Scott Griffin and Neil Robertson weighed 7 fish totaling 20.68 pounds on Gaston Lake Saturday 7/10 for their first win this year on the NC BASS Federation Nation Team Trail. They took home $720 for the victory. Marty Bunch and Ryan Harrell took second by weighing in 19.22 pounds, good enough for $520, They also had the big fish weighing 5.54 taking home another $140 plus a new rod from Outdoor Accessories. Newcomers to the trail, Adam and Gene Richardson took third place with 7 fish totaling 18.17 pounds and a check for $300. Fourth place went to Patrick Wooten and Phillip Sykes with 7 totaling 16.58, good enough for $200 and Chuck Murray and Randy groves finished 5th with 7 fish weighing 14.25 pounds, good enough for $110. Greg Creech and Chris McDuffie actually weighed 14.31, but 2 dead fish took them out of the dollars. Second big fish of the tourney went to Danny Smith and Scott Golden with a nice 5.34 pounder.

With one tourney remaining, (Roanoke River Saturday, 8/14) Randy Groves and Chuck Murray lead the points championship with a total of 378 points, Dennis Bradley and Matt Bradley have a grip on second with 348 points and there is a three way tie for third between Wesley Caswell, Mike Barnes, and Steve Strickland. Randy Groves and Chuck Murray also have a 12.59 pound lead in the total weight category weighing 58.71 pounds, Dennis and Matt Bradley are second with 46.12 pounds and Wesley Cashwell and Shane Doughtie are third with 40.31 pounds. The big bag of the year is now in control by Ronald Gentry and Ed McLauren with a 22.06 pound bag weighed the first tourney of the year at Roanoke Rapids Lake. See everyone at the Roanoke.

Results

Standings

TJ Deflice and Jerry Everly took home their first BASS Federation Nation team tourney win on 6/19 at Kerr Lake. The team brought seven bass to the scales weighing 16.45, good enough for $675. The team also had the second largest bass for an additional $70 making their total winnings $745. Not bad for an 18 team field with a $110 entry fee. Congrats to TJ and Jerry.

Randy Groves and Chuck Murray are back on track with a second place finish weighing in 15.03 pounds, good enough for $500, Cavin Young had five nice bass weighing 13.25 finishing 3rd place and also had the big fish of the tourney winning a nice rod from Outdoor Accessories in Kenly NC. Todd Durton and Steve Lucy finished 4th with 12.62 and Patrick Wooten and Phillip Sykes took 5th with 11.01.

The trails next stop is July 10th on Gaston lake out of the Summit (Lees Creek) ramp. See you there.

Please note the dates have been set for the Western and Eastern Qualifying events. The Western tourney will be on Lake James on Friday September 17th and Saturday the 18th out of Black Bear Landing. The Eastern tourney will be held on the Gaston Lake out of Morning Star Marina (old Eaton’s Ferry) on Friday October 8th, and Saturday October 9th, 2010. We will blast off event at safe light!!

2010 Regional Information

2010 Eastern Regional Entry Form

Fishing their first Triton Owners Tourney, Chuck Murray of Louisburg NC and Ben Parker of Paris Tennessee combined their skills to win the Prestigious Triton Owners Tourney on Kentucky Lake held June 4th and 5th  2010. Ben and Chuck weighed 10 bass totaling 51.64 pounds and also now hold the two day total weight record in the 11 year history of the event. The previous record was 49 pounds. 300 Teams competed in the event!

Chuck and Ben stated they caught their fish on a variety of baits but jigs and crank baits were the main weapons. Murray stated the team boated over 150 fish each day and it could have been more. “I have never seen in my fishing career, bass school like that do in this lake”. We caught fish on every cast for two solid hours each day. Parker and Murray stated they found their main “Honey Hole” on Wednesday in practice. Murray stated they were searching the lake, studying their electronics, when Ben said “There they are!!” The screen was full of fish!  Parker stated they turned the boat made four cast and caught 4 good fish.

Chuck and Ben decided to fish this tourney in 2009 when they both had qualified to fish the BASS Federation Nation National Championship. Both had qualified on Lake Gaston in April 2009, and actually got paired up in another event in June on Lake Murray in South Carolina. Parker stated at the Nationals, Chuck approached him about fishing the tourney and they agreed to combine their efforts instead of fishing against each other. Participation in The BASS Federation Nation is a great way to meet new people and great fishermen Murray stated. This is about the only way that most fishermen can achieve their dream “The BASSMASTER CLASSIC”. For investing as little as $50 per year, you can have this opportunity.

Chuck and Ben are unsure if they are going to be able to team up again next year to defend their title, but only time will tell. Ben is moving up to the fish the BASS OPEN tourneys hoping to qualify for an opportunity to compete on the Elite Series and hoping to expand his hunting and fishing guiding business (Parkers Outfitting). Chuck has a full time job as the Finance Director on his home county, Franklin County NC where he has 25+ years in local government experience. We both fish a lot of tourneys during the year Murray stated. This year the stars were aligned and it worked out and hopefully we will be able to defend the Title next year.

JA Williford and Micheal Chlomedis caught seven of the nicest bass seen at the Chowan River tourney on May 30th, 2010. Their seven fish limit weighed 18.99 pounds leading the field by almost 6 pounds. Larry Barefoot and Charles Small took second with 13.39 pounds, Dennis and Matt Bradley took third with 10.40, Ed Collier and Jeff Narron come out of retirement to take 4th with 10.19, and Mike Barnes and Danny Smith took fifth with 8.91. We had a 20 boat field and the winners took home $700. Wayne Joyner and Kevin Thorn had the big fish of the tourney with a nice 3.92 pounder taking home $120 plus a brand new rod from Outdoor Accessories from Kenly NC. Gene Braswell and Joe Peede had the second big fish with a 3.86 pounder, good for $80.

The point lead is very tight with Dennis and Matt Bradley leading the way with 190 points, Chuck Murray and Randy Groves are 2 points behind in second with 188, Mike Barnes and Danny Smith are  in third with 184 points, Mack and Steve Strickland are in fourth with 174 and Greg Creech and Chris McDuffie are in fifth with 172 points.

The total weight race is tight as well with Randy Groves and Chuck Murray leading the way with 29.43 pounds, Dennis and Matt Bradley are second with 28.48 pounds, less than a pound out of the lead. Ronald gentry and Ed McLauren are third with 25.31 pounds, Mike Barnes and Danny Smith are 4th with 24.99 pounds and Steve and Mack Strickland are 5th with 21.44 pounds.  The next tourney is June 19th at Kerr Lake out of Hibernia Boat Ramp.  Blast off will occur at safe light. Come join us and have some fun!

Ronald Gentry and Ed McLaurin fished their first NC BASS Federation Nation Team trail tourney on Saturday and not only took home the first place prize but swept the honors by having the lunker of the tourney as well. Ronald and Ed weighed seven bass totaling 22.06 pounds anchored by their 6.25 pound lunker. Ronald and Ed took home $650 for first place, $100 for the lunker and a brand new rod from Outdoor Accessories (www.outdooracc.com)

Chuck Murray and Randy Groves continued their hot streak from last year finishing second with 7 bass weighing 21.11 pounds. They also had the second lunker of the tourney weighing 6.08 pounds. Home favorite Marty Bunch and Ryan Harrell took third with seven bass weighing 18.20 and Dennis Bradley and Matt Bradley took fourth with 18.08 pounds. Current record holders Mike Barnes and Danny Smith who weighed over 40 pounds last year finished 5^th with 16.08 pounds.

We had good turnout with 17 boats and hope to have more on May 30 on the Chowan River out of Shoups Landing (Hwy 13). Tell all your friends and help this trail to continue to grow. It is a 100+% payout trail and encourages our NC BASS Federation Nation Membership to continue growing.  Congrats again to Ronald and Ed for a great catch!!

This past November we sent you the news that we’ve automated BFN membership cards. Providing this great functionality while conserving resources, saving time, money and providing our members with 24-hour access to printable online membership cards is finally a reality.

The previous access controlled link is now available on the BASS Federation Nation home page under – General Information. http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/federation/index?MemberCard

In the near future, members will also find the same resource under the Member Services section. Online consumers will have one-stop shopping to view and/or edit all of their existing memberships including BFN, BASS and Insider, etc.

Instructions:
1. Requires sign in using you ESPN/BASS username and password.
2. If you already have a username & password follow instructions on landing page to link and activate member number on-line (i.e. automatically links to individual BASS member number.)
3. If your current username/password does not allow access to your information, follow step 2 to link your bassmaster.com online account with your BASS Membership Number.
If you need any assistance, please call BASS Member Services at 877-BASS-USA and someone on our Member Services Team will be happy to help.

Press Release — Charlotte, North Carolina — Based at Midtown Sundries on Lake Norman, the 1st Annual Carolina Big Bass Classic comes to Lake Norman on May 15-16, 2010; offering amateur anglers the chance to compete for over $100,000 in possible cash and prizes in this open big bass event.  The amateur angler with the largest overall big bass will take home a 2010 Nitro Z8 valued over $33,000.  One Day Entry Fee is $100 and Two Day Entry Fee is $150.  The overall grand prize is guaranteed regardless of entries.

“We are excited to bring this tournament format to North Carolina,” says Keith Odom, of Oakley Big Bass Tour. “Our partners and sponsors have done an incredible job in helping establish this tournament and we look forward to an outstanding event.”

The Carolina Big Bass Classic will be open to all amateur anglers.  Anglers will compete for thousands in hourly cash payouts throughout the two day event.  There will be seven hourly weigh-ins each day with the largest overall big bass of the event earning the winner a 2010 Nitro Z8.  The first 100 anglers to pre-register for this event will receive a free custom Carolina Rig Rod valued at $150.  Anglers may pre-register for this event online at www.oakleybigbass.com.  Anglers may also register by phone, fax or mail.  Additionally, mandatory event registrations will be held at Bass Pro Shops in Concord on Thursday May 13th from 5-9pm and on Friday May 14th from 9am-9pm. There will be prize drawings and giveaway’s throughout the registration days on Thursday and Friday.  Anglers may pick up registration forms at Bass Pro Shops in Concord or at Foothills Marine in Morganton.  Oakley’s Rolling O Lab http://www.oakley.com/community/olab will be on-site at Bass Pro Shops in Concord on Thursday May 13th and Friday May 14th.  Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins will take place at the Oakley Main Stage at Midtown Sundries on Lake Norman.  The public is welcome at the live hourly weigh-ins from 8am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday.  Late registrations will be available on Saturday and Sunday from 4:30am-6:30am at the Blythe Landing ramp.  Anglers may launch from any location on the lake but must be registered in advance in order to compete.

“We are thrilled to be involved in creating this unique tournament format,” said Louis Wellen, with Oakley Sports Marketing. “This partnership allows Oakley the ability to interact with the grass roots anglers who drive this sport and educate them on the superior advantages that Oakley’s HDO Technology can provide them when competing on the water.”

Sponsors of the Carolina Big Bass Classic include: Oakley, Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Mercury, MotorGuide, Lock-n-Haul, Quantum, Lake Fork Trophy Lures, Power-Pole, Foothills Marine and The Ryan Newman Foundation.

Oakley is a worldwide leader in performance optics including premium sunglasses, goggles and prescription eyewear. Headquartered in Southern California, the company’s optics brand portfolio includes Fox Racing, Mosley Tribes, Oliver Peoples and Paul Smith Spectacles. In addition to its worldwide wholesale business, Oakley operates retail locations including Oakley Stores and The Optical Shop of Aspen. The company also offers a wide selection of Oakley-branded technical and active apparel, footwear, watches and accessories. Additional information is available at www.oakley.com

The Oakley Big Bass Tour is a premier big bass tournament series open to all amateur anglers. We provide anglers of all skill levels with an exciting tournament format and event experience on some of the nations best bass fisheries. Established in 2007 our tour is focused on the promotion of bass fishing and bass conservation at the grass roots level through our tournament events. Our founders and event staff have over a decade of experience organizing and hosting bass fishing tournament events. For further information, please contact us at (877) 958-TOUR or visit us on the web at www.oakleybigbass.com