AnglersChannel

Lady Bass Anglers Association Angler Of The Year Titles On The Line At Old Hickory

Angler of the Year (AOY) titles are up for grabs in both divisions of the Lady Bass Anglers Association (LBAA) as the LBAA hits its final regular season tour stop this week at Old Hickory in Tennessee.

The “Super Seven” leading the way in the pro division are:  1) Kim Bain-Moore 880 points, 2) Pam Martin-Wells 870, 3) Pam Ridgle 820, 4) Emily Shaffer 790, 5) Lynda Gessner 772, 6) Jenny Nevans 718, and 7) Debbie Kemp 717 points.

“I wish I wasn't leading, leading brings with it lots of pressure,” stated Pelham, Alabama’s Bain-Moore. “With this tournament to go, the first goal for all of us girls is still to make it to the championship.”

“I'm going to go for it though...I do not want to lay awake at night wondering,” Bain-Moore concluded.

Bainbridge, Georgia resident Pam Martin-Wells lies in second a mere 10 points behind the front runner and feels her winning the AOY race is possible … if … everything falls into place, the fish co-operate, her competitors falter, and … if … she makes no mistakes.

“There are too many variables that I cannot control such as what the competitors catch or don't catch, the water and weather conditions, and what the fish do,” Martin-Wells stated.  “I can only worry about me and try to control my situation and make as few mistakes and make good decisions on the water.  I think it would be neat to win AOY in the LBAA.”

Murchison, Texas resident Pam Ridgle sits third in the LBAA AOY race and leads the 2011 LBAA Rookie of the Year standings.  “Well it looks like if I just show up I will wrap up Rookie of the Year.  The only way I could be beat if I did not catch a fish and the rookie behind me got first,” Ridgle stated.

Ridgle went on to say, “Making up lost ground (in the AOY race) may be a little tougher. But I always go in thinking I can win first, and if I do, depending on how the two ahead of me do could put me in that AOY.”

Sitting in fourth is local pro Emily Shaffer.  Shaffer a Mt. Juliet resident said, “I'm happy to be in the running for Angler-of-the-Year. I'm blessed to be able to make fishing my career and working behind the scenes gives me a feeling I'm giving   back. Seeing the younger generation come on board and fish with us is awesome.”

The co-angler division’s “Super Seven” leading the pack are:  1) Kim Giddens 865 points, 2) Diana Uebelhack 830, 3) Vicki Henderson 794, 4) Bonnie Ward 777, 5) Martha Goodfellow 754, 6) Diane Smith 751, and 7) Donna Newberry 750 points.

On the co-angler side third place, Vicki Henderson of Ashdown, Arkansas says her 2011 year with the LBAA has been a bittersweet one.  “More than a few "shoulda, coulda, woulda's" have gone through my mind.  That is true for everyone, though, so I am trying not to let that cloud my focus. There is probably more stress on 1st & 2nd place than on me.”

Henderson went on to say, “I'll have to take care of my business & do really well.  That is basically, what I focus on for each tournament. Catch as big a limit as possible & see what happens.”

“Unfortunately, that alone will not be enough to overtake anyone.  It is attainable, but crazy things will have to happen. You'll definitely need an umbrella if I do, `cause pigs will be flying,” Henderson stated with a laugh.

Tournament dates and times for this week’s 2011 LBAA Old Hickory events are as follows.  The ProAm Tournament will be Thursday, August 24 and Friday, the 25th.  Anglers in the pro division may bring five legal bass and the co-anglers three legal fish to the scales per day during this tournament.  Entrants into the Old Hickory ProAm event must be LBAA members.

On Saturday, August 26^th, the LBAA will host the 2011 LBAA Old Hickory Homesafe Charity Tournament.  The proceeds from this charity team tournament will go towards helping Homesafe assist more women and children who find themselves in difficult situations.  Entry fee is $100 per team and the tournament will pay out a guaranteed $1,000 first place cash prize.  There will be an additional $200 cash prize going to the highest finishing team with a  female team member and an additional $200 cash prize that will to the highest finishing team with a child age 12 or under as a team member.  At the conclusion of Saturday’s weigh-in, there will also be a raffle of items donated by national and local organizations.  The proceeds of this raffle will add more support to the Homesafe organization.  Visit them on the World Wide Web at http://homesafetn.org/services/sumner-county

All competition days, both ProAm and charity tournaments, will launch at “safe light” and weigh-in at 2:00 p.m.  All launches and weigh-ins will take place at Flipper’s (Bull Creek Ramp).  Flipper’s Bait and Tackle is located at 200 Odoms Bend Road, Gallatin, TN.  37066.  Phone 1-615-452-7719.

The Sumner County Convention and Visitors Bureau is the host organization for the 2011 LBAA tour stop at Old Hickory Lake.  Call the Sumner County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1- 888-301-7866 or 1-615-230-8474, or visit them on the World Wide Web at http://sumnercvb.com/

Host lodging for the 2011 LBAA Old Hickory Tournament is the Relax Inn, which is located at 179 West Main Street in Hendersonville, Tennessee 37075.  Phone 1-615-822-4240.

Sponsors of the 2011 Lady Bass Anglers Association Tour are: Wilkins Brothers Outdoors, Pro Tournament Scales, Todali Tackle, Dawn Outdoors, Red Dirt Bait Company, FINS Superlines, Rayjus Outdoors, Reactions Innovations, Kick `n Bass, Castaway Graphite Rods, Vickie’s Threadworks, Necessity Jigs, West Kentucky LED, SureLife, Arkansas Tournament Fishing (ATF), Fleck’s Hand Poured Baits, Ray Barga and Associates Inc., Nite Owl Productions, and River Runner Baits.

Also sponsoring the LBAA Old Hickory event is Santone Lures, North Texas Marine, Buffalo P’s BBQ, and Flipper’s Bait and Tackle.

The LBAA 2011 Contingency Programs are Phoenix First Flight, Skeeter Real Money, the Legend Advantage Program, BassCat Quest, and Triton Gold.

For more information on the LBAA contact co-founder Cheryl Bowden @ 1-214-738-7518, co-founder Secret York @ 1-270-748-9041, or media specialist Larry Morris @ 1-540-239-7902.  The LBAA has a presence on the World Wide Web, on Facebook, and at http://www.ladybassanglers.com/

by AnglersChannel

Digh Targeting Shallow Bass On High Rock For Bws Nc Division Final

AnglersChannel.com Pro Staffer Rob Digh is in position to take over the top of the points standings in the Bassmaster Weekend Series North Carolina Division in the series final tournament on High Rock Lake this weekend, but the points title is not his primary goal.

After winning the NC bass fishing season opener on Lake Norman in March, followed by 13^th place at High Rock in April, 6^th at Kerr in June and 18^th at Falls last month, Digh trails Brandon Gray of Bullock Creek, N.C., by just four points heading into the series two-day final. Gray finished 10^th at Norman, 17^th at High Rock, 1^st at Kerr, and 6^th at Falls.
“I'm really not going over there (High Rock) to try to win the points,” the Denver, N.C., angler said. “I'm just going to try to get a limit of fish each day and make a check. That's my goal. The points, if it happens it happens, if it doesn't then it doesn't.”

Anglers have been catching a lot of fish on High Rock recently, Digh said, but that does not mean they automatically will this weekend.

“High Rock is a great place to fish, but those fish over there can be some of the moodiest fish in the world. They can be real particular on what they want to bite and how they want to bite it,” he said. “It's been taking anywhere from 15 to 22 pounds to win a tournament, which is quite a big swing in weights. One day the fish can bite pretty good and the next day they might not be biting good.”

Digh said High Rock contains a lot of 3- to 5-pound fish so it will probably take 35-36 pounds to win the two-day tournament.

“It could even take a little more. According to what I read it does not look like we are going to get a lot of rain this weekend, but Alcoa thinks we might get some rain and if they pull water Saturday and Sunday it could take some more weight.”

Although there has been a pretty good bite both shallow and deep, Digh plans to fish shallow this weekend, throwing a topwater like a Berry's Prop Bait or a buzzbait early and switching to a jig and a 10-inch Ol' Monster Worm later.

“If the fish are biting shallow there is a really possibility you can get a 20-pound bag. I have a couple of little offshore places where I have been catching some fish, but I am not catching the quality I need out there,” said Digh who has been getting at least one quality bite a day fishing shallow.

“Those fish over there are like footballs. You can catch a 13-inch fish and it might weight 2 pounds. A 15- or 16-inch fish will weigh 2 ½ to 3 pounds, so if you get five bites you can have in the neighborhood of 14 or 15 pounds.”

Digh said he will need that and possibly more to win this weekend.

“I've fished a couple of little wildcat tournaments over there and had 15 or 16 pounds and not been close to a check,” he said. “I am going into this tournament thinking I can catch 14 to 17 pounds a day and that could be enough.”

One factor that may have a big influence on the outcome, he said, will be local fishermen entering the tournament in hopes of taking the jackpot.

“It's going to be a tough tournament for me for the simple reason there will be some really good locals fishing the tournament. The fish are biting very well, so I am going to have to have a little luck to do well.”

Bassmaster Weekend Series - North Carolina Division

Aug. 27-28, 2011

High Rock Lake

Tamarac Marina

Call Gary Conner 256-230-5627

www.abaproam.com

by AnglersChannel

Top Anglers In Field For Catt Santee Summer Final, New Tom Catt Will Debut On Santee In 2012

The Carolina Anglers Team Trail Summer Final on the Santee Cooper lakes Saturday should be a real shootout, according to tournament director Brett Collins.

“Brett Mitchell and Jerry Montjoy have been on top most of the Summer but last year's Santee Summer Final winners Chris Brunson and Nelson Walker are also in the field,” said Collins. “When you add in longtime Santee fishermen Joe Avins and Larry Avins and there will be some stiff competition Saturday.”

Mitchell and Montjoy, who won three of the four summer tournaments, finished the regular season as points champions and will receive a free entry in the final Saturday, Collins said. Mitchell and Montjoy won both June tournaments, then Mitchell teamed with Jeff Bunch to win the July 9 tournament. Mitchell and Montjoy finished third in the final regular season tournament July 23.

“The winners in the final Saturday could possibly take home more than $2,000 if at least 90 percent of the teams eligible for the summer final show up to fish,” Collins said.

Although winning weights in June averaged over 17 pounds, the consistently hot weather in July brought the weights down to around 14 pounds, but Collins said fishing should be pretty good on Saturday.

“Grass is back in a big way at Santee and topwater early could produce. The guys fishing in the upper parts of Lake Marion may hold an edge with the water temperature a little cooler in that area. Flipping cypress trees this time of year with worms seems to be popular,” Collins said.

Saturday's Summer Final will mark the end of CATT activity on Santee Cooper for this year as Collins announced he will not hold a Fall Series, but he did reveal plans for increased tournament scheduling in 2012.

“In 2012 we will run the regular CATT Santee Spring Trail but we plan to add a TOM CATT Trail also. Entry fee is $120 for each TOM CATT tournament which will consist of 6 to 8 events,” said Collins, “plus $25 for the optional Big Fish pot.”

“The 2012 Santee TOM CATT Point winners will fish the 2013 Santee TOM CATT free. Point winners also will receive $250, 2nd in the points $150 and 3rd in the points $100.”

Collins said the TOM CATT Trail, which will be scheduled on different dates than the regular CATT Trail tournaments on Santee, will have a higher entry fee than the regular CATT Trail, but will offer anglers a chance to win even more cash. The regular CATT rules apply to the TOM CATT Series.

Collins debuted a six-tournament TOM CATT Trail on Lake Wateree July 30, with the next Wateree TOM CATT scheduled Aug. 20.

Jimmy McFarland and Calvin Griggs won the inaugural TOM CATT on Lake Wateree July 30 with a limit that weighed 18 pounds, 15 ounces. They won $780 for 1st Place, $140 for the Big Fish which weighed 5 pounds, 3 ounces, plus the bonus of of $240.00 giving them a total of $1,160.

Carolina Anglers Team Trail 2011 – Santee Summer Final

Sat, Aug 6, 2011

Santee Cooper Lakes

John C. Land III Landing

Call Brett Collins 803-413-7521

www.catttrail.com

by AnglersChannel

Mountain Music Kids Tournament On Douglas Lake Just Keeps Getting Better And Better

So the two started the Mountain Music Kids Bass Tournament on Douglas Lake as a way of getting youngsters involved in fishing.

“I think maybe 16 or 17 kids showed up that first time,” said co-tournament director Chris Covington. Once it got started, he noted, it really took off and became a major attraction for youngsters from the area around Douglas Lake.

“About four years ago we reached 400 boats and we have about 400 boats each tournament. That's as many as the Tennessee Valley Authority will allow.” Covington said the tournament has filled up for this year.

As of Sunday when they started taking entries, by the end of the day there were 330 boats already entered. As the entries have grown, so has the participation by the local business community and by volunteers who serve on the tournament committee. Four years ago, Covington said, the tournament committee gave away the first boat in the history of the tournament.

“That was a random draw off the boat numbers. This year we will give away two boats. One will be awarded in a random draw off the boat numbers and we will hold a raffle for the other one.”

Covington said there will be plenty of food and prizes for the kids – hot dogs, hamburgers and Mayfield Ice Cream.

“No kid will leave the tournament without something. We'll have grab bags and t-shirts for them. We will pay 100 places with first place getting $1,000 and last place getting $50. Even the kids who walk across the stage and don't weigh enough to earn a check will get something – tackle boxes, rod and reel combos and other tackle.”

The day will begin about 10:30 a.m. with food and prizes and check-in. There will be a sanctioned Casting Kids Competition conducted by the East Tennessee Bassmasters and local pro angler Bobby Joe Ferguson, who won the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on Douglas Lake in June, will be on hand to talk fishing with the youngsters and even give away tackle boxes and other prizes.

The kids tournament is a “real success story,” Covington said.

And he should know. He was one of the original 16 or 17 kids who fished the first tournament. Now 33, he is one of three co-directors for the tournament.

When Greenleef died about 10 years ago Jackson went looking for another fishing buddy and hooked up with Paul Loy. The three of them now work on the tournament year-round, Covington said.

“But it's way more than just us three. We have 20 or so people and we hold meetings once a month. Then the closer we get to the tournament we meet once a week. We've got people out getting the sponsorship. It's a group effort.”

21st Annual Mountain Music Kids Bass Tournament

Sat, Jul 30, 2011

Douglas Lake

Douglas Dam

Call Stanly Jackson or Chris Covington, 865-933-0082 or 865-607-0810

by AnglersChannel

Ten Alabama Lakes In Two Weeks With Reeds Guide Service

* Guntersville Lake
Impounded 1939
We've been to Alabama's largest, man made impoundment Guntersville Lake, located near the town of Guntersville in North Alabama, situated along with three other lakes on the massive, Tennessee River System. For those of you that are first timers, there is a lot of grass on this lake with hydrilla and millfoil aquatic weeds spread lake wide. Thick, stringy grass that both bass and anglers that pursue them, love.

There are so many ways to catch these Guntersville lake summertime bass.

Our success on one trip came while fishing shallow with topwater lures in and around grass starting at dawn 5 a.m. Central time until 1 p.m.
We used zara spooks, sammies, buzz baits, frogs, soft plastic shad imitations and swim baits, spinnerbaits and floating worms, and we fished the first 3 hours of a very cloudy summer day in the low 90's catching about 20 bass up to 4 pounds. Then it slowed at 12:30 p.m. with midday 97 degrees and we headed in.

Another trip we fished deep water (of 8 -15 feet deep) along weeds, along main river drops, and rip-rap rocks, using 10 inch Texas-rigged worms, tube baits, swim baits, lipless lures and deep diving crank baits. Variety, on two trips! We only had about 8 bass on this hot summer trip, but they were nice ones up 6 pounds!

* Wheeler lake
Impounded 1936
Wheeler lake was very different. Lows 71 highs 90. Cloudy until 1 p.m. ! Shallow bass and schoolies in weedy flats all day! Most were largemouth bass caught on various topwaters like baby torpedoes, a Spittin' Image and zara spooks. Others were fooled from mid morning until we quit at 1 p.m. Very shallow bass for mid summer water temps of 89 degrees, on nothing but Zoom white trick worms and Zoom pearl colored Flukes, both fished weightless on 3/0 hooks in and around shallow weeds, in 1-3 feet of water on the lower lake.

* Wilson Lake (Impounded 1924) and Pickwick Lake (Impounded 1938)
These two lower Tennessee River lakes have been very good. Not for big small mouth bass (although we did have one smallie, about a 4 pounder), like most anglers are seeking, but for big stripers and largemouth bass! (See the recent pictures link on my website: www.fishingalabama.com at the top page are some big stripers we had this last Thursday on Wilson lake and you will see other big stripers, spotted bass and largemouth bass, some from Coosa River lake's Lay lake and Logan Martin lakes near Birmingham.) Like Wheeler, we caught both species of these bass in water less than 5 feet deep on topwater lures!

* Coosa River Lake's - Logan Martin Lake (Impounded 1964) and Lay Lake (Impounded 1914)
These two lakes only 40 miles from Birmingham, are at full pool, unlike some past summer's when mid-summer drought had both lakes down several feet. This high water holds largemouth bass shallow in the summer months. They live and feed along aquatic weeds on the lake's shorelines both during the day and at night. When coupled with cloudy, rainy weather and cooler temperatures in the upper 80's to low 90's, its topwater time! Although the lake's spotted bass will call for fishing a little deeper along the lake' s deeper wood and rock cover with finesse worms, crank baits, rattling lipless lures and spinnerbaits.

* Smith Lake
Impounded 1961
Yes, its a deep lake. Over 100 feet deep along some banks you fish. Even water as deep as 300 feet exists. Deep, clear water. Tough, summertime conditions most of the time right? Well not all bass go real deep on Alabama's deepest impoundment, Smith lake, home of the last few world record spotted bass.

We fished the lower lake's dam area, Dismal Creek and far back up in Clear Creek. Striped bass(10 pounds) and 2-3 pound spotted bass hit topwater lures, swim baits and suspending jerk baits until 10 a.m. We fished rock bluffs with jigging spoons and small Texas-rigged worms and lizards in depths of only 10-20 feet deep, catching about 20 spotted bass, some up to 3 pounds. Then clouds moved in and we fished laydown trees with white spinnerbaits, with two 4 pound largemouth's bass caught at 11 a.m.!

So as you can see on  these often hot, summertime trips (and the majority of other mid-summer daytime trips to other lakes like Jordan lake, Lake Martin and Lake Wedowee, during this two week period) traveling to 10 Alabama lakes, we fooled a lot of bass on topwater lures and other tempting lures while fishing in and around these lake's shallow weeds, wood cover and rock cover! So keep in mind during the next 8 weeks there will be shallow bass and deep bass to be discovered, while fishing these Alabama lakes.

Or you can always call on Reeds Guide Service...first!

Reeds Guide Service
Only one guide service in Alabama can lay claim to, "Alabama's Oldest, Professional Guide Service." Reeds Guide Service for over 40 years. Taking anglers from all over the globe to fish for Alabama's large mouth bass, small mouth bass, spotted bass and striped bass, available year round. Discounts available. Company trips, family outings, parent and child trips, both the novice and tournament angler are welcome! See my website guide service link at www.fishingalabama.com for more info. There you will find loads of fishing information, fishing reports, fishing tips for all seasons on all lakes, fishing links, pictures and more!

Fox 6 WBRC Television
See Reed Montgomery on "Good Day Alabama" morning show with his "Ask the Angler" question and answer session on Alabama's Fox 6 WBRC TV station. Answering all your fishing questions for over 6 years! Call in with your fishing questions! Reed is on every last Tuesday of each month. His next appearance will be Tuesday, July 26 on just after 8 a.m. Central time!

Thanks and Good Fishin' !

Reed Montgomery / 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!

by AnglersChannel

Music City + Kentucky Lake = Breakout Year For Bws Tennessee Central Division

And the reason for this sudden growth spurt, he said, is because the regional championship for the division will be held Oct. 14-15 on Kentucky Lake. It does not hurt, either that the next qualifying tournament, the final regular season event, will also be a two-day tournament on Kentucky Lake Aug. 20-21.

“A lot of guys from the Nashville area like to fish Kentucky Lake so we are getting a lot of our following from there,” said Sullivan. “We've been averaging close to 75-80 boats a tournament.”

Adding to the lure of the schedule is the fact that the fish have been biting better than ever all season long, Sullivan said.

“We've had some really good tournaments. Back in May it took a lot of weight to win. Everybody was catching 70 to 75 keepers a day. That division has been one of the most productive divisions we've had as far as the number of fish caught and the weights.”

That could change Saturday as Old Hickory is not noted for producing a lot of big fish.

“This will be a different test for the anglers,” he said,”so it is going to be interesting to see how these guys make out there, where they are just going to be stretching out limits for points.”

The top of the leader board shows a logjam in the race for the top angler award, with less than 40 points separating 1^st and 10^th place.

Mickey Beck of Lebanon, Tn., currently leads the points, but just by a nose. John Lewis of Arrington, Tn., is snapping at his heels, just two points back. Jeff Hollingshead of Murfreesboro, Tn., is just seven points behind Lewis and David Gnewikow of Mt. Juliet, Tn., is seven points back of Hollingshead. Jack Smith II of Hopkinsville, Tn., rounds out the top five, a scant two points behind Gnewikow.

The rest of the top 10 includes: 6.Sam Boss of Paducah, Ky., one point behind Smith; 7. Gary Singleton of Dickson, Tn., with 702 points; 8. Kevin Tidwell of Bon Aqua, Tn., six points behind Singleton; 9. William Merrick of Mt. Juliet, two points back of Tidwell; and 10. Phillip Bates of Bon Aqua, with 685 points.

“This is a really competitive division,” Sullivan said. “Jeff Hollingshead won the first event this year and everybody has been trying to catch him. “David Gnewikow has been one of the premier fishermen in this area the last four or five years and he just gets stronger each year as he grows as a fisherman.”

Gnewikow has got a lot tougher, not only in the Nashville area, but on Kentucky Lake as well, Sullivan noted. He finished third on Percy Priest in March, 12^th on Lake Barkley in April and 20^th on Kentucky Lake in May.

“Obviously, if he catches just a few fish he will make the top 40 this year. He is definitely one of the ones to watch.”

One of the reasons so many young anglers have come on strong in recent years, Sullivan said, is because of the advancements in boat electronics.

“It may be that we are finally seeing anglers so much more informed now than guys like us when we were growing up,” he said. “We had to find the fish out deep. Now these guys can go out and turn the electronics on and see everything down there, which enables them to catch fish more quickly.

“I think we are seeing younger guys performing at a better level now more consistently because of the electronics.”

That said, he noted, anglers still have to put the fish in the live well to cash a check at the weigh-in, even when fishing is tough as it has been on Old Hickory recently.

“Somebody always finds them out there. I'd love for everybody to come by the landing at Flippers Bulls Creek Saturday and check out the weigh-in.”

In the Kentucky Lake Regional Oct. 14-15, the Tennessee Central Division will be joined by the Tennessee East Division and the Missouri, North Carolina and Alabama South Divisions.

Bassmaster Weekend Series Tennessee Central Division

Sat, Jul 23, 2011

Old Hickory Lake

Flippers Bull Creek

Call Randy Sullivan at 256-230-5633

www.abaproam.com

by AnglersChannel

Mitchell, Montjoy On A Roll In Santee Cooper Catt Summer Trail

Winning this Saturday's Carolina Anglers Team Trail Summer Division tournament on the Santee Cooper Lakes would be sweet for anybody fishing in it. It would be even sweeter if the team that wins finds a way to topple Brett Mitchell and Jerry Montjoy to win because right now Mitchell and Montjoy practically own Santee Cooper.

“They have won several – I think five – of the tournametns on Santee since 2009,” said Brett Collins, tournament director for all the Carolina Anglers Team Trail tournaments in North and South Carolina. In fact, the pair picked up this year right where they left off last year, Collins said, winning all three of the Summer Division tournaments held so far.

Mitchell and Montjoy weighed in 17.87 pounds, including the tournament’s big fish at 7.19 pounds, for first place and earned a check for $748 in the first Summer Division tournament June 4. They followed that with a limit that weighed 16.93 pounds, including big fish at 5.83 pounds, to take first place and a check for $463 in the second tournament June 18. Then on July 9, they weighed in 14.05 pounds, including the big fish at 5.55 pounds, for first place and $444 in prize money.

“Payback has increased (at Santee Cooper since we started up in 2009,” Collins said. “Brett and Jerry should top $10,000 in winnings if they keep up the pace they are on.”

Collins said he paid back more than $20,000 at Santee last year and is on track to do that again this year.

“Santee is one of the lakes I am looking at to hold the 2012 CATT Classic,” Collins said. “I'm not sure about that yet, but this past spring we had a total of 74 teams join up, which is a new high.”

Despite the heat, fishing has been good this summer at Santee Cooper, Collins said.

“It depends on which part of the lake you are fishing. Lake Marion has been better than Lake Moultrie. They are catching them on topwater, such as Spooks and floating worms. Soft plastics like Senkos are working on the deeper trees.”

Carolina Angler’s Team Trail – Santee Cooper Summer Division

Sat, Jul 23, 2011

Santee Cooper Lakes

John C Land Facility

Call Brett Collins 803-413-7521

www.catttrail.com

by AnglersChannel