When Mother Nature calls, the bass have to get a move on, no matter what, said Richard McMaster, tournament director for the Tom’s Marine Teal Trail which will hold its second tournament of the 2014 season Saturday on Douglas Lake.

“It’s time for them to start moving up. They know it’s late, but they know it’s time,” McMaster said.

And that bodes well for the anglers in Saturday’s tournament, he added.

“The water temperatures are starting to get up into the mid to upper 50s now. The bass are done hibernating. They are ready to eat and do their thing,” McMaster said.

The fishermen are apparently in the same frame of mind. At the first Tom’s Marine tournament March 15, 137 boats showed up and Cherokee Lake was on fire. Seventy-seven boats weigh in double figures and it took a whopping 21.8 pounds to win. Luke Boles and Donnie Absher earned a check for $2,500 for those five fish. The top five teams all weighed in more than 19 pounds of fish.

“We are looking forward to having the same number of boats this weekend on Douglas Lake, maybe even better with the warm temperatures we’re getting,” McMaster said. “Some guys who didn’t make the first tournament can still fish the last six tournaments and make the Classic, so we are hoping for a good turnout.”

McMaster said the local forecast is calling for storms to move in Thursday night and Friday, with an 80 percent chance of ran on Friday, then clear skies and 68 to 70 degrees on Saturday for the tournament.

With the bass anxious to feed up and get on the beds, McMaster said the Alabama Rig could dominate Saturday.

“Last year about this time the PAA and Southern Open tournaments were held on Douglas and it was the Alabama Rig then, so I am expecting more of the same. I do expect a lot of fish will be caught on Rat-L-Traps, jerkbaits and small crankbaits, but the bigger fish will come on the Alabama Rig, just as they did on Cherokee in the last tournament.”

McMaster said anglers fishing the Tom’s Marine Team Trail this year will have a chance to qualify for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. Teams can qualify for a chance to fish for the Classic by paying a $10 per angler membership fee. Up to three teams, based on points, could qualify to fish the Bass Team Classic Championship, where the top three teams will break up into individual boats to fish for a berth in the Bassmaster Classic.

McMaster also announced that Tom’s Marine is bringing back a summer nighttime tournament this year after a three-year absence. The night tournament will be held July 12 on Cherokee Lake with a three-fish limit.

The rest of the 2014 schedule includes: March 15, Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge; April 5, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove; April 19, Cherokee Lake, the Dam; May 24, Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge; June 7, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove; July 12, Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge; Sept. 13, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove; and Oct. 25-25, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove and Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge.

The entry fee per tournament is $100, plus a $10 lunker fee.

New incentives for the Tom’s Marine Team Trail in 2014 include :
– Toms Marine will pay $250 to anyone who wins out a boat purchased new from Toms Marine since 20110.

– Glow Max will pay the winner of the night tournament $250 in cash and $250 merchandise if they use Glow Max black lights in their boat. In addition, Toms Marine will pay the winner an additional $100 if the Glow Max black lights were purchased from and installed by Toms Marine.
– Linex has teamed up with Toms Marine Team Trail to sponsor a drawing for a new spray-in Linex bed liner this season. Anyone making a purchase from Linex and letting them know you are a member of Toms Marine Team Trail will be entered into this drawing to be held at the end of the 2014 regular season.

 

Tom’s Marine Team Trail

Sat, Apr 5, 2014

Douglas Lake

Shady Grove Access

Call Richard McMaster 423-748-3240

[email protected]

www.tomsmarinetn.com