A new fishing center in downtown Columbia, the Tomahawk Fishing Shop in Five Points, has launched the Tomahawk Team Trail 2014-2015 Winter Series on Lake Murray. Participants pay a one-time membership fee each of $30, then $60 per boat for each qualifying tournament, plus an optional $10 Big Fish entry, said Gettys Brannon, a manager at Tomahawk who serves as tournament director. Teams can enter at the ramp or they can register early at the Tomahawk Fishing Shop and get 15 percent off on their next purchase.

“We have 100 percent payback at the qualifying tournaments and the winners at the championship will get $5,000,” said Brannon, who is also president of the University of South Carolina fishing team, Anglers At USC. Lew’s Fishing will award a Lew’s BB1 Casting Reel to the Big Fish winner at select tournaments.

The payback at qualifying tournaments is one in every six boats and each week the first three places out of the money will receive a Tomahawk Fishing Shop gift card. In addition, every team member will get a Groucho’s Deli sandwich, a bag of chips and Groucho’s Famous 45 Sauce at the launch of each tournament, Brannon said.

The first tournament of the winter series was held Nov. 22, with a small entry, he said, because it conflicted with the Lake Murray Carolina Anglers Team Trail Final which drew most of the local tournament anglers. The second tournament was scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6, but was canceled due to a conflict with the Mr. Lake Murray tournament.

The next tournament will be Saturday, Dec. 13, out of Larry Koon Landing. The schedule includes: Dec. 13, Dec. 20, Jan. 3, Jan. 10, Jan. 17 and Jan. 24, with the two-day championship Jan. 30-31.

“At that first tournament, a lot of the local anglers were fishing the CATT Final, but we had some boats come 60 miles or more to fish the Tomahawk tournament, so we are looking for a better turnout Dec. 13,” Brannon said.

And, he added, the fishing on Lake Murray could be very good by then.

“The water is going to cool off and the big bass should come up and start biting. There should be a good jerkbait and Shane’s Baits Alabama Rig bite and possibly a good crankbait bite,” he said. “I think the fishermen will be looking, not for quantity, but for quality. In the winter on Lake Murray if you get five fish they are not squeakers, they are quality fish. I think it will take a good weight to win it.”

The Tomahawk Fishing Shop at 613 Harden Street, Columbia, is a locally-owned fishing-themed store as well as a tackle shop.

“Being in downtown Columbia it is a little different environment from a regular tackle shop,” Brannon said. “We have a little something for just about everybody, from local art and wood carvings by local artists to all types of locally-produced apparel. We even have ice cream sandwiches and later we will also have boiled peanuts.”

Brannon said the shop also targets everyday anglers as well as serious tournament anglers.

“We carry local and regional brands such as ALX Rods in Aiken, Greenfish Tackle in Augusta and Local Boy Outfitters, an apparel brand in Columbia.”

 

Tomahawk Team Trail Winter Series

Saturday, Dec. 6

Lake Murray

Larry Koon Landing

http://TomahawkFishingShop.com

Call: Gettys Brannon, (864)490-7864