Tampa Pro Bass Results - Kissimmee Chain - Jan 8
Rich Fitzgibbon and Jeremy Cannon (pictured here with Kylee Cannon) took home 1st Place and $843.75 on Kissimmee January 8. Their total weight was 21.35 lbs and their biggest fish was 6.69 lbs, which was the biggest bass of the day! Congratulations Rich and Jeremy!
Coming in 2nd Place was the team of Troy Olivier and David Crews. Their total weight was 15.50 lbs and they took home $468.75!
Brandon Chambliss and Sam Guess came in 3rd Place with 15.20 lbs, worth $281.25. Their big fish was 5.04 lbs.
The team of Mike Harris and Chuck McKenzie finished in 4th Place with 12.46 lbs. They had the 2nd Big Fish of the day at 5.47 lbs.
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Rich Fitzgibbon and Jeremy Cannon remain at the top of the Points Standings with 121 points. Top 10 in the Points looks like this:
| Place | Captain | Partner | Alternate | Total Points |
| 1 | Fitzgibbon, Rich | Cannon, Jeremy | Diaz, Kenny | 121 |
| 2 | Wooten, Bobby | Upchurch, Richie | 95 | |
| 3 | Guess, Sam | Chambliss, Brandon | 93 | |
| 4 | Taylor, John | Taylor, Wendy | 80 | |
| 5 | Dorman, Tommy | Dorman, Jimmy | 70 | |
| 5 | Wright, Kevin | Hannigan, Mark | 70 | |
| 5 | Crosby, Jeff | Crosby, Dana | 70 | |
| 8 | Dukes, Martin | Carter, Gary | 69 | |
| 9 | Simonds, Lonnie | Simonds, David | 68 | |
| 10 | Devane, Alan | Johns, Joe | Chrin, Steve | 66 |
| 10 | Hendren, William | Alfonso, David | Hafer, Richard | 66 |
FOR COMPLETE RESULTS, VISIT www.tampaprobass.com!
Sportsmans Warehouse Sponsors FLW Fishing Tour Professional Dearal Rodgers
Sportsman’s Warehouse is happy to announce the sponsorship of professional fisherman Dearal Rodgers for the upcoming FLW Professional Fishing Tour season. Rodgers, a native of Camden, South Carolina, has distinguished himself over the past several years winning the 2009 FLW Tour Co-Angler of the Year award and the 2010 FLW Forrest Wood Cup Co-Angler Champion award.
“We are pleased to have Dearal on board with Sportsman’s Warehouse,†noted Sportsman’s Warehouse Chief Marketing Officer Karen Seaman. “He is not only a talented professional, but he also embraces the enthusiasm and family values with which Sportsman’s Warehouse is so closely associated.â€
You can follow Dearal throughout the season on his blog at www.anglerschannel.com, and see him each week during the season on the Progressive Bass Wrap Up Show, airing on the NBC Sports Network Thursday mornings at 10:30am.FLW is the fishing industry’s premier tournament fishing organization, providing unparalleled fishing resources and entertainment to fishermen of all levels. Get more information about FLW and learn more about this angler by visiting Dearal Rodgers.
Sportsman’s Warehouse serves outdoor enthusiasts by providing a large selection of top-quality, brand-name products essential to enjoying the great outdoors to the fullest. With complete product lines in hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor pursuits, savvy outdoor shoppers know that Sportsman’s Warehouse is their one-stop shop for everything outdoors. To find the Sportsman’s Warehouse nearest you or to shop online, visit us on the web at: www.sportsmanswarehouse.com.
Smith Mountain Lake Winter Trail Results for Jan 7, 2012 Tournament
The sixth tournament of the Smith Mountain Lake Winter Fishing Series went out of Smith Mountain Lake State Park on Saturday, January 7, 2012. 1st Place went to the team of Danny Towe and Travis Towe with a weight of 18lbs 7oz. They are from Salem and Daleville, Va.
2nd Place went to the team of Charles Fochtman and Charles Fochtman jr with a weight of 18lbs 5oz. They are from Moneta, Va
3rd place went to the team of David Pluckett and Trey Stewartson with a weight of 15lbs 14oz. They are from Vinton and Moneta, Va.
Stay tuned for more results...this tournament trail has 3 more events over the next few weeks!
Warming Weather Could Make For Heavy Stringers In Gator Bfl On Okeechobee
Allan Cagle, BFL Gator Division Angler of The Year in 2010. Photo courtesy flwoutdoors.com
The first major cold front of the winter slowed the bite on Lake Okeechobee, but near-springlike temperatures this week should put the fish in a much better mood and result in some hefty stringers in the Walmart Bass Fishing League's Gator Division tournament Saturday, according to the top division angler in 2010.
“I did see some beds down there over last weekend. There were no fish on them, but I know they were right around them,” said Allan Cagle of Deltona, Fla., BFL Gator Division Angler of The Year in 2010. “I look for the fish to move up on the beds or be right around them and I look for the bite to come on.”
Cagle said the bite in December was exceptionally strong with some big stringers weighed in tournaments, including a lot of high 20-pound catches and some over 30 pounds.
“That bite has got a little tough. We got our first cold weather this past week and the temperature was down in the high 20s. But I look for the fish to rebound, probably this weekend. The fish are wanting to bed big time.”
Cagle said three weeks ago in an open tournament on the north end of the lake anglers weighed in a 31-pound stringer, two 30-pound stringers and a 29-pound stringer.
“A lot of those fish were caught flipping heavy cover with an ounce or ounce-and-a-half weight. That bite has kind of faded and I don't know if it was because of the heavy pressure or not.”
But, he said, the bedding bite is about to come on strong.
“When they move up on the beds there will be some pretty big fish coming up. I can't guarantee it will be this weekend, but if not then the EverStart Series (January 19-21) will hit it just right. I look for some more 30-pound stringers like last year, more so for the EverStart and then the FLW Tour (Feb. 9-12) when we get some warmer weather and the fish start spawning.”
Lake Okeechobee has, in fact, been on fire for the past year, with 9- and 10-pound bass weighed in tournaments a common occurrence.
“We got a lot of rain in October and the lake came up. I heard from some buddies that there were fish spawning already in November and some big stringers were caught through December. We had some really warm weather all through December but that bite kind of slowed down with the first cold front,” Cagle said.
When the fish move up on the beds sight fishing will come into play with Senkos, Skinny Dippers and topwater plugs, he said. But even more important than lure selection will be finding the right location, he added.
“It's more or less a matter of being n the right area on that lake. You can fish for miles and miles and not get a bite, but then when you find the right area where the fish are, you can't do any wrong. You can throw pretty much whatever you want to.”
Cagle said he has not caught anything big so far but he has about three areas where he thinks the fish will come on strong this weekend.
“Last year and the year before in several of the tournaments down there I was not on anything real strong, just catching small fish in practice. Then when the tournament rolled around the big fish moved in.”
Cagle finished first in the points in the Gator Division BFL last year and was second in 2004 and 2006.
“I had a good year last year and cashed a check in every tournament,” he said. “I just made all the right call. I zigged when I should have zigged and zagged when I should have zagged.”
Walmart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Gator Division
Sat, Jan 14, 2012
Lake Okeechobee
Roland Martin Marina & Resort
Texas Bass Couples Looking For Good Fishing On Lake Amistad In First Tournament Of Year
Fishing is expected to be very good on Lake Amistad in Texas for the first tournament of the year in the West Region of the Texas Bass Couples Trail, according to trail organizer Tommy Busbee.
“I talked to pro angler Keith Combs, who grew up and guided on Lake Amistad before hitting the tournament trail, about the fishing and he is looking for a good topwater bite there this weekend,” said Busbee who serves as West Region tournament director with his wife, Pam.
“This time of year there will be a good shallow water bite and we will be looking at the 40-to 45-foot range for catching fish on a swim bait. Amistad is notorious for having a good swim bait bite,” he said. “Some will also be working a drop shot and jigs in the hydrilla beds to try to get a big bite.”
Busbee said the lake is about 8 feet low from full pool, but it is a very clear lake so anglers can actually catch spawning fish in 8 to 10 feet of water.
After fishing together in a number of couples tournaments over the years, Busbee and his wife founded the Texas Bass Couples Trail about seven years ago and it has grown from one region to seven in that period of time. In fact, the East Region will be holding its first tournament of the year on Brady Branch lake in east Texas this weekend, too.
“The others will follow suit and start back in February,” Busbee said. Each region will hold six qualifying tournaments and then the qualified teams will meet in the 2012 Championship Sept. 11-13 at Lake Bob Sandlin, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce in nearby Mt. Pleasant, Texas.
“Everybody who is a director has fished in the Texas Bass Couples before becoming a director,” Busbee said. “Many of them had a long drive to fish so they formed their own region.”
Busbee said the main theme of the tournaments, while super competitive, is to have fun fishing.
“We've tried religiously to set things up so folks will have a good time. A lot of guys fish with their mothers, some fish with their daughters and some with their wives or girlfriends. It's just a family atmosphere.”
Teams pay a $35 membership fee and the entry fee per tournament is $85. The payback is 80 percent to one in every five teams. Directors keep 20 percent to cover expenses, Busbee said.
If there are 25 boats in a tournament, first place pays $642, second $315 on down to fifth place, which pays $125. Money for the championship is $125 and Big Bass pays $125. If there are 50 boats, first place jumps to $900 and places are paid down through 10th place, which gets $115, and the championship and Big Bass money are both doubled. With 75 boats first place is worth $1,250 and payback goes through 15th place at $100, with $375 for championship Money and $375 for Big Bass.
The Angler of the Year team in each region earns free entry fees for the region the following year, Busbee said.
“We enjoy some stiff competition, but it's all in fun. And we try our best to be an asset to the fishing community.”
Texas Bass Couples
Sun, Jan 15, 2012
Lake Amistad
Call Tommy & Pam Busbee, 325-647-4116 or 325-217-8522
The 2012 Carolina's Bass Challenge Preview With Marshall Altman
The 2012 Carolina's Bass Challenge is just weeks away and we sit down with Marshall Altman from Marshall's Marine and talk about this great new series, the payouts, and their partnership with Foothills Marine on this new Team Trail for the Carolina's!!
Sonar Reflects on an Outstanding 2011, Looks Forward to 2012
As he fishes the first event of the Toho Team Tournament season, Miles 'Sonar' Burghoff reflects on a 2011 that saw him team with Casey O'Donnell to win the Boat US Collegiate Fishing National Championship for the Universtiy of Central Florida. Sonar looks forward to defending the title during his senior season this spring.
2012 Sportsman's Warehouse Update from Columbia, SC!
Sportsman's Warehouse FIshing Mgr Justin Kijack talks to us about the big season ahead and how Sportsman's Warehouse will be your one-stop shop like never before for all your tackle and electronic needs. He also lets us in on the news of his promotion to become the Store Manager for the New Roanoke, Va store which opens this April!!
2012 Tournament Season Cranking Up!
AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh talks about this first real winter blast throughout the Southeast and how its going to effect many of the trails and Tournaments that are beginning to CRANK UP!
Claire Whaley Foundation Sets Open Bass Tournament On Lake Keowee January 14
The Claire Whaley Foundation, which raises money for families with children that have special needs, will hold its first ever Open Bass Tournament on Lake Keowee Saturday, Jan. 14.
“Everybody has been hollering they wanted a tournament that paid a little money and Keowee is a fish factory this time of year,” said Trad Whaley, founder of the foundation that bears his daughter's name. “I am going to hold the tournament up there because of the demand and the fact that everybody loves to fish that lake. A lot of our sponsors are from that area, too, so this allows me to do something for them.”
And, he added, to do it for the kids helped by the foundation.
“We've helped a few families this year and we've made a big difference over the last five years,” he said. Whaley said the foundation, which has held an annual tournament on Lake Hartwell for the past four years, raises $5,000 to $7,000 annually to help families who have children like his daughter, Claire, who have special needs.
Whaley's daughter, Claire, was diagnosed with Ischemic Hypoxic Encephalopathy which means that parts of her brain were deprived of oxygen when she stopped breathing right after birth. She has not been able to develop normally, has the most trouble with her vision, and also demonstrates characteristics of cerebral palsy.
Whaley and his wife Angie created the Claire Whaley Foundation when they were denied participation in some state and federal programs because their family income exceeded eligible limits. The foundation exists to provide support for middle class working families who have children with special needs.
“Claire is doing good. She has made some good strides,” Whaley said. “She is starting to sit up some on her own. She is not normal, but it is a Godsend just to still have her. To us she is normal.”
In order to increase the money raised by the foundation so they can help more families, Whaley said he is considering holding three tournaments a year – two opens plus the annual tournament, which he may move to Clarks Hill.
“We may put our annual tournament on Clarks Hill in either April or May and then do another open in the fall on Lake Hartwell,” he said. “There are so many tournaments that have sprouted up on Lake Hartwell it is hard to find a date for our annual tournament. Right now it does not look like we are going to be able to get it done on Hartwell that time of year.”
Whaley said he has been in negotiations with the Clarks Hill Committee, which conducts several high-profile charity tournaments on the lake, about joining forces for a Claire Whaley Foundation Tournament on Clarks Hill.
The Keowee tournament Jan. 14 should draw a large entry, Whaley said, because of the low entry fee and first place guarantee of $2,500 – and the excellent fishing.
“I think the fishing will be great by then. It was taking 21 pounds to win a tournament in October and November and since then it's been taking anywhere from 14 to 18 pounds every weekend. We've had a mild winter so far, which should set things up for a winning stringer at 12 to 14 pounds.”
The cold front this week should push the fish deep which is were a lot of Keowee anglers like to fish for them, he said.
“If it turns cold the fish will bite, but I also believe by then some of the fish will be shallow. They will be fishing Blade runners, Shakey Heads and tubes off the bluffs and there is always the option for the drop shot.”
Entry fee for the tournament is $125, with an option $10 for Big Fish, and entries will be taken up until blastoff the morning of the tournament, Whaley said. Payback will be one in 10 places, based on 50 boats.
Anglers may weigh in a limit of five bass at least 12 inches long. Largemouth, smallmouth, spotted and coosa bass may be weighed in.
Claire Whaley Foundation Open Bass Tournament
Sat, Jan 14, 2012
Lake Keowee
Gap Hill Landing
Call Trad Whaley at 864-378-0952
Cold Fronts, High Water Hampering Kissimmee Bite For Tampa Pro Bass Tournament
Cold fronts and high water have made bass fishing tough on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, according to John Taylor, who with his wife Wendy runs the Tampa Pro Bass Tournament Trail which will hold its fourth tournament of the season on the chain Sunday.
“It's depending on the weather again,” Taylor said, noting that a cold front is moving across the area the first part of this week. “Kissimmee is tough when cold fronts hit.”
And the high water left from heavy summer rains is not helping matters either, he said.
“There is a lot more water than normal this time of year. We had a bunch of rain a number of days in a row back in the summer that filled up everything. It's still pretty high, about three feet higher than it should be this time of year.”
Before the cold front this week anglers were catching fish outside the grass lines on Senkos, Rat-L-traps and spinnerbaits, Taylor said
“Kissimmee is a real good flipping lake but the flipping bite had been off. This time of year flipping is kind of tough anyway,” he said.
While the colder winter weather seemingly has stalled the bite some, Taylor said a good hard cold snap is needed to put the fish in the mood to move shallow and start preparing for the spawn.
“The fish should start migrating back to the shallow water pretty soon,” he said. “It's really kind of strange. You need a cold snap to trigger the fish but we have not had that yet so the big movement so far is not doing a whole lot. They are catching some fish outside the grass, but they have not moved all the way in yet. You can go shallow and catch some small fish, young buck bass.”
Even with the economy down and anglers having to pick the tournaments they can afford to fish, Taylor said the Tampa Pro Trail continues to do well on the Kissimmee Chain, East and West Lake Toho and Lake Istokpoga.
The 30-year-old trail is the longest running trail of its kind in Central Florida, said Taylor who bought the trail with his wife 17 years ago. He said there is a core group of about 35 to 38 teams who fish regularly and over the last four or five years the tournaments have averaged 43 to 47 boats.
“Actually, last month at Istokpoga was our biggest turnout in three years. We had 53 boats, which is a good turnout for that lake and we think Kissimmee should be about the same this Sunday. We always draw really well on Kissimmee,” he said.
“We have a lot of faithful anglers who hang with us even in this down economy,” he said. “We don't make any money with the trail. We do it because of the people who are in it. The anglers who fish with us are good people. We have no problems and no headaches.”
The Tampa Pro Trail starts in October and fishes up to May, with the annual classic in June. Anglers qualify for the classic by finishing in the top 30 in points or by fishing six of the eight tournaments.”
The membership fee is $25 per angler and the entry fee per tournament is $70, which includes $10 for big bass.
“Each tournament we pay back at least the top three finishers, top five if we draw more than 35 boats, and a big bass pot. At the end of the season we pay back the top two points teams. Our accumulated classic fund for the season is paid out at our two-day classic in June,” Taylor said
With three tournaments already in the book for this season, Taylor noted that Rich Fitzgibbon and Jeremy Cannon have staked a solid claim to the points title, leading the tied second place teams of Bobby Wooten and Richie Upchurch and John and Wendy Taylor by 15 points.
“they have done really well and been pretty consistent all year,” Taylor said of Fitzgibbon and Cannon. “They are good fishermen and they have fished with us for the last four or five years.”
Tampa Pro Bass Tournament Trail
Sun, Jan 8, 2012
Kissimmee Chain
Camp Lester Fishing Camp
Call John and Wendy Taylor (727) 789-0525 or (727) 403-6861
home.roadrunner.com/~tampapro/index.html
December Winners Hoping For More Of The Same For Berry's Team Tournament On Lake Sinclair Next Saturday
Matt Henry and his partner, Justin Kimmel, caught the winning limit in the Dec. 10 tournament of the Berry's Team Tournament Trail on Georgia's Lake Sinclair and he is hoping the strategy they discovered that day will take them to the winner's circle in the second tournament of the year next Saturday.
“In December four of our fish came on a Shakey Head and the fifth one we caught on a jig,” said Henry who founded his college fishing team at Georgia State College in Milledgeville. “And every one of those fish came after lunchtime.”
Henry said they put two fish in the boat all morning while fishing a pattern they developed in practice. That did not work for them in the tournament so they made adjustments at midday.
“Within an hour we had 16 pounds in the boat and we caught one more in the last 45 minutes to put us on top. All our fish came in about 10 feet of water.”
Henry and Kimmel, a singer and guitar player, primarily in Christian music who recently published his first CD and is developing a new CD, weighed in 18.92 pounds to win $3,500 in the December tournament.
“It seems like fishing should be fairly similar next Saturday,” Henry said. “It all depends on the weather. There will be a cold snap Monday and Tuesday and then it will warm up again into the 60s. They are staying close to shallow water so they should fish very similar.”
Although Henry had not had a chance to get on the water and check things out he planned to take a buddy fishing this Friday.
“He's just back from being deployed in Afghanistan. Hopefully, we will find something out that won't change too much before the tournament,” he said.
Bobby Berry, who founded the trail with his two sons, said he hopes to have 100 boats again on Jan. 7.
“In December, we had 116 bots, just three boats less than the year before and about 15 less than the year before that. We are down some, but Thank God we are doing better than most tournament series.”
Berry said 15 new teams fished the December tournament, which is positive for the series.
“Hopefully, we will get those back for the next tournament and also some of the old ones who were out Christmas shopping in December,” he said.
The Berry’s Tournament Trail is somewhat unique in that all eight of the tournaments, plus the season-ending classic, are held on Oconee and Sinclair. Four regular season tournaments are held on Oconee and four are held on Sinclair, with anglers having to fish at least five tournaments to qualify for the classic, which means they have to fish both lakes at least once.
“It equalizes things,” noted Berry who started the series on Oconee and Sinclair when local anglers tired of driving all over Georgia to compete in bass tournaments. Most of the participants in his series are all local anglers.
And the classic itself, which will be held June 2-3, will start off on Lake Oconee on the first day and move to Sinclair for the second day.
“We will hold a barbecue after the classic on Sunday and feed everybody,” Berry said.
Entry fee for the Berry’s tournaments is $160 per team, with 87.5 percent payback to one in every six boats. Berry said he encourages a family atmosphere at the tournaments and welcomes children to come and fish and to help return the weighed-in fish to the water.
“We have a lot of excellent fishermen and a lot of good people fishing with us,” Berry said. “It’s a pleasure to conduct a tournament where everybody enjoys it.”
Berry's Team Tournament Trail
Sat, Jan 7, 2012
Lake Sinclair
Little River Park
Call 770-787-6179
Fish Biting So Well Anglers Want Smith Mountain Lake Winter Trail Extended A Month
Bass fishing is so good on Smith Mountain lake right now that Phillip Van Der Veer, who runs the Smith Mountain Lake Winter Trail, and a buddy caught two dozen nice bass in a four-hour trip Monday.
We caught them on crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a couple on a Carolina rig,” said Van Der Veer. “Our best fish came on crankbaits in 10 to 12 feet of water and our biggest fish was right at 5 pounds.”
Van Der Veer will hold the last December tournament in the Winter Trail on Saturday and the series has gone so well that anglers are asking for more, he said. The Trail ran every Saturday in December except Dec. 24, and is scheduled to run every Saturday in January, but Van Der Veer said he might be able to extend it into February since the anglers want it.
“A lot of the guys said they wanted to keep it going. I won't be able to do it the first weekend in February because I am on the board for Anglers Choice and that is the weekend for our open house, but we may be able to extend the series on into February if the weather holds out.”
So far, he noted, the weather has been very cooperative this year.
“For the next four weeks or so the weather is supposed to have temperatures in the mid-50s for the most part so the water temperature is probably going to stay fairly stable. It is still in the mid-50s so it may drop into the upper 40s, but that should only make fishing better,” he said. “I was checking our records from last year and by this time last year it was already in the lower 40s.”
With the water temperature holding in the mid-50s, Van Der Veer said a good jig bite is still going on, while some anglers are catching fish on crankbaits and spinnerbaits.
“The fish are in different stages and they are catching them from 5 feet out to 25 feet of water so there are still a lot of different styles of fishing that are good,” he said. “We've been averaging 15 to 20 boats a tournament and it's been taking 18 pounds to win. We weighed in one fish in our first tournament at almost 6 pounds and we've had a 4-pound, 11-ounce fish and a 4-pound, 14-ounce weighed in. We've had some really nice smallmouths brought in, with several over 4 pounds.”
A lot of limits are also being weighed, he said.
“We had one tournament with 16 boats and 13 of them weighed in a limit.”
The series, which is sponsored by Jiffy Automotive Service in Vinton, Va., which is owned by Van Der Veer, and by Anglers Choice Marine, the Bass Boat Superstore in Martinsville, Va., ran every Saturday in December except Dec. 24, and will run every Saturday in January. Entry fee is $40 with an optional big fish entry of $10.
Tournament details and rules can be found on the Anglers Choice website, www.anglerschoicemarine.com. Details are also available at www.basssml.com.
Smith Mountain Lake Winter Trail
Sat, Dec 31, 2011
Smith Mountain Lake
Smith Mountain Lake State Park
Call Phillip Van Der Veer at 540-580-9319
Tournament winner Gene Webster gives us his keys to fishing Lake Wylie this fall and winter!
Local tournament angler Gene Webster has won three tournaments on Lake Wylie in the last 2 months: the Carolina Angler's Team Trail Fall Final, the CS Motorsports Tournament and the Parks Jones Benefit Tournament. Here are his keys to fishing Lake Wylie this fall and winter:
"Well the fall transition and the lack of big bites have made Lake Wylie tough to figure out for a lot of tournament guys. The fish have been grouped up under big balls of shad in the creek channels and are notoriously here today and gone tomorrow with the shad movement. Numbers of fish have not been an issue with most of the guys catching 60, 70 or even 100 bass a day. Problem is that most of these fish are in the two pound range and put you in that dreaded 11 to 12 pound range in tournaments.
The key to winning this fall has been finding the better quality kicker fish to go along with the smaller limits. Four and five pound fish have been very scarce this fall but they go a long way in moving you up in the standings. A lot of my strategy this fall is to catch a limit of the smaller fish as quickly as possible then spend the rest of the day hunting a kicker fish or two on big fish baits such as deep diving crank baits, jigs and big spinner baits.
The buzz on Wylie has been the Alabama rig and it has been amazing to watch the phenomenon that has happened with the fisherman. Every boat in each tournament has one tied on. It literally has been viewed as the magic bullet but for me the jury is still out. Don't get me wrong it will catch the fool out of them but my experience has been it catches a ton of smaller fish. I have watched fisherman literally stop fishing anything but this rig this fall and it has shown in the standings. My experience in the fall has taught me that the bigger fish do not want to compete with the massive schools of two pounders to feed. The bigger fish for me have come from isolated pieces of cover off shore. The bigger "rouge" fish can use this isolated cover as an ambush point and not compete with the masses to feed. DD22's and a big jig are perfect for catching these rouge fish that seem to be opportunistic feeders when the current pulls by an easy meal.
This strategy has worked in each of the wins this fall but it isn't easy. If it where; it would be the Alabama rig. You really have to spend time on the water and use you're electronic to find these hidden treasure pieces of cover. These isolated pieces of cover, be it a stump, rock or channel turn will only hold a fish or two at most but they are the tournament winning fish in most cases. I can think of one or two key fish in each tournament win this fall that was the game changer from finishing in that 11 to 12 pound range and winning the tournament.
Winter time fishing has begun to start materializing with the cooler water temperatures as well. Wylie was in the mid to low 50's surface temperature the last couple of weeks and the grub and jerk bait bite are starting to show up. The bite has been sporadic with these techniques and seems to revolve around water movement and wind. On the windier days a jerk bait out on points is a hard pattern to beat this time of year."
Alabama Rigâ® Hottest Thing Going For Winter Bass On Lake Wylie
Lake Wylie has always been known as a good wintertime lake for bass, but local anglers have latched onto the latest fishing fad to make it even more productive, according to tournament pro Andy Montgomery of nearby Blacksburg, S.C.
“From what I am hearing The Alabama Rig® has taken over Lake Wylie,” Montgomery said. “My dad and (luremaker) Louie Hull fished a team tournament on Wylie last weekend and they said every boat they saw was throwing The Alabama Rig®.”
The new fishing apparatus burst onto the national fishing scene in October when veteran bass pro Paul Elias won the Walmart FLW Tour Open on Alabama's Lake Guntersville, leading wire to wire, and weighing in a whopping total of 102 pounds, 8 ounces, for the four days. His margin of victory was a staggering 17 pounds.
The Alabama Rig®, produced by Mann’s Bait Company Inc., consists of a hard-bait body that trails five wires with a swivel attached to the end of each wire. Both soft and hard plastic lures can then be attached by the swivels. The idea behind the presentation, which mirrors a smaller version of the saltwater umbrella rig, is to mimic a school of baitfish.
“I can see that The Alabama Rig® will probably work all the way through the winter,” Montgomery said. “From December all the way through February the fish are relating to bait and this rig is an excellent way to catch them when they are relating to bait.”
While The Alabama Rig® is the latest fishing fad, some of the old tried and true methods are also excellent choices when fishing Lake Wylie, Montgomery said.
“In the past the big thing on lake Wylie in the winter was grub fishing and it still works. Fishing a grub around the baitfish is still a big deal and is probably the No. 1 technique on Lake Wylie in the wintertime. You can also catch some bass in the winter on a suspending jerkbait.”
Montgomery said the water temperature in Lake Wylie is normally in the low to mid-50-degree range by December, and drops down to the mid-40s or so during the colder part of winter and stays in that range until February when the days start getting longer and periodic warming trends start to bring the water temperature back up.
“It starts warming back up gradually into the low to mid-50s by the end of February. Starting in late January and on through February is when the crankbait bite starts getting good,” he said. “Little crankbaits, like little ShadRaps and little square-billed crankbaits in crawfish color work best this time of year. The crawfish start coming out when the water begins to warm up a little bit and the bass love crawfish.”
This is the time of year when some of the bigger bass are caught, all on the smaller crankbaits worked along shallow rocky points as the bass are starting to move in close to pre-spawn areas and they are in a feeding mode, he said.
One other factor makes Lake Wylie a good wintertime lake, Montgomery noted, two hothole areas from electricity-producing plants located on the lake, one in the South Fork River area and one in Allison Creek.
“The one in the South Fork heats the whole creek, so it is a good spot in the winter. When it warms the water you can catch them around piers and if the water is a little dirty you can even catch some on a spinnerbait. And the crankbait bite starts a little earlier up there, too.”
Montgomery has spent recent weeks since the end of the major tournament season “rabbit hunting, deer hunting and striper and crappie fishing. That's my life right now, that and keeping my wife happy,” he said.
He can enjoy it for a few more weeks until the first Bassmaster Southern Open on the Harris Chain of Lakes in January.
When not on the pro tournament trail Montgomery operates the Rack & Reel Outfitters with fellow tournament angler Matt Arey of Shelby, N.C. Sponsored by Ranger Boats, Zoom Baits and Evinrude Outboards, Montgomery guides on both Lakes Wylie and Norman. To book a fishing trip, call him at (704) 692-6642 or call (704) 484-7715. Check out the guide service website at: www.rackandreeloutfitters.com.
2011 Year End Wrap Up with AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh plus Team Trails Galore in 2012!
AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh helps us look back at a great year as well as look fwd to what will be an amazing 2012 with the incredible success of all the gigantic Team Trails!!
Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Jason Williamson demo's the ALABAMA RIG at Sportsman's Warehouse!
Buckeye Lures Pro Jason Williamson joins us at Sportsman's Warehouse for a great demo of the ever popular ALABAMA RIG with some J-Will Swimbait Heads that work like a dream!
Higher Water Level Keeps Bass Shallower On Lake Murray Through The Winter
Historically, when winter descended on Lake Murray in South Carolina, bass anglers moved out to the drops on the main lake and fished deep with jigs, but that is no longer the situation, said veteran tournament angler and retired bass guide Doug Lown of Newberry, S.C.
“Since they started holding the water level higher in the winter months we don't seem to catch as many fish out on the main lake on the deep drops as we used to,” Lown said. “The fish seem to move in closer to the little bays and ditches and some even get back in the creeks now.”
December, January and February are generally considered the winter season on Lake Murray, he said, with the fall season still predominant in early December and the pre-spawn season starting to kick in by about mid-February.
The other factor that has changed bass fishing drastically – and not just in the winter – is the increased prevalence of blueback herring, Lown said.
“The fish feed on bait now so you don't catch as many on a jig or typical bottom type stuff that you would normally fish in the winter. You can still catch fish on a Shakey Head, but the primary bite on Lake Murray – and on all lakes with herring – is a baitfish bite.
“You can catch them in clear water early in the day, but I look for water that has a little more color to it, in the mid and upper lake. The fish seem to bite a little longer during the day back in the creeks there.”
When the water temperature drops down into the mid-40-degree range, Lown said the bass seem to suspend and can be caught fairly shallow on a jerkbait early in the morning on rocky points with the wind blowing on them.
“The jerkbait seems to work really good if the water temperature is below 47-48 degrees. From Bear Creek and the Shull Island area down to the dam the water is really clear, so you have to have the wind. If there is no wind, I don't bother to go down there.”
If the water temperature gets really cold, Lown said, some fish can still be caught on a jigging spoon – but you have to find them.
“You have to use your electronics to find the balls of bait. The last drop at the end of extended shallow points is usually where you locate the fish in 35 to 40 feet of water. You can find some fish close to the bottom around the bait.”
The primary tactics for bass on Lake Murray from December through February, with January normally the coldest month of the year, are crankbaits and jerkbaits, with some caught on a jig, Lown said. By late January, he noted, the larger fish will begin to move in and stage close to where they are going to pull in to spawn later. Those fish will continue to feed.
“It's almost a pre-spawn period. You start getting some warmer days, especially in the latter part of February and the fish will start staging up on little secondary points. Sometimes there will be an early morning bite and, gradually if there are some warmer days, some fish will pull up on docks and start relating to cover around the banks.”
That movement towards the banks will happen even if colder weather prevails through the end of February, Lown said, because the fish instinctively begin their journey towards the spawn as the days get longer.
“The fish key in on the photo period. As it gets longer they know it and start moving in and staging close to where they are going to spawn,” Lown said. “I generally start looking in creeks, bays and short pockets off the main lake at that time. It is the same all over the lake, although the spawn usually occurs earlier down the lake in the clearer water and a little later in the upper lake where the water is a little dingier.”
Crankbaits come into play once the water temperature rises into the upper 50s and low 60s, he said, and some can also be caught during this period on a Shakey Head worked on secondary points.
Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Jason Williamson in the House at Sportsman's Warehouse!
Buckeye Lures Pro and Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Jason Williamson takes a minute or two to go over his super successful J Will Swimbait Jigs at Sportsman's Warehouse in Columbia, SC!!
2011 Top 3 At The Ryan Newman Charity Tournament
Ron Wolfarth and Larry Inman WIN the 6th Annual Ryan Newman Foundation Charity Tournament on Lake Norman with 5 fish for 13.14 and go home with a new $40,000 Boat Package!
2011 Ryan Newman Weigh-In Highlights
With a record 197 boats launching Sat morning at Blythe Landing for the 6th Annual Ryan Newman Charity Tournament, here is a quick take on the scene coming in and on stage...........
Cooling Water Should Make Spotted Bass More Active For Airport Marine Fall Buddy Trail Tournament Saturday
The water in Alabama's Lay Lake is finally cooling down some which means the spotted bass bite should be getting stronger just in time for the Airport Marine EZ Fall Buddy Trail Tournament Saturday, said Flynn Gerald, tournament director.
“The spots get stronger and stronger when the water cools down,” Gerald said. “Anglers catch them then off seawalls and ledges on topwater lures. If they are running water, they can also go upriver and catch them in the swift water below the dam.”
Spotted bass won't be the only game for Saturday's tournament, however, he noted. There should still be a good largemouth bite going this weekend, too.
“I have a good friend who caught some good fish flipping so there will probably be some fish caught flipping and I think you can still catch some out of the grass on topwater, too.
Saturday's tournament is the last event in the Airport Marine EZ Fall Buddy Trail before the Classic January 7 on the anglers' choice of lakes on the fall trail schedule – Lay Lake, Lake Mitchell, Jordan Lake or Lake Logan Martin.
Entry fee in the Buddy Trail is $100 per boat, with a one-time initiation fee of $50 per angler and an optional big fish entry of $10 per tournament. All proceeds will be paid back in full at the Classic in January. Anglers only have to fish one of the tournaments to qualify for the classic.
“We already have 117 individuals qualified for the classic, so we should have a good classic turnout,” Gerald said, adding that there is over $5,000 in the classic purse so far.
He also announced that the annual Airport Marine Charity Tournament will be held April 14 with a big payback guaranteed including $5,000 for first place.
“We are going to give away $25,000, including $5,500 in cash draw prizes,” he said. The charity tournament raises money for the Boys and Girls Clubs.
Airport Marine EZ Fall Buddy Trail
Sat, Dec 10, 2011
Lay Lake
Beeswax Creek Boat Ramp
Call Flynn Gerald 205-678-9666
Fishing Alabama's Jordan Lake On A Very Cold Morning...but A Nice Sunny Day!
Recently I have visited lakes located all throughout north to south Alabama. My travels have taken me to Alabama's massive Guntersville Lake and Pickwick Lake, both located on the Tennessee River System in north Alabama. Lake Eufaula on the Chattahoocee River System on the Alabama Georgia state line and nearby close to the town of Alexander city, located on the Tallapoosa River System, Alabama's Lake Martin.
JORDAN LAKE - ALABAMA'S LOWER COOSA RIVER SYSTEM
By Reed Montgomery / Reeds Guide Service
Birmingham, Alabama (205) 663-1504
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
" Over 40 Years Guiding, Fishing and Exploring Every Lake in Alabama For Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass and Striped Bass "
Always Call on Reeds Guide Service...first! Alabama's (and Jordan Lake's) Oldest Professional, Freshwater Fishing Guide Service!
Impounded 1928
Lake level: Full Pool
Water Temperature: Mornings 57 / Evenings 60
Water Clarity: Clear main lake, some creeks stained
Air Temperature: High 59 / Low 26
Predicted Weather: Sunny, Highs Mid-60's / Lows Mid-40's Friday, Sat. & Sun. 60-80 percent of chance of rain Monday and Tuesday
Even of the many lakes situated on the Coosa River System (six to be exact), I have taken clients of my guide service fishing for bass of all kinds including several trips to Logan Martin Lake, Lay lake and one of my favorite lakes, located on the lower Coosa River System near the state capitol of Montgomery, Jordan Lake.
But this time, after the weather man predicted some very cold weather statewide earlier this week a client (we will call John) rescheduled a pre-planned Tuesday trip. Once again tough conditions greeted us that morning, even though it was much warmer that evening near 60 degrees, the day started at 26 degrees.
I knew my work was cut out for me as I met John at the boat dock in the lake's headwaters, near upper Mitchell lake dam tailrace waters. We would attempt to catch some of those big, Coosa River breed of spotted bass, maybe a largemouth bass or striped bass, all three bass species that thrive in the lake's headwaters, feeding and constantly fattening up for the winter months ahead.
Jordan Lake has the Coosa River breed of spotted bass that range lake wide, from the lake's headwaters to the lower lake's dam. On this trip I launched in the lake's headwaters and met John who was just just looking for some of those big Jordan Lake spotted bass, some big, striped bass and the lake's really well known largemouth bass. But it had been 7 years since John had fished Jordan Lake. So, I was his guide today.
Our target that day was the spotted bass, while fishing on a cold, late-week morning launching out of Coosa River boat launch (formally called Mama Jeans), located in the upper lake, only 1/2 mile from upper reservoir, Mitchell lake dam. These spotted bass always bite better on cold winter days. As we saw, with only one largemouth bass for our hard earned efforts that day.
In all, we had about 10 bass, including one hybrid-striped bass John hooked on an old Bagley's Killer B balsa wood crankbait, looking to be about 3-4 pounds. That is, after we only got a brief look at the tackle-testing bass, before it escaped capture, coming off the hook right as I went to net it.
Some visitors to this lake are just taking a day to just relax and go fishing, often in some great weather in the low-to-mid 70's during one of December's unexpected winter warming trends. Other anglers, are here practicing or competing for either a local bass tournament, or an end-of-the year major bass tournament trail championship. Some, anglers do not mind braving the elements, like John, here on a cold, December first morning. Just looking for some big bass bites, caught on any type of lure!
Well one type of lure produced all of the bass we caught that day. As a matter of fact, we could have fished these types of lures only...on this cold, but eventually sunny
day! What type was it? Crankbaits.
The weather that morning as the dawn broke, was in the upper-20's. The long one hour drive (of close to 50 miles from Birmingham, Al.), was well worth the trip as we did find some cooperating bass, but on this day, no really big bass! Of course, as we launched the boat that morning we were all alone on the lake as well. My boat, its seats, the motor, even the entire boat's carpet was covered in a thin sheet of ice!
We began the day fishing near the dam along its boulder-strewn banks and nearby rock bluffs, including moving down the lake while fishing some small weedy cuts, standing timber, small pockets and main lake flats, mostly found in the upper lake, a few miles from where we launched.
To begin with (while unfortunantly John was picking out his first backlash of the morning) I tried a number of lures with no results. In all, I had tried up to 5 lures (just to try and entice a bass to bite), by the time John got back to fishing. I did mange to boat 2 bass on a Fat Free Shad crankbait, one largemouth bass about 2 pounds and a small keeper sized spotted bass. Hoping John's would be next, I poured myself a warm cup of coffee and readied the net.
Here's what worked best for me and John that day;
Crankbaits are only one of a dozen types of lures an angler can fish in and around Jordan Lake's grass, wood cover and rock cover. Fishing a jig combo along this cover is a big bass tactic (great lure choice around any weedy impoundment like Jordan Lake usually at full pool during the winter months), and there are loads of cover for an angler to target on this lake. But we did not get a fish on a jig combo, even after we both fished these types of lures hard all day
On this lower Coosa River reservoir jig combos are a very good "crayfish imitating lure" as waters begin to cool and the lake's bass feed and fatten up for the winter months ahead. With its often clear water, Jordan lake's largemouth bass and spotted bass can be fooled with a number of this lures while fishing the lake's weeds, wood and rock cover. But today the conditions had changed.
With cool weather and varied conditions such as no wind and lots of very evident current, a crankbait may be needed for most bass fishing situations. It also covers water fast while still fishing slow with stop-and-go presentations. Crankbaits get reaction strikes and they always fool some cooperating bass, even on cold days with water temps close to 57 degrees. On some days any bass are better than no bass at all. We were glad to even get bit.
* On Jordan Lake, even in December with the lake's winter water cooling down somewhat, there are always still some cooperating bass to target.
Water temperatures can be close to 60 degrees right now. Especially if this southern reservoir has been under a few days warming trend. By evenings, like seen just recently, water temps can rise into the low-to-mid 60's. That's over 10 degrees in one day! So by midday to late evenings, although it may be cold in the morning these feeding bass can get much more active in these much warmer waters by evening! Even on cool but sunny days, the lake's water temperature may rise 5 degrees!
If not interested in fishing the lakes headwaters near the upper Mitchell lake dam, you can always choose to fish along Jordan Lake's stump-filled flats, creek flats and main lake drop-offs, around islands, or within any type of wood cover you can fish a worm, lizard, tube bait, creature bait, or jig combo all within laying trees, tree limbs, in brush piles, around stumps and in and along Jordan's aquatic weeds and along rock bluffs.
Any point featuring wood, weed and rock cover should be fished hard with a variety of lures, in many ways. Those thicker, more matted-type aquatic weeds, like seen on Jordan Lake in the summer months, are good now for flipping or pitchin' various types of sinking, weedless type lures.
Like said, deep diving crankbaits can produce big bass that many other anglers often miss on Jordan Lake. Or you can choose to fish with lures like spinnerbaits right up in the rocks, around wood or grass cover, or try shallow-to-deep running crank baits along deep weed lines, (shad colored) and lipless lures, also plastic worms, lizards and tube baits.
During winter warning trends try topwater lures like buzz baits, zara spooks, poppers and prop baits fished in and around the lake's grass and wood cover. Frog imitations are very weedless and one of the best lures in early winter fished around the lake's grass. But few anglers try using topwater lures in winter.
On this day we had mostly spotted bass bass, around ten bass, some weighing up to 2 pounds, to be exact. But even as early as next week things will improve, mostly for the betterment of the angler that will be there fishing Jordan lake, with predicted weather in the mid-to-upper 60's! Then look for other techniques to fool these wintertime bass. Like even schooling bass!
* Jordan Lake has loads of schooling bass in the winter, seen around the dam, busting shad in open water situations, up in shallow creeks and along main lake flats that heat up fast on warm sunny days...all kinds of bass that can be fooled on a variety of lures!
Although many anglers may just choose to fish Jordan lake's headwaters and cover-filled banks for more easier to locate fish, always keep in mind to have schoolie lures like jerk baits, swim baits, crank baits, lipless lures and various types of topwater lures rigged and ready! For some very unexpected and explosive action during these early winter feeding frenzies on Jordan Lake...always good throughout the month of December!
Or you can always call on Reeds Guide Service...first! "Jordan Lake and all of Alabama's oldest, professional - bass fishing only - guide service for over 40 years."
* REEDS GUIDE SERVICE
Only one professional, Alabama fishing guide service can claim to be "Alabama's oldest professional fishing guide service." Guiding on Jordan Lake for over 40 years. Reed Montgomery, owner of Reeds Guide Service based out of Birmingham, Alabama has taken anglers from all over the globe to fish Alabama's many lakes, offering bass fishing state wide, year round. Targeting largemouth bass, spotted bass, small mouth bass and striped bass. (See: the pictures link on my website www.fishingalabama.com).
Same rates for either one or two anglers with discount rates available on two day trips, to any Alabama lake. We welcome (with several qualified guides and insured boats), corporate guided trips, family outing fishing trips, parent and child learning trips, lake residents, both the tournament angler and the novice angler. All are welcome!
Call today (205) 663-1504 or E-mail me [email protected] for more info. Or see my website www.fishingalabama.com for my guide service info, seasonal fishing tips and lake reports for all of Alabama's lakes, fishing articles, fishing links, pictures and more!
GUIDED FISHING TRIPS FOR ANGLERS FOR CHRISTMAS!
* KEEP IN MIND CHRISTMAS IS NOT FAR AWAY! A GUIDED FISHING TRIP WITH REED MONTGOMERY OF REEDS GUIDE SERVICE FOR, "THAT LOVED ONE THAT LOVES TO FISH" MAKES A GREAT GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS! E-MAIL OR CALL TODAY (205) 663-1504 TO RESERVE YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT CERTIFICATE !
* WBRC FOX 6 T V "GOOD DAY ALABAMA" - Call in with your fishing questions (205) 741-7474 as Reed Montgomery answers with his, "Ask the Angler" question and answer session. Reed Montgomery (an Alabama native) is on this very popular morning T V show the last Tuesday of each month. Reed is on just after 8 a.m. Central time.
Reed has been on "Good Day Alabama" for over 6 years on Birmingham's WBRC Fox 6 Television (seen state wide). Mark your calendar and make plans to tune in to "Good Day Alabama" morning show! Reed's next live appearance will be on Tuesday morning just after 8 a.m. on December 27 of 2011!
* NEW! ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE SOUTH'S BEST BARGAINS? - Check out www.bargainssouth.com A great discount website to find anything at a great low price! Order online! Christmas is not far away! Find those hard-to-find (and often very cute) gifts, for those hard-to-shop-for loved ones in your life..all at the best prices in the south! Check back often for new added items! We are working on new categories! Including. Fishing items, that will be added soon...
* HUNTING AND FISHING - Check out www.marksoutsdoors.com for all your fishing and hunting needs! Great gifts for Christmas, now on sale!
* NEW AND USED BOATS - See www.airportmarine.com for new and used boats, end-of-year boat clearance sales, great parts department and expert mechanic work!
* BASS TOURNAMENTS - See www.airportmarinetrails.com Fall/Winter buddy trail now going on!
* FISHING TIPS, LAKE REPORTS, FISHING ARTICLES, BASS GUIDE SERVICE INFO AND MORE! - See www.bamabass.com
* WORLD'S BEST BASS BOAT - See www.rangerboats.com
* COMING SOON! - THE BIRMINGHAM BOAT SHOW! - See their website www.birminghamboatshow.com for more info on this huge, annual Birmingham Boat and Sport show, held in Birmingham each winter season for over 40 years! Scheduled for January 19-22 Thursday - Sunday of 2012!
* REED MONTGOMERY'S TENTH ANNUAL (FREE!) 2012 KIDS FISHING SHOW! - To be held on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the 2012 Birmingham Boat Show! (SEE THEIR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO.) * Donations are welcome and donators are promoted on stage by either you, a representative of the donating company, or promoted by Reed Montgomery!
REED'S 2012 KIDS FISHING SHOW DONATIONS - WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Come help us make this the best kids fishing show to date! Donations of anything shirts, hats, decals, stickers, pens, pencils, fishing lures, line, rods, reels, tackle boxes. Anything! In January of 2011 we had over 500 kids and their parents attend this very popular kids fishing show! Bring yours...its all free and lots of nice donated prizes!
* Call (205) 663-1504 or e-mail me [email protected] with your donations!
I will commit to giving a good "promotional plug" for all donators during the 2012 Kids Fishing Show!
Thanks and Good Fishin'!
Reed Montgomery / Outdoor Writer
Owner / Reeds Guide Service
Alabaster, Alabama (205) 663-1504
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.fishingalabama.com
" Over 40 Years Guiding, Fishing and Exploring Every Lake in Alabama For Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass and Striped Bass "
Always Call on Reeds Guide Service...first!
Alabama's Oldest Professional, Freshwater Fishing Guide Service!
2011 6Th Annual Ryan Newman Tournament Preview
AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh joins us to preview this Saturday's 6th Annual Ryan Newman Foundation Charity Tournament on Lake Norman.......with over 150 boats already registered, we are looking fwd to one heck of a Tournament!!
Pinnacle Fishing Pro Staffer Dave Wolak on the Water again with the new Optimus Spinning Reel!
Pinnacle Fishing Pro Dave Wolak continues his on the water series with us on the new Pinnacle Optimus Spinning Reel!
Haywoods Hope Pendulum Swings Back In Ryan Newman Charity Tournament
There is an interesting dynamic to the way the top finishers in the Ryan Newman Foundation Charity Fishing Tournament has played out the last couple of years and one of the anglers involved hopes it keeps working for the sixth annual tournament on North Carolina's Lake Norman Dec. 10.
“The year before when we won the tournament the guys who finished second came back and won it last year – and we finished second,” said Christopher Haywood of Stanley, N.C., who won the 2009 tournament with his brother, Matt Haywood of Lincolnton, N.C.
The winners in 2010 were Jody Wright and Lester Elton who weighed in 16 pounds, 13 ounces while the Haywoods had 13 pounds 13 ounces. The Haywoods won in 2009 with 17.3 pounds.
“Last year we said we needed some rain and muddy water, and colder water,” Christopher said. “Neither happened and the weights did go down. Last year before we weighed in, I figured we did not have much of a chance. I figured it would take so much to win and we did not have that much.”
If the dynamic that has worked the last several years keeps going, however, the Haywoods could be poised to win again this year – an outcome Haywood said he would thoroughly enjoy.
“We will fish it as hard as we can and bring in what we have and see what happens,” he said.
But for the hoped for outcome to occur, he said, it would help to get some rain and colder temperatures.
“In tournaments on the lake the last few weeks it has not taken a whole lot to get in the money,” he said. “I hope they will be biting better by the time of the tournament.”
Haywood said he and his brother will stick with the bread and butter tactics that have helped them win on Lake Norman before – mainly working crankbaits around any structure that has water on it.
“We are fishing spots, throwing crankbaits around brushpiles. We've got a few boat ramps, and we fish rocks. Anything like that is good.”
The main thing about fishing the Ryan Newman Tournament, he said, is just being out there and mingling with all the celebrities. Among celebrities lined up for this year's seventh annual Charity Dinner and Auction on Friday, Dec. 9, are NASCAR’s Ryan Newman, team owner and 2011 Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart, plus drivers Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex, Jr. and Regan Smith, several professional fishermen and Nashville song writers Billy Montana, Kendell Marvel and others.
Anglers can enter for $150 per two-man team. For an additional $50 anglers will be entered in the Big Fish contest. Early registration ended Nov. 29.
The first place team will win a 2011 Nitro® Z9 equipped with a motor and electronics provided by Bass Pro Shops. Other prizes include cash, Bass Pro Shops gift cards, trolling motors, GPS systems, depth finders, rod/reels, outdoor equipment, tackle boxes and more. Prizes totaling over $60,000 will be awarded to the top 12 teams.
BASS will facilitate the weigh-in with special guest emcees – four-time BASSmaster Champion Kevin VanDam and Outdoor Channel Host Mark Zona. The launch begins at 7:30 am. Registration will be held at Bass Pro Shops in Concord, N.C. on Thursday, Dec. 8, from 4 to 9 p.m. in the Fishing Department or at the boat ramp on Saturday from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m.
Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman and his wife, Krissie, established the Ryan Newman Foundation in January 2005. The mission of the foundation is to educate and encourage people to spay/neuter their pets and to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters; to educate children and adults about the importance of conservation so the beauty of the great outdoors can be appreciated by future generations; and to provide college scholarship funding through the Rich Vogler Scholarship program to students interested in auto racing careers.
“Last year was our most successful charity event weekend ever,” Newman said in a letter to sponsors. “Over 500 guests attended the sold out dinner and 128 boats participated in the fishing tournament. The two-day event raised $312,000.00 for animal welfare and conservation.”
Ryan Newman Foundation 6th Annual Charity Fishing Tournament
Sat, Dec 10, 2011
Lake Norman
Blythe Landing
Warm Water Should Make For Good Fishing In Old Salt Bassmasters Open Tournament
The four-tournament Old Salt Bassmasters Open Team Winter Series, which will hold the second tournament of the series Sunday on North Carolina's Belews Lake, is open to all anglers, not just “old salts,” said tournament director Jim Martin.
In fact, anglers don't don't have to be Navy men to be members of the Old Salt Bassmasters, said Martin, who explained that the club, a member of the Virginia Bass Federation, was formed by a group of anglers in their 50s and 60s about 15 years ago.
“It didn't have anything to do with fishing. It had to do with age,” said Martin, who at 73 is the oldest current member of the club who is still fishing regularly. But, even at his age, Martin was not one of the charter members, having been dealing with some physical problems at the time the club was formed.
“This four-tournament trail is a kind of money-making project for us. We send our top six anglers to the State Six-Man Team Tournament and pay their entry fees, motel accommodations and some on their gas expenses. We also send out No. 1 angler in the club as a boater and our No. 2 angler as a non-boater to the state Mr. Bass Tournament and pay their entry fees, motels and other expenses.”
The Winter Trail has been going for about a dozen years, he said, but the club also schedules a nine-tournament club series throughout the year, fishing at Kerr/Buggs Island, Gaston and Philpot in Virginia and High Rock, Mayo and Hyco in North Carolina.
“Through the Virginia Bass Federation we have regional tournaments and another fellow and I fish all of those. For the past four or five years I've qualified for the state, so I am still pretty active. I feel really fortunate, although this past year has been a struggle,” Martin said. Rotator Cup problems forced him to have surgery and he has had to fish with one arm, he said.
Belews Lake in Forsyth and Rockingham Counties is an excellent lake to fish in winter, Martin said, because the water is always warm due to the hot water discharge from the coal-fired electric power generating plant on the lake.
“That keeps the water temperature from the low 60s to the low 70s, even in the winter, so fishing is always pretty good,” Martin said. “You can catch fish from 2 to 3 feet deep all the way down to 50 to 60 feet deep.”
Although the water will be warm and some anglers will be fishing shallow, Martin said the majority probably will fish deep, working drop shots and jigging spoons over humps and deep ditches.
Entry fee in the Winter Series is $50 per team with an optional Big Bass Pot of $10. Payback is 80 percent of $50 and Big Bass is paid at 100 percent of participation. One place will be paid for every 7 boats entered. The limit is 5 bass, 14-inch minimum. A North Carolina freshwater fishing license is required.
After Sunday, tournaments are scheduled Jan. 8 and Jan. 22.
Old Salt Bassmasters Open Team Tournament Trail
Sun, Dec. 4, 2011
Belews Lake
Pine Hall Boat Ramp
Call Jim Martin at (276) 252-4138
KVD Catches 'em on the Caffeine Shad!!!
Kevin VanDam whacks a couple of Kentucky Lake largemouth from mere inches of water with Strike King's Caffeine Shad in an exciting new color pattern! The world's top angler also tells when, where and how to use soft jerkbaits for maximum results!
On the water with Dave Wolak and Pinnacle Fishing
Pinnacle Fishing Pro Dave Wolak takes us on the water to preview some great products from Pinnacle Fishing...we start the series with the Optimus Baitcasting Reel!
Sisson Shares Elite Experience
As the oldest Elite Series rookie ever, Lee Sisson brought a wealth of wisdom to the tour. He left with new insights that every angler should understand. Listen to Lee as he shares lessons learned - if the bass at Bienville Plantation will leave him alone long enough!
Excellent Largemouth Bite Expected For Airport Marine Fall Trail Tournament On Lake Jordan
Springtime temperatures should mean largemouth bass will dominate in the Airport Marine EZ Fall Buddy Trail Tournament on Alabama's Jordan Lake the Saturday after Thanksgiving, according to tournament director Flynn Gerald.
“I don't think the spots (spotted bass) will dominate although it is getting time for them to dominate,”
Gerald said. “ The last tournament two weeks ago on Lake Mitchell they did dominate. Lowell Everett and Lawrence Curd won that tournament with 18 pounds and change. They had a 7-pound, 11-ounce largemouth and the others were spots. They took first place and also had big fish with that largehead.”
Gerald said most everybody who fished at Lake Mitchell weighed in spotted bass and he expects a lot of spotted bass to be caught this Saturday on Jordan, but the tournament probably will be won with largemouth bass.
“We've had some warm weather which turns the largeheads on and turns the spots down, so we will just have to see what happens Saturday.”
The unusually warm weather for Thanksgiving week has featured temperatures in the low 80s, he noted.
“It's supposed to be kind of cloudy and rainy on Saturday which is going to play into catching the largeheads,” he said. “The guys who swim and flip will probably do pretty good and that seems to give an advantage to the largehead fishermen.”
Gerald said participation the fall buddy trail seems to be picking up very well.
“We have been averaging about 35 boats a tournament. The payback is great and the classic is going to be huge. We already have about $5,000 in the classic, not counting the regular payback. This is always a big deal,” he said. “We should have a decent turnout down at Jordan. There was a tournament down there last week and a good many fish were caught.”
The trail began Oct. 1 on Lay Lake and will run through five tournaments before the Classic in January. The rest of the schedule includes: Nov 26, Lake Jordan, Bonner's; Dec 10, Lay Lake, Beeswax; and the Classic Jan. 7 on the anglers' choice of lakes.
Entry fee in the Buddy Trail is $100 per boat, with a one-time initiation fee of $50 per angler and an optional big fish entry of $10 per tournament. All proceeds will be paid back in full at the Classic in January. Anglers only have to fish one of the tournaments to qualify for the classic.
Gerald said next year's fall trail is going to be even better for the anglers.
“We have changed up next year’s trail to where I can't imagine anyone not fishing it,” Gerald said. “It's going to be on the Coosa River, Lakes Logan Martin, Lay, Mitchell and Jordan. The entry fee is dropped to $100 and we guarantee $3,000 payback every tournament, paying one in six, which is unheard of – and we may add more to that. The team of the year will get $1,000 in tackle from Rough & Tough in Chelsea, Ala.”
Airport Marine EZ Fall Buddy Trail
Sat. Nov. 26, 2011
Jordan Lake - AL
Bonner's Landing
Call Flynn Gerald 205-678-9666
Excellent Fishing Forecast For Smith Mountain Lake Winter Trail Tournament Dec. 3
Some of the best fishing of the year should be in store for the anglers fishing the Smith Mountain Lake Winter Trail, which launches Saturday, Dec. 3 out of Smith Mountain Lake State Park, according to tournament director Phillip Van Der Veer.
“The water temperature on Smith Mountain Lake is hovering around 60 degrees so they should still find some fish back in the backs of the creeks,” Van Der Veer said. “There will also be some fish working their way towards their winter homes. As the water gets colder they will try to get in deeper water.”
Right now the fish are probably still feeding on shad, he noted.
“Most of the anglers I've talked to who have been out on the lake said they bass are feeding on shad and there is a tremendous amount of shad in the backs of the creeks. With the shad back there, the bass are back there, too.”
That action should continue until much colder weather, he noted.
“The water temperature will have to get in the lower 40-degree range for the shad to start dying off, so there is still some time before that,” Van Der Veer said.
The excellent late fall/winter fishing on Smith Mountain Lake is a major reason he started this tournament series, he added
“I think it is some of the best fishing of the year myself,” he said. “I really enjoy fishing this time of year and a lot of other people do, too. That is why I decided to put on something for winter type fishing.”
Van Der Veer said another winter trail that ran on the lake for several years disappeared, so he decided to put on a tournament series, promote it pretty heavily and see what kind of turnout he could get.
“So far, we've got a lot of phone calls and emails so we are expecting a pretty good turnout,” he said.
He plans to set up registration at 5:30 the morning of the tournament and is hoping no bad winter weather interferes with his plans.
“I am asking people to give me a call if show or ice is expected and then I can make a decision on whether to hold the tournament. First and foremost, I want to make sure the anglers are safe and won't get hurt getting to the tournament or while they are there.”
He said he hopes to establish an email list of regular anglers so he can email an advisory a day or two before each tournament.
“Hopefully, we won't have too much bad weather,” he added.
The series, which is sponsored by Jiffy Automotive Service in Vinton, Va., which is owned by Van Der Veer, and by Anglers Choice Marine, the Bass Boat Superstore in Martinsville, Va., will run every Saturday in December except Dec. 24, and every Saturday in January. Entry fee is $40 with an optional big fish entry of $10.
Tournament details and rules can be found on the Anglers Choice website, www.anglerschoicemarine.com.
Smith Mountain Lake Winter Trail
Sat. Dec. 3, 2011
Smith Mountain Lake
Smith Mountain Lake State Park
Call Phillip Van Der Veer, 540-580-9319
Morristown Marine Team Trail Classic Results - Cherokee Lake - Nov. 12, 2011
Steve Miracle and Jim Miracle took 1st place on Saturday, November 12, 2011 with a winning weight of 17.88 lbs. They won a 2011 Skeeter ZX200 with a Yamaha 200 SHO engine valued at $40,000. Steve purchased his Stratos from Morristown Marine which gave him $500.00 additional in winnings. The brothers also won the final tournament of trail on October 22nd with a winning weight of 16.88lbs.The Miracle brothers won a total of $47,550 on the trail this year
Classic Tournament Winning Pattern:
We took vacation time and fished all week in preparation for the event. We were able to locate and pattern fish both up and down the lake. Each day during practice, we managed to catch between 15-18lbs on a variety of lures. We initially ran down the lake to start the tournament and managed to pick up two smallmouth keepers and one 16” Largemouth. Things slowed down when the sun got up and bright so we decided to head up the lake to try an area that had stained water. As we ran up the lake, the motor on my boat lost power. (The problem was later diagnosed as a blown motor). We didn’t know if the motor would start each time we went to change locations. In fact, in order to get on plane, my brother (Jim) had to initially lie on the front deck to get it up on plane.
On our third stop up the lake, we caught two largemouth over 4lbs. At that point, we knew that we needed to cull the 16” largemouth to have a chance to win.
With the clock ticking and 30 minutes to go, we caught another keeper smallmouth that culled the smaller largemouth – that fish was the margin of victory. The boat started again and we made it back to the weigh in.
The winning fish were caught on crankbaits.
Steve Miracle
Here are the complete results:
| CLASSIC RESULTS | WEIGHT | WINNINGS | Big Fish | |
| 1 | Steve Miracle / Jim Miracle | 17.88 | 2011 Skeeter ZX200 w/200SHO valued at $40,000 | |
| 2 | Paul Napier / Clifford Bunch | 17.20 | $2,000.00 | |
| 3 | Tony Drinnon / Jay Graham | 15.75 | $1,000.00 | |
| 4 | Mark Mellons / Mark Mellons Sr | 15.63 | $1,275.00 | 5.53 L/M |
| 5 | Allen Smith / Josh Roark | 14.69 | $700.00 | |
| 6 | Brent Hoskins / Chuck Hoskins | 14.59 | $625.00 | |
| 7 | Randy Carroll / Mike Hobby | 14.56 | $575.00 | |
| 8 | Kevin Powers / Page Powers | 13.90 | $525.00 | |
| 9 | Mike Lowe / Tim Smiley | 13.88 | $450.00 | |
| 10 | Wes Cassell / Jon Carter | 13.83 | $400.00 | |
| 11 | Chad Waddell / Rodney Craddock | 13.79 | $350.00 | |
| 12 | Eddie Baker / Casey Baker | 13.69 | $275.00 | |
| 13 | Bill Humbard / Greg Warren | 13.58 | $250.00 | |
| 14 | Johnny Dalton / Martell Bible | 13.33 | $225.00 | |
| 15 | Daniel Conn / Michael Conn | 13.20 | $200.00 | |
| 16 | Steve Cable / Randy Hall | 13.19 | $175.00 | |
| 17 | Steve Neal / Benny Neal | 12.63 | (2) Kistler Skeeter Rods | |
| 18 | Mark Surgenor / Wes Crowe | 12.57 | (2) Kistler Skeeter Rods | |
| 19 | Benny Roberts / Todd Nidiffer | 12.46 | (2) Piranha Max 180 Depth Finders | |
| 20 | Jason Spencer / James Long | 12.38 | (2) Deka Batteries | |
| 21 | Randy Conner / Harold Dye | 12.26 | (2) Trion Reels | |
| 22 | Troy Crowder / Brandon Hartgrove | 12.10 | (2) Hand Held GPS | |
| 23 | Jamie Goodin / Jimmy Clark | 12.06 | (2) Wiley X Sunglasses | |
| 24 | Michael Pearcy / Dakota Pearcy | 12.02 | (2) Glow Max Night Lights | |
| 25 | Dan Geleack / B J Fleenor | 11.78 | (2) Receivers w/locks | |
| 26 | Mark Meredith / Chip Ballinger | 11.77 | (2) Fenwick Rods $475.00 | 4.51 S/M |
| 27 | David Fields / Matthew Gray | 11.71 | (2) High Impact Life Vest | |
| 28 | Burton Bryan / Willie Bryan | 11.63 | (2) Frog Toggs | |
| 29 | Ben Conkin / Allen White | 11.37 | (2) Portable Battery Chargers | |
| 30 | Billy Berthiaume / Ron Cox | 11.13 | (2) LED Night Blaster Blacklights | |
| 31 | Rick Howington | 11.13 | (2) Night Blaster Spotlights | |
| 32 | Larry Neal / Ben Boggs | 11.08 | (2) Buck Knives | |
| 33 | Kenny Smith / James Goble | 10.61 | (2) Night Blaster Spotlights | |
| 34 | Jimmy Crum / Bill Cordwell | 10.57 | (2) Tom's Sporting Good Gift Certificates | |
| 35 | Doug Winchell / Chris Covington | 10.09 | (2) Bucks N Bass Gift Certificates | |
| 36 | Bill Burns / Rick Diamond | 10.00 | (2) Bucks N Bass Gift Certificates | |
| 37 | George Wells / Bruce Clevenger | 9.98 | (2) This Fishing Place Gift Certificates | |
| 38 | Bobby Hicks / Jim Maness | 9.60 | ||
| 39 | Gary Pleasant / Sam Routh | 9.51 | ||
| 40 | Bob Coughlin / Matt Coughlin | 9.47 | ||
| 41 | Kevin Hatfield / Bo Goodin | 9.36 | ||
| 42 | Kent Lodari / Mike Wolfenbarger | 8.84 | ||
| 43 | Ron Hyatt / Dustin Hyatt | 8.77 | ||
| 44 | Charlie Ratliff / Dave Ratliff | 8.62 | ||
| 45 | Mark Collins / Bobby Chambers | 8.54 | ||
| 46 | Jeff Short / Josh Short | 8.54 | ||
| 47 | Stuart Helton / Gordon Monroe | 8.37 | ||
| 48 | Jim Byington / J J Collins | 8.19 | ||
| 49 | Jim Thompson / Jerry Farmer | 8.04 | ||
| 50 | Dustin Wilson / Wes Jones | 8.01 | ||
| 51 | Brian Holt / Guy Siler | 7.86 | ||
| 52 | Charlie Rasch / Gary Pilkenton | 7.57 | ||
| 53 | David Shreve / Keith Cardwell | 7.24 | ||
| 54 | Steve Bean / Earl Bolin | 6.64 | ||
| 55 | Ricky Shepherd / Mark Trent | 6.45 | ||
| 56 | Lloyd Lambert / Kenneth Helton | 6.32 | ||
| 57 | Don McCurdy / Mike Vineyard | 6.26 | ||
| 58 | Bryan Harvey / Bill Dunn | 6.20 | ||
| 59 | Ulyess Chapman / Dennis Cameron | 6.14 | ||
| 60 | Jake Hux / Jamie Cutshall | 5.86 | ||
| 61 | Eddie Mickey / Chris Gulley | 5.53 | ||
| 62 | Jason Phillips / Rusty Davidson | 5.47 | ||
| 63 | Darryl Oliver / Rodney Oliver | 5.32 | ||
| 64 | Wayne Moyher | 4.30 | ||
| 65 | Jackie Nicely / Earl Kitts | 4.12 | ||
| 66 | Gary Ward / Jim Hagy | 3.66 | ||
| 67 | Teddy Lloyd / Bobby Combs | 2.70 | ||
| 68 | Keith Harmon / Wayne Cupp | 0.00 | ||
| 69 | Bryant Ailor | 0.00 | ||
| 70 | Mark Mauldin / Lee Monday | 0.00 | ||
| 71 | Archie Wilson Jr / Kevin Edwards | 0.00 | ||
| 72 | Brad Burkhart / Craig Brewer | 0.00 | ||
| 73 | Jimmy Taylor / Donnie Bittle | 0.00 | ||
| 74 | Danny Garber / David Solomon | 0.00 | ||
| 75 | Hershel Brady / Randy Bowen | 0.00 | ||
| 76 | Tracy Carter / Scott Hickey | 0.00 | ||
| 77 | Randy Brown / Greg Burrell | 0.00 | ||
| 78 | Rodney Osborne / Jason Osborne | 0.00 | ||
| 79 | Jack Wade / Rick Etherton | 0.00 | ||
| 80 | Tim Gent / Don Carmack | 0.00 | ||
| 81 | Bobby Cardwell / Pete King | 0.00 | ||
| 82 | Johnny Brooks / Daniel Aldridge | 0.00 | ||
| 83 | Greg Morrow / Eric Sexton | 0.00 | ||
| 84 | Albert French / Chris Cole | 0.00 | ||
| 85 | Shannon Byers / Larry Abel Jr | 0.00 | ||
| 86 | Jim Settle / Mark Settle | 0.00 | ||
| 87 | Jeremy Osborne / Todd Craft | 0.00 | ||
| 88 | Mike Mellons | 0.00 | ||
| 89 | Steve Robinson / Jason Light | 0.00 | ||
| 90 | Gregory Buell / Donnie Miracle | 0.00 | ||
| 91 | Al Caton / Buster Brackins | 0.00 | ||
| 92 | Jerry Arnwine / Mike Petty | 0.00 | ||
| 93 | Alex Carlin / Steve Gibson | 0.00 | ||
| 94 | John Mathers | 0.00 | ||
| 95 | Dustin Buckner / Jay Faulkner | 0.00 |
 Mark Mellons Sr and Mark Mellons Jr - Big Largemouth 5.53 lbs $475.00 |
 Mark Meredith and Chip Ballinger - Big Smallmouth 4.51 lbs $475.00 |
Punchin' Mats with Patrick Pierce at Bienville Plantation!
Bassmaster Open pro Patrick Pierce punches up a 4-pounder from beneath matted hyacinths at the famed Bienville Plantation near White Springs, Florida! He gives a great tip on landing bass from the thick stuff. Then he takes time to show us how to snell a flippin' hook and rig up for mat-punchin' - a technique Pierce has used to cash numerous tournament checks.
Luke Estel Swims Up a Big Smallie on a Tour Grade Swim Jig!
Strike King pro, Luke Estel tosses out a Tour Grade Swim Jig and reels in a big Kentucky Lake smallmouth! Estel also offers tips on tackle selection for jig swimming - a mainstay technique in his neck of the woods.
James Niggemeyer Displays the Difference Between Down Imaging and Regular 2D Sonar
Bassmaster Elite Series pro, James Niggemeyer walks us through real-time footage on his graph's split screen to illustrate the power of Down Imaging technology versus standard 2-dimensional sonar!
KVD Talks Hydro Wave
A master at triggering fish to bite, Kevin VanDam explains the latest and most misunderstood technology - the Hydro Wave - and tells us why, sometimes, less is more.
Mann's Bait Company to make, market and sell The Alabama Rig
Slick Lures, LLC, the owner and developer of The Alabama rig®, and Mann’s Bait Company Inc. have concluded an agreement which designates Mann’s as the sole and exclusive licensee for the manufacture, marketing and sale of The Alabama Rig® to the fishing tackle trade.
Andy Poss, the inventor of The Alabama Rig®, explained “It was vitally important to our company and to the long term success of The Alabama Rig® to affiliate with a high profile company having a widely recognized brand throughout the fishing tackle industry.
In these uncertain times, we are particularly pleased to be able to partner with a company that is committed to making 100% of its products in the U.S.A.”
Mann’s Bait Company, a leading manufacturer of a broad range of artificial lures for both freshwater and saltwater fishing, has sold its high quality products to recreational fishermen around the world for over 50 years.
Visit www.thealabamarig.com for complete details!!
Toys For Tots Tournament On Clarks Hill Will Mark 29 Years Of Raising Money For Local Charities
Although in just its second year as a part of the Clarks Hill Fish for Life Foundation's series of charitable bass tournaments, the Clarks Hill Toys for Tots Bass Tournament, which will be held on the lake Saturday, Nov. 26, has a 29-year history of aiding local charities.
Nearly three decades ago, recalled Bill Harvey who has shepherded the tournament through the years, the Midlands Bassmasters club began a charity tournament to benefit the American Heart Association because one of the members' parents was having a heart issue.
The tournament raised money for the American Heart Association for nine years until it became part of United Way, Harvey said.
“The United Way people did not understand how fishing tournaments worked so we parted ways.”
Over the next few years the tournament helped the Shriners Hospitals and Secret Santa projects at local churches. The club then chose Toys for Tots as its permanent charity, Harvey said, in order to keep the money raised in local hands benefiting local children.
“We would raise the money and then go to WalMart, Sam's Target or whoever would give us the best deal and buy $4,000, $5,000 or $6,000 worth of toys every year,” he said. “At that time I worked for the Medical University of Georgia, so we'd give half the toys to the Children's Medical Center at the Hospital and half to Toys for Tots.”
The main point, Harvey stressed, was that by keeping the tournament and the beneficiary charity in local hands everything raised stays local, too.
“That is a big deal to us. We don't do this for the kids in California – it is for the kids in the Central Savannah River Area. We take that money and toys and distribute it locally to make sure the kids are getting the toys instead of adults getting the money,” he said. “The foundation and its board of directors don't get paid. Any money that comes into the foundation goes right back out locally.”
The union between the Toys for Tots Tournament and the Clarks Hill Fish for Life Foundation proved to be beneficial to both, Harvey said.
In 1999 Harvey started the Southern Anglers Challenge Fishing company and was running the charity tournament proceeds through the company account – a process his auditor warned was not a good way to handle it.
His problem was solved when Ron Brown with the Clarks Hill Fish for Life Foundation approached him about consolidating the Toys For Tots tournament into the Fish for Life series of tournaments.
“Last year was the first year we did it and this is our second year with the foundation. It is kind of a perfect fit,” Harvey said. “Last year we had close to 100 boats in the tournament and this year we are hoping to go over 100 boats.”
Registration will be held at Academy Sports and Outdoors in Evans, Ga., from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 22. Entry fee is $25 plus 2 unwrapped toys worth $10 each, per boat. First place in the tournament will pay $2,500 and the big fish winner will get $500.
Besides being a major sponsor, the registration is being held at Academy Sports as a convenience to the fishermen, Harvey said.
“If they come to register and have forgot to buy their toys, they can get them at Academy and turn them in there when they register. They can also register at the ramp on Saturday morning with no penalty. In that case if they forget to bring toys, they can pay the $40 entry fee plus a $25 donation.”
Anglers should find the fishing good the Saturday after Thanksgiving, said Harvey.
“I'm in renal failure and on the kidney transplant list, so I have not been fishing since back in March, but this time of year the fishing is usually good on Clarks Hill. They should be schooling in some areas and some will be staging and getting ready for winter,” he said. “You can catch those fish with crankbaits, and then you always have the worm droppers who always catch fish. So they should be able to catch fish on about anything.”
The Saturday after Thanksgiving is a perfect time to hold the tournament, too, he said. For years the tournament was always scheduled on the first Saturday in November, but then a local fishing club started having their tournaments on that date, so Harvey decided to move his tournament to avoid the conflict.
“At that time we'd get through Thanksgiving and then that Friday my phone would ring off the hook with guys wanting to know if there were any tournaments that weekend. They'd say, 'My wife is out shopping and I have nothing to do.' So we moved it to the Saturday after Thanksgiving and it has worked out.”
The Toys for Tots Tournament is one of three major tournaments held on Clarks Hill every year by the Clarks Hill Fish for Life Foundation. The no-entry fee Anglers Appreciation Tournament will be held next April 21 and the Fishing For Kids Tournament, which is a regular bass tournament held in conjunction with a Kid's Fishing Rodeo at Wildewood Park, will also be held next spring.
Sponsors include Weinberger’s Furniture, Milton Ruben Toyota, Save Phace, Ben Dreamin Outdoors, Sun Gro, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Wal-Mart, Aaron’s, Coca-Cola, Lincolnton Marine, Columbia County, Southern Anglers Challenge, Kicks Country 99, Power Pole, Owens & Minor, Cliatt Crossing, Fish Stalker Lures, Chick-fil-A, Lincolnton Marine Skeeter and Yamaha, P & D Electronics, Broadway Tackle, First Bank of Georgia, Bruekner's Fine Meats, Tractor Supply, Eagle Paint & Body Inc., Sasser's Guide Service, Ray Diamond Glass Co. Inc., Mr. Transmission, Office Max, Pair of Jacks, P & T Inflatables, E3 Sport Apparel, Falcon Concrete Services Inc., Advanced Chiropractic Center, Traditions in Tile and Stone, David Smith Construction, C N Brown Plastics and AnglersChannel.com.
For further information, call Bill Harvey at (706) 294-4732 or call the Fish for Life Foundaion at the two numbers listed below.
Clarks Hill Toys for Tots Bass Tournament
Sat. Nov. 26, 2011
Clarks Hill / Lake Thurmond
Wildwood Park
Call 706-359-3349 or 706-833-9660 for information
Good Fishing Expected For Sc Tbf 6-Man Tournament On Lake Wateree This Weekend
The Bass Federation of South Carolina has moved its two-day Six-Man Tournament to Lake Wateree this weekend because very low water levels created a dangerous situation for anglers at Santee Cooper where the annual tournament was originally scheduled.
Participants in the Six-Man will launch out of Clearwater Cove for the two-day event which begins Saturday. The lake is open for practice this week until 3 o’clock Friday afternoon when it will go off limits until the start of the tournament Saturday morning, according to Rich Gerken of Chapin, president of TBF SC.
In addition to the honor of finishing first for the winning team this weekend, the Six-Man tournament also decides the final two members of the South Carolina 12-Man Team that will fish in the Southern Divisional on Lake Okeechobee next June, Gerken said.
The top five boaters and top five non-boaters on the 12-Man Team are decided by points earned during six qualifying tournaments held each year by TBF SC. The top individual finisher this weekend will become the sixth man on the boaters half of the 12-Man Team and the second place finisher will become the sixth non-boater on the 12-Man Team.
Although they will be fishing Lake Wateree instead of Lakes Marion and Moultrie, the TBF anglers can expect to enjoy very good fishing success if several tournaments on the lake last weekend are any indication. Fishing has been good on Wateree this fall with lots of 2 ½- to 4-pound bass weighed in local tournaments.
Last weekend, Josh McGregor and Randall Driggers weighed in a limit at 13.75 pounds to win the Carolina Anglers Team Trail qualifier on Lake Wateree. “Just like the past few weeks,” noted the CATT website, “if you can catch a few solid bass and one in the 4-pound neighborhood you’ll be a winner.”
Tom Rubbo of Lexington, president of the St. Andrews Bass Anglers, would love to repeat the success he had last Saturday on Lake Wateree when he won his club's tournament there with a little under 17 pounds.
“The fish are there to be caught,” Rubbo said. “It's just a matter of getting on the right pattern. Obviously, timing will be critical as well because there is a transition through the day. The guys will have to follow through and make the right changes through the day.”
Rubbo said the St. Andrews Bass Anglers have worked all year long on making the Six-Man tournament a success.
“St. Andrews is an old club – and a strong club. We had an open summer tournament, the Iron Man, to raise money to pay our way to the Six-Man and we are sending two teams to the tournament,” he said.
TBF of South Carolina Six Man Tournament
Nov. 19-20, 2011
Lake Wateree
Clearwater Cove
Call Rich Gerken at 201-772-6401
Tri-City Bassmasters Hope For Good Turnout For Inaugural Fall Brawl On Lake Tillery
Rick Bradford of the Tri-City Bassmasters is hoping enough bass anglers will forego one day of deer hunting to come out Saturday and make the club's inaugural Fall Brawl on Lake Tillery a resounding success.
“I hope we have a good turnout,” Bradford said. “This is the first time we've held this tournament in the fall and sometimes it is a little difficult to draw people out of the woods this time of year.”
Tri-City Bassmasters, a member club of the North Carolina Bass Federation, has held a spring tournament for the past three years to raise money for the club's annual Children's Fishing Tournament, Bradford said.
“We sponsor a Children's Fishing Day every year in June at McKinney State Fish Hatchery and we partner with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission on the kid's event,” he said. “We provide hot dogs and drinks for the kids and also door prizes, so that is why we put on this tournament – to raise money for the kid's event.”
Bradford said people come from as far away as Greensboro and bring children for the kid's event at the hatchery.
“It's open to any children 15 and younger. Normally we will have from 100 to 150 kids there and they catch mostly sunfish, such as bluegills, and a few channel catfish,” he said.
Entry fee for Saturday's tournament is $50 with either one or two anglers in a boat, plus $10 for an optional big fish pot. The payback is 75 percent, Bradford said. The tournament will run from 7 a,.m. to 3 p.m. with a five-fish limit.
Bradford said the bass are chasing bait generally toward the backs of the creeks.
“I would expect some type of moving bait bite to be successful. There might be some schooling activity as well. And, of course, the new thing everybody is talking about, the Alabama Rig, should come into play,” he said. “There is a good jig bite on Tillery, too, and usually by the first of December that good jig bite will be on.”
The fish are biting and there is a modest entry fee with a good payback. Now it's just a matter of whether those North Carolina anglers are willing to give up one day of deer hunting for a good cause.
Tri-City Bassmasters Fall Brawl
Sat. Nov. 19, 2011
Lake Tillery
Swift Island Boat Ramp
Call Rick Bradford at 910-461-6198
AC Pro Staffer Shane McCosh with a great product tip.
AC Pro Staffer Shane McCosh shares the values of The Rod Glove in this video. If you fish tournaments or just fish for fun, you need to protect your fishing rods with The Rod Glove. These are great if you fish as a co-angler too.
Big Turnout Expected For Morristown Marine Team Trail Classic On Lake Cherokee Saturday
With 112 boats qualified for the Morristown Marine Team Trail Classic on Tennessee's Cherokee Lake this Saturday, tournament director Sam Phillips predicted a good day, even with the disappointing bite anglers have found in practice this week.
“Right now the bite is a little tough,” Phillips said, “but we are looking for a good tournament with 224 or more anglers fishing in it, including some heavy hitters.”
Somebody has to win and the payout is nothing to sneeze at. The first place team will win a 2011 Skeeter ZX200 with a new 200 Yamaha SHO 4-stroke engine, and Phillips expects to pay back cash and product prizes to 30 to 35 places.
In addition, manufacturer bonus programs for the trail include Skeeter Real Money, Stratos Double Your Winnings, Triton Gold, Phoenix First Flight Program and the Morristown Marine Boat Bucks plan.
“In the Morristown Marine Boat Bucks program, if you buy a boat or motor here, new or used, any brand, we will pay an additional $500 on top of what you win,” Phillips said. “Everything is sponsored by Skeeter, Yamaha and Morristown Marine.”
Skeeter, for instance, is also preparing breakfast for the anglers at the Saturday morning launch and will serve them a meal of barbecue, beans and slaw when they return for the weigh-in.
Based on recent tournament weights, Phillips predicted 16 to 18 pounds will win the championship Saturday despite the tough bite. Some of the heavy hitters fished some smaller tournaments on the lake last weekend and won with some pretty impressive weights, he noted.
“The minnows are schooling up in the backs of the pockets and the fish are feeding, but they are not real active,” he said. “They are finding some fish up shallow and some deeper on the points, so there will be different strategies. There are people going both ways up and down the lake.”
Cloud cover could be a determining factor, he noted.
“They are catching some fish early in the morning so we are hoping for some cloud cover Saturday,” Phillips said. “There is supposed to be some so there should be a good Spook bite on topwater.”
He said small crankbaits are also producing along with the new Alabama rig which must be modified into a “Tennessee Rig.”
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency regulations, which went into effect in 2002, require that umbrella-type rigs have no more than three artificial lures. Both of the Alabama rigs used by Paul Elias to win the Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Guntersville in Alabama Oct. 23 and by Dan Morehead to win the EverStart Series Championship on Kentucky Lake Oct. 30 employed five lures.
No matter what lures they use, Charlie Rasch and Gary Pilkenton will likely be looking for some redemption in the championship.
“Pilkenton and Rasch had a 26-point lead in the points going into the last tournament (Oct. 22 on Cherokee Lake) and everybody pretty much conceded they would win the points title,” Phillips said. “But Benny Roberts and Todd Nidiffer are pretty good fishermen, too, and they ended up 13th in the tournament while Charlie and Gary finished 45th. Benny and Todd won the points title by 6 points.”
Ironically, Roberts and Nidiffer did not win a tournament all season long but finished with four top 10s and a top 15th place to counteract their one bad tournament in April when they finished 91st. Rasch and Pilkenton won two tournaments along the way, plus two more top 10s. After finishing 70th in May they needed a decent outcome in the season final, but slipping to 45th knocked them out of the title.
“We will recognize Roberts and Nidiffer at the Classic with plaques and also pre-entries into next year's tournaments,” Phillips said.
Morristown Marine Team Trail Classic
Sat. Nov. 12, 2011
Cherokee Lake
Hamblin County Marina-Boat Launch Road
Call Sam Phillips 423-587-5555
Mark Davis Burns a Red Eye Shad and Boats Bass!
In Part II of our day on the water with Mark Davis, the former Bassmaster Classic champ goes multi-species by burning a small, 1/4-oz. Strike King Red Eye Shad over shallow mud flats on Kentucky Lake. Don't miss Mark's tips on how to catch drum anywhere, anytime.
James Niggemeyer shows the NEW Strike King 3XD crank!
Bassmaster Elite Series pro James Niggemeyer gives us a look at the NEW 3XD - smaller brother to the fish-catchingest crankbaits on the tournament trail!
Mark Davis Catches Shallow Fall Bass on SK Pure Poison
Veteran tour pro Mark Davis shows us how to catch shallow bass in autumn on TVA lakes. This time he does it with the Strike King Pure Poison!
KVD's DOGgone good midday topwater action!
Kevin VanDam tells how YOU can catch bass on top all day long! He also gives us a peek at Strike King's NEW Sexy Dog - a topwater walking lure not even on the market yet!
Perseverance Pays for Shaw Grigsby!!!
If you fish, you've been there - schoolers crashing bait all around but you can't buy a strike. It happens to even the best anglers. See how angling legend Shaw Grigsby handles this maddening situation.
2011 Early Nov Sportsman's Warehouse Report
Sportsman's Warehouse Fishing Manager Justin Kijak joins us to talk about some Fall Championships-specifically the Bassmaster Weekend Series National Championship down on Santee Cooper next week with $100,000 on the line--we break down a few baits and area's you will need to fish when down there..............
KVD on SideImaging and DownImaging Technology
Understanding the tools we use can be critical to success. Kevin VanDam tells how to get the most from the latest technology - SideImaging and DownImaging, along with 2D sonar!
