | 247 | |
| 65 | David Clanton - Brent Sanders | 105 | 4 | 10.110 | 4.680 | 246 | |
| 66 | Eric Moser - Mark Beck | 92 | 5 | 10.010 | 0.000 | 245 | |
| 67 | Robert Mixon - Robert Lambert | 112 | 5 | 10.010 | 0.000 | 244 | |
| 68 | Mike Clark - Chris Anderson | 24 | 5 | 10.000 | 0.000 | 243 | |
| 69 | Rodney Bell - Tommy Jones | 148 | 5 | 9.980 | 0.000 | 242 | |
| 70 | Greg Bragg - Christopher Terry | 6 | 5 | 9.930 | 0.000 | 241 | |
| 71 | Steven Austin - Roger Wood | 26 | 5 | 9.870 | 0.000 | 240 | |
| 72 | Nick Beaver - Roger Beaver | 143 | 5 | 9.850 | 0.000 | 239 | |
| 73 | Dwight Dellinger - Doug Dellinger | 94 | 5 | 9.780 | 0.000 | 238 | |
| 74 | Jimmy Cummings - Dean Collins | 122 | 5 | 9.560 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 75 | Jason Quinn - Tony Colacurcio | 53 | 5 | 9.530 | 0.000 | 236 | |
| 76 | Jody Jones | 41 | 5 | 9.450 | 0.000 | 235 | |
| 77 | Mark Lamb - Robert Griswold | 85 | 5 | 9.430 | 0.000 | 234 | |
| 78 | Larry LeHew - Greg Deal | 117 | 5 | 9.360 | 0.000 | 233 | |
| 79 | Rich Szczerbala - Rick Dunstan | 60 | 5 | 9.300 | 0.000 | 232 | |
| 80 | Bo Morris - Ricky Roach | 108 | 5 | 9.240 | 0.000 | 231 | |
| 81 | Danny Nifong - Matthew Nifong | 67 | 5 | 9.200 | 0.000 | 230 | |
| 82 | Robert Bauguess - Rodney Morrow | 14 | 5 | 9.140 | 0.000 | 229 | |
| 83 | Dale Luckey - John Brown | 9 | 5 | 9.120 | 0.000 | 228 | |
| 84 | Dan Funderburk - Rod Cozart | 40 | 5 | 9.090 | 0.000 | 227 | |
| 85 | Larry Denton - Chris Guest | 87 | 5 | 9.030 | 0.000 | 226 | |
| 86 | Dempsey Carter - Ted Mobley | 104 | 5 | 8.910 | 0.000 | 225 | |
| 87 | Todd Garner - Shane Hartman | 109 | 5 | 8.880 | 0.000 | 224 | |
| 88 | Larry Horton - James Marshall | 34 | 5 | 8.860 | 0.000 | 223 | |
| 89 | Bernie Davis - Bobby Snyder | 84 | 5 | 8.820 | 0.000 | 222 | |
| 90 | Israel Gibson - Brian Silvers | 49 | 5 | 8.790 | 0.000 | 221 | |
| 91 | Matthew McBee | 71 | 5 | 8.700 | 0.000 | 220 | |
| 92 | Gary Love - Ricky Todd | 11 | 5 | 8.630 | 0.000 | 219 | |
| 93 | Chris Dover - Robert Fowler | 13 | 5 | 8.540 | 0.000 | 218 | |
| 94 | Wesley Cashwell - Shane Doughtie | 45 | 5 | 8.400 | 0.000 | 217 | |
| 95 | Tanner Stirewalt - Josh Brady | 77 | 5 | 8.400 | 0.000 | 216 | |
| 96 | Jerry Cross - Bryce Owen | 113 | 5 | 8.270 | 0.000 | 215 | |
| 97 | Reggie Guffey - Tommy Chapman | 125 | 5 | 8.190 | 0.000 | 214 | |
| 98 | Mark Swink - Mike Sprouse | 138 | 5 | 8.140 | 0.000 | 213 | |
| 99 | Richard Greene - Kent Brewer's | 83 | 5 | 8.040 | 0.000 | 212 | |
| 100 | Mark Hollifield - Matt Lowe | 16 | 5 | 7.800 | 0.000 | 211 | |
| 101 | Denny Parunak - Tony Blevins | 10 | 5 | 7.480 | 0.000 | 210 | |
| 102 | Wayne Skipworth - Don Sprinkle | 30 | 4 | 7.240 | 0.000 | 209 | |
| 103 | Phil Hennessee - Lee Hoilman | 73 | 5 | 7.150 | 0.000 | 208 | |
| 104 | Jonathan Spivey - Derick Livingston | 116 | 4 | 6.350 | 0.000 | 207 | |
| 105 | Thomas Gavin - Bobby Winn | 121 | 4 | 5.920 | 0.000 | 206 | |
| 106 | Ronnie Britt - Jim Britt | 78 | 3 | 5.770 | 0.000 | 205 | |
| 107 | Mason Boyd | 124 | 3 | 5.350 | 0.000 | 204 | |
| 108 | Brendon Schneider - Kyle James | 132 | 2 | 3.550 | 0.000 | 203 | |
| 109 | Ben Parker | 3 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 202 | |
| 110 | Jerry Lineberger - Shane Lineberger | 5 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 201 | |
| 111 | Doug Punch - Rocky Franklin | 12 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 200 | |
| 112 | Todd Sumner - Robert Parrish | 18 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 199 | |
| 113 | Nick Miller - Brandon Brickweg | 20 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 198 | |
| 114 | Brent Berry - Steve Shaw | 28 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 197 | |
| 115 | Dennis Cable - Tim Harrison | 32 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 196 | |
| 116 | James Wall - Jimmy Wall | 33 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 195 | |
| 117 | Louie Hull - Chuck Montgomery | 35 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 194 | |
| 118 | Marcus Leech - Tim Chapman | 36 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 193 | |
| 119 | Chuck Morton - Kevin Sheppard | 38 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 192 | |
| 120 | Eric Jeter - Darren Jeter | 46 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 191 | |
| 121 | Kevin Toler - Rodney Lambert | 47 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 190 | |
| 122 | Tony Stafford - Joshua Stafford | 48 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 189 | |
| 123 | Hunter Hicks - Bobby Rice | 51 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 188 | |
| 124 | Shaun Simmons - Nick Greene | 52 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 187 | |
| 125 | Brian Stowe - Shannon Stowe | 54 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 186 | |
| 126 | Keith Speece - Wendell Ireland | 64 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 185 | |
| 127 | Rick Carson - Ricky Parrish | 65 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 184 | |
| 128 | Nathan Royal - David Brookshire | 66 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 183 | |
| 129 | Greg Sims - Michael Huffman | 74 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 182 | |
| 130 | Mitchell Cook - Todd Huffman | 76 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 181 | |
| 131 | Phillip Frady - Dirk Porter | 81 | 5 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 180 | |
| 132 | Douglas Fowler | 82 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 179 | |
| 133 | Marc Grigg - Tracy Schiff | 86 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 178 | |
| 134 | Dwayne Hughes - Micheal Gibson | 88 | 5 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 177 | |
| 135 | John Gutierrez - Joe Anders | 93 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 176 | |
| 136 | Michael Cribb - Roger Cribb | 95 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 175 | |
| 137 | John Martin - Christopher Allard | 98 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 174 | |
| 138 | David Blanton - William Blanton | 101 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 173 | |
| 139 | Jerry Goble - Scott Griffin | 103 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 172 | |
| 140 | Darren Sigmon - Brian Huffman | 106 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 171 | |
| 141 | Brian Hall - Doug Stallings | 115 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 170 | |
| 142 | Duke Denison - Jamie Denison | 118 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 169 | |
| 143 | Clint Benbow - Jeremi Beatty | 126 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 168 | |
| 144 | Tracy Brown | 130 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 167 | |
| 145 | Michael Webster - Guy Eaker | 133 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 166 | |
| 146 | Lester Elton - Chris Martin | 136 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 165 | |
| 147 | Parks Jones - Daniel Hill | 142 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 164 | |
| 148 | Mike Branch - Brian Branch | 147 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 163 |
Scott Martin joins LIVETARGET staff
Gary Abernethy, marketing manager of LIVETARGET commented on the selection of Scott Martin to the LIVETARGET team: “Scott brings to LIVETARGET a great blend of proven tournament fishing excellence along with one of the best media outlets via his TV show and recognized personality. We’ve talked to Scott over the years, and with his recent Angler of the Year achievement on the FLW Tour, and our ongoing growth at LIVETARGET, it was the right time to add Scott onto our team.â€
Abernethy added, “Scott will help us in promotions with the media elements, but as with all our ProStaff, we look to use Scott and his proven skills as a leading bass angler to help us with our continued lure designs. It is great that Scott is also a multi-species angler, and that works well to help us across a product line that now has over 750+ lure models. We have plans to have Scott present tips and techniques to anglers so they can become better fishermen with LIVETARGET lures.â€
Martin had his own interest in seeking a partnership with the LIVETARGET brand. “LIVETARGET is a company that has won a “Best of Show†lure award for 5 out of the past 6 years at ICAST, and man, they have some great lure designs. Not only are the designs impressive, but as a travelling tournament angler and television producer, I need a very wide spectrum of lures to use. LIVETARGET offers me the most impressive lure selections, and I really like the Match-the-Hatch® strategy of matching the lure to the local forage base. As a tournament angler, we all want a competitive edge, and the LIVETARGET brand will give me that advantage to win.â€
Anglers will be able to view the Scott Martin Challenge TV show, which will air on multiple networks beginning in January (check local and cable listings for air times), plus learn tips and tactics he shares on his Facebook page, YouTube Channel and website: http://www.scottmartinchallenge.com
In addition to Scott Martin, the current roster of LIVETARGET Pro Staff anglers includes: Dave Mercer, host of Facts of Fishing; Patrick Campeau, Canadian journalist and author; Henry Waszczuk, host of Fishing the Flats; Jason South, host of “Florida Adventure Quest†and two Bassmaster Elite Pros, Stephen Browning and David Walker. See ProStaff content online at: http://www.livetargetlures.com/livetarget-pros
Anglers Face Two Choices In Alabama Bass Trail Championship Smallmouths Or Largemouths
Anglers in the Alabama Bass Trail Championship on Wheeler Lake this weekend basically have two choices, according to veteran tournament angler Mark McCaig: run up the river and fish for smallmouth in the tailrace behind Guntersville Dam or stay down lake and fish the channel edges and shellbeds for largemouths.
“A lot of people will make the run up to Guntersville Dam and that is where a lot of fall tournaments are won,” said McCaig, who with teammate Tim Hurst, both of Oxford, Ala., is ranked 5th in points in the ABT North Division. “But there are some good largemouths in the back of Flint Creek which runs by the the ramp and I think that will be a player, too.”
Recent rains have poured a lot of water in the Tennessee River system, which creates current, and that will boost the tailrace fishing. However, this time of year Wheeler goes through an annual draw down, which has pulled the water off shoreline structure down the lake, causing the bass to move out to the channels and scatter, McCaig said.
“It's down about two feet now,” he said, “which eliminates a lot of flats areas. A lot of those fish may be drawn out and are on the shall beds. I think there will be some fish on the shell beds and up the creeks.”
The choice, McCaig said, is for anglers make the run up to the Guntersville tailrace and fish for a few bites or stay down the lake and fish for more bites.
“I am not crazy about fishing in the tailrace. It's kind of an all-in deal. You don't have to time to go anywhere else if it doesn't pan out. But if you catch five up there, some of them will be big ones. There are some really good 3-0 to 4-pound fish up there.”
Conversely, he said, if you fish down the lake you will likely get a lot more bites, but you might not have but 11 or 12 pounds. Or, you could have a lot more weight than that.
“I think it will take 17 to 17 ½ pounds a day to win it and I think I can fish down the lake and have 17 pounds a day,” he said.
Anglers will be fishing for a complete boat package for the first place prize – a Phoenix 819 Pro complete with a 200 Mercury, Garmin electronics, 2-Garmin VIRB Elite cameras, HydroWave H-2, T-H Marine Atlas Hydraulic Jack Plate and Minn Kota trolling motor.
Alabama Bass Trail Championship
Oct 9-10, 2015
Wheeler Lake
Ingalls Harbour
Call Kay Donaldson 855-934-7425
