Snag Proof is no longer just a plastic frog lure maker. The company’s product line now includes about two dozen kinds of weedless lures, ranging from soft plastics to hard baits, and anglers will be able to fish with the complete product line in the first annual Tennessee Snag Proof Open the last weekend in June on Cherokee lake.

“They can use Snag Proof jigs, swimbaits, crankbaits, worms, frogs, the whole deal,” said tournament director Sam Phillips. The Snag Proof line runs from critter baits such as frogs, mice, leeches, lizards, worms and craws to crankbaits, buzzbaits, and poppers.

“The primary bait has to be a Snag Proof bait,” Phillips said. “They can use any trailers on the jig and we will allow the Tennessee Rig. You can modify the baits, trim, dye, whatever, as long as the primary bait is a Snag Proof product.”

(A Tennessee Rig is the same as an Alabama Rig, but only three trailers are allowed instead of five.)

“It’s going to be a two-day event, June 29-30 and it will pay $10,000 to win, guaranteed, regardless of the number of boats entered,” Phillips said. “There is a three-fish limit per day, so we are looking for a real shootout – six fish for two days for $10,000.”

Entry fee is $150 per team, which can be a two-angler team, or just one. There will also be an optional big fish pot.

Phillips said 80 percent of the purse will be paid back at the ramp starting with second place and paid one place for every five boats. There will also be a big largemouth and big smallmouth prize, with the weights carrying over from Day 1 to Day 2.

“The tournament is sponsored by Skeeter, Yamaha and the Morristown Chamber of commerce, along with Morristown Marine. Skeeter and Yamaha will also be furnishing food for the event,” Phillips said.“We’ve had inquiries from Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee, so we are expecting a good turnout. We are taking sign-ups at Morristown Marine or you can do it by phone or print off the form and FAX of mail it in. We will go over things with the anglers before blasting off at 6 a.m. next Saturday morning.”

Phillips said Cherokee Lake is at full pool and the fishing is expected to be really good for the tournament.

“The jig and swimbaits have been the top sellers leading up to the tournament, so it looks like a jig and swimbait bite, along with some topwater. We’ve had reports they are also hitting the frog,” he said.

Crankbaits are also expected to be a factor in the tournament, he said.

“Snag Proof is re-introducing their crankbaits for this event and Morristown Marine will have the crankbaits. We are getting them shipped in this week,” Phillips said.

Tennessee’s First Annual Snag Proof Open

Jun 29-30, 2013

Cherokee Lake

25 E Bridge Access

Call Sam Phillips 423-677-3004 or 423-587-5555

www.snagproof.com