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Energizer Bass Club
2010
2009
22-Plus Pounds Wins Bear Creek Bass Club Season Opener
by Wesley Eudy and Fishbyte.net Staff
March 14, 2009
The Energizer Bass Club chose a soggy day to open their season March 14th, but it was all “energizer” for the group from start to finish. Fifteen boats blasted off from Swift Island Landing on Lake Tillery at 7 AM in steady rains and a stiff breeze.
Series organizer Gene Hardister of Asheboro said the group has been going strong for many years. “It was there when I went to work for Energizer 25 years ago,” he reported. The plant is located in Asheboro, NC. Hardister has been organizing the efforts for a few years now. The club is an internal company group.
Jerry Kiser won the season opener with 16 pounds 4 ounces and also netted Big Fish for the day with an 8 pound .5 ounce bass.
There was only a half ounce difference between second and third place honors. Mike Murray won second place with 12 pounds 8.5 ounces, while Junior Allen placed third with 12 pounds 8 ounces.
The Energizer company series boasts 8 events up and down the Yadkin River, as well as Shearon Harris and Jordan Lake. The club's next event is April 4th on Jordan Lake.
York Nets 9.3 Pounder in Energizer Bass Club Event
April 4, 2009
By Jerry Kiser and Fishbyte.net Staff
If you are looking to break beyond the 9 pound bass at Shearon Harris, your chances just got one slimmer. The lake gave up what is probably the largest bass taken in tournament competition this season when Randy York nailed a 9.3 pound lunker.
“The day was a tough one for most competitors,” commented Jerry Kiser. “Everyone else struggled to catch fish that were not in the slot.” The competition was originally schedule to take place on Jordan Lake, but when the company bass club discovered the BFL action was taking place there that day, they elected to reschedule to Harris.
Water temperatures varied slightly across the lake, ranging from 58 to 60 degrees. According to Kiser, the bass should be heading towards the beds shortly. “Another couple weeks and no one will have the problems they had today.” Winds were strong and steady all day, making it difficult to stay on points.
York captured Big Fish with his trophy and went on to win overall weight with 13.4 pounds. From that position on, the results verified the day's toughness. Mark Lucas scored 6.1 pounds for second, while Tony Barber placed third with 5.3 pounds. Mike Murray slid into fourth with 4.4 pounds and fifth place finisher, Bobby Green was a sinker away with 4.35 pounds.
The Energizer Bass Club is a company-affiliated and sponsored club with 8 events on its schedule. President of the club is Gene Hardister. The next event is May 2nd at Badin Lake.
York Wins Energizer Cull-Fest
May 2, 2009
By Jerry Kiser and Fishbyte.net Staff
A recent slew of low-end tournament results on Badin have left many feeling the lake's bass needed energizing. That's what one club from nearby Asheboro planned to do May 2. The Energizer Bass Club, a company organized group, hit the Yadkin waters hoping to be the “energizers”.
According to Jerry Kiser, top teams began culling early. “The top four hit it well right off and spent most of the rest of the day improving their lot.” Kiser reported most boats catching numerous fish, but struggling to boat keepers. “The fishing was good,” he said,”but finding ones that would make a difference at weigh in was tough.” The club's five fish limit kept most busy trying to fill livewells all day.
Randy York brought five fish to the scales and placed in the lead at day's end. His catch totaled 11.85 pounds. Club Director, Gene Hardister pulled in second place with five fish and 9.35 pounds.
After hours of single-angler competition, two men brought exact weights to the weigh in scales. Both Tony Barber and Bobby Green found five fish and 9.1 ounces of bass, something very rare.
Fifth place went to Jimmy Spencer, who tagged four fish and 7.55 pounds of fin. Mike Murray took Big Fish honors home with a 3.5 pounder.
“Everyone that participated did catch fish, so this tournament was what I consider a success,” ended Kiser. The company club moves on to Tuckertown May 16th, the fourth event in their eight-event series. The group will wrap up its season September 26th.
Energizer Supports Company Club Even In Tough Times
May 16, 2009
By Jerry Kiser and Fishbyyte.net Staff
As the economy continues to stumble and fumble, the impact on many clubs across the region is being felt. Groups struggle for participation as members find it difficult to afford the entry fees. Vendors, who have been able to lend their resources to numerous groups, are simply surviving the times. One Asheboro company continues to support its employees on the waters, and anglers aren't taking that for granted.
Gene Hardister, president of the Energizer Bass Club, understands how difficult it is for his employer, The Energizer Company, to continue its support and expressed his appreciation at the groups recent foray to the waters of Tuckertown. “We are able to be here and compete today because of our company's commitment to us,” stated the 24 year employee. “Not a lot of companies support their employees interests these days, but Energizer does, even when times are tough for them.”
For the 10 boats and club members who showed up despite weather predictions Saturday, May 16th, it was a company day of camaraderie and fun. It's no problem getting these employees to show up before daylight to put in a long day's work on the waters. It took just that at he reservoir as members shook every grass bed and stump up and down the lake. Results were better than past week's efforts by many clubs as director, Hardister, won his own event. His 10 pounds 10 ounces of bass captured top scale for the day. Second place went to Elvin Ritter with 6.35 pounds of bass. According to Jerry Kiser, who was fishing with Ritter, “It's been five years since this guy has been fishing with us, but he's still got it!” Ritter took Big Fish trophy for the day as well, weighing in a 5 pound lunker.
Mike Murray took third with 5 pounds 4 ounces, while Tony Barbre took fourth with 5 pounds 1 ounce. Dwain Andrew rounded out the top five with one fish weighing 4 pounds 2.5 ounces.
The company club runs an eight-event schedule. Tuckertown was the fourth in that series. The group gathers again June 13th at High Rock Lake.
Energizer Bass Club Finds High Rock A Tough Show
June 20, 2009
By Jerry Kiser
Photos Courtesy of Jerry Kiser
Like bass fishermen all across the state, the Energizer Bass Club Series found weather and water conditions to be unfavorable and unforgiving June 20. The company-sponsored series traveled to High Rock's Southmont Landing only to find the lake a formidable foe in such conditions.
Lake water levels up and down the Yadkin Chain have been about as full-pond as could be the past two weeks. Strong current flow and submerged banks have created debris fields that will take any boat without caution apart. Fish species have fallen out of traditional patterns in the red-hazed waters, leaving anglers struggling. High Rock, one of the first in the Chain, tends to muddy up and stay that way longer than lakes further along the valley. High winds and temperatures in the mid-nineties had competitors battling Mother Nature's not-so-nice elements all day.
Only three boats turned in keeper bass when scale time rolled around. Gene Hardister, a common name in payout places at local bass competitions, did manage to scrape up 6.65 pounds along with a Big Fish weighing 3.35 pounds to take first place and bragging rights for Big Fish.
Mike Murray scouted out second place with 4.45 pounds, just over one good fish behind Hardister. Randy York was hot on Murray's stern with 4.3 pounds to grab a third place showing. Each placer had two fish.
The Energizer company helps support the eight-event series and has been doing so for over 20 years. The group moves on to Harris July 18th, before moving back to the Yadkin Chain August 8th with a Lake Tillery visit. They wrap up their season September 26th at Tuckertown Reservoir.
Energizer Bass Club Travels to Jordan
By Jerry Kiser and Fishbyte.net Staff
All Photos Courtesy of Jerry Kiser
July 18, 2009
The Energizer Bass Club of Asheboro brought their best game to Jordan Lake this past Saturday. Like so many of the lake reports recently, participants reported a tough day on the waters.
Randy York managed to be the one with the most luck, pulling in three fish with a combined weight of 8.7 pounds. His first place win was not the first time this season he has scored in top positions.
Second place belonged to Jimie Spencer, who caught 2 fish weighing a total 5.45 pounds.
Third place finisher, Bobby Green, managed to catch the one solo Big Fish of the day to take the position with a 4.35 pounder. Mark Lucas came in fourth with a 2.15 pounder.
An change earlier in the season to the club's schedule saw them switch the Harris and Jordan dates. They will move on to Lake Tillery August 8th. The Energizer company helps support the eight-event series and has been doing so for over 20 years. They wrap up their season September 26th at Tuckertown Reservoir.
Energizer Club Hits Tillery
August 8, 2009
By Jerry Kiser and Fishbyte.net Staff
Photos Courtesy of Jerry Kiser
The Energizer Bass Club competitors found three limits in Tillery this past Saturday when club after club have had nothing but tough luck on the Yadkin Chain lake. Although bass were still tough to locate and make hungry, the Asheboro-based group managed to walk away from the lake with some hope.
Randy York returned to the winner's circle in the company-sponsored event with 9.9 pounds at weigh in. He has placed in the paying list in many of the scheduled events this season.
Gene Hardister, the director of the group, tucked in right behind York, finding 9.2 pounds for second place. Hardister also netted Big Fish in the event with a 2.15 pounder.
Mark Lucas caught five fish and placed third on the day. His total weight was 8.35 pounds. Fourth place was sewn up by Dwain Andrew with two fish and 2.85 pounds.
The Energizer company helps support the eight-event series and has been doing so for over 20 years. They wrap up their season September 26th at Tuckertown Reservoir.
Energizer Finishes Season At Tuckertown
September 26, 2009
It all began way back on March 14th when a group of a dozen boats or so slid into the cold waters of Lake Tillery from the Swift Island Wildlife Access ramp. Over the next seven months, those same “company” teams would journey to a total of six ponds across North Carolina in search of bass. The season's quest, which has been repeating for over twenty years, came to a close at Tuckertown Reservoir last Saturday and another Angler of the Year was added to the group's long list of champions.
The Energizer Bass Club, a group calling Randolph County and Asheboro its home, has been gathering for more years than most can remember. The company-supported group is directed by Gene Hardister and fishes the Yadkin Chain, Jordan and Harris lakes. The group uses a five fish limit at each event.
Gene Hardister, although not catching the most fish on the day, managed to find the bigger ones and ended in the top spot at the Tuckertown competition. A 5.09 pounder landed him Big Fish and first place with a total weight of 12.02 pounds. The director and angler was named Angler of the Year by the group at the end of the weigh in. His numerous wins and places during the season earned him the top spot in the annual points chase.
David Stout netted four fish weighing 8.13 pounds to land second place. Mark Lucas finished third with three fish and 8.07 pounds. Fourth spot went to Bobby Green, who netted four fish weighing 7.12 pounds. Randy York, who barely missed Angler of the Year, wrapped up his final event of the season in fifth place with 6.03 pounds. He did boat Big Fish of the Year, a monster 9.30 pounder.
The Energizer Bass Club will resume its annual competitions next March. “We had a lot of interest this season and the Energizer competition saw a great points battle right from the start,” stated Jerry Kiser, secretary for the group.
“We can't thank the Energizer company enough for all their support,” stated Hardister. “This company has shown its commitment to employees for many, many years, and these anglers appreciate that. Gathering for this fun competition means a lot to these guys and really makes a difference at work,” he ended. Energizer produces a deep cycle marine battery used in many boats and has sponsored numerous Walmart FLW events in past seasons.