The opening tournament of the Carolina Monster Bass Winter Trail on Lake Norman last Saturday has the misfortune of being scheduled at the same time as the 2015 Carolina’s Bass Challenge Classic, which meant that a lot of anglers who might have fished the Monster Bass tournament were otherwise occupied.

“We had 12 boats Saturday, but a lot of guys were fishing the CBC Classic, but we are hoping to pick up a lot more boats this Saturday,” said Randy Coleman, tournament director.

Coleman said the fishing all-around was pretty tough last Saturday.

“Everybody who fished brought in limits but they were small limits. It took right at 12 pounds to win and the guys who won caught their fish on jigs. Hopefully, when this weather cools off and cools the water down the bite will pick up. I think the high Sunday is going to be 40-something degrees.”

Anglers pay a $20 membership fee and teams pay a $75 entry fee per tournament, which includes $10 for Big Fish. However, the membership fee is waived if the angler bought or buys his boat from Denver Marine.

The tournament series has other bonus money for anglers who qualify, Coleman said.

“If you win while fishing out of a Denver Marine Ranger Boat, no matter what year, you will get bonus money. You’ll also get some bonus money if you are fishing out of a boat other than a Ranger if you bought it from Denver Marine.”

The Ranger Cup is available for anyone in a Ranger Boat 10 years old or newer that was bought from Denver Marine as long as there are 20 or more boats entered in a tournament.
And Monster Bass Bucks are available for Rangers up to 10 years old purchased from Denver marine – with a 20-boat minimum. The boats must have a Team Denver Marine windshield sticker and bass displayed for both bonus programs.

There is even a special lure program, Coleman said. An angler who wins with a Shane Finesse Rigg by local luremaker Shane Lehew will earn up to $100 in a regular season tournament and $250 in the year-end championship.

Even the less than lucky anglers have something to shoot for, he added. The team with the lowest weight for a 5-fish limit will win $75 provided by Key Properties.

But, perhaps the biggest bonus is the chance to win an entry into the highly popular Jim Ledbetter Cancer Tournament on Lake Norman next March. The top 10 in points in the Monster Bass series will receive a free entry to the Ledbetter Tournament, plus all the boats will be entered in a drawing for an entry into the Ledbetter Tournament.

The winner of the Jim Ledbetter Cancer Tournament will take home a 2015 Ranger Boat, provided by Denver Marine, Ranger Boats and Evinrude.

The schedule for the Carolina Monster Bass Winter Trail is Nov. 8, 15 and 22, Dec. 6 and 13, Jan. 3 and 10, with the Championship Jan. 24, all out of Midway Marina on Lake Norman.

 

Carolina Monster Bass Winter Trail

Sat, Nov 15, 2014

Lake Norman

Midway Marina

Call Randy Coleman at 704-616-3449

http://denverrecreationalmarine.com/tournaments,schedule