Watson’s Marine Tournament Anglers Will Find Peace And Quiet At Night On Boone Lake
There are two things for certain on Southern Lakes between Memorial Day and Labor Day. 1. It’s going to be hot, and, 2. There will be plenty of noise and wave action from an armada of pleasure boats during the day.
But bass anglers know they can escape the heat and the crush of water skiers and personal watercraft by fishing at night – and Watson’s Marine in Bluff City, Tenn., is happy to oblige.
For almost two decades Watson’s Marine, a full-service marine dealer offering Ranger and Triton boats, and Mercury, Evinrude, and Yamaha Outboard engines, plus the area’s best selection of fishing tackle and marine accessories, has been providing a summer night fishing series for local anglers.
The first tournament for this summer, the Watson’s/Ranger Open Tournament, kicks off at 8 o’clock Saturday night out of Winged Deer Park on Boone Lake with $1,000 guaranteed to the winner. Second place pays $700, third place $500 and there are $200 big fish prizes for both the biggest largemouth and the largest smallmouth weighed in. Payouts are based on at least 50 boats in the field and will be pro-rated if more boats are entered.
“These tournaments are kind of a customer appreciation thing,” said Rex Pendergrass with Watson’s Marine, “but they are open to anybody. You don’t have to pay anything to join, just show up and fish and have a good time. The entry fee is $60 and they can pay at the ramp.”
Watson’s Marine will hold three summer night tournaments on three different lakes. The second tournament, the Watson’s/Triton Open Tournament, will be held July 23 on South Holston Lake out of Observation Knob Park from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., and the third tournament, the Watson’s Open tournament, will be held on Watauga Lake out of Fish Springs Dock from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The entry fee and payout schedule is the same for all three tournaments, Pendergrass said. Entry forms and rules are available at the dealership.
The bass in Boone Lake are in their summer pattern right now, Pendergrass said, and fishing has been pretty good recently.
“It has been taking 15 to 17 pounds for five fish to win on Boone Lake. Anglers are mostly fishing bluffs and points at night with jigs, dark-colored spinnerbaits and Norman DD22s,” Pendergrass said. “The weather has been pretty hot, but we had a little bit of rain the laws few days and it has cooled off a little bit. Daytime temperatures are running from the mid-80s to 90 degrees. But the fishermen like fishing at night this time of year because it cuts down on so much pleasure boat traffic.”
Watson’s Marine Ranger Boats Open Tournament
Sat, Jun 25, 2011
Boone Lake
Winged Deer Park
Call Aaron Greene 423-538-5332
