Oakley Big Bass Tour On Norman This Weekend For Open
Amateur anglers will compete for over $100,000 in possible cash and prizes in this open big bass tournament event.

The 1st Annual Carolina Big Bass Classic comes to Lake Norman on this weekend, May 15-16, offering amateur anglers the chance to compete for over $100,000 in possible cash and prizes in this open big bass event. Based at Midtown Sundries, the amateur angler with the largest overall big bass will take home a 2010 Nitro Z8 valued at more than $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 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 5-9 PM and on Friday May 14th from 9 AM to 9 PM. There will be prize drawings and giveaways 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 onsite at Bass Pro Shops in Concord on Thursday May 13th and Friday May 14th. Saturday and Sunday 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 8 AM to 3 PM on Saturday and Sunday. Late registrations will be available on Saturday and Sunday from 4:30 AM to 6:30 AM 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 grassroots 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 grassroots 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.

Nester Team Uses Norman For Second Straight Win
April 17, 2010
By Mike Sides, Director Piedmont Division

1st place, Marty & Dusty Nester

The third tournament of the season found the anglers of the Fishers of Men Piedmont Division on the waters of Lake Norman near Charlotte, NC. Mild temperatures and clear skies across the lake didn’t disappoint, as each of the thirty-four teams competing brought five-fish limits to the scales.

On Friday, April 16th, the anglers were hosted by the Peninsula Baptist Church in Mooresville. After a meal of brats, Mike Sides, the Piedmont Division director challenged the anglers to use our failures to help bring about successes. “To make the right decisions, you often go through a lot of bad ones,” he stated.

At the top at the end of the day was the team of Marty Nester and Dusty Nester of Mt. Airy, NC with a total of 14.28 pounds and the Big Bass of the tournament weighing in at 4.56 pounds. They took home $1,451plus an additional $500 for Triton Gold Bonus. Finishing in second place and earning $612 was the team of Eric Gambill and Bobby Lovette of Wilkesboro NC with 12.78 pounds. Third place was earned by the team of Robert Mixon and Steve of Lexington NC with 12.42 pounds. That team won $561 for their efforts.

In fourth were Chris Carroll and Jim Carroll with 10.98 pounds and taking $438. Fifth place and $306 went to Michael Templeton and Chad “Shad” Hooker with a bag tipping the scales at 10.58 pounds. $244 went to the sixth place team of Jon Morgan and Rodney Eller of Rockwell NC and the team of Dean Collins and Ray Furr won $136 for their seventh place finish.

The Piedmont Division’s next tournament, sponsored by Cagle’s Chevron at the corner of Highway 49 and Badin Lake Road, will be held May 15th on Badin Lake at Circle Drive. The Friday night church service will be held at High Rock Community Church and registration will begin at 5:30 PM.  

Divisional sponsors for the fishers of Men are Nester Hoisery, Snyder’s Packaging, Tamarac Marina, Ben Franklin; Arty at Law, Cages Chevron and Fisherman's Friend. Tournament sponsors include Sports Fisherman’s Center, Bass Pro Shops, The Trophy House, Asheboro Alarm and Electric Co. and Carolina Marina. Sponsoring the Adult/Jr. teams is Leroy Dental. Door prize sponsors were Advance Auto, Hwy 49 Sporting Goods, Fishing Fever, Get The Net Bait Co. Poison Ivy Soap, Flemming Candy Co., Happy Farms, and Tournament Lure Concepts.

Oakley Big Bass Tour to Host the Carolina Big Bass Classic on Lake Norman, May 15-16, 2010
Amateur anglers will compete for over $100,000 in possible cash and prizes in this open big bass tournament event.

CHARLOTTE, NC, April 13, 2010 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 at more than $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 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 giveaways 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 onsite at Bass Pro Shops in Concord on Thursday May 13th and Friday May 14th. Saturday and Sunday 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 grassroots 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 grassroots 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.

Norman Becomes Opener For Triad Bassmasters
March 21, 2010
By Linda Berry & Fishbyte.Net Staff
Photos Courtesy of Linda Berry

After Mother Nature wiped out their season opener back in February with a coating of white across the region, the Triad Bassmasters finally kicked their 2010 season into gear on Lake Norman last weekend. Three boats and six members jumped onto the lake from the McCrary Access at 7 AM and, still, weather was an issue.

1st place & Big Fish, Kyle Joyce

“The day started out overcast, with temps around fifty degrees,” stated club president, Linda Berry. “It started raining around noon and, after that, we had on and off showers the rest of the day. We saw a noticeable drop in air temperatures, too.” Their first event was suppose to be on Belews Lake, but heavy snows wiped out all events that weekend. It was added back into their schedule for September.

The 3 PM weigh in saw all members weighing in fish with fish biting from shallow to 10 feet. Water was stained with most anglers recording water temps around 58 degrees. Kyle Joyce of Reidsville set the mark of the day with 9.10 pounds, winning $60. The angler caught most of his fish on a shakey head using green pumpkin baits. The Tournament Director also scored Big Fish with a 2.20 pounder.

Johnny Dunnavant of Stokesdale finished second with 4.75 pounds, catching his fish on a shakey head using Bama Bug color baits. Buddy Risner or Albemarle finished third with 3.05 pounds, while Berry finished fourth with 2.65 pounds. Both anglers caught all theirs on spinner baits and rattle traps.

Two anglers throwing mostly shakey heads and finishing in the final two positions were newcomer Bill Workman of Sandy Ridge (1.85 pounds) and Chris Foreman of Summerfield (1.15 pounds).

The club meets monthly at Gander Mountain in Greensboro an is accepting new members. They are involved in a variety of community improvement projects during the year. For more information about the club, contact Berry at 336-552-9156 or email her at carolinalindaberry@yahoo.com.

2nd place, Scott Mason (with Rick Poplin)

Toole And Eudy Capture Norman With 15.74
March 13, 2010
By Martin Ledford

Some teams end a season on a high note, while others match what they've accomplished in the past and strike off a new season on a high note. When the Bear Creek Bass Club rolled into Lake Norman's Blythe Landing Saturday, 2009 Club Champions Wesley Eudy and Chris Toole hoped to show other members they were still on a hot streak.

An 8 AM start time worked well for members as waters, even on Norman, have been on the cool side of late. Twenty-five boat teams from the club hit the water to begin a season that will include eight regular events, two two-day gatherings, and a fish off in November. The club fishes the Yadkin Chain, Norman, Wylie, and Wateree. Membership is $40 per year and each tournament costs $30.

3rd place, RE Davis (with Max Davis)

Nineteen of the teams weighed in fish at the 4 PM scales after eight grueling hours of competition. For Eudy and Toole, it was a great day on the water and even better at the scales. The pair boated five fish with a total weight of 15.74 pounds to capture first place and start their 2010 championship race off right. Their sack included Big Fish of the day, a 5.34 pounder. Total earnings for both honors was $440.

Rick Poplin and Scott Mason returned for the hunt, nailing down second with 11.94 pounds. They won $150. The pair scored numerous top-five finishes last season.

Max and  R.E. Davis, also contenders the year before, put 11.12 pounds in their livewell to take third. They won $100. The final paying position was filled by Emmitt Ray and Martin Ray, who found 10.74 pounds and $50.

“We had great weather most of the day,” stated club web master Martin Ledford. “Water temperatures were in the mid-fifties, but the water was stained.” Ryan Mullis serves as tournament director. The club's web site can be found at www.bearcreekbassclub.org.

A total of 113 bass were weighed in, a site not seen on lakes in the region this season.

For more information about the group, contact Ledford at mledford@bearcreekbassclub.org or visit their web site. Details are also available on the Fishbyte.Net pages.

1st place & Big Fish, Michael Fox & Rick Wingate

Fox And Wingate Grab Norman Spring Championship Trail Opener
March 7, 2010

Lake Norman has seen a ton of late-winter bass anglers in the last couple weeks, but the local fishermen with solid lake knowledge had their chance this past Sunday when the Norman Spring Championship Sunday Trail kicked off the 2010 season. The near-weekly series meets on both Saturdays and Sundays through June.

Michael Fox and Rick Wingate topped 31 other boats by hauling 12.1 pounds to the scales, winning $935 for that placement and a Big Fish of 3.65 pounds.

Father and son, David Bowers ( Senior and Junior) took second with 11.60 pounds for $310. Wayne Baker and TJ Murphy found third with 10.85 pounds and won $130.

David Hendrick and Matt Stout won fourth and $105, while Marc Mode and Tony Tysinger finished fifth and took home $60.

Cost for the weekend outings are $60 with a $10 Big Fish pot. More information can be viewed at www.fishwithdj.com or by contacting AJ Ballard at ajballard@charter.net or by calling 828-428-0601.

Bost Team Wins Fishers Of Men State Championship
March 6, 2010
By Mike Sides

On Saturday March 6th 2009, the fourth annual NC Fishers Of Men National Bass Tournament Trail State Championships was held on Lake Norman. Twenty adult teams qualified to fish. Cold Weather began the day, but warmer weather ended the day.

Eighteen teams were able to make the trip to the scales that were located at Bass Pro Shops in Concord NC. Host Hank Parker Jr. kept the crowd entertained with his wit and knowledge. Each team was pulled through the weigh-in in a Toyota Tundra, supplied by Toyota of Concord, and Nitro boats supplied by Bass Proshops. $250 was donated John Snincak, Regional Director, of Fishers Of Men.

Rocky Socks presented the first place award money of $1000 to Richard and Wayne Bost of Salisbury NC with a winning weight of 10.76 pounds. They also received $250 donated by Bass Proshops for the biggest fish of 4.89 pounds.

Second Place went to Mark Piercy and Jack Bonner, who won $200, while Third Place went to Bob Groom and Larry Schmidt, who won $100.. The top Director Championship went to Mike Sides.

The crowd was rewarded for showing up with tons of door prizes thrown out by the Anglers. “We would like to thank all the people who volunteered to help,” stated Sides, “especially Jon Morgan, who basically directed the event allowing The Directors to fish.”

The Fishers of Men Piedmont Division began its 2010 season in February. Their next event is schedule for March 20 on Lake Wylie. To learn how you can join in, contact Sides at 704-239-4097 or visit the F.O.M. Web site at www.fomntt.com.  A schedule of info is also posted on the Fishbyte.net Calendar and Forums.