With the economy improving slightly, anticipation is high that fishermen will be able to fish more tournaments and that means that the already highly successful Tom’s Marine Team Trial in Eastern Tennessee will grow even more, said Tournament director Richard McMaster.

“I am looking forward to to another great season,” McMaster said. “I think this is going to be a really good year. Things are starting to get a little more relaxed with the economy and fishermen are starting to come back. We probably will average 130 to 150 boats this year.”

The first tournament of the 2014 season is Saturday on Cherokee Lake and the fish are just as anxious as the anglers for springtime to get here, McMaster said.

“The fish are starting to warm up after this winter. They are starting to move up and anglers are catching a lot of fish shallow, in 2 to 8 feet of water, on crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps and Alabama Rigs. The fish are moving back into the pockets off the main channel and anglers are doing really well when the wind picks up and blows the bait back into the pockets.”

This year opens with some exciting new additions to the Tom’s Marine Team Trail, McMaster said.

“We are really looking forward to the Tom’s Marine Elite Series which starts this year. The top 30 boats, based on 2013 points, will qualify for the Elite Series,” he said.

There will be three tournaments, two that are qualifying tournaments, and the top 30 in points from 2013 have first choice. The entry fee for the first two will be $200 per boat. There will be no big fish only places paid and only three places per tournament.

The third tournament will be a no entry fee tournament with the top five from each of the first two tournaments competing for $2,000 reserved from the first two tournaments in a winner-take-all format. Dates for the Elite Tournaments include : March 22, Cherokee Lake, 25E; June 28, Douglas Lake at Dandridge; and Sept. 6, at a lake TBA by draw.

“I am also looking forward to having somebody fishing the Tom’s Marine Team Trail having a chance of going to the Bassmaster Classic in 2015,” said McMaster. “That opportunity is exclusive only to certain trails across the United States and we were lucky through Mercury Marine to be invited to be a part of it.”

Teams can qualify for a chance to fish for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic by paying a $10 per angler membership fee. Up to three teams, based on points, could qualify to fish the Bass Team Classic Championship, where the top three teams will break up into individual boats to fish for a berth in the Bassmaster Classic.

“The nighttime tournaments have been absent for about three years, but we are bringing one back this year and the fishermen are excited about that,” McMaster said.

The night tournament will be held July 12 on Cherokee Lake with a three-fish limit. The rest of the 2014 schedule includes: March 15, Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge; April 5, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove; April 19, Cherokee Lake, the Dam; May 24, Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge; June 7, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove; July 12, Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge; Sept. 13, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove; and Oct. 25-25, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove and Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge.

The entry fee per tournament is $100, plus a $10 lunker fee.

New incentives for the Tom’s Marine Team Trail in 2014 include :
– Toms Marine will pay $250 to anyone who wins out a boat purchased new from Toms Marine since 2011.

– Glow Max will pay the winner of the night tournament $250 in cash and $250 merchandise if they use Glow Max black lights in their boat. In addition, Toms Marine will pay the winner an additional $100 if the Glow Max black lights were purchased from and installed by Toms Marine.
– Linex has teamed up with Toms Marine Team Trail to sponsor a drawing for a new spray-in Linex bed liner this season. Anyone making a purchase from Linex and letting them know you are a member of Toms Marine Team Trail will be entered into this drawing to be held at the end of the 2014 regular season.

 

Tom’s Marine Team Trail

Sat, Mar 15, 2014

Cherokee Lake

25 E Bridge Access

Call Richard McMaster 423-748-3240

[email protected]