Archive
Championship Fishing
2010
Kinnard And Williams Win Tuckertown Showdown
January 24, 2010
Depending on how you feel about weather conditions and bass fishing, last Saturday's Championship Fishing Winter Trail event at Tuckertown was either the worst of the worst or a great day to be on the lake. Five boats tackled Tuckertown's tough winter waters for a cold and rainy January competition.
One of the smaller lakes on the Yadkin Chain, Tuckertown is not known for producing big and plentiful bass in the winter months, especially when water conditions are muddy. For the past few weeks, anglers have battled murky conditions as rain has hit the region week after week. For the organizers of the Championship Fishing crew, five boat teams was a good turnout for those conditions on that lake.
Michael Kinnard and partner, Travis Williams, made the most of the outing, although the fish were few are far between. The pair grabbed 3.93 pounds to earn $340. Brandon Younginer and John Merrit found 1.73 pounds to finish second for the $100 payout. Water temps hovered around 40 degrees all day.
Championship Fishing will begin its regular season with three trails soon. The efforts will feature a Yadkin, Capital, and Catawaba trails for those three regions of the state. More information about each can be found on their web site. Schedules are posted on the Fishbyte.Net Calendar. Tony Furr, director and organizer of the events, can be reached at 704-467-1598 or championshipfishing@gmail.com.
Teams Put Hold On Championship Fishing Points Decision
February 7, 2010
Saturday was suppose to decide the points winner of the Championship Fishing Winter Trail, but the top two teams found themselves tied after the 3:30 weigh in. All four competitors decided it wouldn't be tough to split the cash prize, but cutting the big trophy in half would be. So the decision to put the points battle on hold until the winter championship event later in the month, was the best way to settle the race.
Coming into the day, anglers Michael Kinnard and Travis Williams held a two point lead over Brandon Younginer and John Meritt. Four boat teams turned out for the competition out of Cook's Marina on Lake Tillery after a week of flooding rains, sleet and sometimes snow. Saturday was the first day in a week the area saw sunshine. Temperatures had risen to the mid-forties by the afternoon.
Progress Energy had waters moving swiftly and water levels a couple feet below normal when competitors blasted off. Debris was strewn on every part of the lake. Anglers found virtually no bite the entire day. “I had one bite at about 8:30 this morning,” stated Kinnard. “That was the 3.17 pounder I brought in.”
Younginer reported the same. His one bite day resulted in a 4.12 pound bass that won the event, took Big Fish honors, and gave him two points more than Kinnard and Williams on the day. The points race tie was brought about by two bites. The winners for this Saturday's effort took home $320 for first and $40 for the solo lunker.
According to Championship Fishing organizer, Tony Furr, he put the decision up to both teams as to how they wanted it to end. “Prolonging the race until the winter championship February 28th will add to that event,” stated Furr. “We all hate to see a season-ending race finish today like this, so it'll be fun to have these guys compete one more time.”
Championship Fishing (southernfishingtrail.com) will hold its winter championship at Tuckertown, the lake drawn out of the hat after the weigh in. They will use the Flat Creek Access and fish from 8 AM to 3:30 PM.
Three trails for the group will begin in the coming weeks. The Yadkin, Catawba, and Capital Divisions will fish lakes in those regions of the state. For more information, visit the group's web site or see the Fishbyte.Net Calendar and Forums.
Championship Fishing Winter Points Race Decided
February 28, 2010
It took an extra twenty days to decide who would win the Championship Fishing Winter Trail points title, but anglers brought that battle to a close on Tuckertown last Sunday. Six boat teams slid from the ramp at Flat Creek Wildlife Access in hopes the final decision would side with them.
The Championship Fishing Series sprang up late last year when a state-wide series came to an abrupt halt. That closing left a niche for anglers looking for a mid-level, non-affiliated competition. Tony Furr's effort began with winter months events in hopes of getting the word out about three trails to begin soon.
The Yadkin Trail will begin March 13 at Badin and the Alcoa Landing. That series will fish the four main lakes of the Yadkin Chain and include seven events.
The Catawba Trail will begin March 28 on Wylie and the Buster Boyd access. It also will have seven events. Lakes included in the competitions include Wylie and Lake Norman. The Capital Trail will include Harris, Falls, Jordan and Kerr and will begin March 20. Cost is $100 per boat team per event.
Michael Kinnard and Travis Williams squeaked out a narrow victory in the final outing, winning a $200 prize and two rods and reels for the points race. The pair came into the February 7 event that was suppose to decide the season leading by two points, but Brandon Younginer and John Meritt had other ideas. On a day that stumped anglers all over Tillery, Younginer and Meritt beat Kinnard and Williams and made up the two points. Anglers agreed, rather than split the money (and trophy?), they'd use the end of the month at Tuckertown to decide.
Jason Riggs and Darrell Crumbley won the Tuckertown event, hauling an impressive 16.37 pounds to the scales. Their largest fish was 5.72 pounds. They took home $715 for first and added Second Big Fish money of $30.
The day's second place winners were Steven Dyer and Rob Sledzewski. “We caught all our fish off one small stretch of bank, about 75 feet, on a Crawfish Shad Rap fished painfully slow in Riles Creek,” stated Dyer, a member of the Southfork Bass Masters and veteran of numerous trails across the state. They had 11.72 pounds at the scales and solo 5.98 pounder. They took home $250 and won Big Fish for $90.
Rod Stover and Billy Reynolds took third with 7.98 pounds. Their largest fish was a 4.52 pounder. Championship Fishing staff treated all members to a cookout after the event.
For more information about joining one or more of the Trails about to begin, contact Tony Furr at 704 467-1598 or email him at championshipfishing@gmail.com. Those interested can also visit the group's web site at www.southernfishingtrail.com.
25 Plus Pounds Wins Championship Fishing Yadkin Opener
March 14, 2010
Sooner or later it was going to break. With bass staying skittish or downright vacant for week after week, someone was going to smash through the door and give the North Carolina bass a good whuppin'. It finally happened on Badin Lake when the Championship Fishing Yadkin Trail held its season opener at Circle Drive.
New on the bass fishing circuit, Championship Fishing (www.southernfishingtrail.com) emerged last fall with a winter trail that finished just last month. The popularity of the event, owned and directed by Tony Furr, brought out twelve boats on a windy day when most expected another dismal showing. Such was not the case as eleven out of the twelve boats weighed sacks. Six of those were above ten pounds.
Shaun Miller and partner, Richard Crayton, established dominance near the very end of the weigh in when they made the plastic weigh in bags nearly burst. Five fish that could have been quintuplets filled the basket and tipped the scales at an impressive 25.67 pounds. Their largest was a monster 7.53 hawg which wouldn't stand as the biggest fish caught. The pair earned $560 for their efforts.
Chris Marshall and Cliff Kirby were fourth to the trailer scales. Most expected the 19.13 pound sack to land them in first. However, the great catch would land them only a second place finish. They won $180 with their five fish.
Third placers Bruce and Bryan Dehart turned heads on a day that anglers across the region will be talking about. They put 16.45 pounds in the livewell, which was a feat in itself. One of their fish hit the 8.16 pounds and went on to become Big Fish of the day The won $100 for third and another $120 for Big Fish.
Outside the money earnings, but enough to win a prize pack were fourth place finishers Jason Riggs and Darryl Crumbley. They caught 14.74 pounds. Michael Kinnard and Travis williams placed fifth with 13.44 pounds. Mark Weaver and Mike Justice were the final team placing a notch on the ten-pound-plus list. They caught 10.2 pounds.
For more information about the Trail, contact Tony Furr at 704-467-1598 or visit their web site. Details are also available on the Fishbyte.Net Calendar and Forums. Championship Fishing runs a Yadkin, Capital and Catawba Trail.
2009
Championship Fishing Series Opens This Weekend
September 13, 2009
While some anglers' interests are moving on to other outdoor pursuits and groups and clubs wind down their 2009 season, a few are looking for more competitions to enter. A bright spot in fall bass fishing is the start of Championship Fishing series on Badin Lake this coming Sunday, September 13th.
The debut of the series will happen on the Circle Drive Landing at safelight and will go until 3 PM. Tony Furr, organizer of the tournament series, hopes the events will fill a gap in off-season fishing. Anglers can fish solo or as a two-some and there will be a five-fish limit. Registration can be done via email or at the landing the morning of the event.
Cost to join is $100 and there will be an 80 percent payback. The Big Fish pot will be $10 with a 100 percent payback. The second event of the young tour will be October 11th at High Rock Lake's Dutch Second Creek from safelight to 3 PM.
For more information or to pre-register, contact Furr at 704-467-1598 or email him at championshipfishing@gmail.com.
Championship Fishing Continues With Second Event This Weekend
September 13, 2009
While some anglers' interests are moving on to other outdoor pursuits and groups and clubs wind down their 2009 season, a few are looking for more competitions to enter. A bright spot in fall bass fishing is the second event of the newly-formed Championship Fishing Trail (www.southernfishingtrail.com) which holds its second event this coming Sunday at High Rock's Tamarac Marina. Tony Furr, founder and director of the new tour, announced Wednesday a number of competitions that will go through February 2010.
The debut of the series happened on the Circle Drive Landing in September. “I was pleased with our beginning on September 13 at Badin's Circle Drive Access,” stated Furr. “Although we didn't have a huge turnout, it was a start and I think anglers will like having a tournament series of this caliber in what many consider the off-season.” During winter months, most events will begin at safe light and end at 3 PM. Changes to that schedule will be announced at the landing prior to blast off. Furr hopes the events will fill a gap in off-season fishing and become a premiere non-affiliated series. Anglers can fish solo or as a two-some and there will be a five-fish limit. Registration can be done via email or at the landing the morning of the event.
“I expect this series to become a premiere fishing activity in North Carolina,” stated Furr. “We are set up with all the equipment and a tournament trailer anglers have come to expect with a top-notch tournament.”
Cost to join is $100 and there will be an 80 percent payback. The Big Fish pot will be $10 with a 100 percent payback. The second event of the young tour will be October 11th at High Rock Lake's Dutch Second Creek from safelight to 3 PM. Furr announced the remainder of the Yadkin Trail Division last week. Those dates are:
1: NOV 11, 2009 - HIGH ROCK, TAMARAC
2: NOV 22, 2009 - BADIN LAKE, CIRCLE DRIVE
3: DEC 13, 2010 - HIGH ROCK, TAMARAC
4: JAN 09, 2010 – BADIN, CIRCLE DRIVE
5: JAN 24, 2010 – TUCKERTOWN, RIVERSIDE (Flat Creek)
6: FEB 07, 2010 – TILERY, COOKS
7: FEB 28,2010 - HIGH ROCK, TAMARAC
For more information or to pre-register, contact Furr at 704-467-1598 or email him at championshipfishing@gmail.com. Championsip Fishing's newly launched web site is at www.southernfishingtrail.com.
Kistler Wins Championship Fishing Event On High Rock
October 11, 2009
Although many anglers came to High Rock Lake on Sunday morning expecting bass to be about worn out by a large benefit tournament there just the day before, a few in the newly-formed Championship Fishing Series knew they could prove the nay-sayers wrong. At the end of the day they had proved their point, when the first five boats brought in nearly 83 pounds of bass.
The Championship Fishing Series (southernfishingtrail.com), premiering just a month ago at Badin Lake, is owned and operated by Tony Furr. A membership fee of $35 is required and either one or two anglers are allowed per boat. The Series fishes a five-fish limit and has an eighty percent payback. Registration is $100 per event with a $10 Big Fish pot. That pot is a one hundred percent payback. Registration can happen via US mail or at the landing the morning of an event.
Heavy weights began to appear at the scales early on as the ten boat teams participating weighed in. Obby Land and Travis Phillips began the run with a 13.7.8 pound bag, but failed to land in the money. Jerry Loughran from Arizona, fishing High Rock for only the second time, dragged 18.4.8 pounds to the scales. That bag included a 5.9.7 pounder that appeared sure to be the biggest fish of the day. The angler works for Morgan Construction Company as a general supervisor building apartments in the Charlotte area.
That weight was tested when Derrick Crumbley and partner, Bob Jennette, hauled in 17.1.2 pounds, falling just short of Loughran's total weight. One solo fish in their bag did top Loughran's to grab the Big Fish lead. The heavy weight hit the 5.9.8 pound mark, a tenth of an ounce bigger, and eventually was tagged the Big Fish of the day. Crumbley and Jennette earned $100 for their efforts.
With only a couple bags left in the weigh in line, one appeared to be a contender. John Kistler, fishing solo, dumped 19.0.2 pounds of toad weight onto the scales, grabbing the top spot away from Loughran at the last minute. Kistler's casts won him $600 for first place. Loughran settled for second, but still took home $200. Crumbley and Jennette settled for third, just outside the paying positions.
A final solid bag was weighed in by Richard Crayton, who caught 14.3.5 pounds that included a dark 5.3.9 pounder. He finished fourth in the event held at the Tamarac Marina.
The Championship Fishing Series returns to High Rock and the Tamarac Marina on November 1st for a safelight blastoff. Fishing concludes at 3 PM. For more information, contact Furr at 704 467-1598 or email him at championshipfishing@gmail.com . Complete details and rules can be found on the Series web site at southernfishingtrail.com. Details are also posted on the Fishbyte.net Calendar and Forums.
Third Outing For Championship Fishing Sees Top Weights
Photos courtesy of Tony Furr
November 1, 2009
If fall means six out of seven days of rain, steady winds, and bright colored leaves that can barely be seen through the weather, Championship Fishing's third Winter Trail event was held in the dead of the season. Eight boat teams slid from the ramp at Tamarac Marina on High Rock on Sunday, amidst pouring rains and strong breezes.
The ugly weather didn't slow the determination of anglers, however, as top weights were again pulled out of the northern-most pond in the Yadkin Chain. Leaving at safelight, which was somewhat different with the clock change just hours before, the teams fished for a five-fish limit until 3 PM.
Jason Riss and Darryl Crumbley topped all competitors and the twenty pound mark as the pair tagged 21.78 pounds of bass at the scales. One of those bass weighed a whopping 6.76 pounds to grab the Big Fish award on the day. The pair won $460 for their first place showing and $80 for the solo toad.
Michael Kinnard and Shaun Miller nailed down the second spot with a hefty 16.73 pound sack. Their largest was a four pounder. They won $180 for the place win.
Randy Weddington and Ronnie Smith took third, just outside paying spots. They found 14.59 pounds with their solo largest being a 4.66 pounder.
The Championship Fishing Tournament Trail (http://www.southernfishingtrail.com/index.php) recently announced it's Capital, Yadkin and Catawba Division Trails beginning in mid-March. Each Division fishes and eight-event schedule. More information can be gained by contacting tournament director Tony Furr at 704-467-1598 or via email at championshfishing@gmail.com. Aaron Harwood is assisting and may be contacted at 704-791-3630.
All division schedules are posted on the Fishbyte.net Forums and Calendar.
Crumbley and Riggs Win Two In A Row
November 22, 2009
Earlier in the week, the outlook for dry fishing weather on Sunday was pretty grim, but a big low front coming from the southwest decided to hang low and slow. Anglers turning out for the Championship Fishing's Yadkin Winter Trail event on Badin Lake enjoyed some good fall fishing, as rains held off until late that evening.
Jason Riggs and Darryl Crumbley made it two-in-a-row, finding both Badin and High Rock to their liking. Just three weeks before, the partners scored a win at the Tamarac Marina on High Rock on November 1st. The return to Badin's Circle Drive Access ramp had them weighing in 13.82 pounds of bass to capture the $500 top prize. They reported catching most of their fish on spinner-baits.
Jeremy Talbert and Todd Hayes came within striking distance of the top pair, as ten boat teams launched for the event. Talbert and Hayes drew in 13.74 pounds, enough for a second place finish and $200. Mike Kinnard and Aaron Harwood were within a hair, dragging 13.71 pounds to the scales. Kinnard reported most of their catch was found using spinner-baits and topwaters. They earned their registration fee back, $100. Big Fish of the event, worth $100, was a 5.07 pounder netted by Derrick Crumbley and Bob Jennett.
The Winter Trail has five remaining events and will return to High Rock and the Tamarac Marina in December. Fishing in the $100-entry events ($35 membership fee), begins at safelight and pays back eighty percent. A $10 Big Fish pot pays back one-hundred percent. More information can be found at the Championship Fishing web site at http://www.southernfishingtrail.com/index.php.
Poole And Ludwick Win Championship Fishing Event
December 13, 2009
Owner and Director of the newly-formed Championship Fishing Trail, Tony Furr, couldn't be happier. Just a few events into the higher-dollar competition, numbers continue to grow as word spreads about the well-organized tournaments. The winter months present a challenge for any fishing tournament organizer and most anglers store their gear for warmer times.
December doubles that problem as hunting season and the close-by Holidays run participant numbers to their lowest of the year. Mother Nature doesn't often help either. Given all those issues, one might expect a fledgling trail to stumble, but not so with the Championship Fishing Winter Trail (www.championshipfishing.com) as more and more boat teams show up for blast off. The weather conditions were nearly as bad as could be this past weekend, as the group traveled to High Rock and the Tamarac Marina for the third points event. Still, participant excitement grew as the group gains in popularity.
Weather forecasts just the day before were hinting of possible snow flurries, depending on the track of a storm coming from the southwest. Although the cold front never got close enough overnight to turn water to flakes, the anglers did deal with rain and heavy clouds all day. Air temperatures stayed chilling, the result of that threatened cold front passing too close.
Ten boat teams turned out for the event. Rod Poole and Thomas Ludwick made the most of the day, turning it into a high-paying effort, as the pair captured first place with 16.27 pounds in five fish. They also netted Big Fish. The two took home $480 for first and another $90 for the solo keeper.
Second place went to John Meritt and Brandon Younginer. Their three-fish, total weight was 9.65 pounds, good for $240. Derek Tolley and Chris Woods finished in third place with three fish weighing 6.38 pounds.
Championship Fishing will continue its Winter Trail on Badin Lake and the Circle Drive Landing on January 9th. The group has also announced three separate trails for the 2010 season. Championship Fishing will feature a Yadkin, Capital, and Catawaba trails for those three regions of the state. More information about each can be found on their web site. Schedules are posted on the Fishbyte.Net Calendar. Furr can be reached at 704-467-1598 or championshipfishing@gmail.com.