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NC Catfish Association
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2009
NC Catfish Association Travels to Tillery
March 14, 2009
One thousand dollars was on the line for the NC Catfish Association Tournament Series on Lake Tillery March 14th. The line of boats leading to the Cook's Landing Blast Off point showed it. In all, 18 boats competed for the grand prize and 100% payback purses. Organizer and club president, Omar Edwards knew he'd have a pile of teams from all over competing despite the raw weather.
“We compete all across the state, but these guys always enjoy Tillery,” stated Edwards. “Doesn't matter what the weather is, they'll show up. And, they kinda like the idea of a $1,000 grand prize!” he chuckled in the early morning darkness. Air temperatures were hovering at 37 degrees at take off with a steady breeze blowing out of the southwest. Water temps averaged about 45 degrees.
The $80 entry fee covers Big Fish, and payout runs to 20 percent of the field. Today's competition saw five teams end up in the money. For Lake Tillery, the club uses a five-fish weigh in.
“We open the season with two day tournaments, but from now on we fish nights,” said member Dennis Lambert. “Those weigh-ins happen at 8 AM and everyone's been fishing for 13 hours straight. That gets tough.”
For the first time all day, the rain began to slacken as boat after boat was pulled from the water. In minutes, cat fishermen hauled their loads to the scales. Then, as if mother nature wanted one more whack at all of them, it began to pour again. Forty to fifty people had gathered to watch and no one headed for their vehicles. There was that $1,000 grand prize about to happen.
Second through fourth place teams had only 4 ounces difference between them, but the big winners of the day were Tim Caviness and Lacy Bowman who muscled 66.8.0 pounds of cat into their boat. They were all smiles as they watched the final teams come to the scales. It was all over but the waiting.
Second place winners, Pat Shooter and Ryan Gibson grabbed 53.9.5 pounds and $500 for their day's efforts and landed Big Fish earning them an extra $180 with a 34.9.0 pound cat. Although not the top team of the day, they were kept hanging on until the end.
Third place was won by Robert Tomasek and Joe McDaniel who scored just 1.5 ounces behind them at 53.8.0, winning $350. “Man, that's expensive catfish,” someone hollered.
The fourth place prize winners, Dennis Lambert and Omar Edwards took home $250 with 53.5.5 poiunds... still a great day's payout at any tournament. Taking the final paying position were Jim and John Davison who netted $160 with their 30.6.0 pounds.
The series moves on to Hickory on April 18th. The weigh-in site will be Whittenburg and will begin at 7 PM and end at 8 AM the next day. For more information about NC CATS, see the Fishbyte.net Forums or contact Edwards at 828-312-4486 or email him at theolfatcat@aol.com.
NC CATS Spends All-Nighter On Badin
May 2-3, 2009
Catfish deep in Badin's waters had something to fear this past weekend when the NC Catfish Association Tournament Series (NC CATS) launched from the Alcoa Landing. Fifteen boats took to the waters in a rainstorm, looking for the $1,000 payout for the biggest total catch. An old battle with lake record was on the line.
“I love fishing Badin for cats,” stated Series Director Omar Edwards. “We had lake record here back in 2001 with a five-fish, 129 pounder.” The club lost that standing record only recently when another cat was pulled weighing ten pounds more. “We're looking to take back that record tonight,” said Edwards. “There's some really big catfish in this lake and the guys look forward to coming here.”
New state catfish regulations call for a two fish limit, but many of the anglers like that format better. “It's tough keeping really big cats alive all night, so having only two in the livewell helps,” commented one member. When teams can pull 40 to 50 pounders in, livewells and the supporting equipment struggle to keep up. A two-fish rule helps anglers and makes culling happen regularly. The club would need an average fish weigh that night of nearly 28 pounds (or two-fish total of 55.6 pounds) to win back the title.
The series took off up the lake at 7 PM on Saturday and didn't return for 13 hours... a long boat ride in anyone's book. That endurance is the hallmark of catfish anglers and they do it every month. NC CATS has an eight tournament schedule that runs from the end of February into the first of September. One hundred percent payback on all tournament fees is part of the club and sponsors often put up more money. That night the Series paid four spots and Big Fish totaling $2,200.
Weather conditions had competitors scrambling for rain gear just prior to launch, but, as most all laughed, it wouldn't be Badin without rain. “It's rained every time we've come here,”chuckled assistant director Chris Setzer. “That's just the way it is here.” Shortly after the first anchor was thrown in for the long night, rains ceased. Still, 13 hours is a long time to be on a boat sometimes no longer than 14 feet.
As the early morning sun began to fight between clouds, catfish boats began to appear, one by one, far up the lake. An average record was going to be broken that night, and everyone managed to find a few good ones. Lonnie White and Phil Leonard had the best luck and brought 57.86 pounds to the scales, capturing first prize and Big Fish all in one take. Their 32.85 pounder put them out in front to stay. Combined total winnings for the pair was $1,150. The two-fish lake average had been broken by over two pounds.
Second place was nailed by three-some Jim Davisson, John Davisson and Mac Moneta. Their take for the night was 46.26 pounds which earned them $550.
Third place winners, Jerry Hildebran and Kevin Custer won $300 with 40.45 pounds of cat. The fourth and final paying position, with a payout of $200, was taken by George Law, Michael Combs and Brandon Shaw with 40 pounds even, just ounces behind the third place winners.
Other teams in order of placement were as follows: 5th – Michael Chandler, Steve Chandler and Tony Waugh with 37.35 pounds; tied for 6th and 7th – Pat Shooter and Mark Kimball with 36.85 pounds and Robert Tomasek and Joe McDaniel with 36.85 pounds; 8th – Jon Dowd and Chad Harris with 23.65 pounds; and 9th – Jerry Dowd, Brian Needhan and Chris Cole with 18.85 pounds.
Getting in on the competition costs $80 per boat. The Big Fish Pot of $10 per boat is included. The series moves on to Lake Norman's Pinnacle Landing on June 6, fishing the same hours, 7 PM to 8 AM. For more information, contact Series Director Omar Edwards at 828-312-4486, or email him at theolfatcat@aol.com.