CBC Lake Murray Blasts off with 201 Boats and ends with $12,000 Winners-
Tony and Clint Jackson hold off 200 other teams and bring home a massive 24.79 LB stringer that garnered them $12,000!! 3rd place was the higest placing Skeeter/Yamaha team so AL/Dane Odom took home an extra 5k to bring their one day total to $8200!! What a way to kick off 2013...............open the attachment at the bottom of this page for full results-notice the TABS at the bottom of the excel file that allow you to go back and forth between the BF teams and Total Weight. Winners picture and BF picture below!
CBC Lake Murray Winners Tony and Clint Jackson: Hold up their 24.78 LB 12k Stringer!
CBC Lake Murray BF Winner Clay Riddle: Holds this 8.66 LB Toad
Okeechobee Bite Opens Up On Cut Day, Cotten Grabs Lead With 30-Pound Sack
Warming weather has pulled Okeechobee's bass out of the funk that made them so difficult to locate during the practice round. Some guys made huge leaps up the leaderboard today but the big lake befuddled many of the top sticks who normally make good money on the South Florida fish factory each winter.
The top 3 pros rotated positions - day 1 leader Casey Martin dropped to 3rd, Rick Cotten moved into first and Drew Benton followed him up one notch to settle into 2nd as we conclude cut day.
The top 20 fish tomorrow, the top 10 compete in the final round on Sunday.
Cotten added 30 pounds, 3 ounces to his day 1 effort of 24 pounds. He leads Benton by more than 7 pounds. Benton has been, not only remarkable, but remarkably consistent with daily limits of 23-7 and 23-9.
I fished with Benton today. He will win this tournament, I believe. He has a couple of solid options and they both produce big fish. Spawning bass are moving into one area and we saw a couple of 4's and a 7-pounder today. He has those to go to tomorrow. His moving lure bite is strong as well. Waves of big bass are coming to him. They are all light colored main lake fish that are there to eat and spawn.
I shot some awesome video of Benton. Look for it this week. I will wait the tournament's conclusion to run it on AnglersChannel.com because he really give us the breakdown on the lure, the spot and his technique, including a very important line choice.
Weird Year,' But Weights Strong For Carolinas Bass Challenge Opener On Lake Murray
Chris Epting and Johnny Mayer won on Lake Murray in 2012
One local angler who plans to fish the Carolinas Bass Challenge South Carolina Division opener for 2013 on Lake Murray Saturday says it has been “a weird year” so far for bass fishing on the lake.
“The biggest thing I see that is different from last year is the lack of bait, especially down in the lower part of the lake,” said Doug Lown, who despite having boat trouble that shut down fishing for him and partner Rhett Manus at 11 o’clock last Saturday morning, still managed to finish 11th in the Carolina Anglers Team Trail's first Lake Murray season qualifier.
“We struggled, but we still caught a limit on a Shakey Head,” Lown said. “You can catch numbers of fish on the Shakey Head, but not a lot of big fish.”
Lown admitted he is struggling to figure out what is going on with the normally abundant baitfish this time of year.
“I don't understand why the bait is like it is. Even two years a when it was so cold with the water temperature in the 40s there was plenty of bait up. I don't know why it is so deep this year,” he said. “Aside from not marking any bait, you can go out in the morning and not see any surface activity. When the bait is up you will see herons sitting around, waiting to eat, and right now you just don't see that.”
Lown said there are some fish fairly shallow, some at mid-depth and some anglers will still be trying to catch them deep.
“I have not had any luck catching them deep,” he said. I've caught them shallow – less than 10 feet. I think we will probably fish a jig a good bit and see if we can catch them on the bottom,” he said.
It took almost 21 pounds to win the CATT opener last Saturday and Lown said he believes it will take 24, maybe 25 pounds to win this Saturday.
“Maybe more. It will take 17 to 18 pounds just to get a check,” he said.
Carolinas Bass Challenge owner-director Brett Collins said he expects the field to top the 141 teams that fished in last year's CBC opener on Lake Murray.
“We will have well over 100 teams pre-paid by Saturday morning. We've got several teams new to CBC and we also have a few teams from Georgia,” he said.
The entry fee is $200 and teams can pay at the Dreher Island State Park ramp Saturday morning, Collins said. He will be taking entries starting at 3:30 a.m. Team members must also pay a membership fee of $35 each to fish the CBC tournaments series.
“The weigh-in will start at 3 p.m. and we invite all the families of the anglers to attend. Of course we will be cooking and a lot of the guys look forward to weighing their catch and enjoying a good meal.”
Each CBC has an off limit period starting the Sunday night before the event at 12 a.m. and extends the entire week up to Saturday morning. Winners at each tournament are polygraphed.
“We are guaranteeing First Place a minimum of $8,000 at each CBC Qualifier,” Collins said. “In 2012 First Place winners at CBC events averaged taking home $10,000.”
Also new for 2013, he added, the highest placing Skeeter/Yamaha owner will take home a $5,000 bonus, no matter the year of the boat. The Skeeter Real Money Program sanctions all the CBC events.
“This year we added Lakes Hartwell and Clarks Hill to the South Carolina CBC schedule and we added Lakes Jordan and Falls to the North Carolina schedule,” Collins said.
“Two Skeeter TZX190/150 Yamaha HPDI boat rigs will be awarded with one going to the winning team at the South Carolina Championship at Lake Hartwell in September. Another will be awarded at the September North Carolina Championship on Lake Wylie. The winners of the Oct 26-27 Lake Murray CBC Classic will take home a ZX200/200Yamaha SHO rig worth $48,000.”
Carolinas Bass Challenge - South Carolina Division
Sat Feb 9, 2013
Lake Murray
Dreher Island State Park
Call Brett Collins 803-413-7521
www.carolinasbasschallenge.com
Weather Warming Up For Anglers In Choo Choo Division Bfl On Lake Guntersville
Photo courtesy FLW Outdoors
When the Walmart Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division season opener was held on Lake Guntersville in February 2012, a cold winter wind was howling at 20 miles per hour with daytime temperatures only reaching 28 degrees – and it took more than 30 pounds to win.
Things are somewhat different for this year's opener Saturday, said tournament director Leroy Hensley.
“Temperatures are expected to be in the 60s Saturday, which will be good for the fishermen, but I don't know what that will do for the bite. It might not be as good as last year.”
However, Hensley noted that it took 27 pounds to win a tournament on Guntersville last weekend and he figures it might take that much or maybe a pound or so more to win the BFL Saturday. And he has a pretty solid record of estimating tournament winning weights. Before the BFL Gator Division season opener on Lake Okeechobee in January he predicted it would take at least 32 pounds to win and the top weight for that tournament was 32 pounds, 10 ounces.
Bass in Lake Guntersville are known to stay shallow all winter so anglers will be targeting banks, points and pockets.
“Right now it looks like the Alabama Rig will probably be the bait of choice and I also think they will be throwing a Rat-L-Trap some, too,” he said.
That bitter cold day in 2012 may have caused some anglers to hold off on entering the tournament Saturday, said Hensley who had 164 boats signed up by mid-week.
“But I think we will fish at least 185-190 boats. I expect to get a lot of late entries by Friday. We need 25 to 30 more boats. It is supposed to be really good weather, so that is a plus,” he said.
Hensley noted that with a full field of 200 boats first place would pay $8,000, plus contingencies. The top 40 at the end of the season qualify for the regional tournament on Lake Lanier.
“I think the anglers are really going to like that,” he said.
From the regional the top anglers qualify for the Walmart BFL All-American in 2014. The 2013 BFL All-American is being held June 27-29 on Nickajack Lake in Chattanooga, Tenn. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.
“We are going out of Waterfront Tackle at Goose Pond Saturday,” Hensley said. “Scottsboro is just a great town. They love fishing in this area. For anyone who wants to catch good bass, I encourage them go to to Goose Pond and fish Lake Guntersville out of Waterfront Tackle.”
Following Saturday's tournament on Lake Guntersville, the Choo Choo Division schedule includes: April 6, Lake Guntersville out of Waterfront Tackle & Grill at Goose Pond at Scottsboro; April 27, Lake Guntersville out of Civitan Park in Guntersville; June 8, Lake Guntersville out of Civitan Park in Guntersville; with the two-day final Sept. 28-29, Lake Guntersville out of Waterfront Tackle & Grill at Goose Pond at Scottsboro.
BFL - Walmart Bass Fishing League - Choo Choo Division
Sat Feb 9, 2013
Lake Guntersville
Waterfront Grocery and Tackle
Bass In Transition Making Fishing A 'little Tough' For Bassmaster Weekend Series On Sinclair
Anglers planning to fish the Bassmaster Weekend Series Georgia Central Division tournament on Lake Sinclair Saturday have reported fishing is kind of tough right now, said Billy Benedetti, BWS tournament director.
So, Benedetti, who lives near the lake, decided to check out the fishing for himself Wednesday.
“A month ago I was catching fish relatively deep, 45 to 55 feet on jigging spoons and drop-shots, but with the temperatures warming up some of the fish have started moving up, while some are still out deep,” he said.
Wednesday Benedetti was catching a few bass on a jigging spoon in 22 feet of water in the mouths of creeks. But a fishing buddy was trying the fish that have moved shallower with some success, he noted.
“He's about 100 yards from me back in the creek in three feet of water and he's catching his fish on a Carolina rig. He said he caught tree back to back in the back of a creek.”
Benedetti said some anglers also reported catching fish on a Pig 'n Jig around docks and on crankbaits in stained water.
“The water temperature was 51 degrees this morning and it's 54 degrees now (2 o'clock),” he noted. “Right now we have bluebird skies, but this weekend is supposed to be cloudy. I think that will make the fish bite a little better.”
A few weeks ago, he said, the fish were biting better out towards the mouths of the creeks, but with water temperatures beginning to warm, the bite seems to be getting better towards the backs of the creeks in shallower water.
“Some of the guys are struggling, but someone will get on them and catch them pretty good in the tournament,” he said.
The anglers are fishing both for money and for the opportunity to advance to higher levels of competition, said Benedetti, who noted that the payback is based on the number of boats entered.
“If we get 100 boats, first place will pay $5,000 on the boater side and $2,500 on the co-angler side. We are close to 100 boats now. We just need a few more boaters and co-anglers to reach that 100-boat mark.”
If a BWS tournament reaches 200 boats, he said, the winner could take home $6,000 plus contingencies and the co-angler could win $3,000 and contingencies.
“The goal for these anglers is to make it all the way to the National Championship and on to the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. A win in the BWS National Championship would bring the pro angler $100,000 and a win for a co-angler would mean $50,000, Benedetti said.
“Registration will be held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday at Walter B. Williams Park, with the meeting to follow at 7 p.m. The tournament will launch at Little River Park at safe light Saturday morning”
Bassmaster Weekend Series - Georgia Central Division
Sat Feb 9, 2013
Lake Sinclair
Little River Park
Call Billy Benedetti 256-230-5632
2013 & 2014 Toyota Texas Bass Classic Qualification Information For Paa Pro Anglers
Would you like to see your name on the Toyota Texas Bass Classic trophy alongside names like previous champions Kelly Jordon, Terry Scroggins, Dave Lefebre, Brian Snowden, Keith Combs and Bryan Thrift? By fishing the Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series in 2013 you may have two chances to do just that!
Now there are two great reasons to be or become a Professional Anglers Association Pro Angler and compete in the Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series events in 2013. The only true world championship, the Toyota Texas Bass Classic invites the top 15 in Angler of the Year points races from the Bassmaster Elite Series, FLW Tour and the PAA Tournament Series, four sponsor exemptions and the previous year’s champion to compete in a three day competition. The no entry fee event awards the winner $150,000 in cash and prizes and all competitors receive a check.Shouldn’t you fish the PAA in 2013 to have this once-in-a-lifetime chance to double-qualify for not just one but two TTBC World Championships in 2013 and 2014?
The 2013 Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series will kick off on Douglas Lake in Dandridge, Tenn. March 28-30. The series will then move to Ft. Loudon/Tellico Lakes in Knoxville, Tenn. May 23-25. The PAA will then travel to the famed Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo. September 5-7. Following these three (3) events the PAA Angler of the Year point totals will be tallied, Angler of the Year will be awarded and the top 15 anglers will be invited to compete in the 2013 Toyota Texas Bass Classic on Lake Conroe October 4-6.
In November 2013 a fourth Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series event will be held (date/time/location TBD). This event will carry points toward the 2014 Toyota Texas Bass Classic. Anglers who have fished all four (4) events in 2013 will be afforded the ability to drop their lowest event. The points will be recalculated. Upon completion of the November event and verification of the updated point standings, the top 15 in the Angler of the Year points will be invited to the 2014 Toyota Texas Bass Classic.
PAA President Dave Mansue stated, “Lake Conroe and the City of Conroe have been great hosts and partners to Gulf States Toyota, Texas Parks and Wildlife and the PAA. Lake Conroe will be remembered for its incredible competition from Brian Snowden’s win by ounces over Mike Iaconelli in 2010, to a tie between Iaconelli and Keith Combs forcing a fish off in 2011, to last year’s incredible final day by Bryan Thrift overcoming a 9 lb. deficit to steal the victory! One can only imagine the history that will be written when the TTBC returns to famed Lake Fork.”
Mansue continued, “The PAA Board of Directors joins me in my excitement about the opportunities having two (2) Toyota Texas Bass Classics in less than a year provides to all PAA anglers. We encourage everyone to support the PAA by entering all the 2013 Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series events and compete for one of the coveted spots in these great Toyota Texas Bass Classic championships. The future of your association depends on your participation.”
Pro Angler registration for the 2013 Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series is now open. For more information about the 2013 Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series, please visit the appropriate links below or call the PAA Office at (270) 527-2030:
Schedule: http://fishpaa.com/2013-tournament-series-schedule/
Official Rules: http://fishpaa.com/2013-paa-tournament-series-rules/
Registration Details: http://fishpaa.com/2013-tournament-registration-details/
Pro Payout: http://fishpaa.com/2013-paa-pro-payout/
2013 Feb Sportsman's Warehouse Report with CBC and CATT Director Brett Collins
CBC and CATT Director Brett Collins joins us at Sportsman's Warehouse for a great look into some of the shallow baits you absolutley have to have this Feb on the Tournament Circuit. Very few give you the detail and inside info like Brett does...........check this out!!
2013 Carolina Anglers Team Trail Preview with Director Brett Collins-from Sportsman's Warehouse in Columbia, SC!!
For one of the most in-depth Tournament previews you will ever find, click here and listen to CBC Director Brett Collins lay out exactly what is in store for the CBC in 2013 and why some of the fisheries throughout our region look to be as good as they've ever been!!
2013 Greene Boat and Motor Open House with Andy Greene and Pro Staffer Marty Stone!
Andy Greene joins us at his 5th Annual Open House and gets us up to speed on all the product he now carries at his great dealership, as well as Pro Staffer Marty Stone, who says a colder winter could pay BIG dividends this spring!!
FLW Tour Pro JP Prouty Excited to Begin Rookie Season on Home Lake
JP Prouty talks about feeling nervous, but a good kind of nervous, over his fist FLW Tour tourney and rookie season on tour. He lives near Okeechobee and wants to do well on one of his favorite lakes.
Daniel Lanier Talks About His Day, His Decisions
Daniel Lanier has "no regrets" about his decision to saty on Toho and maximize fishing time, even though it didn't work out the way he had hoped.
Howes Tells How He Won The Bassmaster Southern Open On Kissimmee Chain
Rich Howes shares pattern information and talks about the decisions he made that lead to his win.
Cameron Gautney and Taylor Jason Luna take the Rat-l-trap Classic with 26.45 lbs on G'Ville!!
Cameron Gautney and Taylor Jason Luna have one heck of a day on Guntersville with 26.45 lbs and good enough for 1st Place and $3,200!! Check out the full story on the attachment below! These guys beat out 180 other teams for this HUGE WIN- Here is a great picture of their winning stringer!
Champions Cameron Gautney and Taylor Jason Luna
Howes Runs To Kissimmee, Lanier Fishes Toho; Howes Wins Bassmaster Southern Open With 9 Pounds, 10 Ounces!
Watch Rich Howes and Daniel Lanier weigh-in after a short day of tough fishing. Howes made the long run while Lanier fished close. A crowd of perhaps 300 showed up to watch the two anglers weigh-in.
Big Bass Footage At Southern Open On Kissimmee Chain
See some of the specimens that crossed the stage. Also, watch Daniel Lanier Jr. and Rich Howes discover that, for them, the tourney isn't over and they will fish for the title, the money and a spot in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic Sunday.
Still Going . . . Lanier, Howes Head-to-Head on Superbowl Sunday to Decide Southern Open Champion
The top story is the tied score and, henceforth, the 5-hour fish-off between Daniel Lanier Jr. and Rich Howes that will take place Sunday. The two will weigh-in at the Lakefront Park in Kissimmee at noon.
Each angler has 47 pounds, 2 ounces over 3 tough days of changeable weather that has shut the bite down for the most part.
Thursday morning offered excellent topwater action for Lanier, who sacked 27-11 and took the lead. Howse responded with the tournament's only other 20-pound bag on Friday and captured the lead heading into Saturday's (supposedly) final round. Both guys did a decent job today (16-12 for Lanier and 14-10 for Howse) and now they each have to fish an extra day to decide who will be the champ on Kissimmee Chain.
Lanier and Howse have both won some bonus money. They'll need the extra feul funds if they plan to run again Sunday to the fish that have gotten them this far. In fact, after Toho's lush grass beds were eradicated this winter, we now have a situation where 160 of 198 boats chose to lock down to Kissimmee rather than stay on the lake from which they launched. Instead of the usual dock talk, anglers stood around telling war stories about fighting to get into the lock before the gates closed.
As for the actual fishing, flippin' was the way to go. As for depth, that's a matter of choice. Howse has been working in 5-to-7 feet of water while Lanier has been "super shallow . . . like, a foot (deep)."
A lot of small fish could be caught in open water on the Gambler EZ Swimmer or speed worms of various sorts, but those were mostly small fish. The guys who made the cut were the ones who toughed it out in the mats. And tough it was for some. "I lost 4 big fish that came off and it cost me the tournament," said Trevor Fitzgerald who finished 6th. "It's hard to get those big fish out of the mats I was flipping without them pulling off." Fitzgerald used a couple of heavy action 7'10" Fitzgerald Rods (his wife builds them and they will be available at Tackle Warehouse later this week).
Glenn Browne summed up the sentiments of many when he said, via Facebook, "Rough day on the water. Finished 12th. A little disappointed in my performance today, but still, all in all a good tournament."
Chad Morgenthaler brought his best limit of the tournament and the best one of the day at 18-10.
2013 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open Lake Toho 1/31-2/2
Lake Toho, Kissimmee FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Daniel Lanier Jr. Winter Springs, FL 12 47-02 198 $750.00
Day 1: 5 27-11 Day 2: 2 02-11 Day 3: 5 16-12
1. Richard Howes Oviedo, FL 15 47-02 197 $250.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 20-02 Day 3: 5 14-10
3. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 15 46-10 196 $15,048.00
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 15-01
4. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 15 45-15 195 $13,464.00
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 18-10
5. Jordan Card Knoxville, TN 15 39-01 194 $11,748.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 10-05
6. Trevor Fitzgerald Belleview, FL 15 38-13 193 $10,032.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 18-09 Day 3: 5 07-08
7. Bradley Jones Aragon, GA 14 38-00 192 $8,448.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 15-09 Day 3: 4 10-12
8. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 15 37-07 191 $6,732.00
Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 5 09-10 Day 3: 5 09-12
9. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 12 36-05 190 $5,016.00
Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 2 07-01
10. David Walker Sevierville, TN 15 36-05 189 $4,620.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 17-02 Day 3: 5 05-08
11. Tracy Adams Wilkesboro, NC 12 36-02 188 $4,224.00
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 2 04-08
12. Glenn Browne Ocala, FL 15 34-14 187 $3,960.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 5 07-01
CARHARTT BIG BASS
Daniel Lanier Jr. Winter Springs, FL 09-11 $500.00
HEAVYWEIGHT OF TOURN
Daniel Lanier Jr. Winter Springs, FL 27-11 $250.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 101 714 1420-08
2 80 652 1326-07
3 9 53 127-08
----------------------------------
190 1419 2874-07
2013 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open Lake Toho 1/31-2/2
Lake Toho, Kissimmee FL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brian Kelly Liverpool, NY 8 27-04 198 $25,000.00
Day 1: 3 13-06 Day 2: 3 09-03 Day 3: 2 04-11
2. Johnny Pittman Albertville, AL 8 26-01 197 $7,218.00
Day 1: 3 19-01 Day 2: 2 03-07 Day 3: 3 03-09
3. Matt Fair Ocoee, FL 9 24-02 196 $4,884.00
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 3 07-15 Day 3: 3 08-03
4. Tony Johnson Altamonte Springs, FL 8 22-01 195 $3,300.00
Day 1: 3 11-08 Day 2: 3 03-01 Day 3: 2 07-08
5. Jimbo Harris Lenoir City, TN 9 21-06 194 $3,036.00
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 3 09-04 Day 3: 3 07-13
6. Bill Capps Auburn, AL 9 19-07 193 $2,904.00
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 07-12 Day 3: 3 04-06
7. Preston Harris State Road, NC 6 17-09 192 $2,772.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 13-06 Day 3: 3 04-03
8. Grady Maynard Leesburg, FL 8 17-07 191 $2,640.00
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 3 07-13 Day 3: 3 04-08
9. Sammy Bailey Hogansville, GA 7 16-06 190 $2,508.00
Day 1: 3 02-14 Day 2: 3 09-15 Day 3: 1 03-09
10. Ricky Diamond Bean Station, TN 9 16-03 189 $2,244.00
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 3 05-04 Day 3: 3 03-09
11. Matt Cash Cincinnati, OH 5 14-15 188 $1,980.00
Day 1: 3 09-05 Day 2: 1 03-08 Day 3: 1 02-02
12. Grayson Smith Clarksville, TN 6 13-13 187 $1,848.00
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 3 09-08 Day 3: 0 00-00
CARHARTT BIG BASS
Johnny Pittman Albertville, AL 10-04 $500.00
HEAVYWEIGHT OF TOURN
Johnny Pitman Albertville, AL 19-01 $250.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 61 311 548-05
2 61 311 539-07
3 7 27 54-01
----------------------------------
129 649 1141-13
Great Race Shaping Up At Bassmaster Open On Kissimmee Chain!
Compared to the relative swelter each afternoon during the practice rounds, it feels cool out on the lakes again today. But the forecast high is exactly what the historical average is for Februaury 2nd in Kissimmee, Fla. - 72 degrees. Intense sunshine is warming the water once again. The problem for some anglers may be the lack of wind. If fish do move shallow, they may be spooked by rod movement, trolling motor noise, etc. The breeze is out of the east, when fish are said to bite the least, and it is only moving about 5 mph.
We've heard very little abot sight fishing this week, but it could play a factor if a big fish moves up late and gives an angler a shot at the one he needs to seal the deal.
We've got a jammed up leaderboard with all 12 pros within a few pounds of each other.
Rich Howes was flipping deep cover yesterday and caught his fish early. It's doubtful they moved before the sun climbed high this morning so he has likely set the bar for all others by now.
Daniel Lanier, in 6th now, only caught two small fish yesterday but his opening act of 27-plus was no fluke. He finished in the top 12 during the Southern Open here in 2011. He's a local, and he knows he messed up yesterday. He also thinks he knows how to fix it today.
Then there are 4 other great competitors between Howes and Lanier, as well as the half-dozen behind, who all have their own ideas about how the day should go.
It's going to be a fun weigh in. Catch it live on Bassmaster.com at 4 p.m.
Howes Rocks the House with 20-Plus; Takes Lead Heading Into Final Day
While we played bumper boats in the lock yesterday morning Rich Howes wished me luck. The good luck I wished upon him seems to have stuck.
With a decent start (12 pounds, 6 ounces) on day 1, Howes put himself in a good position Thursday. Today, with the tournament’s second-largest sack so far (20-2) he took the lead over 197 others who hoped to win the Bassmaster Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Only his closest 11 competitors have a shot at him in Saturday’s final round.
“I made a long run south,” said Howes of nearby Oviedo. “I caught my best fish early. I only made one pass through the area and I hope there are enough good ones left for tomorrow.”
Day 1 leader Daniel Lanier brought only two fish and they weighed a combined 2-11. But with his opening round weight of 27-11 he has a two-day total of 30-6, good enough to land Lanier in 6th place, safely inside the cut.
Lanier’s first day fish ate topwater lures. Today was mostly a mat flipping fest as high skies and abundant sunshine dominated right from the chilly start. Tomorrow should see similar conditions.
The leaderboard is tight. Bradley Jones, the last man in the cut at 12th place, is only 5 pounds, 4 ounces off the lead. That’s one solid keeper in these lakes . . . if the solid keepers will turn on and feed. “I’m a little concerned that Toho, which is always so good, is fishing so tough that everybody is locking through and heading south,” said Gerald Swindle who won the last B.A.S.S. event here in 2011 by camping on a spot in Toho. What does he think is the problem? “They sprayed all the grass.”
Some of the co-angler weights are impressive. Brian Kelley leads with 22-9. Johnny Pittman is riding that 3-fish, 19 pound day 1 effort to a two-day total of 22-8, just an ounce off the lead he held yesterday. Matt Fair has been the picture of consistency with daily weights of 8-0 and 7-15. Fair is currently 3rd heading into Saturday’s show down.
Some first-hand observations: I have been on the lake for 4 straight days. Practice was good for nearly everybody. Competition rounds have been tough for nearly everybody. The weather shut down the bite. Bass want to be in the open water and when they get out, as they did early yesterday and again for perhaps an hour very late today, they are feeding aggressively, but the weather put them under the mats and when they bite there are a lot of short strikes.
Smart competitors will spend a lot of time with a flippin’ stick in hand and then, when the bite turns on, they will target feeding fish on the flats with a Gambler EZ Swimmer. I figured I had the bases covered with other versions of the swimming worm/small swimbait but I got my butt handed to me two days in a row – well, for a brief feeding period each day, by partners who threw the EZ Swimmer. Danny White caught them on it before the skies cleared Thursday morning. This afternoon, due to a late flight draw, I was out with Kazuki Kitajima until 4:40 p.m. During that last hour the mid-sized bass started feeding and Kazuki put on a clinic. It got to the point where I just stopped and watched him to see what I was missing. He was able to generate a second strike with that same EZ Swimmer if a fish missed it the first time. That’s when you have the right lure working.
So . . . to fish the Kissimmee Chain right now you need two rods – one rigged for flippin’ and another rigged with a Gambler EZ Swimmer.
Catch the conclusion of the Bassmaster Southern Open Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Orlando Bass Pro Shops location or on line at Bassmaster.com.
South Florida Big Bass Tour - Day One Disappoints Many On Kissimmee Chain
Daniel Lanier was not disappointed by the fishing on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. He's in a very small minority. With a total weight of 27 pounds, 11 ounces he leads the Bassmaster Southern Open.
Lanier says he caught his best fish early this morning on topwater lures.
He anchored his sack with a 9 pound, 11 ounce beauty. His lead is 9 pounds 4 ounces. Big fish make all the difference.
Johnny Pitman of Alabama leads all co-asnglers with a 3-fish limit that weighed a whopping 19 pounds, 1 ounce. That weight would put him in 2nd on the pro side, and pros get to weigh 5 fish. Pitman owns big bas honors over the entire field (pro or co-angler) with a 10-4.
Yours truly fished with Danny White and I can attest that the fish were feeding up this morning. As the climbed and clouds blew away the bite changed. Little fish could be caught but the type of bass you come to lake Toho for are tough to figure out right now.
I tried to target big fish with a Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Jig. It has produced big ones before but today it only tempted a 14-incher.
The morning air wasn't unbearably cold today. Forecast calls for 42 degrees at blast off tomorrow. We likely won't make it up to 70 for a high. The smart money is on the flippin' bite.
Sight fishing was mostly off, though a few anglers boxed a bedding bass or two. Wind, muddied water and cooler temps are mostly to blame for that.
Small fish will chase skinny dippers in open water near cover. Most of these are bucks guarding fry. That's a fun way to fish, but it won't win you any money on these lakes most years.
Guys who have figured something out aren't talking much right now with two tournament days left. So stay tuned for continuing coverage on anglersChannel.com.
Arey Hopes Progress Continues For Flw Tour Majors Opener On Lake Okeechobee
In the last three years Matt Arey has made a steady progression upwards in the FLW Tour Majors Division points race, from 58th in 2010 to 27th in 2011 all the way into the top 10 at 9th in 2012.
Arey accomplished that in 2012 in solid, if not spectacular, fashion, earning a check in all but one of the six qualifying tournaments, including three top 25s, and capped it off with a 23rd place finish in the Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Lanier last August.
So, it is that he begins the 2013 year with high hopes and great expectations. First up for the Shelby, N.C., pro is Florida's Lake Okeechobee, the first Major of 2013 on Feb. 7-10.
“I have not been in a tournament on Okeechobee since 2007 and it is a different lake now from then,” said Arey who finished 30th in an EverStart Division Southeast Division there in January that year. “The lake is slightly higher now. It was 2 1/2 feet above full pool, but the last time I checked it had dropped about a foot, so it is still about a foot and a half high.”
That means, he said, that the rising water has expanded the huge lake into myriad stands of various types of vegetation which will make it harder to locate the fish.
“When the water comes up like that on Okeechobee you are not able to access a lot of the fish because they are so far back in that stuff,” he said.
He practiced on Okeechobee before the cutoff with some of the anglers fishing the EverStart tournament and found the fishing “kind of tough.”
“We caught some good fish on a variety of baits, but they were scattered, so I think whoever wins this event will have to cover a lot of water,” he said.
Unless some of the fish are up spawning and can be pinpointed.
“We have a full moon and we should be about on the new moon by the end of this week. If the weather is right we are liable to see some fish on the bed. Last year or the year before about 20 guys brought in 20 pounds the first day of the tournament But I still think that with all this high water the fish will be scattered so we will have to cover a lot of water.”
And, of course, there is that old standby on Okeechobee – flipping.
“A bunch of tournaments are won punching hydrilla mats and flipping,” Arey said. “It would not surprise me to see this one won that way either.”
Arey leaves Friday for the practice period before the tournament begins next week, but he will be fishing in a borrowed boat while he awaits delivery on his new tournament boat.
“Practice starts Super Bowl Sunday. I will be picking up a boat from a buddy in South Carolina. I hope to get down there about lunchtime Saturday and get settled in and ready to go practice on Sunday.”
FLW Tour Major
Feb 7-10, 2013
Lake Okeechobee
Roland Martin Marina & Resort
Field Expanded For Carolina Coach And Marine Winter Trail Fish Off On Lake Norman
The nasty winter storm that blew across upper South Carolina and western North Carolina last week created havoc with icy roads and power outages across the region, but it also opened the door for more anglers to compete in the Carolina Coach and Marine Winter Trail Fish Off on Lake Norman this weekend.
The icy conditions forced cancellation of the final Saturday Trail tournament last Saturday, leaving the regular season with a full seven-tournament slate for the Sunday Trail and six tournaments for the Saturday Trail.
“Due to the weather we extended the field to the top 35 on Saturday and Sunday from the top 30 each day,” said Mike Chronister with Carolina Coach and Marine. Chronister explained that the Saturday, February 2, and the Sunday February 3 Fish Offs are two separate events.
“The top 35 boats from Saturday tournaments will be invited to fish the Saturday Fish Off and the top 35 boats from the Sunday tournaments will be invited to fish the Sunday Fish Off. Each event will have 1st thru 8th place payouts plus Big Fish plus Second Big Fish payouts,” he said.
He also announced that Hank Cherry and Craig Chambers are the Saturday points champions and Mick Miller and Brandon Brickweg are the Sunday points champions.
Cherry and Chambers added a 9th place finish in the Jan. 12 tournament to three second places, a third, and a first place in the Dec. 22 tournament to notch their points total. Miller and Brickweg, along with Mac McCormick, finished with all but one tournament in the top 10, including two 6th places, a 4th, two 2s and first place on Jan. 6, which followed their only down tournament on Dec. 30 when they finished 28th.
Chronister said the new Carolina Coach and Marine boat showroom is coming together nicely, with workers putting on the outside cover this week. Completion is expected by the end of February at which time the dealership's full line of new Tritons, Crest Pontoons, Sundance Skiffs and Polar Krafts will be on display.
Carolina Coach and Marine 2012/2013 Winter Trail Fish Off
Feb 2-3, 2013
Lake Norman
Midway Marina
Call Mike Chronister 704-634-1157
Registration Site Changed For Bws Alabama South Division Opener On Lake Martin
The big news coming out of the Bassmaster Weekend Series national headquarters this week regarding the Alabama South Division opener on Alabama's Lake Martin is the change in venue for registration and the pre-tournament meeting Friday.
“In the past few years we've used the local sports complex for the registration and meeting, but this year they have baseball and softball registration going on so we have moved registration to Central Alabama Community College,” said Billy Benedetti, tournament director.
Registration will be held at the college, 1675 Cherokee Road in Alexander City, Ala., from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, with the tournament meeting to follow at 7 p.m., Benedetti said.
“We are expecting a really strong entry for this tournament and for the next two tournaments on Lay Lake and Lake Jordan because of the dates and tournament locations,” he said. “In addition the BASS Southern Open is this week and this weekend on Lake Toho and we've got a couple of anglers fishing the Open. If they don't make the cut, they will try to get back and fish the BWS tournament on Saturday.”
Benedetti noted that the payback is based on the number of boats entered.
“If we get 100 boats, first place will pay $5,000 on the boater side and $2,500 on the co-angler side. We are close to 100 boats now. We just need a few more boaters and co-anglers to reach that 100-boat mark.”
And, he noted, if a BWS tournament reaches 200 boats, the winner could take home $6,000 plus contingencies and the co-angler could win $3,000 and contingencies.
“The goal for these anglers is to make it all the way to the National Championship and on to the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. A win in the BWS National Championship would bring the pro angler $100,000 and a win for a co-angler would mean $50,000, Benedetti. Said.
Fishing is expected to be good this Saturday, with the spotted bass biting very well, he said.
“From the anglers I've spoken to, lots of fish including a few decent sized fish are are being caught,” he said.
Bassmaster Weekend Series - Alabama South Division
Sat, Feb 2, 2013
Lake Martin
Wind Creek State Park
Call Billy Benedetti 256-230-5632
Bassmaster Southern Open Kissimmee Chain Practice Report
The mix of opportunities and the changeable weather have hundreds of tournament anglers scratching their heads.
Nobody is sure what to expect from the moderate cold front that will move through tonight and, perhaps, transform the fishing on the Kissimmee Chain as we kick off the 2013 Bassmater Southern Open season tomorrow.
Bass can be caught any number of ways.
I drew Danny White of Milledgeville, GA as my day 1 partner. "I don't have a spot where we can catch 5 fish," he said. "We will have to keep moving and catch one here, one there."
Even Ish monroe, who loves to flip, could do 3 different things. "I am going to throw everything else out of my boat except for two rods," he chuckled at day's end. "That way I won't have options. There are too many options right now."
Wind, clouds and possible storm showers will bring challenging conditions for sight fishermen. Tomorrow could belong to the guys and gals who like to keep a bait moving. Fish were active today under pre-frontal conditions and tomorrow morning the fish may fire off, but once the clouds are blown out and the barometer starts to climb this could turn into a flippin' fest by day 2.
If you've been following the AnglersChannel South Florida Big Bass Tour, you noticed which lure I had fun with yesterday. The frog has the potential to produce under a variety of circumstances. Excessive wind isn't one of them, but sometimes you never know. Most of my bites yesterday came from open water, including the big girl that bit my old Snag Proof frog. I'll have that tied on anyway.
Water temperature is perfect for spawning and quite a bit of that has happened. Some fish are busting fry around old beds, some are moving up to stage while others, not as many as we'd like, are locked on and catchable from the beds.
Watch the live weigh in Thursday and Friday at 3 p.m. on Bassmaster.com. Saturday's show starts at 4 o'clock.
Eufaula Setting Up To Have A Good Spring-Full Report Here
January 17, 2013
Water Temperature today 60 degrees
Water clarity - extremely muddy
Capt. Sam
FLW Tour Pro Micah Frazier signs with Buckeye
Newnan, Georgia - FLW Tour Pro Micah Frazier has signed with Buckeye Lures for 2013. The two year pro, Frazier who has won over $180,000 with FLW. Frazier is coming off of a solid 2012 campaign where he cashed checks in six of the seven Tour Events, including a second place finish at Lake Hartwell
"I've been using Buckeye Lures products for many years. The J-Will swimbait head is the ultimate head for soft plastic swimbaits. They are great fished solo or on an umbrella rig. For spotted bass there is no better jig than one of their spot removers, but they also have a full line of jigs like mop jigs, flipping jigs and swim jigs. I'm super excited to promote these great products for a great company," stated Frazier.
FLW Tour and Buckeye Lures Pro Micah Frazier
Buckeye Lures is based in Georgia and specializes in highly custom made baits. All Buckeye Lures' baits are hand made by fisherman for fisherman.
Jeremy Altman of Buckeye Lures said, "Micah is a talented angler and a great individual. We look forward to sharing his success as he continues his career. We expect great things from Frazier on the water, and he can expect great products from Buckeye. Micah is a great addition to our pro staff."
For more information on Buckeye Lures or to find a dealer near you please visit BuckeyeLures.com.
For more information on Micah Frazier please visit MicahFrazier.com.
2013 Airport Marine Fall Lay Lake Championship
The 2013 Airport Marine Fall Lay Lake Champions Chris Payne and Jim White bring in a MONSTER bag of 24.08 with a 6.89 BF to take home the Fall Buddy Trail Championship!! Check out the weigh-in footage and interview with them and AC Pro Staffer Reed Montgomery right here!
Ride Along On The Anglerschannel.com South Florida Bass Fishing Tour!
The Bassmaster Southern Open is set to begin this coming week on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Practice will start on Monday; competition on Thursday, concluding with a big weigh in at Bass Pro Shops Orlando on Saturday at 4p.m.
I am thrilled to be fishing this one as a co-angler (they used to call us 'no-boaters' before everybody got so politically correct).
A friend of mine is fishing the pro division. Jeff Holland, of Orlando, FL, fished the Opens last year and he is excited to start 2013 in his back yard. I am grateful to him for the excellent insight he has shared at his web site - JeffHollandFishing.com - and the links he has provided to maps that show the location and density of grass in the 4 lakes that are in play for Open anglers this week.
You won't find this info just anywhere. Jeff is a great guy and a wonderful resource for anybody who is heading to Central Florida to do a little bass fishing this week.
He summed up his practice this way: The Kissimmee lakes are acting very typical, with bass in all three phases of spawning. Professional anglers like Chris Lane are predicting good weights. Weed control efforts against the overgrowth of nuisance Hydrilla have taken effect. Some lakes are fishing easy, giving up ten pounds limits within minutes, others were difficult at best. The new lake maps that Florida's fish & wildlife agency has been placing on the Internet were very helpful to my practice.
I will have my own practice reports to share with AnglersChannel.com viewers soon. I plan to get out with Ish Monroe before the tourney begins. That will be fun and informative for me and, by extension, all of my fellow fisherfolk who stay tuned to AnglersChannel.com.
From Kissimmee I will head down to Okeechobee and fish the FLW Tour, again, as a co-angler. I should roll into Clewiston in time to watch the Super Bowl from the outdoor Tiki Bar at the Roland Martin Marina. Then we begin practice on Monday, competition on Thursday, and the final weigh in Sunday at the Walmart in Clewiston.
I will take you out on massive Okeechobee with an FLW Tour pro to see how they shrink the inland ocean and find that 10% of the water that holds 90% of the bass.
It will be a two-week tour of South Florida bass tournament action as the Bassmaster Southern Opens and the FLW Tour kick off their seasons in the Sunshine State. And you will tag along with me and Anglerschannel.com!
North Carolina Bass Trail Results - Lake Norman - Jan 19, 2013
Hank Cherry stole the show in the first tournament of 2013, bringing in 12 lbs-15ozs that included a hog that weighed 7lbs-11ozs!! Needless to say, he took 1st Place and Big Fish.
Kevin Toller and Michael Fox finished in 2nd Place with 11lbs-10ozs. Shane Lineberger and Kyle Whisnant brought in 10 lbs even to take 3rd Place.
Anyone that did not fish Norman, can still become a member if they join at or before the next tournament, which will be Belews Creek- Pine Hall access, on February 16th. Registration at 5:30 am. We will blast off as soon after 7am as we can.
You must be a paid member and fish 4 out of 5 to be eligible to fish in the Championship.
Thanks to everyone that fished Norman.
Mark Weaver
NCBT Tounament Director
Jason Williamson Is Excited About The 2013 Season, Starting With The Bassmaster Southern Open On Toho
After coming oh, so close, to the Bassmaster Southern Open points championship in 2012, Jason Williamson of Aiken, S.C., hopes the stars are lining up for him to have a breakout tournament in the inaugural Bassmaster Southern Open for 2013 on Lake Tohopekaliga starting Jan. 31.
“We've had a mild winter and it's the time of year for the fish to be shallow and some spawning to be going on – and that is right in my wheelhouse,” said Williamson who finished second in the points in the 2012 Southern Open schedule.
“Sight fishing will play a big part and flipping will also be a factor. As warm as the winter we've had one thing is going to be different from last time we were here in that the open water hydrilla bite out in the middle may not be as good,” he said. But if the fish have moved shallow, especially on the January full moon, that open water bite might not matter much anyway.
“Florida is always a place where there are going to be some big bass, some big sacks caught. If you go to Toho, the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, just about any place in Florida this time of year somebody is going to bust a big bag of bass.”
And Williamson believes he is due to do just that.
“My goal is to get back in the winners circle. It's been a couple of years since I won. I won in back to back years and got a little spoiled. But then I've had back to back years when I have not won, so it is time for me.”
Winning would accomplish his other main goal, he said – to get back to the Bassmaster Classic.
“I definitely want to be a part of the Classic again. That is what every angler is hoping going into the season.”
And making the 2014 Classic would be especially sweet, said Williamson whose previous Classic appearance was in 2011 on the Louisiana Delta.
“It's going to be on Lake Guntersville. It could be a cold Classic, but it also could be a record-breaking Classic weight-wise. I think the fishing will be absolutely phenomenal on Guntersville and it's nice that it is not so far from home, only five or six hours.”
Williamson noted that he has a full tournament schedule this year, fishing the Southern Opens and all the BASS Elite tournaments.
“I'd also like to fish a couple of the PAA events, if not the whole schedule, depending on schedule conflicts, and maybe an EverStart here and there.
Finishing a close second in the points last year was a disappointment, he said, but not one he is dwelling on.
“With BASS changing some of the rules, a second place finish in the Opens did not do me any good, except mentally. Anytime you finish in the top three in the Opens is a pretty good accomplishment,” he said.
“A lot of the Elite guys and a lot of FLW guys fish the Opens now. Competition in the Opens in 2012 was as stiff as it has ever been. So, finishing second was a good accomplishment, one that would have got me to the Classic a couple of years ago. But that is the way the world turns. Now it's all about if you win you are in.”
Williamson said he feels really good about the Open schedule and he is expecting 2013 to be a breakout year.
“I don't know if I have ever been as excited as I am this year. Finishing that high in the points gives me a lot of confidence mentally. I think this is going to be a really good year.”
Bassmaster Southern Open
Jan 31-Feb 2, 2013
Lake Tohopekaliga
Carolina Anglers Team Trail Moves To Sc Upstate For First Time With Keowee Tournament
The Carolina Anglers Team Trail tournament on Lake Keowee Sunday marks a milestone in the successful history of the CATT fishing competition in the Carolinas. It is the first time CATT has ventured into the South Carolina Upstate for a tournament series.
“We are calling the trail the CATT S.C. Upstate, which consist of Lakes Keowee and Hartwell,” said Brett Collins, CATT owner/director. “This is the first CATT event on Lake Keowee. The guys up there have been asking for a CATT Trail, but finding a director was a problem.”
With that issue settled, Collins said he will now look at one of the Upstate lakes as a future CATT Classic venue.
“The CATT Classic pays back between $10.000 and $12,000 for first -place,” he noted.
“Membership is $30 per person. The entry fee for a qualifier is $80 and the entry fee for the final is $120, plus an optional side pot of $25. The Spring Final, which will be on Lake Hartwell, will pay a minimum of $3,000 for first place.”
The key word, Collins said, is “minimum.”
“Since CATT pays back 100 percent, first place usually increases.”
The CATT SC Upstate schedule includes Jan. 27, Lake Keowee, South Cove Landing, Feb. 23, Lake Hartwell, Portman Marina; March 23, Lake Hartwell, Portman Marina; April 20, Lake Keowee, Gap Hill Landing; and May 11, Final, Lake Hartwell, Portman Marina.
“To qualify for the 2013 CATT Classic a team only has to enter one CATT event,” Collins said. “This includes the the 2012 Summer and Fall CATT Trails plus all the 2013 CATT events up until the date of the start of the 2013 CATT Classic. Also the 2012 Yadkin and Old North Teams are included.”
Entry fee in the CATT Classic is $225, with an optional side pot of $50 which is paid back 70%-30% to the two top finishers in the side pot, he said.
“For 2013 we've added a SE NC CATT Trail, Spring and Fall, which consists of Lake Waccamaw and Lake Sutton in North Carolina, plus we added a CATT Trail on Lake Gaston in North Carolina,” Collins said. “Last year we started up on the Yadkin River Chain which for the most part consisted of High Rock and Badin and paid back over $27,000.”
Collins said he expects the 2013 Yadkin CATT will grow this coming year, based on the success of the trail in 2012
“The Old North CATT Trail started in 2011 and we averaged seven boats. Then in 2012 the average jumped to 40 boats. We think the participation will move up even more with the 2012 CATT Classic on Kerr Lake May 18-19.”
Carolina Anglers Team Trail
Sun, Jan 27, 2013
Lake Keowee
South Cove County Park
Call Brett Collins 803-413-7521
Anglers Are Looking For That Big Bite On Toho For Bassmaster Weekend Series Florida Division Opener Sat
With the Bassmaster Weekend Series Florida Division 2013 opener looming this Saturday on Lake Tohopekaliga, anglers have been catching lots of bass in practice – but not many big ones. But the full moon this weekend could change that overnight, drawing big females to shallow shorelines in search of places to bed.
“The anglers I've talked to the last couple of weeks say they have been catching large numbers of fish, but they are trying to find that big bite,” said tournament director Billy Benedetti.
Benedetti said anglers can fish both Toho and the Kissimmee Chain as far south as the Highway 60 Bridge on the southern end of Lake Kissimmee.
That is a vast region of water famed for producing numbers of big bass into the 10- to 14-pound range. A co-angler last year landed a double-digit bass during a BWS event on the lakes.
Not only is the Toho tournament the opener for the Florida Division, it is also the opener for the 2013 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series schedule, Benedetti. said.
“The goal for these anglers is to make it all the way to the National Championship and on to the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. A win in the BWS National Championship would bring the pro angler $100,000 and a win for a co-angler would mean $50,000, Benedetti. said.
“If we have a 200-boat field for the Florida Division tournament, the winner could win $6,000 plus contingencies and the co-angler could win $3,000 and contingencies. We are expecting a good turnout with registration scheduled for 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday at Lakefront Park.”
The Florida Division schedule includes Jan. 26, Toho, Lakefront Park; Feb. 23, Kissimmee Chain, Camp Mack; April 6, Toho, Lakefront Park; May 18, Okeechobee, C. Scott Driver Park; and Sept. 14-15, Kissimmee Chain, Camp Mack.
“If anyone has any questions about the Florida Division or the Bassmaster Weekend Series, they can call me at 256-230-5632 or national headquarters at 256-232-0406,” he said.
Bassmaster Weekend Series - Florida Division
Sat, Jan 26, 2013
Lake Tohopekaliga
Kissimmee Lakefront Park Landing
Call Billy Benedetti. 256-230-5632
Lew's signs FLW Tour pros Yelas and Rose
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Auburn Tops Cabella's School Of The Year Standings
Thanks to Pete Robbins for keeping us up to date on the collegiate angling scene:
School of the Year
Top 10
- Auburn University
- Bethel University
- Alabama
- Louisiana - Monroe
- Young Harris
- Florida State
- Mississippi State
- Tennessee
- Seminole State
- Auburn - Montgomery
By Pete Robbins
Calendar year 2013 has just barely gotten started, but the Association of Collegiate Anglers Cabela's School of the Yearrace is heating up in a hurry. With only a fraction of the season in the record books, some story lines are beginning to develop, but there are enough fishing days left ahead of us such that nothing is yet assured.
"We've developed what we think is the fairest and most exciting way to determine which team should wear the crown," said ACA Program Director Danny Blandford. "Our system places substantial weight on quality finishes, while also rewarding participation and consistency. The ACA Cabela's Collegiate Bass Fishing Series events count, as do major tournaments in both the Carhartt College B.A.S.S. series and the FLW collegiate trail."
That's good news for the anglers from Bethel College. Team members Zach Parker and Matthew Roberts recently dominated a B.A.S.S. tournament on Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes, vaulting their team into second place overall in the School of the Year standings.
"We're trying to do everything we can to make our team successful, and they set the bar pretty high with the win," said Bethel's Cody Ross.
Fourth place team University of Louisiana Monroe has also developed a game plan based on heavy participation to maximize their chances of claiming the crown. "We're fishing every tournament we can," said the Warhawks' Nick Ladart. "We came in second last year, so we sat down at the beginning of this year and tried to set it up so we can get a few teams at every tournament with significant points. Considering that we only started our team three years ago, we're proud that we went from rock bottom to second to close to first."
In order to take the trophy, Bethel and ULM will have to leapfrog Auburn University, the current leaders, while also holding other schools at bay. The first part of that equation will not be simple. Auburn has been on a tear lately, most notably due to the efforts of 2013 Bassmaster Classic qualifier Matt Lee and brother Jordan Lee, but the whole team has played a role in their rise to the top of the overall standings.
"The great thing about Auburn is that we have plenty of good fishermen who want to fish for us so we never have a down year," said team member Will Bates. "Most importantly, we have a lot of unselfish anglers, so we're out there as a team trying to help each other out."
Despite their best efforts, last year Auburn was 10th in the final School of the Year standings, so they're intent on doing everything they can to stay at the pinnacle of the team standings. "We'll just try to keep on doing what we've been doing," Bates said.
Behind Auburn and Bethel sits the University of Alabama, another powerhouse program. They too have developed a team approach that they hope bears fruit when the scales stop spinning.
"We really work hard on each individual tournament," said Alabama's Logan Johnson. "Our club is so big that we have individual qualifiers (for the bigger tournaments), which gives those fishermen plenty of time to go up to the lake and practice. It would really mean a lot to our whole program if we could win the 2013 Cabela's School of the Year title. We've been around since 2006 and all along our priority has been winning. Last year was good, but this year we want to finish it out."
The Alabama bass team wants to mirror their school's recent football national championship and give the SEC supremacy in both sports. To do it, they won't have to knock off Notre Dame, though - it'll be perennial in-state SEC rival Auburn they'll have to topple. While members of both teams would give just about anything to take home the title, their one-upsmanship is not marked by bitterness, but rather by camaraderie.
"There's a lot of passion on both sides," said Alabama's Johnson, "But they're all real good guys. It's more of a brotherhood. If we're all at the same lake and the same hotel, we'll probably eat dinner together at least three or four nights out of the week."
Auburn's Bates agreed. "It's always good to beat Alabama," he said. "It's a de facto rivalry, but we're all good friends with the Alabama anglers."
The Auburn team, looking to hold on to their grip on first place, looks forward to getting their revenge in the Boat US Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship on Pickwick. Last year multiple team members missed the cut by the slimmest of margins, an atypical shortcoming that left their team on the outside looking in. Several other teams, including Alabama and Bethel, also have substantial experience on the TVA impoundment, so that event, like most others, promises to be an out-and-out slugfest.
No one should count out last year's School of the Year, Arkansas Tech, either. They've had a full year to bask in the glory of their title, but currently saddled in a tie for 17th place, they have a lot of ground to make up if they are to repeat. Again, though, there are a lot of fish left to weigh and a shakeup could be imminent.
"We're pleased that this race is so tight and that the award is so highly coveted," Blandford concluded. "The support from Cabela's has enabled us to take the next step toward making the ACA the true unified voice of collegiate anglers throughout the country."
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The ACA Cabela's School of the Year Program awards points to each competing school, based on their finish in sanctioned events in relation to field size. In addition to competition points, teams can also earn points for participating in conservation projects submitted to the Berkley Conservation Institute Program through the ACA, as well as hosting their own events. With the race and points primarily based on the number of teams beat in competition, the Cabela's Collegiate Bass Fishing Series events are critical in shaping the final outcome.
The Cabela's Collegiate Bass Fishing Series will consist of the following stops in 2013:
- Cabela's Collegiate Big Bass Bash
- March 21-23 - Table Rock Lake - Branson, Mo.
- Collegiate Bass Fishing Open
- April 18-20 - Kentucky Lake - Paris, Tenn.
- BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship
- May 23-25-- Pickwick Lake - Florence, Ala.
Current sanctioned events and program details are located onwww.CollegiateBassChampionship.com, along with the 2013 Cabela's Collegiate Bass Fishing Series Schedule andTournament Rules. Students and fans may also get up to date Cabela's School of the Year rankings here.
2013 Tournament Preview With Ac Pro Staffer Rob Digh
AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh joins us to preview the many, many upcoming Tournament Trails and Championship trails that are getting ready to kick off. He gives some great tips on what lakes he thinks will be the big producers in 2013 as well as where to go to when it comes to paybacks!!
Okeechobee EverStart Patterns, Lures Revealed! How to Catch Bass on the 'Big O' Right Now!
You heard Ben Todd tell his story right here at AnglersChannel.com earlier this week. Now for the best of the rest as top pros and co-anglers discuss tactics and lures that worked for them in the recent EverStart on Okeechobee. How is the lake's water level affecting the spawn? Where are the bass bedding? What are the BIG fish eating? Find out here!
Like Ike? Want to Fish with Him?
Though it might seem impossible to have a shot at fishing with an angler with that sort of cache, Bassmaster.com makes it possible with its “Fish With Ike!” sweepstakes. It’s the first B.A.S.S. sweepstakes of 2013 and runs now through March 15.
“By entering now, you’ll have an opportunity to fish with one of the best pros in the word,” said Mitch Frank, B.A.S.S. membership director. “The sweepstakes winner not only will fish with Iaconelli but will also win some great prizes, including the gear Ike uses so successfully. This is a rare opportunity to spend the day with one of the top Bassmaster Elite Series pros and learn trade secrets from an angler who has won more than $1.9 million in his fishing career.”
The winner’s prize package is worth $4,995 and includes a ticket to join Ike on the water June 24, following the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament in La Crosse, Wis. The prize-pack includes round-trip airfare from the continental U.S., a two-night hotel stay, rental car and $500 spending money. The package includes $900 in Berkley and Abu Garcia fishing reels and $500 in Rapala fishing gear. Also awarded is a free seminar at The Bass University with Iaconelli and other Bassmaster pros in Fall 2013 or Winter 2014. Go to the websitewww.thebassuniversity.com for information and seminar location.
Another perk of the prize pack is an opportunity to be featured in Bassmaster magazine and on Bassmaster.com after the fishing trip. The winner of the “Fish With Ike” sweepstakes will be selected March 30.
“Last year, we held six sweepstakes, and they were extremely popular with our members and bass fishing enthusiasts,” Frank said. “Our goal is to hold six more this year, including this trip with Ike. It’s a fun thing to do and a great opportunity to enjoy the fishing trip of a lifetime with one of the greatest anglers in the world.”
The “Fish With Ike” contest is sponsored by Bassmaster, Rapala, Abu Garcia, Berkley and The Bass University. For details or to enter, go to Bassmaster.com. Participants may enter once each day until the contest ends.
Top Angler Ready For His Second Full Year Of Fishing The Texas Everstart Division
Kris Wilson of Montgomery, TX. Photo courtesy FLW Outdoors
Kris Wilson of Montgomery, Texas, is looking forward to his second full year of fishing the Texas EverStart Series which kicks off Jan. 24 on Lake Amistad. He did pretty well in his first year on the circuit in 2012, claiming Angler of the Year honors with a top 20 finish, a top 10 finish and two top fives.
He started off 2012 by placing 18th in the Amistad tournament in February, then followed that with a second place at Lake Sam Rayburn in April, 9th at Toledo Bend in May and 4th at Lake of the Pines last October.
That second place on Rayburn was his second best finish on the lake. He only fished one EverStart tournament in 2011, the Rayburn tournament, and he won it, earning a nice check for $29,639. In fact, Wilson has earned a check in every Texas Division EverStart tournament he has fished, including single tournaments in 2009 and 2010, both on Sam Rayburn.
By being the top angler for 2012 in the Texas Division, Wilson qualified to move up to the FLW Majors, but has opted to stay with the Texas EverStarts for now.
“I've got a 3-year-old son and a mortgage so it's really not feasible for me to go to FLW,” he said. “I work shift work and a lot of weekends so it's hard for me even to get off to fish the EverStarts. Last year was the first year I was able to fish the whole series.”
Wilson plans to head to Lake Amistad on Saturday to practice for the tournament next week. The first order of business in practice, he said, will be to eliminate some areas.
“That place is so big I will probably just ride around the first day to see where all the grass is and how the lake sets up,” he said. “There is a lot more grass in the lake than in the past so I think the grass will be a factor, depending on the weather. If it's warm there will be some pre-spawn staging fish, but if it is cold the deep bite might be a factor.”
However, he said, he looks for the bite to be concentrated in or around the grass.
“I think around the grass it will be more of a moving bait bite – a square-bill crankbait, a spinnerbait, possibly some kind of swim bait and maybe a jerkbait bite. Out on the ledges a football jig should be a good way to catch them and maybe a Carolina rig.”
Another factor is the water level, Wilson said.
“The lake is 30-something feet lower than when we were there last year, so it will be a completely different place from then. For the first day and a half I will try to figure out what section of the lake I will concentrate on.”
Wilson may have only limited time to put into his fishing, but his record on the Texas EverStart Division shows he is pretty handy at figuring the fish out with whatever time he has to survey a lake.
FLW EverStart Series – Texas Division
Jan 24-26, 2013
Lake Amistad
Diablo East Access
Oconee Marine Team Trail Going Strong With Tournament Saturday On Lake Sinclair
The doors closed (temporarily) on Oconee Marine in December, but the Oconee Marine Team Trail lives on and the business will be back, at least part of it, by early March.
“We closed the sales part for the time being,” said Mark Hannah with Oconee Marine. “We plan to reopen the service department around March 1 and we may even get back into boat sales this year. But our boat service will continue.”
The closure of the dealership had anglers abuzz about the future of the tournament trail which Oconee marine launched in 2007. But the phone number for the dealership (706-485-4750) remained active and plans forged ahead for the 2013 team trail schedule, with the first tournament already in the books.
The second tournament will be held Saturday out of Little River Marina on Lake Sinclair, followed by Feb. 9, Lake Oconee out of Sugar Creek Marina; March 2, Lake Oconee out of Sugar Creek Marina; March 23, Lake Oconee out of Sugar Creek; April 6, Lake Oconee out of Sugar Creek; April 20, Lake Sinclair, out of Little River Marina; and May 4, Lake Oconee, out of Sugar Creek. The Classic will be held May 11 on Lake Oconee, out of Sugar Creek Marina.
“Teams have to fish five of the eight tournaments to qualify for the Classic,” Hannah said. “The entry fee for the tournaments is $160 and we average a 90-91 percent payback to one in six teams. Teams can sign up the morning of the tournament at the ramp.”
Hannah explained that $5 of the entry fee goes to the Angler Team of the Year, which is awarded at the Classic; $15 goes to the Classic fund, and $10 goes to the Big Fish award. The classic entry fee is $240 per team, which is added to the percentage of entry fees accumulated during the tournament season.
Hannah said he expects a strong bite for the tournament Saturday on Lake Sinclair.
“I think it will probably take 18 or 19 pounds to win and 10 or 11 pounds to place. I know some anglers are catching fish by jigging spoons as deep as 50 feet and a lot are being caught, as always, under the docks in the backs of the creeks.
Oconee Marine Team Trail
Sat, Jan 19, 2013
Lake Sinclair
Little River Marina
Call 706-485-4750
Cold Snap Should Heat Up The Fishing For North Carolina Bass Trail On Lake Norman
After several days early in the week with record warm temperatures a cold front is moving across the Southeast by this weekend, which should bode well for anglers fishing the North Carolina Bass Trail Spring Series which kicks off Saturday on Lake Norman.
“Norman is a little bit odd,” said tournament director Mark Weaver. “When the weather cools down that is when the 18-pound bags come in, so hopefully we will see something along those lines Saturday. It's going to be a little bit chilly at takeoff that morning.”
Actually, Lake Norman will be right in the middle of a major cool-down by Saturday, with nighttime temperatures in the mid-20s Thursday and Friday and up only slightly to freezing Saturday morning. If a cold snap turns the Norman bass on, then a 20- to 25-degree drop from mid-week ought to do the trick.
The catch will be mostly spotted bass, Weaver said, with the Alabama Rig playing a major role.
“If you can scratch out a largemouth or two it will really help, but the majority of the catch will be spots.”
This is the second year of the trail, that Weaver founded to try to get local clubs to fish together.
“We did fairly well last year,” he said. “We drew in the 20s most tournaments, with several a little lower in number when gas prices got high. We are trying to keep it a little more local this year.”
Saturday's tournament on Lake Norman is the first of a 5-tournament trail leading to the North Carolina Bass Trail Championship to be held June 1 on a lake to be determined. After Saturday, tournaments will be held Feb. 16 on Belews Lake, March 16 on W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, April 13 on Lookout Shoals Lake, and May 4 on Lake Hickory.
Competitors pay a one-time membership fee of $10, with a 100 percent payback-plus at the tournaments. They can join and pay their entry fee at the ramp the morning of the tournament. Anglers have to fish four of the five tournaments to qualify for the championship, Weaver said.
“We've had some sponsors give us a little money,” he explained. “We've already got $1,000 in for the championship. I think it is going to be a pretty good schedule I think we are going to hit all the lakes at the right time.”
He also plans to give away tackle and other items at the tournaments, he said, as part of his effort to build the series which has proven to be popular with the anglers who are fishing it. All the members from 2012 have rejoined for this year's series, Weaver said.
“We held a big banquet at the championship last year and we plan to do something along those lines again this year, maybe do a cookout.”
North Carolina Bass Trail - Spring
Sat, Jan 19, 2013
Lake Norman
Pinnacle Access
Call Mark Weaver 336-984-8600
Okeechobee Everstart Champion Ben Todd Tells Us How He Did It!
FLW EverStart pro Ben Todd topped a stacked field on Okeechobee. He did most of his damage, espcially the last day, with one lure. Hear him talk about the decisions he made that netted him $40,000 and the trophy!
Okeechobee EverStart Big Bass Parade
To a look at the beautiful bass the EverStart anglers caught from Lake Okeechobee!
Ben Todd Wins Okeechobee EverStart with Big Bass and Help from Above
Trevor Fitzgerald weighs a big sack and hopes he can hang on to the lead. Ben Todd tells us how he caught exactly enough weight to win the first EverStart Series tournament of 2013 on Lake Okeechobee!
Todd Over Fitzgerald by Virtue of Tie-breaker in Okeechobee EverStart
Just got back from Okeechobee. I was there watching the FLW EverStart. The big lake fished a little tough for many anglers but in predictable fashion it blessed a fortunate few with heavy stringers this week.
Ben Todd of Pierson, FL tallied 59 pounds, 3 ounces over three competition days. So did Trevor Fitzgerald with his 25-pound, 10-ounce effort today. But since Todd was the leader heading into today's final round he won the tie-breaker, so the trophy and $40,000 are his.
Fitzgerald ignited the crowd when he pulled out a pair of big bass to punctuate his limit and his tournament week.
With the FLW Tout set to kcik off on Okeechobee in less than a month the anglers aren't talking as much as they normally would but Todd shared that he caught his fish by pitching a Tightlines UV UVenko and a Gambler Ace (both are Senko-style lures) pegged behind a 3/8 oz. tungsten weight. A 5/0 Gamakatsu flippin' hook and 50-pound braid rounded out Todd's tackle selection.
Today Todd caught all of his 16-03 with the UVenko.
Some guys flipped fish from beneath thick mats but the hottest pattern on the lake right now revolves around patches of reeds, including bullrush and cattails.
That's what Todd fished. His fish were scattered along a line of reeds in about 3 feet of water on the northeast side of the lake near the J&S Lock.
Especially interesting is that Todd's first bass of the tournament was a 9-pounder that anchored his 31-7 limit on Thursday. Then, with minutes left to fish today, he closed the event out with a bookend 9-pounder that weighed exactly what he needed it to.
Fitzgerald caught his bigger fish by pitching a jig to reeds down south.
Even Brandon McMillan, a noted mat puncher, split his time betweeen punching mats and pitching to reeds. That gameplan netted McMillan a 3rd place finish with a total of 56-3.
Howard Poitevint won the co-angler division with a total weight of 40-13 (13-11 today).
While most pros used 3/4 oz. jigs, nearly all succesful co-anglers relied on the senko this week. Some wacky-rigged it. Others daedsticked it. But the soft stickbait was a money maker as usual.
Limits were common, even for the guys on the back deck. Sightfishing was not a factor in this tournament, due mostly to the high water level (right at 15 feet) and windy conditions.
Patrick Sebile Lands A World Record Bass From Lake Okeechobee!
Read Patrick Sebile's story here: http://www.finsntales.com/all/landing-my-all-tackle-length-world-record-largemouth/#.UO2t_G_Afzk
Patrick Sebile with his record catch from Lake Okeechobee
Thanks to Jeff Brooks for sharing this great story about the big one that didn't get away. Lure innovator Patrick Sebile came to Florida to fish with Jeff and former Bassmaster emcee Keith Alan as well as Christophe Garcia, Pure Fishing Sales Director in Europe.
Sebile used a wild-looking lure, his Sebile Proppler Buzz, to land a bass that measured 63 cm, besting the old IGFA length record of 59 cm, in May of 2012 on Lake Okeechobee. As usual, the IGFA took months to verify the new record and Sebile wanted to wait to break the news once he had certification that his was indeed the new world length record bass.
"It was a surreal moment. Patrick and I always have a great time on the water. I feel privileged to be associated with this record," said Brooks, Florida Bass Nation Youth Director.
Click the link above to read Sebile's account of the action.
Ware Hunting Quality Fish For Southeast Division Everstart Tournament On The Big O
Kent Ware of Wadmalaw Island, SC is coming off of a good year in the Southeast Everstart Series! Photo courtesy FLW Outdoors.
It took 32 pounds to win the Gator Division BFL tournament on Lake Okeechobee last weekend, but so far Kent Ware has not found that same mother lode of bass with just one more day of practice before the first Southeast Division EverStart tournament of 2013 opens on the Big O.
“It's been a little slow for me in practice. I don't know a whole lot about this lake,” said the Wadmalaw Island, S.C. Angler who was the Southeast Division EverStart Angler of the Year in 2012. “I've kind of pieced some things together, but just can't find any big fish so far. I am catching plenty of small fish, but I sure am not on the quality fish.”
Ware did very well on Okeechobee last year when he finished 6th in his first ever tournament on the famed Florida lake. He followed that top 10 with 19th place on Lake Seminole, 2nd on his closest home lake, Santee Cooper, and finished at Lake Guntersville in 46th place, earning a check in all four tournaments for a total prize of $20,878, plus the points championship. Not a bad year, considering he was buried in the standings the two previous years he fished the Southeast EverStart Division, finishing 206th in 2008 and 178th in 2009.
“I was really blessed last season. I really enjoyed it. Every tournament last year was tough, but I tend to do a little better when it is tough on everybody. When it's a slugfest I don't do as well.”
Ware said everybody he has seen and talked to have been doing pretty much the same things he has been doing – with the same results.
“I've been throwing a variety of reaction baits, flipping, fishing a worm, a Senko, topwater, slowing things down. Nothing seem sot do better than anything else. It is just a matter of covering water,” he said.
“The water temperature is right, we've got a new moon coming Friday so there have got to be some females moving up. The males certainly are already there, waiting on them.”
The problem, he said, may be the high water – two feet higher than last year in the same tournament – which may allow the fish to move miles further back in the vegetation.
“I don't know how these fish react with high water. They have a lot more habitat they can get into to get away from us.”
His strategy Wednesday for the final day of practice will be to tie on some fast-moving baits and cover as much different-looking water as possible.
“I'm going to go a little shallower than what I have been doing. The big ones are either further in or further out than where I have been. They are either staged up or laying back in the vegetation and there is no question some of the guys who are familiar with the lake know where they are.”
Pros will fish for a top award of $40,000 plus a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will vie for a Ranger Z117 with 90-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $5,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.
The EverStart Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western. Each division consists of four tournaments and competitors will be fishing for valuable points in each division that could earn them the Strike King Angler of the Year title, which allows them to fish the 2014 Forrest Wood Cup.
After Lake Okeechobee this weekend, the Southeast EverStart Series moves to Lake Guntersville Feb. 28-March3, Lake Seminole April 4-6, and finishes up on Wheeler Lake May 9-11.
FLW EverStart Series Southeast Division
Jan 10-12, 2013
Lake Okeechobee
Scott Driver Recreation Area
Flw, Mars Chocolate North America Continue Sponsorship For 2013 Season
BFL Anglers Blow It Out on Okeechobee!
Word on the street was Okeechobee might fish tough for competitors in the first Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tourney of 2013.
Instead, the lake greeted 200 pros and as many co-anglers with bunches of bass, including Van Soles' 7-pound, 14-ounce big bass on the pro side. The co-angler big bass also topped 7 pounds as Scott Crisafulli weighed-in a 7-03.
Steve Stinson of Pickering, Ontario won the whole shooting match with a one-day total of 32 pounds, 10 ounces.
Jim Hurlock, Jr. of Lake Worth, FL placed runner-up with 26-05.
Andrew Lee and Michael Meisenheimer shared 3rd with 19-7 apiece.
Jim Folks rounded out the top 5 with 19-02.
Stinson was the only top 20 finisher from outside Florida.
Meisenheimer was the only angler among the top 65 to have less than his five-fish limit, and one of only 2 in the top 100 to weigh 4 fish.
Limits were also common on the co-angler side where all of the top 20 anglers weighed 5 fish.
James Trudel of Boca Raton, FL won the co-angler division with 17 pounds, 14 ounces.
Okeechobee is in great shape and boasts a huge bass population including its share of 10-pounders. That's good because the big lake is fixin' to get a workout when the EverStart Series visits next week and the FLW Tour kicks off out of Clewiston next month.
Bethel Dominates In Carhartt Bassmaster College Series
TAVARES, Fla. — Bethel University’s team of Zach Parker and Matthew Roberts brought in another huge limit of bass on the second and final day of competition to win the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Southern Regional bass tournament on the Harris Chain.
The teammates weighed five bass totaling 25 pounds, 1 ounce, giving them a 9-pound, 9-ounce margin of victory. It was a record-setting performance. Bringing in the two heaviest bags of the event, Bethel set the all-time one-day and two-day heavyweight records at 29-2 and 54-3 for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series. Their Day 1 big bass, weighing 9 pounds, 11 ounces, briefly held the All-Time Big Bass record until it was broken by a 10-7 largemouth caught by Cody Spears of Florida State University on Day 2. Spears claimed the event’s Carhartt Big Bass honors for his trophy bass.
The Southern Regional on Harris Chain was earmarked as the tournament where records would be broken. The Harris Chain and the 79-boat field did not disappoint. Parker’s and Roberts’ 29-2 catch on Day 1 was the heaviest of the event. It earned them the award of the Bass Pro Nitro Big Bag for the tournament.
The duo started the final round precisely where they left off on Day 1 — fishing the same grassline where they had caught their entire first-day catch. Almost immediately, they started extracting big fish after big fish from the grass.
“The fish were still in the exact same spot,” said Roberts.
The “spot” consisted of a ridge bordering a shallow flat with vegetation all over it. The team members worked their way up and down the ridge, casting lipless crankbaits onto the flat and ripping them through the grass.
“Fish were moving on and off of that flat all day,” said Parker.
A sharp cold front that moved through central Florida on Friday set Bethel up for the victory. With falling water temperatures, bass that had been in the shallows fled to the nearest deep water they could find. The ridge the Bethel team had found proved to be a textbook staging ground.
“The cold front brought the fish out of shallow water and pushed them out on that drop,” said Parker. “I think the cold weather actually helped us out.”
Taking advantage of the cold front secured most of the Top 13 teams their spots in the 2013 National Championship. Teams had to finish in the Top 13 to advance. A handful of them managed to do so by sight fishing for spawning bass, but the majority of the qualifiers targeted prespawn bass with lipless crankbaits.
With nearly a 10-pound margin of victory, you wouldn’t expect the winning team to have a “one-that-got away” story, but Roberts stubbed his toe on the fish of a lifetime on Day 2.
“It happened on his second to last cast,” Parker said. “The one that got away was bigger than that 9-11 he had on the first day.”
Parker estimated the fish was in the 12-plus-pound range.
“I’ve never seen a fish that big in person in my life,” Roberts said. “It was sickening, but at the same time we had a great week.”
The two college anglers admitted they never reached a point in the day where they thought they had the win secured.
“I never thought it was over,” Parker said. “We fished that spot hard until we had about an hour and 10 minutes left. We knew that somebody could bust a 30-pound bag out here.”
Daytona State College’s Thomas Oltorik III and Scott Heaberlin finished second with an impressive two-day total of 44-10, and another Bethel University team, Myles Palmer and Dalton Wilson, caught 36-14 for third.
For a full list of the tournament results, including the Top 13 National Championship qualifiers, go to Bassmaster.com.
Spinnerbait Bassin' with Kevin VanDam!
Take a look inside the mind of Kevin VanDam as he talks about where and how to fish a spinnerbait. Kevin's pointers on lure depth and retrieve speed are especially helpful. A couple of Kentucky Lake largemouth help Kevin illustrate his point as AnglersChannel.com takes you out on the water with KVD!
Bethel Leads After Day 1 With Monster Catch In Carhartt Bassmaster College Series
TAVARES, Fla. — Zach Parker and Matthew Roberts of Bethel University lapped the majority of the field on Day 1 of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Southern Regional on the Harris Chain. They brought in a monster catch of 29-2 anchored by the Carhartt Big Bass of 9-11.
Though many anglers complained of tough fishing and foul weather, the duo from Bethel silenced the competition while simultaneously setting the all-time single day heavyweight record and the all-time big bass record for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series.
However, the Bethel team’s day didn’t start with a bang.
“We had one spot on Eustis that we found in practice where we caught some 2 pounders,” Roberts said. “We stopped there first and never got a bite. That kind of got us down because we thought we could catch a limit there pretty easy.”
They didn’t stay down long. Making a run to Big Harris, the team headed straight for a date with destiny. Their next stop was the best of the day for any boat in the field.
“We found this staging spot on Harris out in front of some vegetation in practice,” Parker said. “It’s got a little drop on it where the fish are staging. It’s about a 100-yard stretch, and the big ones are on a spot within the spot.”
“On his first cast Zach caught one of the big ones,” Roberts said.
The next two hours they brought in 30 to 35 fish, including three bass weighing more than 4 pounds.
“We said if we caught one more big one, we’d leave,” Parker said. “We came back down and got right on our waypoint, and the big one smoked it. She jumped twice, and after we got her in the boat, we were pretty much done.”
Capping off an astonishing two hours of fishing with their 9-11 kicker, the Bethel team opted to leave the honey hole around noon.
“Today, if we were anywhere near the trail we were supposed to be on, we’d get a bite every 10 to 15 minutes,” Parker said.
Roberts added, “If we sat there all day, who knows what we could have caught.”
Tomorrow, both team members adamantly say they aren’t leaving that spot until time for check-in.
Thomas Oltorik III and Scott Heaberlin of Daytona State College sit in second after Day 1 with 21-7.
“We started off this morning throwing a spinnerbait and caught a smaller limit,” Oltorik said. “Then we started flipping and basically just put our heads down and started fishing hard.”
“Fishing hard” is synonymous with grinding it out, which is a must when the weather turns sour in Florida. Florida strain bass are particularly moody, and a rainy day with a high of 61 is not what’s needed to get these bass to jump on the hook.
“Basically, if you want to catch fish out here right now you have to fish hard, and flipping is a great way to do that,” Oltorik said.
Flipping is a high-risk, high-reward tactic because you typically get only get a handful of bites in a day’s time. Efficiency is everything.
“We were a hundred percent today,” Heaberlin said. “We had eight bites, and that was a good day.”
Heaberlin and Oltorik are bouncing from Big Harris to Eustis and not staying on any specific spot for long. They’re hoping their run-and-gun method will outlast the teams relying on one or two areas.
The Auburn University team of Chris Seals and Matt Lee sits in third after Day 1 with 21-2. Lee, who will represent the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic, is excited about moving one step closer to a repeat.
“If we could qualify here, I’m only one tournament away from making it to the Classic again (in 2014) on Lake Guntersville,” Lee said.
Today, Lee and Seals were surprised when they found big ones in an area that they thought only had a potential of 12 pounds.
“We’re fishing in a big backwater on Griffin that was loaded with males and a few females during practice,” Lee said. “When we showed up today, there were a lot more than a few females.
“They’re on bed and trying to bed. They’ll follow a spinnerbait up, and then you can throw a worm or something back to the same spot and catch them.”
“I threw a spinnerbait out into a bunch of lily pads and saw a wake come out through the pads,” Seals said. “We threw back in there, fan casting around where we thought she was bedding. Nothing. We came back an hour later and on about the fourth cast our big fish bit.”
Two other boats are in the same area as Lee and Seals. The whole backwater is about the size of three football fields, but all of the Auburn team’s fish came from two 30-yard-by-30-yard areas.
“Jake Gipson respected us a lot in there today,” Lee said. “He’s in there with us in the same general area, but never got on top of us.”
In addition to the feeling of camaraderie, the layout of the backwater helped Auburn catch their weight.
“That’s the only backwater that we’ve found with stumps in it,” Seals said. “A lot of the backwater we fished didn’t have a hard bottom, but this one does. If everything goes perfect, it has the potential for 30 pounds. We left a little early today so that we wouldn’t beat it up too bad.”
Kevin Lucas and Neal Combs of the University of Central Florida sit in the all-important 13th spot with 12-4 after Day 1. This is the cutline for anglers looking to advance to the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship, which will be held later this summer.
Day 2 will begin with teams launching from Wooten Park at 7:20 a.m. ET. The day-two weigh-in will also be held at Wooton Park starting at 3:20 p.m. ET. For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.
Flw, Z-Man Renew Sponsorship For 2013
FLW announced today that Z-Man® Fishing Products, the nation’s fastest-growing fishing lure brand, will return as an associate sponsor of the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization for the 2013 season. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
