Archive
Tuesday Nites at Badin
2010
Russell's Tuesday Evenings On Badin Begins
March 16, 2010
You know the bass fishing season has finally begun when the weekly, lake competitions kick off. Bo Russell's Tuesday Wildcat Tournaments on Badin stepped off the docks at Alcoa to cast their 2010 season last week. The series, under the guidance of Pinky Sides of New London in past seasons, is under new leadership this year.
The weekly events run through November 2nd and run from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Featuring a five-fish limit, cost is just $25 with a $5 Big Fish pot. Payouts are based on the number of boats participating and anglers can fish solo or as a team.
The kick-off event was a director's dream, as Russell and son, Jamie, came in first with five fish weighing 16.14 pounds. Jamie also added the Big Fish of the tournament at 4.20 pounds. “Jame got 'em all,” laughed director Bo Russell. Mike Bryant and Nick Mann took second with 13.66 pounds, catching their limit of five fish. Six boats entered and twenty fish were caught and released.
For more information about the weekly, open competition, contact Bo Russell at 704-463-7829 or 704-322-1950.
2009
Badin Evening Group Raises the Bar
March 10
They call themselves a laid-back, just havin' fun group, but if you bring your boat and rods, they'll take you to school! The Tuesday Evenings on Badin bunch gathered for the first event of the season March 10 at the Alcoa Landing in the Town of Badin. To say all boats brought home bass would be the understatement of the week!
“I'll tell you... I'd put these guys up against anybody,” stated organizer, Pinky Sides. “They know how to fish and you better show up with your best game to out-fish them!” The Tuesday events are an open competition with either one or two fishermen per boat, paying out first, second and BigFish. Twelve boats turned out for the season-opener and spectators showed up for the weigh-in at 8:30 PM. “People around here know these guys can fish and they come to see the results,” commented Sides.
In the end, it was Brandon Shaver and Chad Cook, both of Albemarle, who dragged the biggest fish bag to the scales. Recent winners of the Saturday Team Trail on Tillery, February 21st, the pair netted 5 bass weighing 18 pounds 5.6 ounces in a four-and-a-half-hour stint. “We just stayed on 'em,” said co-winner Shaver. “Not much time to do it, so you have to be serious.”
Even more remarkable was the hot competition for Big Fish. Pinky Sides figured he was in the running when, as one of the first to weigh in, he scored a five-plus pounder. Shaver and Cook edged him out with a 6 pound 5.1 ounce fatty. It wasn't over. Mark Tarlton, traveling all the way from Monroe to compete with the group, nailed a 7 pound 7 ounce monster that had everyone handing him the final congrats. While Tarlton wouldn't reveal exactly where he caught the hawg, he stated with a smile,”We worked the points. Bite was slow for us, but I did catch that one on a Rapala crankbait.” He just wasn't going to say anything more... not color, not specific lure model, not size, not depth... nothing. A fisherman's secret.
Second boat in the winner's circle was Grover Cook and Alvin Mauldin, both of Albemarle. In most any tournament, their 16 pounds 7.6 ounces would have made them the big winners of the day, but not in this bass fishing school. “I thought we had it,” said Cook. “But you gotta be great to beat these guys.”
Jeff Allen and partner, Waylon Saunders, both of Asheboro, placed third with 14 pounds 7.2 ounces. “We saw the competition on the Fishbyte.net Calendar and gave Pinky a call,” said Allen. “This is a fun event at a great lake. That weight would win anywhere else,” he lamented.
How stiff was the competition? Greg Gooch and Gary Abbott, all of Troy, weighed in 13 pounds 11.3 ounces and found themselves out of the running. Lewis Brown and Ken Kennon of Asheboro brought in 12 pounds 14.7 ounces and found themselves in fifth position. “We got into a couple stripers that about chased us,” laughed Brown. “They couldn't help us, so we took off.”
Dustin Calloway of New London and Jesse Wensil of Albemarle grabbed 9 pounds 10 ounces, enough to usually place well at other touneys. They all went home out of the money.
“You can't count the ones you can't get in the boat, and fishing against these guys you gotta get them all in the boat,” said Cook. For more information about joining the open competition, contact organizer Pinky Sides at 704-305-1827. Just be prepared to fish hard for a short time and then get whupped at the scales.
Badin Tuesday Night Group Finds Tough Going
March 24, 2009
The one(s) that got away. That's what it was all about for the Tuesdays on Badin evening group March 24th. Hungry bass didn't seem to be a problem for most boats; it was keeping them on line that frustrated most anglers.
Pinky Sides, event organizer for more years than most can remember, groaned,” I coulda had this thing tonight. I brought in those two, but I had five more that broke line on me and all of them were good ones.” And, so it went for boat after boat as competitors compared notes and swapped fishing stories in the darkness at the Alcoa Landing where blast off and weigh in took place.
“They wanted to feed, but they weren't hungry enough,” commented Patrick Cleghorn of Badin. A first-timer in this event, he said he switched up baits a number of times, using worms, jigs and, finally, crankbaits. “I've fished in clubs in the past and got kind of burned out on it,” he mentioned. “I like this group because it's not complicated. If you can't make a week, it's no big deal.” He was hoping to find a payday in his inaugural outing, but he, like so many others that evening, just couldn't keep them on. “It's still fun,” he said. “At least there was action.”
Thirteen boats joined in at the 4:30 PM blast off. The group weighs in at 8:30 PM with a 5 fish limit in an open-style competition, allowing either one or two anglers per boat. And, although it's a small unaffiliated group, a number of local spectators showed up for the finale.
Grover Cook and Alvin Mauldin, both of Albemarle, seemed to be one of the few boats who managed to get a net on their fish. Second place winners in the competition on March 10, the pair boated 16 pounds 12.7 ounces and took home the $130 reward. “We got 'em,” chuckled Cook. “It was our night I guess.”
Runners-up were Pete Morris and Bill Gooch, both from the Eldorado area. They found 13 pounds 12.4 ounces of catch and managed to also capture the Big Fish award for the night with a 6 pound .8 ounce fish. Scoring twice meant their total payoff total was equal to the first place winnings. They took home $65 for each of the placements.
For more information about joining the group, contact organizer, Pinky Sides, at 704-305-1827.
Badin Gives It Up Again For Tuesday Night Crowd
March 31, 2009
It's becoming down-right predictable... put a bass fishing tournament on Badin Lake and watch the heavy weights pile up come weigh in. The Tuesday Nights on Badin group, a crowd of anglers known for getting it done in short order, hauled multiple heavy-weights to the scales on the last evening of the month.
A growing field of boats and competitors joined in to match skills with the regulars. “There are a lot of new faces here,” stated Teddy Starnes, a long-time organizer of fishing tournaments in the area who was assisting organizer Pinky Sides for the evening. Sides had been hospitalized the day before and asked Starnes to step in for him. “We usually get a few more turning out when it warms up, but these guys are finding out about Pinky's weekday evening events and are showing up,” Starnes commented. The 17 boats that evening were the highest number competing in the season thus far. The effort run by Sides, which lasts from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM and has a five-fish limit, has been around for well over 20 years. El Coburn, a regular competitor, assisted Starnes that evening in Sides' absence.
The big crowd of participants and ballooning number of spectators congratulated Tyler Thompson as he weighed in a 4.5 pound bass early in the check-in. In many tournaments a fish that size will seize the Big Fish award, but not on Badin and not with this group. Minutes later Dorian Turner brought a 5.0.4 pounder to the scales. A few minutes later Nathan Williams topped Turner with a 5.4.6 bass. “This lake is really producing,” commented Williams. “Mine won't stand for long.”
As predicted, the weight did not. A beaming Colby Chandler of New London strode from the parking lot and into the street light glow with an interesting bag. It was big, but clearly only two fish were in there. What he first lifted out drew much applause... an 8.7 pound monster that won Big Fish for the night and the $85 purse. “We caught it in shallow water on a jig,” stated boat mate Kevin Chandler. “I will tell you that much, but I won't tell you where,” he laughed. Their two fish weighed 14.1.2 pounds and nearly placed them in a paying spot.
But in the end, it was Dorian Turner returning to the winner's circle with team mate, David Drye, with an impressive 16.7.3 pounds caught in the three-and-a-half hours of competition. “This lake really gives it up,” quipped Turner. “There's no place better.” Turner and Drye took home $170 that Tuesday evening.Second spot eventually went to Bo Russell and Nathan Williams of Richfield. They coaxed 15.5 pounds from the waters during the short outing. Their winnings were $85.
Just prior to handing out winners' money, Starnes addressed the crowd, explaining to them why Sides was absent and thanking all of them for turning out. “He'll be alright,” stated Starnes with a grin. “I called him just after you all blasted off and told him he had 17 boats show up. I thought he was gonna jump out of his hospital bed and run right over here. He was excited.” You could see the concern on all the faces, but everyone laughed at that.
The non-affiliated group fishes every Tuesday evening, blasting off from the Alcoa Landing in the town of Badin. More information can be found in the Fishbyte.net Forums or in the Calendar... or you could just show up on a warm Tuesday evening and join in... many others are.
Tuesday Evening Crowd Can't Lift Bass Jinx
April 21, 2009
Club after club has traveled to the waters of Badin in the past week-and-a-half hoping to be the one to lift the spell cast on the Yadkin River waters. The Tuesday Evenings on Badin crowd was the most recent, and their efforts were of no avail. Yet another line of frustrated boats and anglers slid off the waters as the 8:30 PM weigh in time called them back in.
Just a few weeks earlier, Badin was the lake on fire with heavy weights being reeled in by so many. Tournament winning required nothing less than 25 pounds to win and big fish were tipping the scales at well over eight and a half pounds. Someone, somewhere cast a spell on all that and the waters have gone quiet. Bag weights of eleven to thirteen pounds have been the norm ever since.
Pinky Sides' Tuesday Evenings group fared none better on their late day trail with only small fish averaging two pounds coming in. Fourteen boats in the five-fish, open competition took to the waves in gusty winds at 4:30 PM hoping evening bite would be on. Storms in the distance and winds blowing straight up the lake from the south didn't help. When the scales were tucked away for another week, the team of Rob and Robert Stover had managed to break the 13 pound mark, adding 8.7 ounces to that. They took home $140 for trying to crack the Badin jinx.
Second place team, and ess than three ounces behind, were Adam and Mark Latham who lifted 13 pounds 5.9 ounces. They added Big Fish to their evening's honors with a 5 pound 7.5 ounce bass. Total earnings for both was $140.
That single catch was the largest fish caught in 7 events over four days... something unheard of just two weeks before. The Bass faucet on Badin remains closed.
Just outside the paying field was Greg Gooch with 12 pounds 2.2 ounces and the team of Pinky Sides, event organizer, and his grandson, Marshall Sides, 12, with 12 pounds 13.8 ounces. “Yea, he out-fished me again tonight,” chuckled Sides of his grandson. “He's pretty darned good at that.”
The series is held every Tuesday evening at the Alcoa landing beginning at 4:30 PM. It boasts a 100% payback of the $20 entry fee. Registration is done at the landing prior to the event each week. For more information, contact Pinky Sides at 704-305-1827.
Gooch and Abbott Grab Tuesday Nites
May 12, 2009
In what was the biggest turnout of the season for the Tuesday Nites on Badin competition, yet another event belonged to a member of the Gooch family of fishermen. Proving themselves to be masters of both Tillery and Badin, it was Greg Gooch's turn with angling partner Gary Abbott to grab the 8:30 PM crown. Gooch often teams with father, Bill, for various events.
According to Pinky Sides, long-time organizer of the Tuesday evening event, the 24-boat launch was his largest crowd yet in a series that runs from late winter through fall. “Our numbers will keep growing now that warmer weather is here,” he stated. Weather conditions were probably some of the nicest of the season with no winds to speak of and air temps in the mid-seventies. The open competition allows either one or two-man teams.
For anglers, the result mirrored what has been afflicting all with a fishing pole recently. Numerous fish were caught, but size was small. Finding keepers to haul in was the toughest part. “The fishing was fun,” smiled Grover Clark, one of the weekly competitors in the event. “We caught a bunch, but not many made the 14 inch mark. I broke off a couple that would have made a difference... that's ishing,” he laughed.
It was the Gooch and Abbott team that managed the biggest haul in a short-fish night. Their 12 pounds 8 ounces beat second placers Gary Thurman and Rod Peterson by almost 8 ounces. That team brought 12 pounds .7 ounces to weigh in, but did boat Big Fish for the night, finding a 5 pound 12 ounce bass. Both teams took home $240 in earnings for their angling bests.
The series is held every Tuesday evening at the Alcoa landing beginning at 4:30 PM. It boasts a 100% payback of the $20 entry fee. Registration is done at the landing prior to the event each week. For more information, contact Pinky Sides at 704-305-1827.
Dunlap Masters Tuesday Nite Badin Event
June 2, 2009
One name keeps popping up in various fishing tournaments across central NC, and it came up once again at the Tuesday Nites on Badin Series June 2nd. A final-minutes weigh-in that saw scales tip 18 pounds 8.7 ounces brought the four-hour fishing blitz to an end for another week.
Buzz Dunlap, an angler who is most often in a payout position at the end of any competition, added to his string of 2009 paydays with the 18 pound-plus bag that outweighed the closest team by nearly four pounds. Fishing solo in the one or two man team event, Dunlap nearly hauled in Big Fish honors as well, pulling a 6 pound 5 ounce beauty out of his livewell. Dunlap netted $260 for the night.
Those honors, however, belonged to Kevin Chandler, who edged his fellow anglers out by ounces. His 6 pound 13.6 ounces showed weights were on the rise once again in local lakes. He and his boat partner took home $130 for the single feat.
Second placers Todd Treese and teammate Gary landed 14 pounds 13.6 ounces of bass fight to capture second place and $130 in the 26 boat team field. Total numbers turning out for the weekly events has been on the rise as warmer weather settles in. Director, Pinky Sides, has been coordinating the efforts for over 30 years.
Early to the scales was a father and son team of Tim Carpenter Jr. and Sr. They had netted a fine bit of bass with one weighing in at 6 pounds 10 ounces. As the pair waited anxiously (son a bit more than dad), they admitted their team had been newly re-formed. “I don't know how many years it's been since we fished together,” smiled Tim Sr. The grin on his face as he announced that fact said it all. They were in the running for Big Fish on the night and Tim Jr. really wanted to treat Dad to that honor. The son added, “This is also the first tournament we've ever teamed up for. I gotta get him away from golf!” he laughed.
One bag had them on edge as it was walked up to the weigh in area. It was obviously a good one, and clear bags full of fish and water are always magnified somewhat. The biggest in the bag came within 5 ounces of their hawg and they exchanged looks of relief. The team hung onto the big award until one of the last bags came in. It wasn't to be, but coming so close provided added excitement for the dad and son from Peachland.
The series is held every Tuesday evening at the Alcoa landing beginning at 4:30 PM. It boasts a 100% payback of the $20 entry fee. Registration is done at the landing prior to the event each week. For more information, contact Pinky Sides at 704-305-1827.
Tuesday Nite Anglers Find It Tough
June 9, 2009
Badin Lake was back to her old tricks Tuesday, evening, June 9th as competition angling teams struggled with numerous small fish and not enough of the big weights to call it a slam. Eighteen boats from the Tuesday Nights on Badin series tried their best from 4:30 PM for four hours and all reported the same luck. For many teams, it was that one three or four pounder not added to the livewell that kept them out of the money.
The competition was on, as witness by the number of teams bringing in limits. Eight boats hit the five fish mark and many others weighed in three and four. As dark clouds full of lightning raced in on the Alcoa landing and weigh in, the crowd watched as Grover Cook and Alvin Mauldin took the lead late in the process and hung on to nail down the win. The team had scored a couple of wins back in March, but the first place spot had remained elusive since then. During the last two hours of competition, Cook's boat could be seen from the landing on the west side of the lake plying the waters off the swimming area.
At weigh in, the pair piled 14.1.9 pounds of winners on the scales to capture the night's crown. Their efforts paid them $180 for the night. Hard on their heels was KC and Kenneth Tucker who managed 13.15.6 pounds of bass. Payoff was $90. Big Fish honors and the $90 bonus for the night went to Ricky Treece and partner Mark who landed a 4 pound 12.8 ounce treat.
The series is held every Tuesday evening at the Alcoa landing beginning at 4:30 PM. It boasts a 100% payback of the $20 entry fee. Registration is done at the landing prior to the event each week. For more information, contact Pinky Sides at 704-305-1827.
McCaskill Wins Second In A Row With 23.6.1
June 23, 2009
It was one of those evenings built for fishing. Mild air temperatures, low humidity, and only a slight breeze treated the Tuesday Nites on Badin crew to near picture-perfect conditions for a bass hunt. On the day after the longest daylight of the season, boat teams rolled to weigh in without running lights.
As team after team carried full bags to the scales, it was clear the catch had matched the weather conditions. Early on, Dustin Calloway displayed a 15.10.1 pound bag that included a nice 6.5.5 pounder. Compared to recent catches across the region, that might have won the event or at least placed in the money. Within minutes, his catch was brushed aside when Mike Luhanovic and Brad Nelson weighed in an 18.6.3 bag with a 7.0.7 pounder flopping madly inside. Most figured that was it for the evening. A number of teams released fish without bothering to weigh. They knew it was over for them.
A few teams still stood in line waiting their turn at the scales. The pressure on Luhanovic and Nelson grew and you could see it in their faces. The pair had traveled from Concord in order to compete. The team of Greg Gooch and Gary Abbott stood holding what appeared to be a laden fish bag. The team has won and placed in numerous tournaments this season.
And sure enough, the early leaders were knocked from their place on stage as Gooch and Abbott combined for 20.8.6 pounds of bass. Congrats were passed around freely. But, it wasn't over. About the time Gooch and Abbott had stepped to the side, Calvin McCaskill took his turn at the weight scales. Fishing solo, the angler had won the tournament just the week before. It was to happen again. The young competitor dumped 23.6.1 pounds of competition beaters on the scales.
McCaskill took home $250 for his win, while Gooch and Abbott earned $125 for second. Luhanovic and Nelson did hang onto the Big Fish honors and were rewarded with $125. They were pleased with their evening.
The series is held every Tuesday evening at the Alcoa landing beginning at 4:30 PM. It boasts a 100% payback of the $20 entry fee. Registration is done at the landing prior to the event each week. For more information, contact Pinky Sides at 704-305-1827.
Gooch and Abbott Win Third Straight Tuesday Niter
July 14, 2009
If anyone has figured out Badin and its mystery, big bass, it has to be fishing partners Greg Gooch and Gary Abbott. The pair claimed yet another Tuesday night crown on the lake, besting fourteen other teams in the weekly four-hour competition with 17 pounds plus of five angry bass.
“You should be talking to Gary,” stated a modest Gooch after weigh in was completed. “He's put me over the bass three weeks straight. When it comes to knowing underwater structure where these bass hide, he's the man out there.” Gooch bagged the Big Fish for the night, a monster for July fishing that crushed the scales at 7 pounds 3.6 ounces. “I caught that one on a crankbait,” said Gooch. “The rest of them Gary put me on out deep on the north end.”
The weekly competition fishes a five fish limit and blasts off from the Alcoa Access in the town of Badin. Cost to join in the one-or-two angler, team event is only $20 per boat. The open competition is a 100% payback run by Pinky Sides of New London. The series has been around for over 30 years.
Gooch and Abbott stashed $150 for their 17 pound 7.1 ounce first place finish. They added another $75 for Big Fish honors of the week. In the previous two weeks, the boat team brought in, first 19 plus pounds of bass, and then 18 plus the next. “We're headed backwards about a pound a week,” laughed Gooch, “but it's July!”
Second place finishers for the night were teammates who often place in the money. Grover Cook and Alvin Mauldin hauled in 9 pounds 11.9 ounces to weigh in, a respectable bag weight this time of season when it takes so much to coax the bigger ones to feed. They earned $75 for their efforts.
For more information about the weekly, open event, contact Pinky Sides at 704-305-1827 or view the group's information on the Fishbyte.net Calendar and Forums.
No-Bite-Night For Tuesday Evening Crowd
July 21, 2009
If twenty boats from the Tuesday Nites On Badin crew fishing in weather-perfect conditions can't find bass, no one is going to find bass on the lake. That was the message of the day as boat after boat reported catching only one or two fish come weigh in time. For this crowd, that's a rare occurrence, as they've proven time after time they can convince the bass to get hungry.
The open competition fishes from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM using the Alcoa Landing as their gathering point each week. When fishing is this tough, all it takes is one good fish to win it all and that was the case for John Kistler. He bagged Big Fish honors for the evening, luring a 6.0.9 pund bass to his net. That solo fish set up his winning weight of 11.0.6 pounds, which bagged the $200 first place prize and an additional $100 for the lunker.
Many of the anglers released the one or two small ones they found without even bringing them to the scales. “It was bad out there tonight,” stated organizer Pinky Sides. Greg Gooch, often a winner in various tournaments, walked right past the scales and to the water's edge. “Not worth weighing these in tonight,” he stated as he slid his fish into the water. “It just wasn't our night.”
For Grover Cook and Alvin Mauldin, it was. The pair did boat enough fish to tip the scales at 9.3.5 pounds, not a pile of fish, but enough to grab second place on a slow evening. The pair added the $100 to a growing list of wins and paying places they have managed this season.
Just outside the paying positions were Derek Cranford and Brad Foley. The fishing partners found a healthy 8.12.8 pounds on a bad evening. “Placing third when most others found little is worth noting,” stated Sides.
For more information about the weekly, open event, contact Pinky Sides at 704-305-1827 or view the group's information on the Fishbyte.net Calendar and Forums. Registration occurs at the landing each week and all are welcome to participate.
Abbott and Gooch Take Tuesday Nite Event
July 28, 2009
The summer fishing woes continue. Gone are the eight pounders, culling, and steady livewell-filling action. Most anglers across the region are thrilled just to get limit, as that seems to be what will win or place in most events... no matter the weight. The Tuesday Nites on Badin gang are experiencing much the same and there doesn't seem to be an answer.
For first placers, Gary Abbott and Greg Gooch, the secret holes with hidden structures did produce more than any other team, but it was far off what they usually find. The winning pair added another pot of money to their season's haul with 11.14.5 pounds. “It's summer,” chuckled Greg Gooch. “It'll be like this right through August. Just catching a few fish takes skill. We keep trying a little of this and that until we find something that works.” Those skills and all that trying won the pair $180 this past Tuesday night.
Participation in the weekly competition remains high with eighteen boat teams turning out in the heat and humidity this week. The event uses a five-fish limit and either one or two anglers can make up a team. There are no dues and it costs only $20 to fish. The gathering has been happening for decades and is run by Pinky Sides of New London.
Youth is beginning to make its mark on many of the tournament trails, and a couple of partners who have just begun trying a few in the region scored in Tuesday's. For brothers Clayton and Justin Eudy, this was the first time they had fished with the Sides group. Their 9.4.4 pounds was enough to nail the $90 second place prize for the night.
An ever-lurking near paying spots Buzz Dunlap, fishing solo, found a couple beauties and grabbed Big Fish crown for the night. One of the fish weighed 5.1.5 pounds and was worth $90. “I just needed another one of these,” he stated with a grin. Dunlap said he caught both near dark on top-water lures.
For more information about the weekly event, contact Pinky Sides at 704-305-1827.
Hit Or Miss For Evening Anglers
August 4, 2009
It may be mid-summer, slow bite, and in the nineties, but the Tuesday Nites on Badin crew continues to slug it out as though it was spring. Sixteen boat teams showed up for this week's trial by water and a number of boats brought in limit or close to it.
Kenny Hill and Keith Phillips topped all anglers Tuesday, finding 11.15.6 pounds of greenbacks in a lake that had water levels down over a foot. No significant flow was occurring and it was the usual small-fish bite through most of the event. The win scored the pair $160 with five fish.
According to Greg Hinson and El Coburn, the second place team for the evening, they didn't begin catching keepers until the last hour of the event. “We started fishing the left side before the landing with about an hour left,” stated Coburn. “Be darned if we didn't start finding them.” The “them” he was referring to included the Big Fish of the event, a 4.5.9 pounder.
“I saw you up there taking pictures of us fishing,” commented Hinson to Fishbyte.net, “and then we started catching fish. You can come around anytime!” The team won $80 for finishing second with 9.1.7 pounds and another $80 for the solo winner. The pair had four keepers.
It wasn't a pleasant start for fishing. Temperatures on a day that saw mercury rise to near 95 degrees had barely begun to drop. No breeze moved on the water and humidity levels were high. “It was too hot,” stated angler Keith Phillips. “But you work through it.”
Cost to participate in the weekly event is $20. Boats can have either one or two anglers and it is an open competition. For more information about the weekly event, contact Pinky Sides at 704-305-1827.
Chandler And Tucker Win Tuesday Evening Competition
August 25, 2009
As the long, hot days of summer begin to drift away, the Tuesday Nites on Badin wildcat group finds itself weighing in after dark once more. During the longest days, the teams never touched their boat lights, but now an 8:30 PM weigh in has them gathered under the Alcoa Ramp street light watching the bass come to the scales. Although not many boats had fish to compare on Tuesday, the top teams broke double digits. That's something to celebrate when most anglers are getting skunked.
“If anyone can figure out how to make them bite in all that schooling, he will be a busy man,” stated director, Pinky Sides. According to the long-time coordinator of the group, schooling was occurring everywhere, but casting couldn't produce any hits. “Some of these guys didn't even get a bite this evening and they know Badin better than just about anyone,” he grimaced.
Two boats did tear into some swimming greenery and, although neither could find limit, the three fish they each brought home had good individual weights. Kevin Chandler and Kenneth Tucker, names often associated with prize money at the end of an event, dug out 11 pounds 13.1 ounces of bass for the scales to capture first place. The four pound average earned them $110 on the evening.
Eleven boats turned out for the last event in August, which meant there would be two places paying out that evening. Marty Williams teamed up with Greg Gooch to find just over a decade of bass. They hauled 10 pounds 3.8 ounces of prize winning fish to weigh in. One, a 4 pound 15 ounce specimen caught by Williams, grabbed top honors as Big Fish. The pair earned $55 for their second place finish and another $55 for Big Fish.
An ecstatic Williams stated after the event, “When you can break the 10 pound mark these days, it's a good fishing effort.” The angler thought he had another lunker to add to his livewell late in the event when a olid striper gave him a run. “When he hit, it felt like a bass,” laughed Williams. “It took me just a couple seconds to realize what was happening, but it was fun to catch.”
The Tuesday evening crowd gathers at the Alcoa Landing each week for an open competition using a five fish limit. They blast off at 4:30 PM and return to the scales exactly four hours later. Cost is only $20 to get in and the event has a 100 percent payback. For more information, see the Fishbyte.net Forums and Calendar or call Director Pinky Sides at 704-305-1827.
Gooch And Abbott Score Another Win On Badin
September 15, 2009
Yet another bass fishing competition will go down in the record books as having been won by one of the season's hottest fishing teams. Greg Gooch and Gary Abbott added to their long list of wins and places over the past seven months during the Tuesday Nites on Badin Series this week. Nine other boat teams showed up, but fell short in their quest to outcast the top team.
Although the weather was near-perfect for most folks in the area, a lack of breeze and overcast skies kept action relatively slow for most. It was a great evening to be on the water, but not so for bass activity. Early on, only the slightest water flow could be seen, but even that shut down after the first hour. At weigh in, only three teams brought fish to the scales.
The Tuesday Nites on Badin Series uses the Alcoa landing on a weekly basis.
The four-hour event begins at 4:30 and ends at 8:30. Director Pinky Sides of New London has been at the helm for many years. The Series averages 15 - 20 boats a week and goes year round.
The second team to weigh in, Gooch and Abbott scored a healthy 12 pounds 10.3 ounces with five bass at the scales, beating their closest competitors by nearly four pounds. They earned $100 for that show of skills.
The final of three bags hauled to the scales grabbed second place away from Marty Williams and Tom Sargent, who had dragged 8 pounds 14.5 ounces of bass to the boat. The Williams team netted one shy of the five fish limit. Bill Gooch and Pete Morris, two others who have claimed a fair share of competitions this season, beat Williams and Sargent by over nine ounces with a 9 pound 8.1 ounce, five fish haul. Gooch and Morris claimed Big Fish honors with a 5 pound 1.8 ounce bass in their bag. They won $50 for second place and an additional $50 for the solo fish honors.
“I knew we needed that last fish to beat these guys,” stated Williams. “We had plenty of strikes, but couldn't hook the final winning fish.” According to Williams, the pair threw a variety of offerings at bass all evening.
Cost to participate in the weekly event is $20 with a $5 Big Fish pot. Boats can have either one or two anglers and it is an open competition. For more information about the weekly event, contact Pinky Sides at 704-305-1827.
Badin Tuesday Nites Hold Season Closer
September 22, 2009
All great things must come to an end... or at least for a few months. The Tuesday Nites on Badin Open Series held its final competition of the season this week, culminating an eight month barrage on Badin bass. The Alcoa Landing, the staging grounds for the weekly assault, will be quiet next week until at least February.
“Along towards the end of September, we just run out of light,” stated director, Pinky Sides of New London. The anglers blast off at 4:30 PM and fish to as late as 9 PM during the longest days of summer. At the beginning and end of the trail schedule, hours are shortened to 8:30 PM. “It's pretty dark by 8 o'clock now,” noted the director two weeks ago. “It's time to give the bass a break.”
This past week, two teams that have earned more on the weekly series than any others, returned to capture both the first and second place spots. Only eight boats showed up for the last event. Bill Gooch and Pete Morris looked to familiar holes and found a final 11 pounds 12 ounces to grab the last payout of $100. Second placers, Greg Gooch and Gary Abbott followed them closely with 9 pounds 15 ounces. They took away $60. No Big Fish money is paid out with less than ten boats.
The open series had what Sides considers an excellent season with boat numbers much higher than previous years. At its peak, the competition was drawing nearly thirty boats every week. A 100 percent payback, pots and the number of payout positions were becoming a big draw for local anglers.
“I'm not done fishing for the year by any means,” chuckled Sides. “My Saturday Trail every two weeks at Badin and Tillery will go on all winter long. The fishing is just getting good again!” Information about those events can be found on the Fishbyte.net Calendar. Competition there is open to all as well.