The Norman Winter Team Bass Trail apparently hasn’t experienced the economic pinch that has adversely affected other trails.
Under the direction of David Johnson, the trail has registered record turnouts for three Saturday events during December.
The Dec. 6 season opener attracted a record 95 teams. Newton’s Brian Morgan, who fished solo, won the first-place prize of $1,360 with 14.50 pounds.
The Dec. 20 event set another record with 98 teams. Nathan White and Chad Taylor captured first place with 10.30 pounds to collect $1,390. They also received a $1,000 bonus as participants in the Skeeter Real Money Program.
The Dec. 27 tournament drew 106 teams, setting another record. Gary Michaud and Doc McDaniel took top honors with 13.45 pounds, a victory worth $2,565. They also took the big-fish award of $1,060 with a 5.75-pound bass.
The record streak ended with the Jan. 23 tournament, which drew 103 teams.
The trail’s Sunday events have posted steady numbers, but nothing like the numbers of the Saturday trail. The biggest field for a Sunday tournament has been 66 teams.
The trail receives an additional boost from Johnson’s Championship Fishing TV show, which is broadcast over WHKY- TV out of Hickory. That gives fishermen added exposure, and Johnson’s web site (www.fishwithdj.com) posts tournament results and features programs from the television show.
Rowan teen is F-O-M winner
Sam Weisenel of Salisbury, an 18-year-old senior at East Rowan High School, finished first in the 2007-2008 Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail’s Piedmont Adult/Junior Division.
At the March 8 North Carolina Championship Tournament at Lake Wylie, Weisensel finished fifth. The weigh-in was held at the Bass Pro Shops in Concord.
Weisensel, sponsored by Cheerwine, plans to fish the American Bass Angler and FLW Stren Series circuits as he pursues his dream of becoming a professional fisherman.
Two more co-anglers make All-American
Two co-anglers from North Carolina have qualified for the May 28-30 All-American, the championship of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League. The event is set for the Mississippi River, Davenport, Iowa.
Darren Jeter of Marshall and John Hyatt of Leicester qualified through the Oct. 16-18 Lake Seminole BFL Regional in Bainbridge, Ga. Jeter and Hyatt competed on circuit’s Savannah River Division.
BASS TOURNAMENTS
National Bass Circuit Winter Sport Series
Yadkin Division Badin Lake, Dec. 21
1. Jason Threadgill (Albemarle)-Todd Walters (Greensboro), 16.63 pounds, $480; 2. Dwayne Saunders (Star)-Scott Threadgill (Troy), 15.49, $275; 3. Travis Leonard-Justin Goodyear (Thomasville), 12.76, $155. Big fish: J. Threadgill and Walters, 5.55 pounds, $130.
Catawba Division Lake Wylie, Dec. 28
1. Johnny Allen, 16.37 pounds, plus 5.66-pound big-fish winner, $610; 2. Rusty White- Ron Farrow (Rock Hill), 13.09, $275; 3. Mike Lovelace (Advance)-Chad Illing (Cornelius), 12.12, $155.
Lake Norman, Jan. 4
1. Cliff Kirby (Catawba)-Chris Marshall (Forest City), 9.80 pounds, $380; 2. Andy Montgomery (Blacksburg, S.C.)-Louie Hull (Casar), 9.06, plus 2.61-pound big fish, $230.
Yadkin Promotions New Piedmont Team Tournaments
Badin Lake, Jan. 3
1. Shane Floyd-Tony Garitta (Lexington), 9.5 pounds, plus 4.18-pound big fish, $239; 2. Eric Moser (Salisbury)-Bennett Pridgen (Trinity), 6.1, $166.
Norman Winter Team Bass Trail
Saturday Trail Lake Norman, Dec. 20
1. Nathan White-Chad Taylor, 10.30 pounds, $1,390 plus $1,000 bonus from Skeeter Real Money Program; 2. Maurice Freeze (Concord)-Patrick Tierney (Denver), 10.30, $755; 3. Scott Williams, 10.05, plus 3.5-pound big fish, $1,405; 4. Tony Hatten-Linda Hatten, 9.80, $340; 5. Kelly Logan-Brad Lambert, 9.25, $240; 6. Doug Punch-Tim Bumgarner, 9.25, $240; 7. Josh Featherstone-Dave Snearly, 8.90, $160; 8. Ralph Faw-Rob Wright, 8.85, $155; 9. David Lynch (Mooresville)-Richard Outlaw, 8.45, $130; 10. Rocky Franklin-Yan Latuch, 8.35, $110.
Lake Norman, Dec. 27
1. Gary Michaud-Doc McDaniel, 13.45 pounds, $2,565; 2. Steve Addington-Shane Hawkins (Dallas), 11.00, $780; 3. Dave Snyder (Concord)-Byron O’Daniel (Kannapolis), 10.15, $435; 4. Mark Parker-Vince Parker, 9.70, $350; 5. Robert Stiltner (Mount Mourne)-Alfred Kiesling Jr., 9.65, $250; 6. Mike Kirkley-Wayne Hauser, 9.40, $225; 7. Greg Baumgardner-Jack Vannoy, 9.30, $180; 8. Scott Williams, 9.30, $155; 9. Brad Lambert-Kelly Logan, 9.20, $140; 10. B. Smith-T.J. Delcourt, 8.90, $120; 11. David Lynch (Mooresville) and James Dudley, 8.70, $100. Big fish: Michaud-McDaniel, 5.75, $1,060.
Lake Norman, Jan. 3
1. Darrell Atkins-Bryan Silvers, 13.35 pounds, plus 4.9-pound big fish, $2,420; 2. Chris Chimiak (Winston-Salem)-Al March, 13.35, $775; 3. Pete Sherbert-Buddy Henson, 11.30, $435; 4. Grant McPeters-Donnie Woody (Marion), 11.15, $350; 5. Brad Lambert-Kelly Logan, 9.85, $250; 6. Mike Kirkley-Wayne Hauser, 9.40, $225; 7. Nathan White-Chad Taylor, 9.30, $170; 8. Jerry Goble (Sherrills Ford)-Jim Witherspoon (Claremont), 9.15, $160; 9. Dwight Beattie-Scott Beattie (Lincolnton), 8.90, $145; 10. Shane Lineberger-Gary Linebarger (Lincolnton) 8.85, $120.
Sunday Trail Lake Norman, Jan. 11
1. Robert Stiltner (Mt. Mourne)-Robbie Digh, 10.50 pounds, $1,140; 2. Dustin Clontz (Albemarle)-Clay Williams, 10.25, $550; 3. Rick McKenzie (Rutherfordton)-Chris Marshall, 10.00, $290; 4. Chris Curtis (Concord)-Roy Winkler (Charlotte), 9.65, $225; 5. Jason Wilson-Jamie McSwain,9.45. $200; 6. Bob Furstenberg-Chuck Daymude, 9.45, $170; 7. Buddy Black-Kenny Childers, 9.10, $145; 8. Jim Witherspoon (Claremont)-Jerry Goble (Sherrills Ford), 9.05, plus 4.25-pound big fish, $870; 9. Steve Addington (Dallas)-Scott Beattie (Lincolnton), 8.95, $110;
CRAPPIE TOURNAMENTS
Carolina Crappie Team Tournament Badin Lake, Jan. 3
1. John M. Trexler-Richard McCoslin (Salisbury), 7.47 pounds, $225; 2. Greg Bentley (Salisbury)-Jake Nixe (Terrell), 6.63, $125. Big fish: Trexler-McCoslin, 1.99 pounds, $45.50.
Southern Crappie Association High Rock Lake, Jan. 10
1. Mike Parrot (Charlotte), 12.00 pounds, $950; 2. Mark Danque (Chapin, S.C.), 11.30, $511; 3. Jerry Pruitt (Vale)-Randy Pope (Hickory), 10.95, $253; 4. Jay Bruce-Carolyn Reeves (Greer, S.C.), 9.90, $201; 5. Dennis Morgan (Catawba, S.C.)-Nelson Henderson (Ridgeway, S.C.), 9.53, $175; 6. Keith Manus-Darrel Layton (Mt. Pleasant), 9.33, $150; 7. Russel Riley (Blythewood, S.C.)-Allen Outlaw (Camden, S.C.), 9.32, $124. Big fish: Mike Parrot, 2.6 pounds, $266. Top Adult/Youth: Dale Wood-Allen Wood, (Lexington), 7.59, $50.
SCHEDULES
Fishers of Men Tournament Trail Piedmont Division
Feb. 21: Belews Creek, March 21: Lake Wylie, April 18: Lake Norman; May 16: Badin Lake, June 13: High Rock Lake.
Contact: www.fomntt.com/schedule/php
Central Division
May 14: Shearon Harris; April 4: Falls Lake; April 25: Jordan Lake; May 16: Lake Gaston; June 20: Kerr Reservoir.
East Division
March 14: Yeopim River, April 18: Chowan River, May 23: Pasquotank River, June 27: Roanoke River; July 11: Chowan River; Sept. 12: Lake Gaston.
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