“We had increased entries in every event we held in the spring and early entries are up for all four of our fall tournaments, including the Jason Williamson Big Bass tournament, so we expect quite a bigger field at Lake Murray this year,” Jones said.

Lake Murray is the first stop on the fall swing for the Oakley Big Bass Tour, he noted.

“After Lake Murray, we are off for a week and then we have them back-to-back-to-back, with the Gerald Swindle Big Bass Tournament on Lake Guntersville, followed by the Rusty Wallace Big Bass Tournament on Douglas Lake, and then the next week after that we head to Fort Gibson Lake in Oklahoma for the Quantum Big Bass Event.”

The format provides hourly payouts for weigh-ins during the 8-9 a.m., 9-10 a.m., 10-11 a.m., 11 a.m.-12 noon, 12-1 p.m., 1-2 p.m., and 2-3 p.m. time periods both days of the tournament. Jones noted that prizes were increased across the board for 2013, with the top weight each hour worth $1,000, up from $500 last year, followed by $500 for 2^nd, $300 for 3^rd, $200 for 4^th and $150 for 5^th.

The top prize, given for the biggest bass weighed over the weekend is a 2013 Nitro Z7 powered by Mercury 150, with Tandem Trailer and Dual Console Upgrades, valued at $30,000. Luke Barton weighed in a 7.93-pound largemouth at the Lake Murray Big Bass Classic last September to claim the Nitro Z7 boat package.

Registration for the Lake Murray tournament will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Carolina Ale House, 708 Lady street, Columbia, S.C.. Registration on Friday, Sept. 27, will be held from 12 noon to 7 p.m. at Spinners Resort and Marina, 101 Sandalwood Rd., Leesville, S.C.

Entry fee is $100 for one day or $150 for both days. The tournament will be held out of Dreher Island State Park Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28-29.

The annual Lake Murray event carries the name of Jason Williamson, a Bassmaster Elite Series angler from Aiken. In just five years on the Elite circuit, Williamson has won more than $766000, finishing in the money 57 times, with two championships in 13 Top 10 finishes, and has qualified for the Bassmaster Classic.

The Oakley Big Bass Tour is a premier big bass tournament series open to all amateur anglers. The tour provides anglers of all skill levels with an exciting tournament format and event experience on some of the nation’s best bass fisheries. Since it was established in 2007 the tour has focused on the promotion of bass fishing and bass conservation at the grass roots level.

Oakley produces an array of market-leading products including premium sunglasses, goggles, prescription eyewear, apparel, footwear and accessories.

“We are really excited and looking forward to getting started on our fall run of tournaments at Lake Murray,” Jones said.

Oakley Jason Williamson Big Bass Classic

Sat & Sun, Sep 28 & 29, 2013

Lake Murray

Call Mark Jones 214-605-4600

www.oakleybigbass.com