The 2013 Carolinas Bass Challenge – SC Division – started out with a bang on Lake Murray Feb. 9 and the roar is only expected to get louder as the division moves to Lake Wylie Saturday for the second tournament of the season.

CBC owner/director Brett Collins reported the total purse paid out at Lake Murray was $42,600, with checks going to anglers through 33^rd place. The winners, Tony Jackson and Clint Jackson, weighed in 24.78 pounds for a first place check of $12,000.

“Last year we had the largest field at Lake Wylie in March that we had at any CBC event with 159 boats and we’ve already eclipsed that mark twice in as many tournaments this year,” Collins said. “After the first two CBC tournaments so far this year, first place is averaging taking home over $13,000 and second is receiving $5,000. We paid back well over 20 places at both events so far this year.”

He also noted that the first winning team in a CBC tournament fishing in a Skeeter/Yamaha package at Lake Norman Feb. 16 won a total of more than $15,000 – $10,000 for first place, plus the $5,000 Skeeter Bonus.

With March prime time on Wylie and the bass expected to be moving up on the banks, Collins said he looks for close to 200 boats for the tournament Saturday.

With rain moving across the area over the weekend likely to provide some stain to the water, Collins said he expects a heavy bag to weigh in for first place on Saturday.

“We will most likely top the 16 1/2 pounds it took to win the tournament in March last year,” he said.

“Alabama Rigs and jerk-baits work well off the points this time of year on Wylie, but don’t forget about the jig on docks. Crank baits and spinnerbaits should play a big part also. Of course the South Fork will see its share of boats but I look for the winning weight to be caught in the cooler waters.”

Collins said teams are encouraged to use the other ramps located near Ebeneezer Park and they can get their boat checked in on the water.

“You may come to the ramp by water from any other ramp on Lake Wylie. Nivens and Big Allison are close by and would be your best bet if you choose not to put in at Ebenezer,” he said.

The Carolinas Bass Challenge is sponsored by Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Foothills Marine Center in Morganton, N.C., Palmetto Marine Center in Greenville, S.C., and Marshall’s Marine Center in Lake City, S.C. Entry fee is $200 per team at each tournament and each angler must pay a one-time $35 membership.

Each CBC tournament has an off limit period starting the Sunday night before the event at 12 a.m. and extends the entire week up to Saturday morning. Winners at each tournament are polygraphed.

The highest placing Skeeter/Yamaha owner will take home a $5,000 bonus, no matter the year of the boat. The Skeeter Real Money Program sanctions all the CBC events.

“This year we added Lakes Hartwell and Clarks Hill to the South Carolina CBC schedule and we added Lakes Jordan and Falls to the North Carolina schedule,” Collins said.

“Two Skeeter TZX190/150 Yamaha HPDI boat rigs will be awarded with one going to the winning team at the South Carolina Championship at Lake Hartwell in September. Another will be awarded at the September North Carolina Championship on Lake Wylie. The winners of the Oct 26-27 Lake Murray CBC Classic will take home a ZX200/200Yamaha SHO rig worth $48,000.”

Collins said he is now accepting entries for the South Carolina and North Carolina Division Championships and the CBC Classic to be held on Lake Murray in October.

Carolinas Bass Challenge – South Carolina Division

Sat, Mar 2, 2013

Lake Wylie

Call Brett Collins 803-413-7521

www.carolinasbasschallenge.com