Tarheel Team Tournaments ended

Tarheel Team Tournaments of Wilson, under the direction of James and Bucky Bass, has ceased operations — again.Many Tar Heel weekend bass warriors will be saddened by the news. THTT was one of the most popular circuits in the Piedmont, giving bass anglers who primarily fished at four lakes — Shearon Harris, Jordan, Falls and Kerr Lake (Buggs Island) — a chance to test their skills against one another and the fish.

The Bass brothers initiated THTT in the 1980s, retired the circuit after about 12 years, only to crank up again a few years ago.

THTT produced a little-known milestone, too, when on April 9, 1996, Sanford’s Dennis Reedy and his wife, Jayne, fishing a THTT “mini-trail” event at Shearon Harris, caught 10 largemouths weighing 71.88 pounds. It was, at that time, the all-time one-day, 10-fish weigh-in record for all bass tournaments held any time at any lake — including Florida and California.

The Reedy’s one-day, 10-fish creel record, caught at tiny Shearon Harris, still stands. However, during Jan. 2001 several BASS anglers weighed in back-to-back 40-plus-pounds five-fish, one-day creels at a Lake Tohopekaliga, Fla. BASS rules only allow five-fish per day per angler creels.

At Shearon Harris, the Reedys used the just-becoming-popular “Fat Free Shad” flat-sided crankbait promoted by legendary Tennessee angler Bill Dance. After a series of national full-page color ads with Dance in magazines such as Bassmaster, the Reedys were in a TV ad with Dance, promoting the Fat Free Shad.

Many veteran BASS and FLW pros such as David Fritts, David Wright, Wally Szuba and lure-makers such as Doyle Hodgin cut their competitive fishing teeth at THTT events.

A message at Tar Heel Team Tournament’s Web site said: “As of 2007, we will not be having any tournaments. Several factors played a part in this decision, but we feel it is the best one at this time. Once again, thank you for your friendship and support over the years.”

No, James and Bucky, you have it backwards — the anglers who enjoyed fishing THTTs all these years thank you.

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BASS will license its Bassmaster Weekend Series circuit to American Bass Anglers, Inc., beginning in 2007.

The Bassmaster Weekend Series trail will continue to send the overall national champion to the CITGO Bassmaster Classic.

American Bass Anglers will follow the established one-day tournament format and develop a tournament schedule similar to the 2006 schedule.

The tournaments will follow BASS rules and adhere to catch-and-release practices.

“American Bass Anglers has successfully operated a tournament trail for weekend anglers for many years,” said Jim Downs, BASS senior director of events. “This gives BASS the opportunity to focus on the Elite Series, memberships and publications while serving the weekend angler with BASS-sanctioned events.”

Bassmaster Weekend Series participants must be members of BASS and American Bass Anglers. BASS Federation Nation members and BASS Life members will receive priority entry into the tournaments.

BASS will also give priority entry into the Bassmaster Opens for the top six Bassmaster Weekend Series anglers from the Bassmaster Weekend Series Championship.

For more information, visit http://www.bassmaster.com or http://www.AmericanBassAnglers.com.

National Bass Circuit

Yadkin Sport Series High Rock Lake, Nov. 26

1. Brian Morgan of Newton and Kevin Lockhart of China Grove, 19.93, $525; 2. James Newsom of Kannapolis and Tracy McCready of Concord, 17.15, $300; 3. Brad Staley of Pleasant Garden and Jeff Jackson of Randleman, 12.10, $197.

Big fish: Morgan and Lockhart with a 5.90-pound bass worth $98.

Badin Lake, Dec. 9

1. Tony Hutto of Biscoe and Ken Chappell of Candor, 17.08, $450; 2. Dwayne Saunders of Star and Scott Threadgill of Troy, 15.29, $250; 3. Darien Crumbley and Jeff Proctor, both of High Point, 13.68, $176.

Big fish: Hutto and Chappell with a 6.62-pound bass worth $84.

Norman Winter Sport Series Lake Norman, Nov. 25

1. Kevin Toler and Rodney Lambert, both of Statesville, 14.98, $850; 2. Andy Montgomery of Grover, 10.45, $525; 3. Matt Goins of Hickory and Stacey Richards of Concord, 9.76, $375; 4. Jody Wright and Thomas Dyer, 9.71, $300; 5. Jamie Pennington and Zack Boleck, 9.58, $240; 6. Joe Threadgill, 9.24, $182.

Big fish: Toler and Lambert with a 4.43-pound bass worth $238.

Lake Norman, Dec. 10

1. Randy Tatu and David Bowers Jr., both of Mooresville, 12.27, $690; 2. Louie Hull of Casar, 9.76, $450; 3. Marty Sweeting of Harrisburgh and Joseph Voltz of Locust, 9.59, $300; 4. Matt Goins and Brian Triplett, 9.45, $225; 5. Rick Dunstan and Cliff Kirby, 9.24, $160. Big fish : Kevin Toler and Rodney Lambert, both of Statesville, with a 3.81-pound bass worth $175.

Lake Norman, Dec.16

1. Rick McKenzie of Union Mills and Van Sexton of Grover, 10.25, $580; 2. Charles Hobbs and Ralph Hollifield Jr. tied Chris Carroll and Tim Chapman, 8.71, each team received $294.

Big fish: McKenzie and Sexton with a 3.48-pound bass worth $112.

Norman Winter Team Bass Championship

Lake Norman, Dec. 2

1. Matt Haywood of Iron Station and Darren Dumas of Mt. Holly, 14.15, $1,220; 2. Tony Shook of Claremont and Michael Fox of Statesville, 13.60, $620; 3. Tim Chapman and Chris Carroll, 13.50, $320; 4. Roy Winkler of Charlotte and Chris Curtis of Concord, 13.50, $235; 5. Pat Tierney and Chuck Douthit, 12.90, $175; 6. Alfred Kiesling Jr. of Mooresville and Robert Stiltner of Mt. Mourne, 12.40, $155; 7. Gary Michaud of Spartanburg, S.C., and Doc McDaniel, 12.40, $90; 8. Chuck Poovey and Scott Hamrick of Denver, 12.10, $85; 9. Kevin Helms, 11.90, $75; 10. Kenny Hoyle and Tommy Thomas, 11.85, $65.

Big fish: Obby Land and Tommy Chapman with a 3.90-pound bass worth $770.

Lake Norman, Dec. 3

1. James Dryer and David Fortenberry, both of Casar, 15.50, $1,035; 2. Tony Shook of Claremont and Michael Fox of Statesville, 14.70, and big fish with a 4.85-pound bass, $1,030; 3. Steve Addington and Eddie Kirby, both of Dallas, 14.70, $260; 4. Butch Zadlo and Bryan Lewis, 14.30, $190; 5. Lew Woolfrey, 11.50, $160; 6. Justin and Eugene Foster, 11.45, $120; 7. Andy Montgomery of Grover and Louie Hull of Casar, 11.40, $80; 8. Jerry Goble of Sherrills Ford and Hank Cherry of Charlotte, 11.40, $70; 9. Chad Taylor and Nathan White, 11.05, $55.

Lake Norman, Dec. 9

1. Donald and Kevin Stanley, 16.20, and big fish with a 6.00-pound bass, $1,570; 2. Hank Cherry of Charlotte and Michael Smith, 12.50, $460; 3. Tony Shook of Claremont and Michael Fox of Statesville, 11.80, $250; 4. Jim Witherspoon of Claremont and Jerry Goble of Sherrills Ford, 11.15, $170; 5. Pat Tierney and Chuck Douthit, 10.70, $110; 6. Gary Michaud of Spartanburg, S.C., and Doc McDaniel, 10.50, $75; 7. Grant McPeters and Donnie Woody, 10.30, $65.

Carolina Anglers Team Trail Lake Wylie, Dec. 9

1. Louie Hull of Casar and Bryan Thrift, 23-12, and big fish with a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass, $1,633; 2. Tom Russell of Charlotte and Doug Gilmer, 15-15, $757; 3. John Schohn of Lake Wylie, S.C., and Todd Moss of York, S.C., 14-11, $300; 4. Scott Waldrop and James Johnson, 13-02, $100.

CRAPPIE TOURNAMENTS

Southern Crappie Association Lake Wylie, S.C., Dec. 9

1. Milton Dowey and Joe Cantey, both of Lugoff, S.C., 13.32, $1,320; 2. Keith Sanders and H.L. Gibson, both of Gastonia, 13.14, $741; 3. Randy Pope of Hickory and Jerry Pruitt of Vale, 12.92, $297; 4. Leonard Frick of Leesville, S.C., and Lewis Marshall of Cayce, S.C., 12.89, $264; 5. Dennis Morgan of Leslie, S.C., and Doug Dawley of Rock Hill, S.C., 12.13, $230; 6. Brian and Brett Davis, both of Leesville, S.C., 12.05, $197; 7. Marty and Sam Kennington, both of Kershaw, S.C., 10.77, $163; 8. Stokes McClellan of Huntersville and Adam McClellan of Cumming, Ga., 9.59, $471; 9. Teddy Steen of Leesville, S.C., and Bill Castine of West Columbia, S.C., 9.19, $129; 10. Nick and Grant Babin of Gilbert, S.C., 8.05, $113; 11. Marc Danque of Chapin, S.C., 7.13, $96.

Big fish: The McClellans with a 2.43-pound crappie worth $325.

STRIPED BASS TOURNAMENTS

Jordan Lake Striper Club Jordan Lake, Nov. 18

1. Jimmy Knowles and Brandon Denton, 3 fish, 22.34 ; 2. Chris Harris and Chris Butcher, 3 fish, 22.21, and big fish with a 9.96-pound striped bass; 3. Anthony Wilkins and Steve Marlow,3 fish, 20.68; 4. Mark Edmunds and Scott Griffith, 3 fish, 19.05; 5. Mike and Chris Clegg and Troy Roberson, 3 fish, 17.28; 6. Todd and Paula Hamilton, 3 fish, 12.77; 7. Jeff Woolf and Jim Arsenault, 2 fish, 12.27; 8. Steve Shoe and Phil Gray, 1 fish, 9.93; 9. Wayne Beavers, 2 fish, 8.82.

Tarheel Striper Club High Rock Lake, Nov. 25

1. Perry McLean and Jim Call of Chapel Hill, 2 fish, 16.00 and big fish with an 8.25-pound striped bass; 2. Wayne Beavers of Cary and Mike McKinney of Apex, 2 fish, 10.30; 3. Bobby Garner of Badin Lake and Joey Garner of Asheboro, 1 fish, 7.25.

SCHEDULES

Tarheel Striper Club (already in progress)
Contact: www.tarheelstriperclub.com

Jan. 13 at High Rock Lake/Southmont,Feb. 10 at Lake Norman/Pinnacle, March 10 at Lake Murray, S.C.,/Dreher Island State Park, April 14 at Lake Hickory/Oxford Dam, May 19 at Badin Lake/Fish Tales Marina, June 9 at Kerr Lake/Hibernia, July 14 at Jordan Lake (Open)/Ebenezer, Aug.11 at High Rock Lake for Family Fun Day, Sept. 22 at Lake Hickory/Oxford Dam, Oct. 27 at Jordan Lake/Ebenezer., Nov. 17 at Lake Murray, S.C., /Dreher Island State Park.

Stokes County Mental Health Bass Fishing Tournament  Contact: Ben Rogers at 336-994-2368  Entry fee: $110 per team, $10 big-fish pot

March 3 at Belews Creek out of Carolina Marina from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free launch and parking. Guaranteed first-place prize: $1,200.

For entry forms, check local tackle shops or e-mail: jharris52@triad.rr.com. Entry fee is $120 per team at ramp, cash only.