Three North Carolina fishermen qualified for the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series

Kevin Hawkins of Ramseur and Wayne Niece of Biscoe won the Southern Crappie Tournament Trail event on Stumpy Pond on Jan. 14. They also caught the tournament’s big fish.

Golden, Myers, Wilks qualify for top trail

Three North Carolina fishermen have qualified for the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series through their performances last year on the Elite Series, in Bassmaster Opens and or in the BASS Federation Nation championship.

Pat Golden of High Point, Britt Myers of Lake Wylie,and Dustin Wilks of Rocky Mount are among the 100 Elite qualifiers who will compete for the Angler of the Year, berths in the Bassmaster Classic, and tournament prize money.

The Elite field represents 26 states plus Japan with Texas having the most competitors with 15, followed by Alabama with 14 and Oklahoma with 10.

Two pros, two amateurs get checks in Florida event

Hank Cherry of Maiden and Ron Wolfarth of Oakboro finished in the month at the Jan. 19-21 Bassmaster Southern Open on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes.

Cherry finished 17th with 27.10 pounds and won $3,152; Wolfarth placed 29th with 24.2 and received $2,758.

Among co-anglers, Charlotte’s George Hirapetian ranked 28th with 12.2, and Linwood’s Tim Hawley finished 38th with 10.12. They each received $551.60.

BASS TOURNAMENTS

DJ Tournament Trail

Lake Norman, Dec. 31

1. Bobby Lineberger-Dakota Lineberger, 13.30 pounds, plus 4.15-pound big fish; 2. Matthew McBee, 13.05; 3. Chris-Austin Schroeder, 12.95; 4. John Wiese-Chris Garn, 12.15; 5. Matt Haywood (Lincolnton)-Matt Wingate (Catawba), 11.50; 6. Cliff Kirby (Catawba)-Eddie Black, 10.95; 7. Larry-Troy Lehew, 9.95; 8. Robert Stiltner (Mt. Mourne)-Alfred Kiesling Jr. (Mooresville), 9.90; 9. Bob Bolick, 9.75; (tie) Pete Bejte-Jason Shapiro, 9.75.

Lake Norman, Jan. 1

1. Hank Cherry (Maiden)-Shane Lineberger (Lincolnton), 16.60 pounds, plus 4.55 big fish; 2. Steve Addington (Dallas)-Matt Stout, 14.05; 3. Ashley Brotherton-Leo Thorsen, 11.15; (tie) Dale Duncan-Mike Young, 11.15; 5. Rob Middleton-Chad Midkiff, 10.30; 6. Adam Waters-Shane Lehew (Charlotte), 10.05; (tie) Mark Houser-Chad McKinney, 10.05; 8. Marc Humphries-Josh Warren, 9.80; 10. Keith Westrick-Chris Higgins, 9.50.

Lake Norman, Jan. 7

1. Nick Miller-Brandon Brickweg, 13.55 pounds plus 4.2 big fish; 2. Danny McCall-Chris Baumgarner (Gastonia), 12.85 (tie) Chuck Poovey (Denver)-Jeff Johnson, 12.85; 4. Doug Punch-Tim Bumgarner, 112.30; 5. Wade Smith (Huntersville)-Mark Brown (Charlotte), 11.45; 6. Steve Addington (Dallas)-Matt Stout, 10.80; 7. Larry-Troy Lehew (Charlotte), 10.05; 8. Scott-Dwight Beattie (Lincolnton), 9.75; 9. David Lynch-Richard Outlaw, 9.45 .

Lake Norman, Jan. 8

1. Larry-Troy Lehew (Charlotte), 16.40 pounds plus 4.10 big fish; 2. Vince-Mark Parker, 12.95; 3. Pete Betje-Jason Shapiro, 12.55; 4. Hank Cherry (Maiden)-Shane Lineberger (Lincolnton), 10.70; 5. Jason Wilson-Bucky Helms, 10.15; 6. Jerry Craig-Tony Tevepaugh-Kevin Lynch, 9.80; 7. Kenny Hoyle-Jerry Goble-Todd Phillips, 9.55; 8. John Franklin-Bobby Latuch, 9.35; 9. Marc Humphries-Josh Warren, 9.35.

Lake Norman, Jan. 14

1. Matthew McBee-Ashley Brotherton, 20.80 pounds plus 5.05 big fish; 2. Wade Smith (Huntersville)- Mark Brown (Charlotte), 14.80; 3. Bucky Helms-Jason Wilson, 14.70; 4. Pete Bejte-Jason Shapiro, 13.85; 5. Mark-Rick Poplin (Concord), 13.35; 6. Larry-Troy Lehew (Charlotte), 2.10; 7. Scott Hamrick (Denver)-Roger Hoover (Mooresville), 11.60; 8. Butch Holder-Jonathan Foster, 11.55.

Lake Norman, Jan. 22

1. Hank Cherry (Maiden)-Shane Lineberger (Lincolnton), 17.65 pounds, $520. plus 5.65 big fish, $340; 2. Shane Hawkins-Mark Bolding, 15.85, $420; 3. Jason Wilson-Bucky Helms, 13.75, $360; 4. Alan Whitaker-Sheldon Hipps, 12.00, $300; 5. Craig Chambers-Keith Ogden, 11.85, $260.

CRAPPIE TOURNAMENTS

Southern Crappie Association

Lake Wateree, S.C., Dec. 17

1. Martin Kennington-Sam Kennington (Kershaw, S.C.), 12.44 pounds, $700, plus 2.35 big fish, $180; 2. Joey Eudy (Great Falls, S.C.)-David Hinson (Lancaster, S.C.), 12.28, $300; 3. David Perrel-Phenice Perrel (Germanton), 12.09, $200 & top male/female team, $100; 4. Rick Warlick (Stanley), 11.79, $150; 5. Kevin Hawkins (Ramseur)-Wayne Niece (Biscoe), 11.79, $150; 6. Chip Knight, 11.11, $100.

Stumpy Pond/Fishing Creek, S.C., Jan. 14

1. Kevin Hawkins (Ramseur)-Wayne Niece (Biscoe), 12.89, plus 2.49 big fish, $870; 2. Dennis Morgan-Nelson Henderson (Catawba, S.C.), 11.18, $375; 3. Brian Shore (State Road)-Denny Potts (Mocksville), 11.06, $200; 4. Robert Jackson (Camden, S.C.)-David Atkinson (Bishopville, S.C.), 11.02, $145; 5. Chad Gilbert-Trevor Jones, 10.93, $115; 6. Sam Kennington-Martin Kenington (Kershaw, S.C.), 10.84, $100.

SCHEDULES

Yadkin Team Tournaments/High Rock Lake

Feb. 25, March 10, April 28, May 26, June 30, July 14, Aug 11, Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Oct. 27 for Fish-off. All tournaments at High Rock Lake out of Tamarac Marina.

Contact: Carl Benton, 336-859-4366. Entry fee: $85 per boat, $30 membership fee per person.

Adam & Eve Bass Tournament Trail

March 17 at Lake Tillery/Hwy. 24-27 Landing; April 14 at Badin Lake/Lakemont Landing; May 12 at Tuckertown Lake/Hwy. 49 Landing; June 16 and July 14 at Badin Lake/Lakemont Landing; Aug. 18 at Lake Tillery/Hwy. 24-27 Landing; Sept. 15 at Tuckertown Lake/Hwy. 49 Landing; Oct. 20 at Badin Lake/Lakemont Landing.

Contact: Ricky Clark at 336-461-2006. Entry fee: $25 per boat.

Warriors on the Warrior

April 27 at Jordan Lake/ New Hope ramp, 7:15 a.m. blast off.

N.C. Catfish Association Tournament Series

March 3, Lake Norman/Pinnacle Access; April 14, Lake Hickory /Whittenburg Access; May 19, High Rock/Second Creek Access; June 2, Mountain Island/Riverbend Access; July 14, Lake Hickory/Whittenburg Access; Aug. 11, Lake Norman/Pinnacle Access; Sept. 19, High Rock Lake/Second Creek.

Entry fee: $40 per team. Contact: Kevin Custer at 704-682-8101.