The Carolina Anglers Team Tournaments ended the 2008 season having paid out more than $85,000 to anglers in three trails on Lake Wylie, Lake Wateree and Lake Murray.
The total paybacks were $20,823 on the Lake Wylie trail, $26,000 on the Lake Murray Trail and a whopping $38,336 on the Lake Wateree trail.
Tops among South Carolina money winners on the CATT Trails were John Schohn of Lake Wylie and Todd Moss of York, who placed third on Dec. 13 in the season’s final Lake Wylie event with a 5-fish limit that weighed 13 pounds, 8 ounces, to earn $315 and push their season winnings to almost $14,000.
Tim Huffstetler of Little Mountain and Neil Huffstetler of Pomaria brought in the heaviest 5-bass limit of the fall season to win the Lake Murray Fall Final Dec. 6. They had 22 pounds, 4 ounces, including the tournament’s big fish at 7-3, to win $2,161, pushing their total prize money to over $8,500.
Mark and William Richardson of Irmo were glad they were one of only 13 of 38 teams eligible for the Lake Wateree finale that showed up on a cold, rainy Nov. 29. They weighed in 14 pounds, 11 ounces, including the big fish at 5-7, to win $2,359, pushing their CATT total win money to more than $6,600.
Money winners in the three Fall Finals included:
Lake Wateree, Nov. 29 – 1. Mark Richardson-William Richardson (Irmo), 5 bass, 14-1, $2,359; 2. Mitch Driggers Sr.-Mitch Driggers Jr. (Olanta), 5, 9-15, including second big fish at 3-1, $646.
Lake Murray, Dec. 6 – 1. Tim Huffstetler (Little Mountain)-Neil Huffstetler (Pomaria), 5, 22-4, including big fish 7-3, $2,161; 2. George Berry (Batesburg)-Sean Anderson (Saluda), 5, 14-7, $1,175 for season total of $4,629; 3. Steve Keller (Winnsboro), 4, 12-1, $600; 4. Bernie Dreher (Lexington)-C.B. Dreher (Gilbert), 5, 11-1, $315; Second big fish: Ben Little-Craig Little (Laurens), 4-12, $69.
Lake Wylie, Dec. 13 – 1. Tim Chapman (Kings Mountain, N.C.)-Eddie Smith (Gastonia, N.C.), 5 fish, 16-4, $2,225; 2. Parks Jones-Daniel Hill (York), 5, 15-13, including 4-14 big fish, $605; 3. John Schohn (Lake Wylie)-Todd Moss (York), 5, 13-8, $315. Second big fish: Stephen Hicks-Michael Sprouse (Gaffney), 4-14, $45.
The CATT Classic will be held May 29-31 on Lake Wateree, with a $15,000 purse. CATT is running tournaments on all three lakes again this year and has added a series on the Santee Cooper Lakes for 2009. For details, call Brett Collins at (803) 337-3403 or visit: http://www.carolinaanglersteamtrail.com.
Co-anglers shine in BFL
February was a great month for South Carolina co-anglers in Walmart BFL tournaments, as three racked up first-place finished and another took home a third.
Mark Chapman of Williamston only caught two bass, but they weighed a whopping 9-1, while Lesley Childers of Anderson had a single lunker of the exact same weight to finish tied for first on Feb. 7 in the Savannah River Division tournament on Clarks Hill. Both anglers won $1,677.
A week later, Scott Peavy of Ridgeway managed an average of more than three pound per fish to take the top spot in the South Carolina Division tournament on Lake Murray. Peavy weighed in a 5-bass limit at 16-11 to win $2,253.
And co-angler Steve Lowder of Lynchburg had five bass that weighed 8-1 to nab third place and $762 on Feb. 21 in the North Carolina Division tournament on Lake Norman.
Randy Childers of Anderson had five that weighed 12-3 for third place in the Pro Division in the North Carolina tournament, which was won by Hank Cherry of Maiden, N.C., with a 5-bass catch that weighed 19 pounds and earned him $4,720.
Three other South Carolina co-anglers finished in the top 10 at Clarks Hill: Kevin Landreth of Seneca, fourth with 8-7 for $522; Russell Clark of Abbeville, sixth with 5-12 for $410; and Don Mabry of Seneca, eighth with 5-7 for $335.
Four other South Carolina co-anglers finished in the top 10 at Lake Murray: Christopher Browning of Cayce, second with 14-11 for $1,127; Barry Turner of Gaffney, sixth with 9-8 for $413; Jeff Green of Gaffney, eighth with 9-3 for $338; and Marc Marsh of Cheraw, 10th with 8-11 for $263.
On the pro side, Michael Anders of Pelzer finished second at Clarks Hill. He had five bass that weighed 21-4 for $2,270. David Vaughn of Royston, Ga., won with three fish for 21-7 and $4,541.
Three others from South Carolina finished in the top 10: Darren Ashley of Calhoun Falls, fifth with 13-1 for $1,060; Derek Adams of Calhoun Falls, seventh with 10-2 for $757; and Wesley Story of Clarks Hill, nine with 8-14 for $605.
Veteran angler Maurice Freeze of Concord, N.C., edged Larry Moss of Prosperity by four ounces to win at Lake Murray with 18-4, worth $4,507. Moss had 18-10 for second and $2,253.
Six other South Carolina anglers placed in the top 10: Davey Thomas of Sumter, third with 18-9 for $1,502; Sean Anderson of Saluda, fourth with 18-4 for $1,052; Lyn Langston of Bishopville, sixth with 16-5 for $826; Ben Lee of Lexington, eighth with 16-2 for $751; Randy Childers of Anderson, ninth with 15-1 for, $601; and Pete Sherbert of Boiling Springs, 10th with 14-11 for $526.
Ashley 13th in Bassmaster Classic
Pro angler Casey Ashley of Donalds weighed the second-heaviest sack of bass in the 39th Bassmaster Classic on Louisiana’s Red River in late February to advance to the final round, where he finished 13th and won $14,250.
Ashley dug himself out of a first-day hole with five bass that weighed 22 pounds, 11 ounces, to vault from 34th to 11th entering the final round. Only Oklahoma pro Kenyon Hill’s 24 pounds, 4 ounces, the final day of the championship was heavier than Ashley’s second-day weight.
Ashley, who only had a 9-13 limit the first day, finished with 15 bass that weighed 46-15. Davy Hite of Ninety Six, the 1999 Classic winner, was 30th the first day with five that weighed 10 pounds, 12 ounces. He added a consistent limit the second day to finish in 33rd place with 21-1 and win $10,000.
California pro Skeet Reese, the 2007 BASS Angler of the Year, won the Classic with a 3-day total of 54-13 ounces, taking home $500,000.
Auten makes Bass top 10
Four South Carolina pros finished in the top 30 at the Bassmaster Southern Open on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes in late January, and Todd Auten of Lake Wylie scored a top-10 finish with a 3-day total of 14 bass that weighed 44-12, winning $9,006.
Casey Ashley of Donalds had a 3-day total of 14 bass at 36 pounds to finish 17th and win $2,196. Jason Williamson of Aiken had 13 bass at 32-4 for 21st place, and $1,970. Wayne Clifton of Moncks Corner finished 28th with 11 bass that weighed 25-5, winning $1,576.
Rikard 12th at Okeechobee
Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity was the top South Carolina angler on Jan. 31 in the FLW Series event on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, weighing 15 bass at 39-1 to finish 36th and win $10,500.
Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg finished 49th at 35-9, winning $10,000.
On the Co-angler side, Robert Rikard of Lexington finished 12th with 10 bass that weighed 25-15; he won $1,300. Four other South Carolina co-anglers were in the top 25: Dane Odom of Chapin, 16th with 25-0 for $1,200; Wayne Frierson of Manning, 18th with 24-10 for $1,200; Brian Tidwell of Seneca, 21st with 24-0 for $1,100; and Al Odom of Chapin, 22nd with 23-12 for $1,100.
Wicker on fire in ABA series
Steve Wicker of Pomaria came out of the blocks smoking in the year’s first two American Bass Anglers Division 96 tournaments on Lake Greenwood, grabbing first place in January and second in February.
Wicker weighed in the two biggest bass of the series, a 7.25-pound lunker in the Jan. 4 tournament and a 9.42-pound behemoth in the Feb. 22 tournament.
Working jigs on rip-rap and docks in the upper part of the lake on a rainy, cool Jan. 4, Wicker won with five fish that weighed 24.52 pounds, worth $580. The rest of the top five included: Rodney Cromer of Pomaria, second with 19.5 for $293;Travis Costello of Cross Hill, third with 7.72 pounds for $71; Don Kneece of Saluda, fourth with 7.45, and Kevin Knotts of Cross Hill, fifth with 7.17.
John Axsom of Gray Court weighed in five fish at 17.07 pounds to finish first in the Feb. 22 tournament, winning $478. Wicker was second with three fish that weighed 14.75 pounds, winning $336. The top five included: Curtis Temples of Saluda, third with 12.21 for $71; Rodney Cromer of Pomaria, fourth with 11.65, and Cason Mabry of Clinton, fifth with 11.55.
The next D-96 tournament will be April 5 at Lake Russell, with the final regular tournament May 3 on Lake Murray. The 2-day championship is June 13-14 on Lake Greenwood.
Kyle Page Tournament is April 19
The economy is in a tailspin, and that means needy families are having to struggle more, and anglers and supporters will be needed more than ever for the 12th annual Kyle Page Tournament, according to Joel Page, Kyle’s father, who directs the tournament.
“We gave out $120,000 to 12 families last year — our biggest year ever,” Page said. “We are struggling this year with the economy in the shape it’s in, but we hope everybody will come out like they have in the past. All our sponsors are still on board.”
The Kyle PageTournament is scheduled for April 19 on Lake Murray out of Dreher Island State Park. The entry fee is $150 per boat, with $5,000 guaranteed for first place, $3,000 for second and $2,000 for third. The payout will extend through 21 places, and the two biggest bass will be worth $1,000 and $500.
The tournament was organized to help families of children with critical medical needs after Kyle Page was born with spina bifida, a birth defect of the spine. But it has shifted focus to families in dire need of financial support for various reasons, Page said.
“We have already picked some of the families and one lady, for instance, is paralyzed and has two little girls to support.”
Since it began 12 years ago, the tournament has donated more than a half-million dollars to Midlands families in need of financial help.
Page said the success of the tournament has been due to the participation of the fishermen and the help of local sponsors.
“Guest Backhoe is our biggest supporter. They run the Backhoe Rodeo every year in Chapin to raise money for the tournament, and last October it raised over $30,000,” Page said.
For details, call Page at 803-513-121. Entry information is available at tackle shops and marinas around the lake. It is also available on the websites: www.mskpfoundation.org and www.anglerschannel.com.
Claire Whaley Foundation Tourney
The second annual Claire Whaley Foundation Bass Tournament will be held April 4 on Lake Russell, with a guaranteed $5,000 first prize, based on a minimum of 50 boats.
The first tournament was held in 2008 to aid families of children with special medical needs; all proceeds go to those families. It is named after the daughter of tournament angler Tradd Whaley and his wife, Angie, who was born July 8, 2006, with medical complications.
Claire Whaley has been diagnosed with Ischemic Hypopoxic Encephalopathy, which means that parts of her brain were deprived of oxygen and have not developed normally. She has vision problems and demonstrates cerebral palsy characteristics.
The Whaleys started the foundation to aid other families when they discovered that there was little help monetarily for working, middle-class families who have private insurance. The foundation’s mission is to provide assistance for medical costs associated with medical co-payments and special equipment needed for the children.
Entry fee for the tournament is $200, and there is an optional big-fish pot for $10. For details, call Tradd Whaley at 864-378-0952.
Gilbert Boy Scouts Crappie Tourney
Boy Scout Troop 60 of Gilbert will hold a crappie tournament on May 2 out of Lake Wateree State Park to raise money for summer camp at Camp Daniel Boone.
Entry fee is $10, with a $5 big-fish contest. The entry deadline is Friday, May 1.
For details call Nick Babin at 803-608-4911 or check out the website: http://gilbertscouts.org.
Young is striper club AOY
Danny Young of Sumter finished third in the Midlands Striper Club’s December Double Points Tournament on Lake Murray, but that was good enough to vault him from fifth place to the MSC Angler of the year Award.
Young had 13 pounds, 1 ounce, including the Nichols Store Big Fish at 8-4.
Gary Heichelbech of Lexington won the December tournament with15-10. Don Jackson of Leesville was only two ounces back in second.
Team Catchal — team captain Lee Thomas and Kreg Frady, both of Leesville, Adam Ledford of Batesburg and Michael Spires of Chapin — was awarded the MSC Team of the Year title at the club’s annual awards banquet Jan. 10.
Lorraine Buckwell of Taylors won the Nichols Store Big Fish of the Year Award for a 26-pound, 14-ounce striper she caught in March. She also won the Female Angler of the Year award and finished 13th overall in the standings for 2008.
For the second year in a row, Weston Thomas of Lexington won the Youth Angler award. He also finished 22nd in the AOTY standings.
Young picked up in 2009 where he left off in 2008. Team Wildman, consisting of Young, Justin and Donnie Christopher and Skip Morgan, all of Rock Hill, weighed in a 4-fish limit at 26.5 pounds on Feb. 21 to win the year’s first tournament out of Acapulco Landing.
Team Talking Trash — Don Jackson of Leesville and Jack Dilworth of Honea Path — weighed four stripers at 21.3 pounds for second. Team Po Boys – Dean Preston and Dave Sellers of Gilbert – took third with four fish that weighed 20.11 pounds.
Team 2 Guys and a Gizzard — Cam Littlejohn of Columbia and Woody Barnes of Lexington, took big-fish honors at 17.12 pounds.
The Nichols Store of Rock Hill Big Fish was caught by Team 2 Guys and a Gizzard; Littlejohn landed the 17.12-pound fish.
BASS TOURNAMENTS
Carolina Anglers Team Tournaments Lake Murray, Feb. 7, 2009
1. Mark McCormick (Chapin)-Howard Stephens (Columbia), 5 fish, 15-13, including second big fish at 4-9, $714; 2. Clay Riddle-Mike Riddle (Chapin), 5, 14-7, $470; 3. Skeebo Kelly (Hartsville)-Davy Thomas (Sumter), 5, 14-4, including, including Big Fish at 4-12, $446; 4. Chris Sample- Charles Wilkie (Lexington), 5, 9-14, $130; 5. Anthony Marks (Spartanburg)-Joe Marks (Moore), 8-13, $100.
Lake Wylie, Feb. 7, 2009
1. Tom Russell (Fort Mill)-Tom Gilmer (Charlotte, N.C.), 5, 19-1, including second big fish at 4-9, $660; 2. Joe Hansil (Gastonia, N.C.)-Larry Ensley (Belmont, N.C.), 5, 15-11, $300; 3. Tim Chapman-Marc Leech (Gastonia, N.C.), 5, 15-5, including big fish at 5-14, $290; 4. John Schohn (Lake Wylie)-Todd Moss (York), 5, 14-4, $100.
Lake Wateree, Feb. 21, 2009
1. Adam Williamson (Ridgeway)-Jim Wagers (Blair), 5, 15-14, including second big fish at 5-14, $1,073; 2. Freddie Faulkenberry-Stacy Seegars (Kershaw), 5, 12-13, $375; 3. Andy Owens (Camden), 5, 11-13, $270; 4. Tracy Pope-Drew Pope (Lancaster), 5, 11-12, $140; 5. Greg Sigmon (Heath Springs), 5, 10-11, $110. 6. Chad Crosby (Holly Hill)-Terry Coleman (Sumter), 10-8, $100. Big fish: David Canupp, 7-11, $217.
Lake Wylie, Feb. 21, 2009
1. Tony Hatten-Linda Hatten (Huntersville N.C.), 5, 17-2, $850; 2. Troy Jackson-Derek Nicley (Charlotte), 5, 16-9, $350; 3. Jason Curtis-Rankin Chapman (Rock Hill), 5, 16-8, including second big fish, 5-12, 334; 4. Van Sexton-Eddie Wooten (Grover, N.C.), 5, 16-3, $130; 5. Gary Michaud (Chesnee)-Doc McDaniel (Mooresboro, N.C.), 16-2, $100. Big Fish: Chuck Camp, 6-5, $196.
American Bass Anglers D-96 Lake Russell, Dec. 7, 2008
1. Cason Nichles (Due West), 5, 9.27 pounds, $331; 2. Daniel Richey (McCormick), 5, 9.12 pounds, $155; 3. Rodney Cromer (Pomaria), 5, 6.88 pounds; 4. Jeff Woods (Waterloo), 4, 5.93 pounds; 5. Don Kneece (Saluda), 1, 4.12 (big fish), $45.
American Bass Anglers Couples Series, SC Division 11, Clarks Hill, Feb. 14, 2009
1. David Gunderman-Michelle Gunderman (Gastonia, N.C.), 5, 15.64 pounds, $825; 2. Daron Johnson-Krista Johnson (Anderson), 5, 11.68 pounds, $413; 3. Paul Daniels-Patricia Daniels (Greenwood), 5, 9.92 pounds, $248; 4. Greg Wright-Joanna Jones (Whittier, N.C.), 5, 9.10 pounds, $165; 5. Shaun Honea-Kim Honea (Winder, Ga.), 2, 7.82 pounds.
National Bass Circuit Catawba Winter Sport Series Lake Wylie, Dec. 28, 2008
1. Johnny Allen (Concord, N.C.), 5, 16.37 pounds, including big fish, 5.66 pounds, $480; 2. Rusty White-Ron Farrow (Rock Hill), 5, 13.09 pounds, $275; 3. Mike Lovelace (Advance, N.C.)-Chad Illing (Mooresville, N.C.), 5, 12.12 pounds, $155; 4. Ted Geddis (Belmont, N.C.)-Joel Wilkins, 5, 11-0; Second big fish: Jason Quinn (Lake Wylie)-Scott Hagans (Gastonia, N.C.), 4.27, $130.
National Bass Circuit Upstate Sport Series Lake Keowee, Dec. 7, 2008
1. Casey Reeves-Ryan Bowman (Anderson), 5, 10.75 pounds, including big fish, 2.9 pounds, $400; 2. Clyde Norris, 5, 10.19 pounds; 3. Todd Pearson-Charles Harbin (Anderson), 5, 8.8 pounds.
SCHEDULES
Phil Shope Fishing Tournaments
Tournaments: April 18, May 2, Oct. 3, Lake Hartwell, Portman Shoals. Contact: Phil Shope, 828-606-1130 or David/Casey Strickland, 864-225-0145. Website: www.philshopefishing.com. Entry fee: $125 per team, includes two big fish. Annual Team Registration: $40
American Bass Anglers Couples Series, SC Division 11
Tournaments: April 11, Lake Greenwood, Greenwood, State Park; May 16, Lake Russell, Russell State Park; June 13, Lake Hartwell, Broyles. Contact: Steven and Heather Broom, 828-508-0288 or 828-508-0891. Email: hpbroom@yahoo.com. Website: www.america-nbassanglers.com
Southern Anglers Challenge Clark Hill Division
Tournaments: April 11, May 2, June 20 (makeup date, if needed), Clarks Hill Lake, Wild Wood Park. Contact: Tournament Director Craig Johnson, (706) 564-9564. Email: outdoordestinations@knology.net. Website: www.southernanglerschallenge.com. Entry fee: $100, plus a $10 big fish pot fee and $10 championship fee. Membership fee: $30
Southern Anglers Challenge Lake Keowee Division
Tournaments: April 11, Lake Hartwell, Portman Shoals Marina; May 2, Lake Keowee, Gap Hill Marina (NOTE: If Lake Hartwell Lake levels drop and get too low to launch out of Portman Shoals Marina, the Lake Hartwell Tournament will be scheduled for Lake Keowee). Contact: Tournament Director: Travis DeHart, (864) 303-9326. Email: travisdehart@yahoo.com. Website: www.southernan-glerschallenge.com. Entry fee: $100, plus a $10 big fish pot fee and $10 championship fee. Membership fee: $30
Southern Anglers Challenge Lake Murray Division
Tournaments: April 25, May 16, Lake Murray, Siesta Cove. Contact: George Raborn, 803-221-5049. Email: geo@stewartbuilders.com. Website: www.southernanglerschallenge.com. Entry fee: $100, plus a $10 big fish pot fee and $10 championship fee. Membership fee: $30
Southern Anglers Challenge Lake Russell Division
Tournaments: April 11, May 23, Lake Russell, Elbert/72 Ramp. Contact: Tournament Director Bill Harvey, (706) 294-4732. Email: bharvey8@bellsouth.net. Website: www.southernanglerschallenge.com. Entry fee: $100, plus a $10 big fish pot fee and $10 championship fee. Membership fee: $30
Southern Anglers Challenge Lake Wylie Division
Tournaments: April 18, May 9, June 6, Lake Wylie, Buster Boyd Ramp.Contact: Tournament Director Jeremy Cabe, (803) 322-1794. Email: jermworm9301@aol.com. Website: www.southernanglerschallenge.com. Entry fee: $100, plus a $10 big fish pot fee and $10 championship fee. Membership fee: $30.
Tournament directors: Send your schedules and your tournament results in the format shown as soon as possible after your tournaments. Be sure to include names, hometowns, number of fish caught, total weight, prize money and big-fish information. Email to Pat Robertson: patrob@upthecreek.net.
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