“The year before when we won the tournament the guys who finished second came back and won it last year – and we finished second,” said Christopher Haywood of Stanley, N.C., who won the 2009 tournament with his brother, Matt Haywood of Lincolnton, N.C.

The winners in 2010 were Jody Wright and Lester Elton who weighed in 16 pounds, 13 ounces while the Haywoods had 13 pounds 13 ounces. The Haywoods won in 2009 with 17.3 pounds.

“Last year we said we needed some rain and muddy water, and colder water,” Christopher said. “Neither happened and the weights did go down. Last year before we weighed in, I figured we did not have much of a chance. I figured it would take so much to win and we did not have that much.”

If the dynamic that has worked the last several years keeps going, however, the Haywoods could be poised to win again this year – an outcome Haywood said he would thoroughly enjoy.

“We will fish it as hard as we can and bring in what we have and see what happens,” he said.

But for the hoped for outcome to occur, he said, it would help to get some rain and colder temperatures.

“In tournaments on the lake the last few weeks it has not taken a whole lot to get in the money,” he said. “I hope they will be biting better by the time of the tournament.”

Haywood said he and his brother will stick with the bread and butter tactics that have helped them win on Lake Norman before – mainly working crankbaits around any structure that has water on it.

“We are fishing spots, throwing crankbaits around brushpiles. We’ve got a few boat ramps, and we fish rocks. Anything like that is good.”

The main thing about fishing the Ryan Newman Tournament, he said, is just being out there and mingling with all the celebrities. Among celebrities lined up for this year’s seventh annual Charity Dinner and Auction on Friday, Dec. 9, are NASCAR’s Ryan Newman, team owner and 2011 Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart, plus drivers Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex, Jr. and Regan Smith, several professional fishermen and Nashville song writers Billy Montana, Kendell Marvel and others.

Anglers can enter for $150 per two-man team.  For an additional $50 anglers will be entered in the Big Fish contest. Early registration ended Nov. 29.

The first place team will win a 2011 Nitro® Z9 equipped with a motor and electronics provided by Bass Pro Shops. Other prizes include cash, Bass Pro Shops gift cards, trolling motors, GPS systems, depth finders, rod/reels, outdoor equipment, tackle boxes and more. Prizes totaling over $60,000 will be awarded to the top 12 teams.

BASS will facilitate the weigh-in with special guest emcees – four-time BASSmaster Champion Kevin VanDam and Outdoor Channel Host Mark Zona. The launch begins at 7:30 am. Registration will be held at Bass Pro Shops in Concord, N.C. on Thursday, Dec. 8, from 4 to 9 p.m. in the Fishing Department or at the boat ramp on Saturday from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m.

Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman and his wife, Krissie, established the Ryan Newman Foundation in January 2005. The mission of the foundation is to educate and encourage people to spay/neuter their pets and to adopt dogs and cats from animal shelters; to educate children and adults about the importance of conservation so the beauty of the great outdoors can be appreciated by future generations; and to provide college scholarship funding through the Rich Vogler Scholarship program to students interested in auto racing careers.

“Last year was our most successful charity event weekend ever,” Newman said in a letter to sponsors. “Over 500 guests attended the sold out dinner and 128 boats participated in the fishing tournament. The two-day event raised $312,000.00 for animal welfare and conservation.”

 

Ryan Newman Foundation 6th Annual Charity Fishing Tournament

Sat, Dec 10, 2011

Lake Norman

Blythe Landing

www.ryannewmanfoundation.org