The Carolinas Bass Challenge keeps running at a high level of competition, with 153 teams qualified for the North Carolina Division Championship Saturday on Lake Wylie and even bigger tournament turnouts could be on the horizon in the future, said tournament director Brett Collins.

Noting that there was a big jump in numbers from the first season in 2012 to 2013, Collins said he looks for the CBC to grow even more.

“There has been a huge amount of interest in the 2014 season,” he said.

And, no wonder. The reward for winning or even placing in a CBC tournament is substantial.

“We’ve averaged 140 teams and the first place winners averaged taking home over $10,000 at the CBC NC events,” Collins said. “The father-son team of David and Gerald Williams won the NC points championship worth $1,000 – and they also won the tournament at Falls which was another $8,000.”

Tony Foster and Steve Sink placed second in the points and won $500, while Nathan Webber and Paul Rigsbee were third and took home $250.

Collins pointed out that it is even richer for the championship.

“First place at Wylie Saturday is a 2013 TZX190/Yamaha150hpdi valued at $30,000. The rest of the field in the money will take home 100 percent of the entry fee plus $1,000 for Big Fish. And the top finishing Skeeter owner will take home a $5,000 Skeeter BONUS.”

Another bonus for all the fishermen who made it to the Wylie final is a home-cooked Lowcountry pork chop dinner Saturday after the weigh-in, Collins said.

The full field at Wylie will qualify for the 2013 CBC Classic on Oct. 26-27 at Lake Murray, along with the teams that qualify for the South Carolina Division Championship Sept. 21 at Lake Hartwell.

“First place at the CBC Classic on Lake Murray will take home a 2013 Skeeter ZX200/200YamahaSHO valued at $50,000,” said Collins.

Collins said fishing on Wylie is pretty tough right now and he anticipates the top weight Saturday will be 16 pounds or less.

“The forecast calls for cooler weather so the bass should move a little shallower and be easier to pick off, but the deep bite at Wylie can be really good this time of year also. With the lack of rain the last few days the water should be clear, but you should find some stained water up the rivers and the bass would be shallow in those conditions,” he said.

Carolinas Bass Challenge – North Carolina Division

Sat, Sep 14, 2013

Lake Wylie

Call Brett Collins 803-413-7521

www.carolinasbasschallenge.com