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Carolina Bassers
2010
2009
Carolina Bassers Hammer Down On Tillery
June 20, 2009
The Carolina Bassers of Harnett County put on a grueling endurance test Saturday, amid 96 degree heat and drenching humidity that would have sent most anglers scurrying for shore. Twenty-five boats and nearly fifty members torched the waters from safelight to 4 PM in the longest competition on Tillery that day.
As fog-like clouds rose off the lake surface in the morning, anglers blasted off, swarming both north and south on the miles-long lake. Water levels had dropped a bit over the past two days and anglers reported some debris on the surface and murky waters north of the 24/27 bridge. It took the sun a full three hours to burn through the morning damp, but, as soon as it did, air temps rose rapidly.
“It was tough out there today,” stated Scott Assman, club director. “You really have to hydrate and pace yourself all day... and watch out for skiers and pontoons,” he added with a chuckle. The heat of the day crowded landing access points with all types of recreational traffic destined for the lake.
The Carolina Bassers fish an individual competition. However, two anglers may go out on a boat seeking the five-fish limit each. The club also incorporates a youth competition in its efforts. A number of the boats sported father and son pairs. One such boat could be seen much of the afternoon being hammered by boat-made waves at the mouth of the cove leading from the Swift Island Landing to the main channel. Constant traffic left and right of the determined pair kept the boat rising and falling in all directions.
That location turned out to be one of the best on the lake when, at the scales, the man driving the rig pulled out a first place finish. His young boat partner swung a second place spot in the Youth Tournament. Mark Williamson filled his livewell with 14.31 pounds of bass to win the adult competition, while Tyler Dunn found 4.38 pounds to secure his youth spot.
The youth had something to show their older compatriots, when Timothy McMillan netted 15.01 pounds to lead the Youth effort. His Big Fish also topped the elder effort as he added a 5.45 pounder to his day's angling. Hunter Johnston rounded out the top three youth with 3.21 pounds for a third place ending.
In the adult league, Gerald Rhodes found all five and hauled 13.4 pounds to the scales for second place. David Johnston took third with 10.84 pounds and Roger Baylous hit fourth with a 10.4 pound haul. The final paying position was won by Ricky Mozingo with 7.48 pounds. All five top finishers hit limit.
As the group relaxed and kidded each other in the deep shade at the Swift Island Landing, the director talked with pride about the group. “These guys are a lot of fun,” he chuckled. “We've had a long, hard day out there, but they still are laughing and having fun. Even the ones who donated today are still here and joining in.” While there are established roles in the group, members step up and offer help at weigh ins. Mike Bentley and Josh Nash kept the scales and drain area humming that day, while three others assisted Assman with paperwork.
The club gathers on the second Tuesday of every month at the Highway 24/27, Johnsonville Community Center at 7:30 PM. Their next event is July 18 at the Cape Fear Lock No. 2 in Elizabethtown. For more information, email 206@carolinabassers.com or visit the Fishbyte.net Forums and Calendar.
Carolina Bassers Face Down Badin
August 15, 2009
The Alcoa Landing in the Town of Badin was a swarm early last Saturday morning as the Carolina Bassers of Harnett County rode into town. It was their turn to come face-to-face with a lake that hasn't treated bass anglers well in recent weeks. Their strategy was to throw twenty-plus boats at the monster, hoping a few would break through a stubborn bass defense.
Although anglers came armed and ready, the lake again proved to be a tough foe. Small bass gave in here and there throughout the day, but the larger greenbacks stayed out of the fray. Director Scott Assmann noted the difficulty most all had finding keepers. “It was tough out there today,” he stated. “We tried about everything in the box everywhere on the lake, but nothing seemed to stir them.”
The club uses a five-fish limit, and most bags carried to the scales fell far short of that goal. As the scales churned away with light activity, Tim Toomey slid out in front early with a 7.51 pound bag.
What caught most anglers' attention was the battle for Big Fish. It appeared that Scott Peters, celebrating a birthday, would hold that honor when he weighed in a 3.6 pounder. Peters served as measurement official during the weigh in.
David Blanton made a gallant run at Peters, but fell short by just over an ounce. Moments later Tony McMillan unwrapped a prize weighing 4.33 pounds. “Can't a guy catch a break, even on his birthday,” exclaimed Peters with a laugh. McMillan's lead didn't last long. During the entire drama, Assmann served as weighmaster, holding his fish for last to the scales. As his scales proxy stepped in to weigh the fish, most knew there was a new Big Fish leader, even before the result was announced. The largest solo fish honor would go to the club director who had netted a 4.56 pounder. He won $135 for that last minute steal.
Toomey hung onto first and won the $189 purse to go with that crown. Second place belonged to director Scott Assmann. Club President Mike Nadeau returned from service in Afghanistan just in time to present the award to his tournament director. Most of the club's members are retired or active duty servicemen. Assmann won the $162 prize. Nadeau stated he was glad to be fishing again with buddies, and that probably topped any amount he could have won.
Ricky Gwyn walked in with 5.4 pounds and won third spot and the $135 award for that position. Fourth was won by McMillan who pocketed $108. The fifth and final paying spot went to Todd Parker who took home $81.
In the Youth Division, Brandon Parker landed a 3.84 pounder to nail down first spot. He was followed by Hunter Johnston in second with 2.92 pounds. Third was won by Tyler Dunn with 1.94 pounds, while the final spot went to Tim McMillan who boated 1.71 pounds.
The club meets at the Johnsonville Community Center off Highway 24/27 on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM. They have two scheduled events left in their season. On September 26th and 27th the anglers will travel to Kerr and the Hibernia Ramp, and in October they will wrap up their schedule at Pamlico in Washington on the 17th and 18th.
For more information, contact 206@carolinabassers.com.
Parker Team Wins Carolina Bassers Final Event
November 8, 2009
What began as a tournament socked in with fog, turned out to be one of the nicest days on the water the fall season could provide. Eleven boat teams from the Carolina Bassers of Harnett County traveled to Lake Tillery last Sunday to stage their final “open” event of their season. At day's end, a father and son team walked away with top honors and best fish.
The FLW and Federated associated club began its nine-event schedule on February 28th and used the final November tournament as a way to let potential new members experience the club. Visitors fished with members from the foggy safelight beginning until the sunny 3 PM weigh in. More information can be found on their web site at www.carolinabassers.com.
Fresh off a win at the October 17th two-day, Pamlico competition, Todd Parker teamed up with son, Brandon, to scored the best catch on Tillery. He finished tied for third in the club's 2009 points race. The team brought 6.73 pounds of fish to the scales. The bag included Big Fish of the day, a 5.19 pounder caught by the younger member of the twosome. They earned $192 for the first place score and another $55 for the solo lunker. Brandon finished fourth in youth standing in 2009.
Another father and son team scored high on the day when Jeff and Tyler Hoener placed second. The dragged a 4.06 pound bag to weigh in, earning $115 for their efforts. Jeff Hoener finished sixth in the adult points race this season.
John Peters ended his day in third with 4.01 pounds, taking home $78. Gerald Rhodes and Connie Darrity finish fourth with 3.3 pounds, while Scott Assmann added 2.57 pounds to the scales for fifth.
The Carolina Bassers meet the second Tuesday of each month at the Johnsonville Community Center on Highway 24/27 in Harnett County at 7:30 PM. The group has a very active youth program and promotes full adherence to all conservation codes. For more information about how you can join in the 2010 season contact 206@carolinabassers.com