“We closed the sales part for the time being,” said Mark Hannah with Oconee Marine. “We plan to reopen the service department around March 1 and we may even get back into boat sales this year. But our boat service will continue.”

The closure of the dealership had anglers abuzz about the future of the tournament trail which Oconee marine launched in 2007. But the phone number for the dealership (706-485-4750) remained active and plans forged ahead for the 2013 team trail schedule, with the first tournament already in the books.

The second tournament will be held Saturday out of Little River Marina on Lake Sinclair, followed by Feb. 9, Lake Oconee out of Sugar Creek Marina; March 2, Lake Oconee out of Sugar Creek Marina; March 23, Lake Oconee out of Sugar Creek; April 6, Lake Oconee out of Sugar Creek; April 20, Lake Sinclair, out of Little River Marina; and May 4, Lake Oconee, out of Sugar Creek. The Classic will be held May 11 on Lake Oconee, out of Sugar Creek Marina.

“Teams have to fish five of the eight tournaments to qualify for the Classic,” Hannah said. “The entry fee for the tournaments is $160 and we average a 90-91 percent payback to one in six teams. Teams can sign up the morning of the tournament at the ramp.”

Hannah explained that $5 of the entry fee goes to the Angler Team of the Year, which is awarded at the Classic; $15 goes to the Classic fund, and $10 goes to the Big Fish award. The classic entry fee is $240 per team, which is added to the percentage of entry fees accumulated during the tournament season.

Hannah said he expects a strong bite for the tournament Saturday on Lake Sinclair.

“I think it will probably take 18 or 19 pounds to win and 10 or 11 pounds to place. I know some anglers are catching fish by jigging spoons as deep as 50 feet and a lot are being caught, as always, under the docks in the backs of the creeks.

Oconee Marine Team Trail

Sat, Jan 19, 2013

Lake Sinclair

Little River Marina

Call 706-485-4750