With three tournaments in the books, the points champions from 2012 have served notice on the rest of the field in the Tom’s Marine Team Trail they intend to make it two in a row for 2013.

“David Mullins and Brent Hoskins won at Douglas Lake with 22.44 pounds and they have another good lead in the points this year,” said tournament director Richard McMaster.

With the win April 27 in the third tournament of the season, Mullins and Hoskins staked a 22-point lead on their nearest competitors, Bobby Ferguson and Charles McConnell. Steve Miracle and Mike Wolfenbarger are also in contention, just two points behind Ferguson and McConnell.

“The season is going great,” McMaster said. “We are averaging right around 115 to 120 boats per tournament and we’ve only had an 11-boat drop-off since the beginning of the year We are expecting a good turnout for the May 11 tournament on Cherokee Lake. If everybody shows up that fished the three tournaments so far, we could have between 100 and 125 boats.”

The Tom’s Marine Team Trail is a seven-tournament series, culminating with a two-day championship, Nov. 2 on Cherokee Lake and Nov. 3 on Douglas Lake. McMaster reminded anglers that they must fish six of the seven tournaments to qualify for the championship, so if they have fished two of the first three they will need to fish all four of the remaining tournaments.

“We will launch the May 11 tournament on Cherokee at the 25 E Bridge Access, not at the dam,” McMaster noted.

“The fish are starting to come off the beds. Some are just getting done spawning and some are still spawning, but most of the fish have finished spawning. They are looking kind of thin so weights could be down a little. I think it will take about 18 pounds to win the tournament.”

McMaster said the smallmouth spawn has been over for a while, so this could be a good smallmouth tournament.

“The smallmouth have been off the beds for a couple of weeks, so some good smallmouth could show up in the bags. The largemouths just got done, so they are not biting as well yet,” he said.

“The fish are being caught on a variety of stuff. Carolina rigs are doing well. They are still catching a few on the Alabama Rig, but that is slowing down as the water starts to warm up. The topwater bite is starting to take off a little bit, too.”

Entry fee for the Tom’s Marine tournaments is $110, which includes a $10 lunker fee. First place is guaranteed $2,500, with the payout at least 90 percent of entry fees, paid one for every six entries, at the ramp.

The trail offers most major boat bonus programs, including the Ranger Cup, Triton Gold, Stratos 2X, Skeeter Real Money, Phoenix First Flight, plus other incentives including the Bass Pro Shops Tournament Rewards, Motor Mate and the PAA Pay Day Program.

In addition, anglers who own a 2010 or newer truck bought new from Ramey Ford will get a $500 bonus for winning a regular season tournament.

 

Tom’s Marine Team Trail

Sat, May 11, 2013

Cherokee Lake

25 E Bridge Access

Call Richard McMaster 423-748-3240

www.tomsmarinetn.com