Buckeye Lures Elite Series Pro Davy Hite demo's the Buckeye Flick-it on the water at Lake Greenwood
Buckeye Lures Prostaffer and Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Davy Hite takes us through some easy techniques on how to effectively use the ultra successful Buckeye Lures Flick-it.........
Countdown to Blastoff 2011 Week 23 with Rob Digh-Part 2
AC Pro Staffer and Insider Rob Digh continues his analysis of some of the bigger tournaments this weekend including the Anglerschoice Marine TT on Kerr, the BFL on THE ROCK, and the Watson's Marine Ranger Open Tournament on Boone Lake in TN-Part Two!
Final Anglers Choice Qualifier Saturday On Kerr/buggs Island Will Determine Points Champs
Gas prices may be high and the economy may be struggling, but bass anglers are going to fish.
The Anglers Choice Marine Team Trail has been going great through the first six of seven tournaments, said tournament director Chris Lucas, and entries are pouring in for the final qualifier Saturday on Kerr/Buggs Island.
“Registration numbers are huge,” Lucas said. “We had 173 at Smith Mountain two weeks ago and we are knocking on the door of 200 entries per tournament. That is great considering the gas prices. If we grow like this next year we will be knocking on the door for 220 entries per tournament.”
Lucas said 130 teams have already qualified for the Classic Sept. 24-25 on Smith Mountain lake and about 40 more could qualify this weekend.
“If we get those qualified we could have 160 to 170 boats in the Classic,” he said.
The tournaments are laced with opportunities for win money, he noted, and the team of Jeff Freeman and Kevin Baldwin took ultimate advantage of them to earn a total of $9,450 in the May 11 tournament on Smith Mountain Lake by qualifying for the Triton Gold Program and having the right setup on their boat for all the contingency money.
“Hopefully, we will have another winner like that,” Lucas said.
The entry fee per tournament is $100, with an optional $20 Big Fish pot. Payback will be to one in every five boats registered, with $2,000 guaranteed for first place with at least 70 boats entered, and more than 70 have already entered for Saturday, he said.
Anglers must fish four of the six scheduled tournaments to qualify for the championship. First place in the classic will win a new Ranger Z118 bass boat with a Mercury Opti Max motor and trailer.
Always a very popular tournament, this year Lucas said more new sponsors have come on board and there is plenty of bonus money to be paid out. The series is Triton Gold registered which means this year that a winner in the right Triton package can take home an extra $7,000. Anglers can also win with the Ranger Cup program and the Stratos 2X program.
There are also two big fish awards. Jiffy Automotive will award $500 to the Big Fish of the Year and there is a $500 Sea Tow Big Fish Bonus that goes to any annual active member of Sea Tow that catches the Big Fish of the tournament at all Smith Mtn. tournaments and at Kerr and Gaston.
One of the top prizes of the year is the $1,250 awarded to the points champions by Jiffy Automotive and even though Saturday is the last qualifying tournament the points championship is still anybody's game, Lucas said.
Ronnie Anderson and Jeremy Terry are sitting atop the points going into Saturday's tournament, but they are trailed closely by Wayne Burchett and Raymond Secrest who are just six points behind. Jim McCullough and Mike Stinette were right at the top before the June 11 tournament on Smith Mountain Lake where they did not weigh a fish and slipped to 20th in the standings.
“They just could not get on anything in the tournament,” Lucas said. “They caught them in practice but could not get them in the tournament itself.”
But Saturday will determine the points champions and there is plenty of hope for a lot of teams in the field to pull it out, Lucas said.
“In a field that big and when you get 200 points for a win anything could happen.”
Saturday's tournament will start an hour earlier than usual, 6 a.m. instead of 7 o'clock, and the weigh-in will start an hour earlier with the first flight coming in at 2 p.m. instead of 3 o'clock.
“It's gong to be a typical summertime tournament on Kerry,” Lucas said. Guys will catch a few fish early on top and then get out on the points and Carolina rig. I think some of the better fish at Buggs in the summer are caught on deep crankbaits, but that is an art into itself. You have to know how to do it and when to do it.”
Anglers Choice Marine Team Trail
Sat, Jun 25, 2011
Kerr / Buggs Island Lake
North Bend State Park
Call Chris Lucas 276-358-0844
www.anglerschoicemarine.com/TournamentTrail
Watson's Marine Tournament Anglers Will Find Peace And Quiet At Night On Boone Lake
There are two things for certain on Southern Lakes between Memorial Day and Labor Day. 1. It's going to be hot, and, 2. There will be plenty of noise and wave action from an armada of pleasure boats during the day.
But bass anglers know they can escape the heat and the crush of water skiers and personal watercraft by fishing at night – and Watson's Marine in Bluff City, Tenn., is happy to oblige.
For almost two decades Watson's Marine, a full-service marine dealer offering Ranger and Triton boats, and Mercury, Evinrude, and Yamaha Outboard engines, plus the area's best selection of fishing tackle and marine accessories, has been providing a summer night fishing series for local anglers.
The first tournament for this summer, the Watson's/Ranger Open Tournament, kicks off at 8 o'clock Saturday night out of Winged Deer Park on Boone Lake with $1,000 guaranteed to the winner. Second place pays $700, third place $500 and there are $200 big fish prizes for both the biggest largemouth and the largest smallmouth weighed in. Payouts are based on at least 50 boats in the field and will be pro-rated if more boats are entered.
“These tournaments are kind of a customer appreciation thing,” said Rex Pendergrass with Watson's Marine, “but they are open to anybody. You don't have to pay anything to join, just show up and fish and have a good time. The entry fee is $60 and they can pay at the ramp.”
Watson's Marine will hold three summer night tournaments on three different lakes. The second tournament, the Watson's/Triton Open Tournament, will be held July 23 on South Holston Lake out of Observation Knob Park from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., and the third tournament, the Watson's Open tournament, will be held on Watauga Lake out of Fish Springs Dock from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The entry fee and payout schedule is the same for all three tournaments, Pendergrass said. Entry forms and rules are available at the dealership.
The bass in Boone Lake are in their summer pattern right now, Pendergrass said, and fishing has been pretty good recently.
“It has been taking 15 to 17 pounds for five fish to win on Boone Lake. Anglers are mostly fishing bluffs and points at night with jigs, dark-colored spinnerbaits and Norman DD22s,” Pendergrass said. “The weather has been pretty hot, but we had a little bit of rain the laws few days and it has cooled off a little bit. Daytime temperatures are running from the mid-80s to 90 degrees. But the fishermen like fishing at night this time of year because it cuts down on so much pleasure boat traffic.”
Watson’s Marine Ranger Boats Open Tournament
Sat, Jun 25, 2011
Boone Lake
Winged Deer Park
Call Aaron Greene 423-538-5332
Weather – And Bass Bite – Are Hot For Accent Marine Tournament Kissimmee Chain
It is extremely hot on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, both the blazing summer sun overhead and the super bass bite in the lakes.
“The temperature is in the 90s. It was up to 99 one day, but it's like the Dog Days of Summer because of the humidity,” said Ted Meyer with Accent Marine which will hold the sixth of nine qualifying tournaments in the dealership's tournament trail Sunday out of Capt. Mack's River Resort on the lakes.
“Adding to that, the water is low. Okeechobee is about dried up. There's some open water back in Kissimmee – a little bit – but they are letting that out also,” Meyer said. “What we need is a hurricane to bring the lakes back up – not the hurricane itself, but the rain that comes with it.”
But, the bass apparently are not letting the heat and the extremely low water bother them at all.
“They have been catching some good weights,” said Meyer who predicted it will take 26 to 28 pounds to win Sunday. “It took 31 pounds a couple of weeks ago, so we will see what happens this weekend.”
Meyer said anglers are catching the bass in the deeper water on brushpiles and other structure.
“They are also catching some off the grasslines, but not that much. They are mostly casting regular plastics worms and some are flipping jigs and crawfish.”
He expects 65 to 70 boats to enter Sunday's tournament, down slightly from the average of 75 to 80 boats that have participated in the series so far.
“When it starts getting hot that is when the true fisherman stays out there and the rest of them go home. The next three months are going to be tough. We go through September and the Classic will be in October. We have three left after Sunday and anglers have to fish seven of the nine tournament to qualify for the Classic.”
The series includes tournaments July 31, August 28 and September 25 with the Classic scheduled Oct. 30. Entry fee for the tournaments is $65 and teams that qualify do not pay an entry fee to fish in the classic.
Entry fees must be received by 5 p.m. On the Friday before a tournament; no entries are accepted after that deadline. The tournament payback is 75 percent, with 20 percent held for the classic purse.
Accent Marine, a Stratos dealership owned by Ted and Maxine Meyer, is located on Highway 92 East at Tampa, Fla. The dealership is also a full-service provider for Evinrude.
“If a team is fishing out of a 2009 or newer Stratos, Stratos will match the win pot up to $10,000 so they will double the purse for first place in out tournaments,” Meyer said.
For details on the Accent Marine tournaments, call (813) 620-1042 or (813) 620-1309, or email: [email protected] or [email protected].
Accent Marine Tournament Trail
Sun, Jun 26, 2011
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
Camp Mack's River Resort
Call (813) 620-1042
Rodgers Looking For Home Run As Flw Majors Season Enters Next To Last Tournament
FLW Tour Pro and AnglersChannel.com Pro Staffer Dearal Rodgers
As Dearal Rodgers prepares for the fifth FLW Major of the year he is still looking to knock a home run in a tournament in his rookie season as a pro angler.
Rodgers of Camden, S.C., won the Co-angler Division of the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Lanier with 14 bass weighing 27 pounds, 3ounces. The win earned Rodgers $65,000 and came on the heels of being crowned the 2009 FLW Tour Co-Angler of the Year.
That win money gave him the financial impetus to fish this year on the pro side of the Majors, but he is still looking for major sponsor money so he can continue to fish as a pro. A top finish in the remaining two Majors could be the lure for a good sponsor, he noted.
“If the season ended right now I would say I had a decent year,” said Rodgers who is currently ranked 26th in the standings. “I've fished four events and got a check in three of them so it's been a good year for a rookie year. But I still want to do something spectacular and make a good bit of money and that has not happened yet.”
So far this year Rodgers has earned $26,500 and his best finish was 14th at Lake Chickamauga in April. If he is able to hold in the top 30 he will qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Ouachita in Arkansas August 11.
He definitely will finish in the top 100 and qualify for the FLW Majors Tour in 2012, but he may not be able to fish it as a pro.
“Being eligible is one thing, but being able to finance it is another matter,” Rodgers said. “That's why I try to give it all I have in these tournaments. I practice to the very end each day so I won't cut my time short. If I don't gt to do it next year at least I can say I gave it my best.”
The tournament on Kentucky-Barkley lakes this week could go either way, said Rodgers who has concentrated his practice time on Kentucky lake.
“The fish have to be 15 inches in length to weigh them in and that is going to be an issue. You can catch a lot of fish, but catching one 15 inches or more is difficult.”
Adding to the problem is the fact that the fish are in full summer pattern, holding on deep ledges, and they are being hammered by local fishermen as well as the pros.
“The ledges here get so much pressure from locals and tournament fishermen, I guess because the electronics are so good now. Every ledge is covered up.”
Rodgers plans to make a pretty long run to a spot he found that he really likes, but that spot is noted for a lot of local pressure so he may be sharing the area with fishermen who are not in the FLW tournament.
“I caught one about 7 pounds there, but I don't know if I can catch another one – or if I can even get on the place. All I can do is try,” he said.
If he can find a spot to fish, he plans to employ the tactics he learned fishing ledges on his home Lake Wateree back in South Carolina.
“At Lake Wateree the fish are on the ledges and everybody knows about them, so they get a lot of pressure. What we have to do is try different baits and techniques, either downsize or go bigger, reel in fast or slow, try to do different things to get bites.”
Whatever the outcome his rookie year has been a blast Rodgers said and he is looking forward to the tournament this week on Kentucky Lake.
“It should be fun.”
FLW Tour Major
June 16-19, 2011
Kentucky-Barkley Lakes
Kentucky Dam Marina
Countdown to Blastoff 2011 Week 21 with Robby Byrum-Part 2
AC Insider Robby Byrum continues his review of some of the big tournaments this weekend and talks more in depth about what you need throw in these hot temps!
Countdown to Blastoff 2011 Week 21 with Robby Byrum-Part 1
AC Insider Robby Byrum has some great insight on several of the upcoming tournaments this weekend including Wateree and Falls Lake-
Xtreme Bass Series Results - Lake Guntersville - June 12, 2011
Xtreme bass' 6th event of the year here on Lake Guntersville and man is it hot... The air temps are in the mid 90s and the water temps are pushing 90, but what is really hot is the fishing. 1/3 of the field today brought in north of 20 pounds and out of 32 teams, 27 of them brought in 5 fish limits to the Val Monte resort weigh in site. Stories from some of the guys were the typical things, crankbaits, jigs, and soft plastics. Some guys were fishing deep while others fished grass lines. One thing similar with all the guys was you had to be near deep water, if not in it. One thing I witnessed today from some of our guys was a $3 tool that lets the air out of the bladder from fish that get caught in deep water. Some fish caught deep, although still alive, have a hard time turning over and swimming away because of the air in their bladder. This tool, inserted just behind their side fin, lets the air out and allows them to swim away. I suggest everyone who fishes deep here on gville should have one of these tools in their boat. The best time to use it is when you first catch the fish and realize that it can't swim upright or swim away. Purchase one, learn about it, and use it so we can save some of these bigger deep water gville bass.
Now, on to the results...Scott Keeling and Frelon moore came in with the heaviest sack today with 25.18 lbs anchored by a very nice 7.12 lber earning them a whopping $1350.00. Benny Gregg and David Jones had engine problems and did enough to earn them some money to give to the mechanic, (these guys know, I kid, we've all been there). They came in 2nd place with 24.10 lbs for $650.00. 3rd place with 24.02 lbs was Rick Cotten and Steven Dabbs, netting them $270.00. 4th place went to Don Hubbard and Andy Cole with yet another great weight of 23.24 lbs for $170.00. The fifth and final payout spot went to Hadley Coan and Donnie Mcelvoy with 23.16 lbs for $120.00. They also had the big fish of the day at 7.16 lbs for an additional $320.00.
I'm going to mention the next 5 places as they all came in above 20 pounds and should get some credit for their great efforts. 6th pl with 23.12 lbs, Billy Ledbetter. 7th pl with 22.90 lbs, Byron Franklin and Britt Perry. 8th pl with 20.66 lbs, Alex Davis and Jeff Davis. 9th pl with 20.42 lbs, Jeff and Kristy Sparks. 10th pl with 20.18 lbs, O.B. Wilborn and Cindy Potterfield. All final results, points and pics can be viewed on www.xbseries.com.
I must say, what a great field of anglers we have. I truly enjoy competing against them all as I expect it to raise my game at some point. Thank you anglers and thank God for the beautiful day and everyone's safe return. Our next event is not until August 21st so I wish everyone a good summer off and stay cool.
Jamie Shay
Xtreme Bass
256-599-0132
www.jamieshayfishing.com
Big fish of the day 7.12 lbs, Hadley Coan from Huntsville
Inside The 11Th Annual Lee King Tournament With Big Bite Baits President Scott Montgomery
Big Bite Baits President Scott Montgomery takes a few minutes to talk about his day on the water as well as the importance of what this tournament does for Neiman Pic disease and what a huge part of the community the King family is---
2011 Lee King Weigh-In Highlights
Some quality bags and insight from a few of the 138 teams that weighed-in at Eufaula Sunday...........including a great clip from 2nd place team member Scott Flournoy--
Ed Wilkerson And Jason Smith Win The 2011 Lee King Benifit Bass Tournament On Lake Eufaula
Ed Wilkerson and Jason Smith haul in 15.22 on a 98 degree day down on Lake Eufaula and win the 11th Annual Lee King Benifit Bass Tournament
Sportsman's Warehouse Report with a focus on the HOT Summer Pattern!
Sportsman's Warehouse Fishing Manager Justin Kijak joins us once again to talk about the transition taking place to fish a successful summer pattern-that means higher water temps and some new baits for the tackle box-take a look!
Walser Hoping To Find Some Quality Fish In Time For Piedmont Bfl Tournament Saturday
Robert Walser of Lexington, NC. Photo courtesy FLW Outdoors.
Tournament angler Robert Walser is trying to solve a puzzle in practice for the WalMart BFL Piedmont Division Tournament on High Rock Lake this weekend: How to make up the difference between what it has been taking to win a tournament on the lake recently and what Walser has been able to catch.
It's been taking up to 25 pounds to win a tournament on High Rock, Walser said, and he has been catching about 5 pounds a day less than that.
“I wish it was better for me,” said Walser who lives nearby in Lexington, N.C., and considers High Rock his home lake. “All the tournaments down there are taking 20 pounds to win. There is a gang of fish biting – and a lot of big fish – but I've been catching 12 to 15 pounds a day.”
A major factor, he said, is the heat.
“It's brutally hot, anywhere form 84 to 88 degrees. The water is hot and it's not really clear. There is some stain everywhere. I would not be shocked if the river gets muddy again. We had flash flood warnings Sunday for Wilkes County and all that drains right into the river.”
Even with very high water temperatures, the fish are biting good, he said. It's just that the big fish apparently are not biting where he has been fishing.
“You can catch them any way you want to. The water is only about a foot down, so you can catch them flipping docks, fishing a crankbait, a jig, anything you want to fish. I caught some fish out to about 7 or 8 feet deep and apparently they are catching them deeper than that. I think most of them are catching the bigger fish on a crankbait.”
Actually, Walser said, the weights are coming down. Two weeks ago it took 25 pounds to win a tournament and second place had 21 pounds, plus there were several more that had more than 20 pounds. This past weekend it took about 20 pounds to win, he noted.
“If it is not the best lake in the state right now, it is one of the best,” Walser said. “There are just so many quality fish in this lake. I don't know what prompted it three or four years ago, but since then it has just got better and better.”
While he would love to win, Walser said his primary goal is to qualify Saturday in the Piedmont Division for the regional championship and again two weeks later on High Rock in the North Carolina Division.
“It's gong to take 4- and 5-pound fish because it's a 20-pound deal every time you go to High Rock or you are not going to do any good,” said Walser who had finished in the top five in the Piedmont Division four out of the last five years and was No. 1 in 2007. After top 20 finishes in the first three Piedmont Division tournaments he is currently ranked third in points.
Wal-Mart BFL Piedmont Division
High Rock Lake
Tamarac Marina
Sat, Jun 11, 2011
2011 Mid-Season Recap with FLW Tour and FROGTAPE Pro Brian Travis
FROGTAPE and FLW Tour Pro Brian Travis gets us caught up on his season to date and what lies ahead on the back half of this incredibly busy year for this 2nd year Pro-
Southern Championship Fishing Trail Results - High Rock Lake - June 4, 2011
A total of 18 teams came out to compete this past Saturday at Tamarac Landing, High Rock Lake. It was a mild 66 degrees that morning when Southern Championship Fishing Trail tournament participants launched around 6 a.m. When it came time to weigh in, at 2 p.m., Steve Sink and Robert Mixion took top spot with a bag that tipped the scales at 18.71 lbs. For their 1st Place finish they bagged $760, plus the big fish pot, another $180- for a total of $940. Their big fish weight was 5.92 lbs. Coming in a close 2nd at 18.63 lbs. was Andy Nix and Derrick Loflin. For their efforts they walked away with $360 in prize money. 3rd Place, and $140, went to David Drye and Terry James who snagged a bag that weighed 16.60 lbs.Thanks to all who came out to compete! We're really enjoying all of the new faces. Be sure to tell your fishing friends about the trail... remember, the more people fishing, the bigger the payouts! Hope to see you all next time!
Piedmont Bass Classics Results - Jordan Lake - June 4, 2011
We finally got the best day of the year to fish! Beautiful weather, light winds & high 80 air temps! Perfect day and it showed! Jordan was on fire! This was the best catch I've seen at Jordan in a long, long time! You had to have over 20 pounds in your bag to collect a check! The team turnout was 44 boats! 176 bass were weighed for a whopping total of 590 pounds! Water surface temps averaged 89 and air temps ranged from 65 to 88 with winds ranging from light to 5 mph midday. Big fish for the day was 9.12 pounds and plenty of bass were weighed in over 5 pounds each. The spawn is over and the fishing is hot!!! Best lures for the day were C & T rigs and cranksbaits worked on humps in about 10 feet of water. The bass fishing at area lakes should be extremely good at this time.
Once again, I want to thank our sponsors. Without their support we could not be offering the $5,000 Trail. The final event for the Spring 'Piedmont Bass Classics $5,000 Bass Tournament Trail', will be the Championship at Falls Lake, Saturday June 18th. Only teams that have qualified may fish this event. The Future's Trail Championship will also be on this date. Now here are the June 4th results:
1st Place..Mark Herndon & Jay Garrard of Bahama & Durham..5 bass..30.71 lbs...$1,020
2nd Place..Stewart & John Adams of Benson..5 bass..25.28 lbs..$565
3rd Place..Jerry Marshburn & Williams Burns of Sanford..5 bass..24.51 lbs...$457
4th Place..Ken Wall & Ben Cannon of Asheboro & Apex..5 bass..24.33 lbs...$352
5th Place..Mark Bayse & Todd Gibson of Thomasville & Archdale..5 bass..23.91 lbs...$317
6th Place..Jeff & Doug Hodges of Apex..5 bass..23.02 lbs...$282
7th Place..Roy Blackwood & Butch Williams of Pittsboro..5 bass..22.50 lbs...$246
8th Place..Dan Glosson & Phillip Eakes of Rougemont & Bahama..5 bass..22.16 lbs...$176
9th Place..Johnny Wilder & Mike Harris of Butner & Oxford..5 bass..21.16 lbs...$105
1st Place Big Fish..7th Place Team above: 9.12 lbs...$574
2nd Place Big Fish..1st Place Team above: 8.16 lbs...$246
1st Place TWT.. 1st Place Team above: 30.71 lbs...$630
2nd Place TWT..3rd Place Team above: 24.51 lbs...$270
Next Event !!
Final Spring 'Open' Tournament Jordan Lake~~Saturday June 11th
For more information about the tournaments call Phil McCarson 919-471-1571 or 919-971-5042 or visit www.piedmontbassclassics.com
Countdown to Blastoff 2011 Week 20 with Frog Tape Pro Brian Travis
Frog Tape and FLW Tour Pro Brian Travis joins us for week 20 on Countdown and you'll like his insight on fishing Kerr this weekend at the BFL as well as Eufaula for the 11th Annual Lee King Tournament-
Davy Hite Demo of the Buckeye Lures Mop Jig
Buckeye Lures and Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Davy Hite shows the versatility and value that keeps the MOP JIG in his tackle box at ALL TIMES-
Greene Boat & Motor Lake Hickory Top 5
2011 Greene Boat & Motor Trail Qualifier #6
1- Michael Fox - Tony Shook 18.45 lbs
2- Ted Geddis - Bill Warren 17.71 lbs
3- Stacy Richards - Brian Triplett 17.51 lbs
4- Louie Hull - Chuck Montgomery 15.83 lbs
5 - Jeff Queen - KJ Queen 12.14 lbs
1st Big Fish Ted Geddis - Bill Warren 5.50 lbs
2nd Big Fish Stacy Richards - Brian Triplett 5.39 lbs
More results on the way!
Quality bites may be hard to find in FLW Tour Open on Potomac River
FLW Tour Pro Bryan Thrift is looking for a better result on this trip to the Potomac River
The only other time Bryan Thrift fished the Potomac River he did not fare very well, not even making a check. The 2010 FLW Tour Angler of the Year is hoping to do a lot better in the FLW Tour Open this week on the river that flows by the Nation's Capitol.
It's going to be a matter of finding those quality bites, Thrift said after several days of practice on the Potomac.
“I've caught a good many fish, but I have not caught the size I need to be catching,” he said. “It's not a lot of trouble to get bites – it's just hard to come by the 3- to 4-pound bites.”
The weather is hot, Thrift noted, and the water appears dirtier than the last time he fished the Potomac, probably from all the recent rains in the area. The main feature of the river as far as the bass are concerned, he said, is the grass.
“In the lakes around the house (Shelby, N.C.) we don't have grass. There is not much grass in the North Carolina lakes. It's nice to get out and fish where they don't kill the grass.”
While the Potomac grass does not appear to be as green and healthy as it should be this time of year, Thrift said the bass are still using it.
“You can catch fish on just about anything – flipping, topwater – you can get bit on about anything you throw if you throw it long enough,” he said.
After winning the 2010 AOY title, Thrift started the season off this year with a bang, winning the first FLW Major on Beaver Lake in March and taking 5th at Lake Hartwell later that same month. He finished 38th in the first FLW Open on Lake Okeechobee in February, but earned a check.
However, his stocked dropped in his last two outings, both FLW Majors on Lake Chickamauga in April and the Red River in May, finishing out of the money in both tournaments.
“So far as making a living goes it has been a good year so far,” he said. “I've made enough to pay the bills ($156,000 so far this year), but the last couple of tournaments have not been that great for me. But it's not really a letdown from Angler of the Year. In five tournaments I've made two top fives and cashed checks in three of the tournaments – and that is always good.”
Thrift said he is fishing both the Majors and the Opens on the FLW Tour this year – 11 tournaments in all – to increase his chances at earning win money.
“This is my job and you need to fish as much as you can to make a living doing this. I figure the more chances I take the better off I am,” he said. “It's not really a grind. We usually have a week to two weeks between tournaments so there is time to get back home and have a week or two to get everything ready for the next tournament.”
Winning the AOY title helped boost his earning ability, he said.
“I got on the Chevy Team this year and I am proud to represent them and enjoy fishing for them. My other main sponsors are Damiki – I've been with them for three years – and The Great Outdoors (www.teamgreatoutdoors.com) in Cherryville, N.C., which is one of the best tackle stores in the country as far as bait selection. They specialize in carrying baits that not a lot of people carry, including a lot of hand-made baits and hard to find baits.”
Thrift said he plans to fish hard and cover a lot of water on Thursday, the first day of the Potomac River tournament.
“I hope I can hit a little wad of fish. It seems like you go a while without bites, but when you catch one you can catch a couple of them.”
Then he will be home for a week before leaving for Kentucky Lake for the fifth FLW Tour Major of the year.
FLW Tour
Potomac River
National Harbor Marina
Jun 2-5, 2011
Vicchio Fishing Volunteer Bfl On Chickamauga In Quest For A Ticket To All American
Ken Vicchio is leading the BFL Voluteer Division. Photo courtesy FLW Outdoors.
As a retired law enforcement officer, Ken Vicchio used to nab the bad guys. Now he just wants to nab some big old bass.
Vicchio, who retired from the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau after serving as an officer with the Detroit Police Department, has been fishing competitively for the past four or five years and currently is atop the standings in the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Volunteer Division.
“I've never led the BFL after three tournaments,” said Vicchio after practicing Wednesday for the Volunteer Division tournament on Tennessee's Lake Chickamauga. “I won Cherokee one year and have come in third a couple of times. I just missed going to the All American a couple of years back when the top six went.”
And that, said Vicchio, is why he and many others fish the BFLs.
“We all fish this so we can go to the regional and hope to qualify at the regional to go to the All American. That is our Classic, our goal Everyone's goal is to go to the All American. I've never made it. I've come close, so maybe this is my year. I'm sure going to try.”
Vicchio finished 4th in the Volunteer BFL on Watts Barr in March, 19th on Douglas Lake in April and 5th on South Holston Reservoir in May to take over the points lead. He tested the tournament waters 10-12 years ago in the old Red Man circuit as a non-boater and he fishes the Tom's Marine Team Trail on Douglas and Cherokee Lakes. He began fishing the BFL when it was the old Mountain Division before it became the Volunteer Division.
But he has little experience on Lake Chickamauga.
“I am not familiar with the lake. The last time I fished it was the BFL last year,” he said.
Wednesday was his first opportunity to practice on Chickamauga – and he made the most of it.
“I caught a couple of good ones today so I am just going to hone in on the little pattern I developed,” he said.
That pattern means fishing deep.
“The water is really warm. The water temperature is in the 80s and the fish are deep, for me anyway. You can always catch some shallow fish, but I could not get on the shallow fish. I caught a few today 20 to 25 feet deep. I think they are already in their summer pattern.”
And, if the fish are deep, Vicchio is going to be fishing a jig.
“It's no big secret. Everybody knows that if I catch them that is the way I am catching them,” he said. “It's just a matter of location, being in the right place when they are there.”
No matter the outcome, Vicchio plans to have a good time this week.
“I am having a ball. There are a lot of people in east Tennessee who have gone really well fishing and we still have some pros fishing the BFLs here. It's kind of fun fishing against them, a good barometer of your fishing skills,” he said. “I heard someone say if you can compete against them, you can compete against anybody – and I believe them.”
Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Volunteer Division
Chickamauga Lake
Dayton Boat Dock
Sat, Jun 4, 2011
On the Water with Bassmaster Elite Series Champion Davy Hite and his 2011 Evinrude E-Tec
One of the most honest and straight fwd testimonials you'll ever see on the Evinrude E-Tec with Bassmaster Elite Series Champion Davy Hite on the water at Lake Greenwood-
Countdown to Blastoff 2011 Week 19 Part Two
Memorial Day Weekend Edition continues with AC Insider Robby Byrum as he continues his insight into some solid regional tournaments this holiday weekend-Part Two!!
Countdown to Blastoff 2011 Week 19 Part One
Countdown to Blastoff Memorial Day Edition with AC Insider Robby Byrum joins us for Week 19 to discuss the deep diving crankbaits that are in synch right now all over the region as well as some BIG TOURNAMENTS this weekend-Part One!!
Memorial Day Weekend Preview From Sportsman's Warehouse In Columbia-Sc!!
Sportsman's Warehouse Fishing Manager Justin Kijak helps us prep for a big Memorial Day Weekend no matter where you are heading to...........don't forget to check their new online store at www.sportsmanswarehouse.com!!
Bass Fishing Wide Open As Bassmaster Southern Open Anglers Head For Douglas Lake
The way the bass have been biting on Douglas Lake everybody fishing the Bassmaster Southern Open June 2-4 should catch plenty of fish, leaving the only questions to be answered, who will win the third and final Southern Open of the year and who will finish on top in the Angler of the Year race?
“There should be a ton of fish caught,” said local guide and tournament angler Capt. David Berry of Mascot, Tenn. “The fish are in a post-spawn pattern right now and we are catching them from 2 to 3 feet deep out to 30 feet deep, all over the board and on just about anything you want to throw.”
Berry described Douglas Lake as “more of a highland reservoir, with a lot of cover compared to other lakes. The water is fairly clear to stained. The lake is in real good shape right now, so it should be a really good tournament.”
Douglas holds good populations of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and spotted bass, Berry said.
“There are some really nice-sized largemouths with tons of smaller ones. The smallmouth have to be 20 inches and you can get a good smallmouth anytime up there. But it should take largemouths to win the tournament.”
Berry said it has taken 24-plus pounds to win several tournaments on Douglas Lake the last week or two so a 20-pound average per day would not be out of the question for the winner.
“The rains and cold fronts have kept the water temperatures down a little bit this year so the fish are just now starting to get out on their summer patterns. There should also be a lot of shallow fish caught, but I think the tournament will be won fishing deep water structure.”
Berry said a variety of lures will produce on the deep structure, including deep-running crankbaits and jigging spoons.
“The main thing is getting out there, finding a school of those big fish and getting them triggered to bite. You can put a lot of weight in the boat in a hurry.”
Berry said he expects a lot of the anglers will also fish shallow in the Open.
“I think you will see a lot of fish caught flipping and on topwater. The topwater bite has really been consistent recently.”
Berry, who has fished Douglas Lake since he was five years old, also fishes tournaments and is a member of Team Skeeter. He runs his Smokies Angler Adventures Guide Service for largemouths, smallmouth and crappie on Douglas Lake, Cherokee Lake and Norris Lake and also guides for trout in the rivers. He can be reached at (865) 933-3140 or (865) 661-5107, or by email at: [email protected]. Check out the guide service at: www.smokiesangling.com.
The Open on Douglas Lake will also settle the Southern Open Angler of the Year race which appears to have come down to a battle between Gerald Swindle of Warrior, Ala., and Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla. Swindle leads Lane by 38 points.
Swindle has been the most consistent angler in the Open field, having won the first Southern Open tournament on the Kissimmee Chain of Lake in January and placing second in the second tournament on Lake Norman in March. Lane finished second at Kissimmee and seventh at Lake Norman.
Bassmaster Southern Open
Jun 2-4, 2011
Douglas Lake
The Point Marina
Fish For Life Open Tournament Results - May 21, 2011 - Clarks Hill Lake
Congratulations to Dennis Dickens and Craig Sowinski for winning $5,000 in the 2011 Fish For Life tournament on Clarks Hill! They beat the rest of the field by bringing 5 fish weighing 16.90 lbs to the scales! Second place and $1,600 went to the team of Craig Johnson and Kip Ashmore, who caught 5 fish for 14.76 lbs. Close behind in 3rd place was the team of Mike Echols and Mike Smith with 5 fish for 14.74 lbs. Big Fish of the tournament, 5.58 lbs, was caught by the team of Dean Moore and Bill Braswell. Here are the top 10 results:
| Place | Team Member 1 | Team Member 2 | Prize Winnings | # L F | WEIGHT | B F | DEAD FISH PENALTY | TOTAL WEIGHT |
| 1 | Dennis Dickens | Craig Sowinski | $5,000.00 | 5 | 16.90 | 4.30 | 0.00 | 16.90 |
| 2 | Craig Johnson | Kip Ashmore | $1,600.00 | 5 | 14.76 | 0.00 | 14.76 | |
| 3 | Mike Echols | Mike Smith | $1,100.00 | 5 | 14.74 | 4.76 | 0.00 | 14.74 |
| 4 | Chuck Odom | Gary Odom | $650.00 | 4 | 14.80 | 5.30 | 0.13 | 14.68 |
| 5 | Ed Rice | Eddie Yassney | $500.00 | 5 | 14.42 | 5.56 | 0.00 | 14.42 |
| 6 | Bart Blackburn | Dr. Roy Altman | $400.00 | 5 | 13.52 | 0.00 | 13.52 | |
| 7 | Dean Moore | Bill Braswell | $350.00 | 5 | 12.56 | 5.58 | 0.00 | 12.56 |
| 8 | James Redd | Paula Alexander | $275.00 | 5 | 12.06 | 3.90 | 0.00 | 12.06 |
| 9 | Eddie Burgess | Steve Franklin | $250.00 | 5 | 11.84 | 3.52 | 0.00 | 11.84 |
| 10 | Ray Diamond | Donald Miller | $200.00 | 5 | 11.80 | 0.00 | 11.80 |
Xtreme Bass Series Results - Lake Guntersville - May 22, 2011
This Xtreme bass event was a little special because of our latest storms. It sure was nice to see all the guys and hear some of the stories of survival. One such story was, Mike keener jr. and his family riding out a tornado in his hallway while hovering over his girlfriend and grandparents trying to keep them safe, the house was being destroyed all around him. He said if they had been in the bathroom everyone would have died. The grandparents were cut up pretty good and had to be unburied and rushed to the hospital, but survived it. His truck outside was unrecognizable and it had the top layer of its hood peeled off while the bottom layer was still latched, top layer never found. So many stories like this, I was truly glad to see everyone.
It sure makes it hard to write a story about the fishing as it seems so trivial, but here is a go at it...It's May, and here on Guntersville the fish seem to scatter and some fish stay shallow while many head for deeper water. The weather had been crazy with week before temps 20 degrees below normal and the week of our event the sun came back and had temps soaring to 10 degrees above normal. Still a beautiful day starting out around 68 and rising to 90 by weighin, most of the guys were able to get their limit and a few guys really catching them. The stories from the best sacks were "ledges".
Jigs seemed to be the lure of choice although there was also mention of having to use many different lures such as soft plastics and crankbaits. Some of the guys did do pretty well in grass with worms and lizards, but as stated, the best sacks came from the ledges.
The top 5 from today went like this: Stanley Morris and David Gray had the best day with 25.30 lbs, (all 5 pounders). They took home a nice pile of cash, $1410, beating out 35 other teams. 2nd place was Rick Cotten and Steven Dabbs with 23.40 lbs for $690 and they also took home $340 for the big fish of the day, 7.92 lbs. 3rd place and $290 went to Terry Mann and Ryan Anaya with another nice sack of 20.46 lbs. 4th place was Alex Davis and Jeff Davis with 18.92 lbs for $190 and 5th place went to Danny Shell and Buster Land with 18.80 lbs for $150.
Our next Xtreme Bass event here on Guntersville is June 12th and the pattern should be the same, Hot weather, jigs and deeper water. I must thank God everyone in this group survived and that we all get to continue to get together and do what we love to do - GO FISHING.
Check www.xbseries.com for the full results, story and pics. Special thanks to Jim Elsessor who continues to help me in the mornings with boat checks. Also, thank you to my wife for the morning coffee and keeping the paperwork in order at weighin. There are also some sponsors I'd like to mention as they are helping out in many ways...Snag Proof Lures, Anglerschannel.com, Lunkersauce, Big Dawg Baits, Spot satellite gps messenger, Val Monte Resort, Deep South Rods, Sand Mountain Reporter newspaper, AON magazine, GDO magazine, and Humminbird... Thank you all, Jamie.
PS. Keep on the lookout for the Snag Proof Open tournament. I am directing this years event here on Guntersville and we scheduled it for prime time froggin season, October 1st, 2011. Check www.snagproof.com where you can download the rules, registration form and flyer which will give you more info. We are also running the Potomac River Snag Proof Open in their prime froggin season on August 28th for anyone interested in that one. Same deal, rules, forms and flyer for that at the same website. $10,000 for 1st place based on 150 boats at both events. The Guntersville event last year had 267 boats and we expect a good turnout for both of these so get your entries in soon. Boat numbers go according to entry received date.
Jamie Shay
Xtreme Bass
256-599-0132
www.jamieshayfishing.com
 Steven Dabbs, left, and Rick Cotten with 2nd place catch (23.40) |
 Steven Dabbs with big fish of the day (7.92 lbs) |
MotorMate USA Pro Staffer Scott Beattie demos his MotorMate on the new Yamaha SHO!
MotorMate ProStaffer Scott Beattie shows us the simplicity and durability of the new MotorMate while installing and uninstalling this great new product.
MotorMate USA Pro Guy Eaker demos this fantastic new outboard locking system!
Bassmater Elite Series and MotoMate USA Pro Guy Eaker walks us through the ease of installing and uninstalling the new MotorMate Outboard Locking System on his Mercury.
St. Jude Bass Classic On Sardis Lake Helps Fund Treatment For Children With Catastrophic Diseases
Everybody gets them in the mail – letters seeking a donation to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. The Memphis Bass Club has responded to those pleas to the tune of $2,300,000 over the past 38 years.
They hope to raise the ante considerably Sunday, May 29, in the 39th Annual St. Jude Bass Classic on Sardis Lake near Sardis, Miss.
The Memphis Bass Club, title sponsor for the tournament which is always held the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend, is the oldest bass club in the Mid-South, said tournament director Russell Thomas. Among its first members were a number of well-known older fishermen such as Bill Dance of Bassmaster and television fame.
“We've been around a long time,” said Thomas who has been personally involved in the annual St. Jude Bass Classic for the past 29 years.
The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of the hospital's founder, the late entertainer Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.
Entry fee for the team tournament is $275 and the field is limited to 300 boats.
“Last year we had 268 boats and we are expecting that many this year, although the price of gasoline and the down economy has hurt a lot of folks,” he said.
The first place team will win two 14-foot War Eagle Boats with two 9.9 Yamaha outboard motors and two trailers, $2,000 in cash and about another thousand dollars worth of fishing tackle, Thomas said. Second place will be worth $1,750 cash and the payback goes down to $125 through 22nd place and $100 for 23rd through 30th place. In addition, the winners also get a bag stuffed with tackle.
For years Ranger donated a boat for a drawing and when they discontinued that, the club paid $26,000 last year for a boat and trailer, but they will not offer that boat this year, Thomas said.
“We can give that $26,000 to St. Jude instead.”
But, there will be a drawing and the lucky winner will drive home in a new Nissan Frontier pickup truck provided by Nissan, he said.
“Whoever fishes, all their names go into a pot and we draw one name out for the grand prize. If you fish you have a shot at that truck.”
Thomas said Roger Stegall of Iuka, Miss., an accomplished tournament angler on the Operation Bass and B.A.S.S. circuits and a guide for 30 years, will emcee the tournament.
And he is hoping to have a special guest appear at the tournament.
“We are dedicating the tournament to Hayden Taylor, five years old of Virginia, who is a patient at St. Jude,” Thomas said. “He is supposed to be here for the tournament. He has to come back to St. Jude for a CAT Scan.
Hayden suffers from medulloblastoma, the most common malignant central nervous system tumor of childhood.
“He has undergone 31 rounds of radiation and he is not in remission, but he is doing pretty good,” Thomas said. “If he can come I plan to give him a Limited Edition St. Jude Fishing Rod and Reel.”
For an application to the St. Jude Classic, contact: Tournament Director Russell Thomas, (901) 634-4190 (cell) or email: [email protected]; Co-Director Tony Lannie, ( 901) 246-4413 (cell), or email: [email protected]; or Lake Director Bill Petrie, (901) 828-1967(cell), or email: [email protected].
39th Annual St. Jude Bass Classic
Sun, May 29, 2011
Sardis Lake
Engineer Point Public Use Area
Airport Marine Charity Bass Tournament Helps Support Boys And Girls Clubs Of Central Alabama
The 5th annual Airport Marine Charity Bass Tournament for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Alabama on Lay Lake next Saturday may be the easiest tournament an angler will ever fish – and he could be a winner whether he weighs in a fish or not.
“No backup lines, no boats bumping against each other, no waiting on anybody – you just go where you want to fish and make your first cast at the same time everybody else does. Everybody starts at the same time and everybody quits at the same time. Nobody has an advantage and nobody is at a disadvantage,” said Flynn Gerald, tournament director.
“We've got the biggest and best tournament in the State of Alabama, the biggest and best payback tournament in the state and we make it as easy as we can for the fishermen.”
Gerald explained how the tournament works:
“On Saturday morning all they have to do is go fishing. You can put in anywhere on the lake, upriver, down the lake, wherever. Then, once you are on your spot, you make your first cast right at 5:30 a.m. You have to quit fishing at 3 p.m. and you have one hour to get to Paradise Point Marina with your fish. You can come by land or by water, but you have to be there by 4 o’clock or be disqualified – no exceptions.”
First place pays $5,000 and there is a guaranteed payout of $45,000, including $25,000 in draw prizes, Gerald said. There is also a $5,000 bonus to the highest finisher in a qualifying boat – an originally owned boat brought from Airport Marine two years old or newer from the date of the tournament.
Even those who don't weigh a fish may win some money, he added.
“Everybody who does not catch a fish puts their flight card in a box and we draw five of those cards out for $200 apiece, the same as the cost of the entry fee.”
The $200 per team entry fee covers the boat launch, Big Fish, and donations to the Boys and Girls Club of Central Alabama – and it’s tax deductible! But, the prize money distribution is just getting started by then, he noted.
“After the tournament we are going to give away $25,000 in cash to the fishermen. We're going to draw 50 names for $500 apiece. Every angler has a one in four chance to win that $500. We had a team last year that won $1,000 and never caught a fish,” Gerald said. “I don't know of any tournament that has ever done that and I think if people knew about it they would fish it next Saturday. Nobody can touch it.”
Last year the tournament drew almost 200 boats and Gerald said he needs at least 50 more to enter this year's tournament to break even. Just to keep everything above board, Gerald said a polygraph test will be given randomly to three or four teams.
Registration will be held at Airport Marine, 424 Highway 87, Alabaster, Ala., 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
“If they can't make it during the week I will be at Paradise Point to take entries from 3 o’clock on Saturday morning,” her said.
Anglers should find excellent fishing early in the morning, he said, but it probably will drop off some once the sun gets up high.
“It's the time of year for those fish to go deep, but on Lay Lake that's about 10 to 12 feet,” he said.
Over the past 110 years, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Alabama, which began with the Boys Club of Birmingham in 1901, has helped shape the lives of thousands of children. The Club conducts outreach programs in cooperation with local schools, breaking geographical barriers and allowing children access to academic help and character development activities through the Bubba Bear Program and Homework Helpline.
Airport Marine Charity Bass Tournament
Sat, May 28, 2011
Lay Lake
Paradise Point Marina
Call Tournament Director Flynn Gerald at 205-678-9666 for information
http://www.airportmarinetrails.com/tourn11C.html
Preston and Katrina Clark Weigh-In, Win Wolfson Tourney, and Accept the Top Prize on Stage!
Watch Katrina weigh their fish before she and husband, Preston Clark of Bassmaster Elite Series fame, accept top honors and $10,000! On stage, they tell how Preston pounded the St Johns River bass while Katrina kept the net handy. They also share what Wolfson Childrens' Hospital has meant to them and their triplets.
2011 Wolfson Tournament Weigh In Highlights!
Weights were solid again this year as bag after bag of big Florida bass hit the scales at the 22nd Annual Wolfson Childrens' Hospital Bass Tournament on the banks of the St Johns River in scenic Palatka!
2011 Wolfson Tourney Action From On The Water
Bruce Oglesbee took us out on world-famous Rodman Reservior to show us why many in the 395-boat field locked out of the St Johns River and into the lake during the 22nd Annual Wolfson Childrens' Hospital Benefit Bass Tournament. Thanks Bruce!
2011 Wolfson Champion Preston And Katrina Clark Win With 23 Lbs On The St John's River!
AC Insider Vance McCullough gets a few minutes with the 2011 Wolfson Children's Hospital Champion Preston Clark after his 23 LB sack and $10,000 payday!!
Anglers Will Need Strategy In Oakley Blue Ridge Big Bass Classic On Smith Mountain Lake
Strategy will play a major role in winning prize money in the Oakley Blue Ridge Big Bass Classic on Smith Mountain Lake Saturday and Sunday.
That's because the Oakley tournaments are set up a little different from regular bass tournaments.
Here’s how the Oakley tournament concept works. Hourly payouts are based on the overall number of entries, but typically they range around $500 for first place, $400 for second, $300 for third, $200 for fourth and $100 for fifth place.
That means the angler must use a little strategy on when he weighs in his fish. A 2-pounder might be worth $100 one hour, but another hour it might be worth five times that. There will be seven hourly weigh-ins on Saturday and seven on Sunday.
Tournament director Mark Jones and his staff help the anglers with their strategy, providing real time weigh-in reports available on their cell phones.
“So the guys on the water will know what has come on stage in the last 15-20 minutes and can run in and catch a weigh-in,” he said. “It’s a fun format, really exciting. Each hourly weigh-in is non-stop action and guys can make 2, 3, 4 or five weigh-ins a day.”
And, while everyone is fishing for an hourly winner, everybody will also be hoping to land the largest fish of the two-day tournament. The largest overall big bass of the tournament will win a 2011 Nitro Z7 powered by a Mercury 150 motor valued at $25,000!
Entry fee is $100 for a one-day entry, $150 for a two-day entry with the first 100 two-day entrants getting a Quantum Custom Rod. To enter the anglers must be amateurs – no pros or guides.
“We have partnered with Fish Virginia First, an initiative of the State of Virginia created to bring in major events for the Blue Ridge Big Bass Classic,” Jones said. “We've hit Lake Conroe in Texas, then Table Rock in Missouri and Lake Norman in North Carolina and this will be the last stop of the spring tour.”
Jones said registration will be held from 12 noon to 7 p.m. Friday at Bridgewater Plaza on the lake near Moneta, Va. Hourly payouts will be determined by the size of the field, with 250 total entries needed for the top hourly payouts.
“We don't know if we will get 200 entries or 600, but pre-registration has gone very well.”
Jones said most of the fish appear to be in post-spawn.
“So, some of the females that might have been 7-7-8 pounds are probably 4-5-6 pounds now, but the guys are telling me a 5 1/2- 6 1/2-pound fish will take the top prize. But, there have been some 7-8-9-pound fish caught this spring on this like.”
Since no pros or guides are allowed in the tournament, Jones said it is the perfect atmosphere for husbands and wives and fathers and sons – and the weather forecast indicates this will be an excellent time to be on the water fishing. Temperatures are expected to range from 60 to 80 degrees with the average temperature during the tournament both days in the 70-degree range.
Oakley is a worldwide leader in performance optics including premium sunglasses, goggles and prescription eyewear. Headquartered in Southern California, the company’s optics brand portfolio includes Fox Racing, Mosley Tribes, Oliver Peoples and Paul Smith Spectacles. In addition to its worldwide wholesale business, Oakley operates retail locations including Oakley Stores and The Optical Shop of Aspen. The company also offers a wide selection of Oakley-branded technical and active apparel, footwear, watches and accessories. Additional information is available at www.oakley.com.
Oakley Blue Ridge Big Bass Classic
Smith Mountain Lake
Sat & Sun, May 21-22, 2011
Wolfson Children's Hospital Benefit Bass Tournament Features Major Prize Money
One of the huge bass caught at last year's tournament
The fishermen will be fishing for major money Saturday in the largest one-day bass tournament in Florida but the children being cared for at the Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville will be the big winners. Wolfson Children's Hospital, provides specialty care for sick and injured infants and children.
The 22nd annual Wolfson Children's Hospital Benefit Bass Tournament has a guaranteed purse of $37,000 in cash and prizes, including $10,000 for first place, $4,000 for second, $3,000 for third $2,500 for fourth and $1,750 for fifth. Anglers who finish in the next five places get $125 and 51-55th place will get $100.
There is also a $5,000 prize for the largest bass weighed in and $1,000 each for second and third big bass of the tournament. Bringing in the exact weight listed in a sealed envelope will earn a huge bonus, said assistance tournament director Larry Starling.
“We buy an insurance police and then we put a weight in a sealed envelope,” Starling said. “If an angler's big bass happens to match the exact weigh he receives an additional $15,000. We've had that happen one time. If the second big bass matches the weight in another envelop that angler gets $10,000.”
In addition to all that potential prize money, somebody will go home with a brand new bass boat, Starling said. Up to 4,500 tickets are being sold for $10 each and there will be a drawing following Saturday's weigh-in for a new fully rigged 2011 Bullet 21XD Bass Boat with a 2011 Mercury 225 Pro XS OptiMax Motor.
Entry fee for the tournament Saturday is $90 per boat with an additional $10 per boat for the big bass competition.
The tournament grows every year, drawing 422 boats last year and raising $140,000 for the Wolfson Children's Hospital.
It began two decades ago when the director of Plant Facilities Department of Baptist Medical Center Downtown, along with several outside contractors, wanted to play a major role in funding capital improvements and technological advancements for the Children's Hospital. They created this tournament with the goal of making it the largest in the state raising money for kids.
“We are also holding the Lads and Lasses Tournament Thursday, which is a couples tournament, a fun day for husband-wife and father-daughter teams,” Starling said.
Entry fee for the 13th annual male-female tournament is $70 per boat with a $10 entry for the big bass pot. First place will pay $1,000, second $750, third $600, fourth $500 and fifth $250. First big bass will win $1,000 and second big bass will be worth $500.
The bass are predominately in post spawn by now, Starling said, although anglers are still catching some big females on the beds.
“A tournament last weekend was won on three fish that were caught on the spawn,” he said. “I think it will take 25 to 30 pounds to win Saturday. Somebody is going to find a good wad of fish. Somebody always finds that big stringer.”
Starling said the majority of the bass are coming off the beds, feeding up and getting healed up after the spawn.
“People will probably be catching them on a crankbait or Carolina-rigging the holes in the sandbars. That is one of the ways the bigger stringers are caught.”
Wolfson Children’s Hospital Benefit Bass Tournament
St Johns River
Palatka City Docks
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Call 904-360-4531 for information
www.wolfsonchildrens.org/ways-to-give/bass/Pages/tourney.aspx
Wright And Dyer Hoping To Hold First Place In Greene Boat And Motor Trail Points At Wateree
KJ & Jeff Queen won the April tournament on Lake Norman
With first place points in two of the first four tournaments in the 2011 Greene Boat and Motor Team Trail, Jody Wright and James Dyer have taken a solid lead in the points standings for the series on North Carolina and South Carolina lakes.
Fishing with David Fortenberry, James Dyer earned first place points in the Jan. 29 tournament on Lake Wylie. Dyer, of Connelly Springs, N.C., and Wright, of Forest City, N.C., also won the March 5 tournament on Lake Wylie. They finished seventh in the Lake Norman tournament April 23.
“Chris Marshall and Scott Willis will be more than ready to hit the tournament on Lake Wateree Saturday to see if they can regain the lead,” said Brett Collins, tournament director.
Dyer and Wright, a Greene Boat & Motor pro staff member, have a 13-point lead on Marshall and Willis who are tied for second in the standings with Ryan Hinkle and Dan Mullane.
“Wright and Dyer have been rolling right along the past few months. Whether they are teaming up or fishing with alternates these boys have been cashing in,” said Collins who noted that Wright and Dyer are co-owners of "Katch-Her Lures," makers of jigs, spinnerbaits, and shakey heads. You can check out "Katch-Her Lures" on Facebook.
Fishing has been tough on Lake Wateree recently, but should be getting back to normal by the tournament Saturday, Collins said.
“Fishing was tough on the lake this past weekend with only 13 pounds needed to win the BFL tournament there. But that was probably due to the weather fronts passing through. If we can get some stable weather the rest of this week things should get back to normal by the weekend.”
Collins said the shad spawn is going on, but the bass don't seem to be interested.
“The shallow bite is what I have been hearing. The water level is normal and the post-spawn pattern should be in full swing Saturday,” he said. “Topwater around docks and points will more than likely play into the winning weight. And the grass bite could be good if the carp are finished spawning.”
Collins said the rising gasoline cost has probably meant the loss of some entries so far this year.
“But, looking at other trails, they seem to be feeling it too. Either way, since we pay back all the entry fee at the championship, that will make somebody happy when they see the amount of cash up for grabs.”
Collins said it is too early to say what the purse will be for the final, but it is certain to be better than last year when $6,000 was paid to first place.
“We've been averaging about 40 teams per tournament and more teams are qualified for the championship this year. We've been paying a little over $1,600 for first place in the qualifying tournaments, too.”
Greene Boat and Motor Team Trail - 2011
Lake Wateree
Dutchman's Creek Marina & Campground
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Call Brett Collins at 803-413-7521
Countdown to Blastoff Week 17 with AC Insider and Sportsman's Warehouse Fishing Mgr Justin Kijak!
Sportsman's Warehouse Fishing Mgr Justin Kijak joins us on Week 17 to talk about the $10k on the Line for 1st place at the FISH THE FALL Championship this weekend on Murray as well as the 10k on the Line for 1st at the 22nd Annual Wolfson Children's Hospital Charity Tournament on the St. Johns River in Palatka, FL!!
CATT Classic Winners take Home $6,500.00 at Lake Wylie!
We had a total of 72 teams enter the 2011 CATT Classic held on Lake Wylie May 14-15 launching out of Ebeneezer Park competing for a purse totaling over $17,000.00! Before we get to the results many thanks go out to Mr. Robert Thomas and Mr. Bennish Brown with York County Tourism. Without them this event would not have been possible! If you’re in the Lake Wylie area Ebneezer Park is a great place to spend the day with your family.
Robert Fowler and Steve Whiteside are two of the original anglers who entered the first CATT tournaments we held on Lake Wylie back in 2003. They both have won money over the years but Saturday they hit the jackpot! Steve and Robert brought in 13.17 lb the first day of competition and the 2nd day they weighed in the heaviest bag of the tournament at 17.02 lbs. Their 2-day weight totaled up to 30.19 lbs which put them at the top of the leader board when the weigh in was wrapped Sunday afternoon. Steve and Robert received one of the largest 1st Place checks CATT had handed out at $6,500.00!
Jeff and KJ Queen’s Sunday also ended on a good note with their 2 day weight at 29.50 lbs. Jeff and KJ added in the 1st Place BONUS $ which was another $1,500.00! They received a total of $4,000.00 for their 2nd Place finish!
Jimmy Bumgarner and Boots Wilson cashed in also with a total weight of 29.01 lbs which put them in 3rd Place at the end of the day. They took home the 2nd Place BONUS $ which pushed their total winnings up to $2,150.00!
Stacy Richards and Brian Triplett came in 4th with 28.99 lbs and they took home another $500.00 for the 1st day Big Fish at 5.53 lbs. All total they collected $1,500.00!
Chad Hasting and Peyton Frick finished in 5th Place with a total weight of 27.23 lbs and they took home $500.00!
6th Place – Gene & Peyton Webster 27.10 lbs $400.00
7th Place – Michael Fox – Tony Shook 26.47 lbs $300.00
8th Place – Ron & Roger Farrow 26.36 lbs. $250.00
9th Place – Tim Chapman – Marc Leech 26.34 lbs $225.00
10th Place – Ronnie McCoy – Lin Langston 26.28 lbs $210.00
11th Place – Donnie Mairs – Dean Benfield 26.08 lbs $200.00
12th Place – Louie Hull – Chuck Montgomery 25.92 lbs $200.00
13th Place – Derrick Nicely – Troy Jackson 25.90 lbs $200.00
14th Place – Ronnie Bridges – Steve Postell 25.21 $200.00
We look forward to next years’ Classic and if it runs as smooth as the Lake Wylie event it will be a breeze!
Brett Collins
CATT LLC
Casey Ashley Weigh-In Highlights From This Past Sunday At The Bassmaster Elite Series On Lake Murray!!
Watch Ike almost fall off the stage when he weigh's in and then Casey Ashley step's up and slam down his 2nd Elite Series win of his career on Lake Murray!!
Piedmont Bass Classics Results - Falls Lake - May 14, 2011
Great day for fishing even under the threat of severe thunderstorms, which arrived just after we had everyone weighed in, paid and sent home! The team turnout was 57 boats! 230 bass were weighed for a total of 686 pounds! 226 fish were released alive! Water temps averaged 75 and air temps ranged from 55 to 77 with winds ranging from light to 10 mph midday. Big fish for the day was 7.87 pounds and plenty of bass were weighed in over 6 pounds each. The spawn is 99% over and the fishing is hot!!! Just about any lure would work this day, but the c-rigs & t-rigs seemed to tempt the bass which were mostly caught in shallow water. The bass fishing at area lakes should be extremely good at this time.
Once again, I want to thank our sponsors. Without their support we could not be offering the $5,000 Trail. The next & final 'Piedmont Bass Classics $5,000 Bass Tournament Trail' qualifier #7, will be at Jordan Lake, Saturday June 4th. Qualifier #5 for the Future's Trail will also be on this date. I hope to see all of you at Jordan on the 4th! Now here are the May 14th results:
1st Place..Ken Wall & Ben Cannon of Asheboro & Apex..5 bass..27.73 lbs...$1,140
2nd Place..Scott Smith & Tony Woodard of Apex & Four Oaks..5 bass..23.78 lbs...$638
3rd Place..Jerry Marshburn & Williams Burns of Sanford..5 bass..22.17 lbs...$547
4th Place..Lee Williams & Tim Penhollow of Durham & Hillsborough..5 bass..20.35 lbs...$501
5th Place..Dan Glosson & Phillip Eakes of Rougemont & Bahama..5 bass..20.31 lbs...$412
6th Place..Rick Sossaman & Randy Johnson of Oak Ridge & Hillsborough..5 bass..20.21 lbs...$319
7th Place..Brian Fritts & Jeff Beasley of Raleigh..5 bass..20.18 lbs...$274
8th Place..Barry Kleinfelter & Alan Thomerson of Stem & Wilton..5 bass..19.97 lbs...$228
9th Place..Mark Herndon & Jay Garrard of Bahama & Durham..5 bass..19.54 lbs...$182
10th Place..Jule Cameron & William Small of Wendell & Creedmoor..5 bass..18.88 lbs...$182
11th Place..Brandon Sykes & Aaron Johnson of Apex & Raleigh..4 bass..18.71 lbs...$137
1st Place Big Fish..2nd Place Team above: 7.87 lbs...$770
2nd Place Big Fish..Dennis & Travis Allen of Four Oaks: 6.98 lbs...$330
1st Place TWT.. 1st Place Team above: 27.73 lbs...$770
2nd Place TWT..2nd Place Team above: 23.78 lbs...$330
For more information about the tournaments call Phil McCarson 919-471-1571 or 919-971-5042 or visit www.piedmontbassclassics.com!
Scott Smith & Tony Woodard finished in 2nd place with 23.78 lbs!!
Morristown Marine Tt Cherokee Lake Weigh-In Highlights!
Some footage of Saturday's weigh-in plus some one on one with angler Kenny Smith after he weighed-in just over 15 plus Lbs-
Fishers of Men NC Piedmont Division Results - High Rock Lake - May 14, 2011
The Piedmont Division of the Fishers Of Men National Tournament Trail came to High Rock Lake for the 4th stop on the 2011 circuit on May 14th. The pre-tournament meeting was held at the East Campus of High Rock Community Church. Pastor Doug Irving delivered the message. The service was as “Good as it gets” according to Legacy Director Chad Hooker.
On Saturday morning 33 teams lined up at first light to tackle the infamous Lake High Rock, excited because they had just found out the Regional Championship will be help at High Rock come September bringing hundreds of anglers here from as far away as New York. Owner of the Tamarac Marina, Dan Black, said he was excited to be hosting the group of fishermen and invites Rowan County residents to come enjoy the weigh-ins on Friday and Saturday September 23rd and 24th. The Grand Prize for that Tournament will be a Brand New SKEETER boat.
After 10 hours of fishing in scattered showers, the sun greeted the anglers at the weigh-in as James (smiley) Alred and Larry Brickey of Browns Summit weighed in a whopping 19.02 pounds to capture the $1140 first prize. Lexington’s Robert Mixon and Steve Sink took over the points lead with a second place finish with 17.15 pounds receiving $654 for their effort. Third Place went to Salisbury’s CJ Johnston and Matt Stanley with 16.88 pounds winning $444. Byron Odaniel and Dave Snyder of Charlotte NC took fourth place winning $358 with a bag of bass totaling 16.17 pounds. Fifth place went to Bobby Steele and Robert Williams of Siler City who won $296. Sixth was Al Needham and Howie Payne of Seagrove NC with 14.85 pounds rounding out the cash winners with $238. The big fish of #5.96 for the Tournament went to Bradley Houchins and Jonathon Jones. Rae Kiester and Greg Sink had a 5.55 pound lunker. Most of the winning catches were in 0-3 feet of water. The Rookie team leader so far this year is Kenneth and John Shumate. The Adult/Jr leader is Bradley and Steve Singleton (Belews Creek winners) and the top Guy/Gal team is Drew and Amy Montgomery. These teams have automatically qualified for the Regional Championships as well as the tournament winners Brickey/Alred, and Marty/Dusty Nester.(Lake Norman).
The next event for the Piedmont Division will be the regional Qualifier on Badin Lake on June 11th 2011. The Badin Lake tournament will be held at Circle Drive (blast off) The Friday night Pre Tournament service will be held at High Rock Community Church in DENTON.
Directions to the Ramp are as follows: Traveling down Hwy 52 south toward Albemarle, turn left on Hwy 49. Travel down 49 until you cross the Tuckertown Lake Bridge. Continue 2 miles and turn right on Badin Lake Road beside the Cagles Store(our Sponsor).Travel down this road until you cross a small bridge. Take the first or second right you come to which loops around and follows the lake. Stay on this road until you get to the wildlife ramp. To get to The Church travel back to hwy 49 turn RIGHT and go to hwy 109 (about 10 miles) Turn left and go under hwy 49 and travel to 18870 South NC Highway 109, Denton, NC 27239 which is about 4 miles.
We cannot do this without the help of our sponsors…
Our Divisional sponsors are: Nester Hoisery, Snyders Packaging, Tamarac Marina, Ben Franklin; Atty at Law, Cagles General Store and Flow Motors
Our tournament sponsors are: Sports Fisherman’s Center, Bass Pro Shops,Anglers Choice Marine, The Trophy House, Asheboro Alarm and Electric Co.,.Cashion Custom Rods,Pine Ridge Store Bens Salvage, Lead Chunkers and Carolina Marina.
Sponsoring our Adult/Jr. teams is Lyerly Dental and the door prize sponsors are: Advance Auto, Hwy 49 Sporting Goods, Fishing Fever, Get The Net Bait Co., Flemming Candy Co., Happy Farms, Tournament Lure Concepts. Fisherman's Friend , Capt Garys Instant Shine, Ron Moore Landscaping, Rudys Tackle, S&C Garage,Country Christian Book Store and Deep Creek Lures.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the fine companies that make Fishers of Men possible: Skeeter Boats, Yamaha,, Strike King Lure Company, Markel Marine Insurance, Abu Garcia, Power-Pole, Nester Hosiery, Marshall’s Marine Lake City SC, Keelshield, Solar Bat, Kistler,,Berkley, Spot Remover, Stanley Jigs,Gary 'Yamamoto Jacobs Glass,and Dual Pro Charger.
Morristown Marine Team Trail Results - Cherokee Lake - May 14, 2011
Doug Winchell won fishing solo Saturday with 17.65 lbs. He took home $3,000 for the win. Doug said when the wind picked up later in the day, that played a big role in helping him win. Paul Napier and Clifford Bunch took 2nd place with 15.95 lbs, winning $2,000. The 3rd place team was Kenny Smith and James Goble with 15.63 lbs. They took home $1,000.The team of Perry DeWees and Shane Strunk won the Big Smallmouth money with 4.34 lb smalley...and $590! Jimmy Taylor and Donnie Bittle took the Big Largemouth prize, also $590, with a 5.23 lb largemouth.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE INTERVIEW WITH WINNER DOUG WINCHELL!
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR SAM PHILLIPS!
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS IN PDF FORMAT!!
 Big Largemouth winners Jimmy Taylor and Donnie Bittle |
 Big Smallmouth winners Perry DeWees and Shane Strunk |
Morristown Marine Tt Director Sam Phillips Helps Us Re-Cap The Day On Cherokee Lake
Morristown Marine TT Director Sam Phillips helps us re-cap Tournament #4 on Cherokee Lake as well as whats coming up this summer and fall on his series of Tournaments-
Stanly County Hospice Benefit Tournament Results - Badin Lake - May 14, 2011
Southern Championship Fishing Trail was proud to host the 7th Annual Stanly County Bass Fishing Hospice Benefit Tournament. It was an impressive turnout with a total of 42 teams coming out to compete. After starting off quite foggy, it ended up being a warm and sunny afternoon at Alcoa landing, Badin Lake, with temperatures in the upper 70's by weigh in time. A little bit of rain moved in around midday, but we managed to dodge scattered thunderstorms in the area. At the end of the day, over 400 lbs. of fish were brought to the scales. Buzz Dunlap and Benny Blake took 1st Place with a 24.65 lb. sack of fish. The pair also wrangled up Big Fish of the day with a 7.10 lb. hog. For all of their hard work, Dunlap and Blake walked away with $1,410. A 17.08 lb. bag of fish brought in by David Drye and Robert Parish earned 2nd Place and a prize of $800. It was a tight competition for 3rd through 8th place... those spots were all separated by less than a pound. Doug Young and Jerry Charleston placed 3rd and took home $500 for a 16.69 lb. sack. Kevin Chandler and Alan Griffin took 4th with 16.64 lbs. 16.56 lbs. was enough for 5th, that sack was brought to the scales by Bennett Pridgen and Lane Hayes. 6th, with 16.30, was John Russell and Roscoe Bowers. With 16.08 lbs., Brandon Shaver and Chad Cook earned 7th place. 8th Place went to Bob Jennett and Derek Crumbley with 16.00 lbs. Thanks to all who came out to participate. Your generosity will greatly benfit Stanly County Hospice. We hope to see you all next year May 12, 2012.
2nd Place David Drye and Robert Parish 17.08 lbs
Doug Winchell wins the Morristown Marine TT on Cherokee Lake!
Morristown Marine TT and Cherokee Lake Champion Doug Winchell talks to us with some good insight as to how the wind really played a big factor in him having a solid last 3 or 4 hours on Cherokee and holding off 119 other teams for the big win-
CATT Lake Wylie Classic Day 1 Report
Here are your Day one top 5 teams for the CATT Classic on Wylie. There are 72 teams competing for over $17,000 in cash and prizes!! Dominant pattern was fishing docks with Senko's and Jig's in about 2-8 feet of water. Here are the top 5:
1.Lin Langston/Ronnie McCoy 5 fish 15.82
2.Stacy Richards/Brian Triplett 5 fish 15.16 BF for the Day 5.53 $500
3.Jimmy Baumgarner/Boots Wilson 5 fish 15.13
4.Louie Hull/Chuck Montgomery 5 fish 14.55
5.Tim Chapman/Mark Leech 5 fish 14.12
Day 2 is tomorrow and if everyone participated in the Bonus pot, 1st place could be worth $8000!! We will keep you posted as we hear from director Brett Collins-
