Consistent Fishing Puts Team Way Out Front For Final Tom’s Marine Tournament Saturday On Douglas Lake
The final regular season tournament in the Tom’s Marine Tournament Trail for 2011 will be held Saturday on Douglas Lake with the points race seemingly settled with Gary Pilkenton and Denny Turner on top.
“After the last tournament the points standings were pretty much spread out,” said tournament director Richard McMaster. “Gary and Denny came out of that tournament with a 40-point lead so the title is now theirs to lose. Anything is possible, of course, but they probably won’t lose.”
Through the first seven tournaments Pilkenton and Turner amassed 2015 points through very consistent fishing with six top 10s, including one win March 26 on Lake Cherokee. Their only finish outside the top 10 was 11th place in the second tournament of the season April 16 on Douglas Lake.
Brian Holt and Guy Siler, who are in second place in the standings, had two wins for the year, with five top 15s, but they also finished 31st April 16 on Douglas Lake and 36th in the last tournament Sept. 6 on Lake Cherokee.
The final tournament Oct. 1 on Douglas Lake will wrap up the regular season with the annual Tom’s Marine Classic scheduled for Oct. 29-30, one day on Cherokee Lake and one day on Douglas Lake, said McMaster.
“There was a recent tournament on Douglas Lake and a lot of fish were caught,” McMaster said. “We are looking forward to cooler weather coming in this weekend. They are calling for the high to be around 65 degrees. I think the fishing will be better so I am looking forward to a lot of limits being weighed in.”
While a lot of anglers report catching some fish on topwater, McMaster said there are still fish out deep in their summer pattern.
“I was just recently catching fish in 20 to 25 feet of water over there,” he said.
However, the fish have moved out of the river channel and are staging closer in on the ledges where they can get to shallow water quickly.
“They are starting to relate to the flats. There is a topwater bite early in the mornings. It is not an all day bite. Carolina rigs, Zara Spooks, buzzbaits and jigs and crankbaits are working really good right now,” he said.
“I think it will be a good river tournament Saturday. I have heard a few guys are going to bring jet boats and fish for bass up in the shoals – and they probably have a good chance of winning it.”
He also announced that Duane Morris and Martha Miller at Tom’s Marine will host a banquet at Cherokee Park for the anglers Friday night. While attendance is not required at least one member of every team is encouraged to attend and if they can’t attend they are urged to sign up for the classic during the week at Toms Marine to reduce congestion at the ramp on the first morning of the tournament. Everyone signing up prior to the first day of the championship will be entered into a drawing for a new trolling motor. The drawing will be held at weigh in on day two of the tournament. Toms Marine will have boats on display at the banquet as well as the boats that will be given away in the championship.
McMaster said the series this year has been a very successful one.
“I want to thank everybody for a great year. The Tom’s Team Trail averageed 140 boats for the year which is a great success considering the economy and gas prices.”
And he is looking for another great year in 2012, he added. The 2012 schedule is posted on the website, but the lakes have not been determined yet, he noted. The tentative schedule includes: March 10, March 31, April 28, May 19, June 16-17, Sept. 15, Oct. 6, with the championship Oct. 27-28.
McMaster also noted that the Tom’s Marine Winter Trail is set to kick off in two weeks. The Tom’s Marine Winter Trail schedule includes: Oct. 15, Cherokee; Nov. 5, Cherokee; Nov. 19, Douglas; Nov. 26, Cherokee; Dec. 10, Douglas; Dec. 17, Cherokee; Jan. 7, Cherokee; with the Championship Jan. 14 on Cherokee. The entry fee per tournament is $50 (includes lunker) with $5 for the championship. Contact Richard at 423-748-3240 for more information.
Tom’s Marine Team Trail
Sat. Oct. 1, 2011
Douglas Lake
Shady Grove Access
Call Richard McMaster 423-748-3240
