Local anglers expect weights to be up considerably over the winning weights in the Savannah River BFL Tournament last Saturday when Tim Jones of North Augusta, S.C., won the Boater Division and $7,089 with a limit that weighed 18 pounds, 5 ounces, and Jeff Rikard of Leesville, S.C., caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 1 ounce to win $2,545 in the Co-angler Division.

“The fish were up shallow and then that little cold snap the past couple of weeks pulled them off,” said Billy Black with the Tommy Shaw tournament.

Noting that, “We were expecting 25 pounds to pull it out,” last weekend, Black said fishing should be much better this week.

“These warm nights will make the fish move up, so we are expecting some really good weights this weekend.”

Black said the tournament which benefits several local charities, has a guaranteed first place award of $5,000. He said he is expecting 125 to 130 boats for the tournament which is the first leg in the Clark Hill Committee’s series of tournaments towards the angler of the year title for the lake.

The Clark Hill Committee is a nonprofit organization consisting of 22 bass clubs and 286 members who strive for good bass fishing competition, but also relaxation and fun through good sportsmanship and good fellowship.

The angler of the year, chosen after competition in the Tommy Shaw Memorial (March 19), the local Top 6 Tournament for members only (April 8-9), the Clark Hill Memorial Open Team Tournament (May 14) and the Mr. Clark Hill Tournament (Oct. 7-8), will earn a guaranteed $1,500. First-place payout in each of those tournaments is a guaranteed $5,000.

New clubs and members are being sought. Anyone interested can contact Ray Diamond at (706) 533-1948.

Entry fee for the Tommy Shaw Tournament is $100 plus $10 for Big Fish. There will be an additional charge of $50 if neither team member is a member of The Clark Hill Committee. Pre-registration will b held 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Academy Sports and Outdoors, 4210 Washington Road, in Evans, Ga. Drawing for boat positions will start at 7. Late registration will be held tournament day at the ramp starting at 5 a.m. Entrants must be checked in by 6 a.m. tournament day.

For more information, call Larry Gilpin at (706) 738-7663 or Barry Frazier at (706) 829-3850.

The late Tommy Shaw was perhaps the most beloved figure in the fishing community around Clarks Hill Lake.

Shaw, who ran Little River Marina for more than two decades, died Sept. 22, 2007, at the age of 84.

“He had the first marina on the lake and he loved to fish. There were not many people that he didn’t like,” said Gilpin, president of the Clark Hill Committee, who was a close friend and frequent fishing companion of Shaw.

 

Tommy Shaw Memorial Bass Tournament

Sat, Mar. 19, 2011

Clarks Hill Lake

Wildwood Park