Archive
Fishers of Men, Piedmont Division
2010
Whicker And Mixon Win Fishers Of Men Opener At Belews
February 20, 2010
By Mike Sides
The NC Piedmont Division of the Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail kicked off the 2010 season Friday night and Saturday at Belews Lake near Stokesdale, NC. Edgewood Baptist Church on Reidsville Road, just northeast of Winston-Salem, has hosted this division for several years now and were gracious hosts again this year. The anglers and guests were warmed up physically with some great tasting chili and cornbread and spiritually with a great message and music by Whosoever and Steffi Sides.
Saturday greeted the anglers with below freezing temperatures and a slight breeze out of the west blowing across the lake. As cold as it was, it was a great blessing to be under sunny skies instead of snow clouds! The weather warmed nicely as the day progressed and the weigh in proved that the fishing was hot. Thirty four of the 37 teams weighed in bass with 19 of the teams bringing 5 fish limits to the scales. In all, 129 bass for a total weight of 237.3 pounds were weighed in.
The team of Robert Mixon from Lexington NC and Ladd Whicker of Winston Salem won the event with a 5 fish limit of 13.82 pounds. The team won $1269.50. Their fish were caught on crankbaits and spinnerbaits early, and jigs and Carolina-rigs later in the day.
Second place went to Rodney Sorrell and Joel Richardson carrying 13.06 pounds to the scale, including the Second Big Fish of the tournament at 4 pounds even. $870.50 was awarded to them for their catch. They reported most of their fish being boated with spinnerbaits.
James Allred and Clarence Brickey finished in third with a total of 11.56 pounds, giving crankbaits and jigs the credit for a majority of their catch. They won $480.
Rounding out the top five were Dean Collins and Ray Furr from Lexington, NC in fourth place with 10.7 pounds, and Tim Robinson and Gerry Burchfield in fifth with 10.38 pounds. Sixth place went to Gary Preston and Kenneth Haley and the last paying place went to CJ Johnston and Matt Stanley. The top Rookie team for the tournament was Rodney Sorrell and Joel Richardson.
The big fish of the tournament was caught by the team of Allen Snyder and Robert Hunter from Concord, NC and tipped the scales at 5.98 pounds.
Fishers of Men's next tournament will be at Lake Wylie.
Divisional sponsors are Nester Hoisery, Snyders Packaging, Tamarac Marina, Ben Franklin; Atty at Law, Cagles Chevron and Fisherman's Friend. Tournament sponsors were Sports Fisherman’s Center, Bass Pro Shops, The Trophy House, Asheboro Alarm and Electric Co. and Carolina Marina.
Sponsoring of the Adult/Junior teams is Lyerly Dental, and the door prize sponsors were Advance Auto, Hwy 49 Sporting Goods, Fishing Fever, Get The Net Bait Co. Poison Ivy Soap, Flemming Candy Co. and Tournament Lure Concepts.
More information about the NC Division of Fishers of Men can be found on their web site at www.fomnc.com or by contacting Director Mike Sides at 704-239-4097. Their schedule and info can also be found on the Fishbyte.net Calendar and Forums.
2009
Johnston and Stanley win at Belews Creek
February 21, 2009
by Mike Sides
The 2009 season for the Piedmont Division of Fishers Of Men National Bass Tournament Trail opened on February 21st at Belews Creek. The Friday night meeting was held at Edgewood Baptist church. All the fishermen were served a great meal with entertainment provided by Ron Shuler. One hundred five members were present as they kicked off their season.
On Saturday, cold temperatures greeted the group as they gathered at Carolina Marina. Although the ramps iced over, there were no problems incurred at the boat ramp. Forty eight teams began their morning with high hopes and warm gloves. It turned out to be a pretty day and all but 3 teams weighed in fish. CJ Johnston and Matt Stanley, both of Salisbury, NC finished with 14.80 pounds to capture the win. Their payday was $1,208.00.
Carolina Rigs seemed to be the choice of the day, although a few teams did find a few bass on the beds. Winning $814.00 with 13.92 pounds was the team of Steve Singleton and Wayne Needham from Seagrove NC. Third place with 11.84 pounds and winning $562.00 was John Orchard of Winston Salem and Roger Hester of Walnut Cove. Fourth went to Jon Morgan of Rockwell NC and Rodney Eller of Salisbury. They won $472.00 with a catch of 11.34 pounds. The top 5 was rounded out by Robert Mixon and Robert Lambert with 11.18 pounds and winning $398.00.
The next four teams placing in the money was Marty and Dusty Nester of Mt Airy with 10.90 and $330.00, Steve Sink and Ladd Whicker $216.00,Gary Preston and Ken Haley $174.00 and the Big Fish was won by Greg Skerven and Brian Baker with a four pound lunker.
The next tournament will be at Lake Wylie on March 21. The club thanked all the fine companies that make Fishers of Men possible... Triton Boats, Mercury, Strike King Lure Company, Markel Marine Insurance, Solar Bat, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Power-Pole, Kistler, Berkley, Keelshield, Grace Full Gospel Church, MotorGuide, Lowrance,Marshall’s Marine Lake City SC, Mizmo Bait Company, Dual Pro Charger, Buckeye Lures, Stanley Jigs, Spike-It, Jacobs Glass, Logan Fire Apparatus, T&H Marine, Rejuvenade, and Keep Alive Oxygen Infusers.
The group had numerous local sponsors to thank for their help as well.
DIVISION SPONSORS: Nesters Outdoor Socks, Ben Franklin Atty.at Law, Fisherman’s Friend, Cagles Chevron
TOURNAMENT SPONSORS: Snyder’s Packaging, Sports Fisherman’s Center, Johnny’s BBQ of Rockwell NC, Bass Proshops, The Trophy House, Tamarac Marina
DOOR PRIZE SPONSORS: Lyerly Dental, Advance Auto, Hwy 49 Sporting Goods, Fishing Fever, Carolina Marina and Bass Craft Lures.
NC Fishers Of Men State Championships Held at Lake Norman
by Mike Sides, March 7, 2009
On Saturday March 7th, The Third Annual NC Fishers Of Men Bass State Championships was held on Lake Norman. Five Adult Jr Teams and Twenty Adult teams qualified to fish in this fast growing event. The blast off was held at Blythe Landing in Huntersville . It was a beautiful sunny day. Prior to the weigh in, the Carolina Attitude Fastpitch softball team held a pitching siminar and wooed the crowd with some astounding pitches.The team is slated to compete strongly in the 14-under age group this year and have high expectations of winning the World Series.
Norman yielded plenty of fish as every team was able to make the trip to the scales. As a special treat, weigh in was located at BASS PROSHOPS in Concord, NC. Host Hank Parker Jr. kept the crowd entertained with his wit, stories and knowledge. Each team was pulled through the weigh in buy a Toyota Tundra supplied by Toyota of Concord and Nitro boats supplied by Bass Proshops.
A.J. and Jimmy Leshock collected the top Adult/Junior prize of $250, donated Piedmont Director, Mike Sides, and John Snincak, Regional Director of Fishers Of Men. Erroll Duckett won a drawing of a Kistler Rod worth $200, donated by Trey Kistler.
The winning weight of 11 pounds 4.2 ounces was posted by Adam Petty and Brian Fritts from Raleigh NC .They won $1000.00 donated by Rocky Socks. They also received $250 donated by Bass Proshops for the biggest fish of 3 pounds 9 ounces.
Second big fish was caught by Marty Nester and Mike Sides of3 pounds 4.2 ounces. Second Place went to defending champions Wayne Sharpe and Marc Morrison with a weight of 9 pounds 4.2 ounces, while Third Place went to Mike Sides and Marty Nester with a weight of 9 pounds 0.6 ounces. Fourth place went to Steve Singelton and Wayne Needham with a weight of 8 pounds 8.8 ounces. The Top Director Championship went to Mike Sides.
The crowd was rewarded for showing up with tons of door prizes thrown out by the Carolina Attitude Softball team and Toyota of Concord. The NC Fishers of Men would like to thank all the people who volunteered to help, especially Jon Morgan who basically directed the event, allowing the Directors to fish.
Fishers of Men Launches Wylie
March 21, 2009
A bright sun and steady breeze on Lake Wylie was just the blessing the Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail needed Saturday, March 21st when 45 boats from the Piedmont Division series tackled the waters south-west of Charlotte, NC. Numerous boats had caught the five-fish limit within the first hour after launch from Southpoint Landing.
“This is gonna be a good day,” remarked director, Mike Sides of Rockwell. “These guys will limit out early on a day like this and spend the rest of the day improving weight. That makes it a really fun day.” Sides set down his rods and reels for the morning to ferry Fishbyte.net staff around the waters of Wylie in order to capture some of the action on camera. “I think I know where a lot of them might be,” he hollered as he brought the boat up on plane. Three minutes later he edged back into a cove were the first two boats were already hard at work.
Ironically, the first team filmed were the winners of the day. Steve Singleton and Wayne Needham had found their favorite location and confirmed what Sides had said earlier. “We found 'em,” laughed Singleton. “Morning bite was good to us, so now we have the rest of the day to improve.” His partner, Wayne Needham, nodded his confirmation. “A good day,” he agreed.
Everyone was hoping the fishing would remain that way, as the day's payout exceeded $4,500 for eight places, two Big Fish, and Bonus Bucks winners. Earlier that morning three separate tournaments launched from the Southpoint shores. An estimated 120 boats all got off safely as the various tournament directors put their heads together beforehand in order to keep everyone safe. “It could have been a disaster,” stated Sides. “We had to do the best with what we were handed.”
Singleton and Needham were all smiles as boat team after boat team weighed in their bags at 3 PM. Their 14 pounds, 2.6 ounces were enough to win it. They also landed Second Big Fish with a 4 pound 5.6 ounce bass. Take home pay for the two was $1188 for first and $176 for the single fish. While that's a lot of bucks for most, the two managed to also draw the 1st Bonus Bucks award of $250.
Second place winners were CJ Johnston and Matt Stanley. Their 13 pounds 2 ounces were one ounce more than the third place winners, Jerry and Richard Bost, who boated 13 pounds 1 ounce. Johnston and Stanley netted $672, while the Bost's earned $556.
It was a close finishing day. Fourth place weighed in at 12 pounds 9.6 ounces caught by husband and wife team, Kenneth and Delores Shumate. The took home $476 dollars for their day together on the waters. “I just want to thank the Lord for this day,” stated Delores Shumate while on stage. “Thank you to all of you and to Director Sides,” she ended.
The next three places were within mere ounces of each other. “Another week of living and we might have moved up a spot,” laughed half of the sixth place team, Mark Percey. Fifth place winners were Robert Mixon and Robert Lambert with 12 pounds 7.2 ounces. Their payday was $356. Sixth place went to Butch Bonner and Mark Percey who boated 12 pounds 4.4 ounces and $276 for their efforts. Darryl Searcy and Bud Marlowe rounded out the closest race of the day in seventh place with 12 pounds 2.4 ounces, stashing $236 in their pockets.
The final paying position went to Steve Craighead and Jamison Hamilton who earned and even $200 with 11 pounds 9.6 ounces of bass. Although the squeaked in on the paying positions, they did win Big Fish with a 4 pound 7.8 ounce bass. That added another $264 to their wallets.
The next event for the NC Piedmont Division of Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail is on Lake Norman, April 18. They event will launch from McCrary Creek Landing at the north end of the lake. These tournaments will lead to the groups Regional Competition in October, where each region sends twenty of its top fishing teams.
For more information about the Piedmont Division, view their web site at www.fompiedmont.com. The national Fishers of Men web site is www.fomntt.com.
Piedmont Division of Fishers of Men Visits Norman
By Mike Sides
Fishing on Lake Norman was good for a number of fishermen this past weekend as the Fishers of Men Piedmont Division paid out over $4,200 in prizes for one day's angling efforts. The third tournament of the season on the Trail was held at the lake on April 18th, with the Friday night meeting kicking off the weekend at the Lions Club in Mooresville. Tony Eubanks from Clemson University was featured as the guest speaker at the event.
Anglers fought the winds that swirled around the state, affecting fish bite everywhere. At day's end it was Larry Schmidt and Bob Groom of Charlotte NC who won both first place. They also nailed Big Fish with a bass weight of 4.66 pounds. Their winning weight was 12.62 pounds. A paycheck of $1596 was pocketed by the teammates.
Second Big Fish was caught by Bud Marlowe and Darryl Searcy, weighing in at 3.72 pounds. Angler of the year in 2008, Marty Nester, and son, Dusty Nester, of Mt Airy, NC finished second with 12.44 pounds and walked away $734 richer.
Third Place went to Marlowe and Searcy who won $716 by catching 11.34 pounds of fish. Fourth place went to a father and son team, Johnathon and Danny Leanord, of Walkertown NC. Robert Mixon and Robert Lambert of Lexington NC won fifth spot and $428. Rounding out the top nine teams were Tommy Jones and Kenny Seagle of Salisbury NC-$304,Chad Hooker and Mike Templeton - $262, Steve Craighead and Jamison Hamilton- $202, and Travis Rulle and Jeff Douglas -$162.
While many other lakes are still in a slow transition to beds, the majority of the fish caught were on the beds, according to Mike Sides, Division Director.
The Fishers of Men Piedmont Division's next tournament will be at Badin Lake on May 16th. The group will use the Circle Drive Landing for their blast off and weigh-in). The Friday night Church service will be held at Open Door Baptist Church on Highway 49.
“We have great sponsors for our Trail,” stated Sides. We couldn't do this without them. He noted the following as part of that special group: Triton Boats, Mercury, Strike King Lure Company, Markel Marine Insurance, Solar Bat, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Power-Pole, Kistler, Berkley, Keelshield, Grace Full Gospel Church, MotorGuide, Lowrance,Marshall’s Marine Lake City SC, Mizmo Bait Company, Dual Pro Charger, Buckeye Lures, Stanley Jigs, Spike-It, Jacobs Glass, Logan Fire Apparatus, T&H Marine, Rejuvenade, and Keep Alive Oxygen Infusers.
Locally, a variety of business also support the Fishers of Men. They are:
DIVISION SPONSORS- Nesters Outdoor Socks, Ben Franklin Atty.at Law, Fisherman’s Friend, Cagles Chevron
TOURNAMENT SPONSORS - Snyder’s Packaging , Sports Fisherman’s Center, Johnny’s BBQ of Rockwell NC, Bass Proshops, The Trophy House, Tamarac Marina, Asheboro Alarm and Electric
DOOR PRIZE SPONSORS- Lyerly Dental, Advance Auto, Hwy 49 Sporting Goods, Fishing Fever, Carolina Marina and Bass Craft Lures, Poison Ivy Soap.
Fishers of Men Make Badin Fourth Stop
May 16, 2009
By Mike Sides
When the Fishers of Men Piedmont Division came to Badin Lake May 16th, they brought a pile of boats and their best game. While many fishing clubs and groups have struggled on the Yadkin waters in recent weeks, the FOM anglers found the bass patterns early and brought in above-average, bag weights to prove it. The event was the fourth in a schedule that pits their anglers against lakes all across the central North Carolina region.
Prior to any event, a club meeting is held at a local church. The Friday night meeting was held at Open Door Baptist Church in Richfield. Speaker for the night was the group's own Chaplin, Jeff Bost.
On Saturday, under threatening skies that hung overhead all day, Dave Snyder and Byron Odaniel of Charlotte hit it right early on, finding schooling fish in a number of locations. Their fishing talents, renowned in the region, later locked in a first place finish. Their winning weight of 19.54 pounds netted the partners a big slice of the over-$4,000 paid out for the day's competition. Their piece of it was $1286.
First big fish of the day was won by Jerry and Richard Bost of Salisbury. with a 5.58 pound lunker Second Big Fish was caught by Jeff and Wayne Bost with a 5.15 pounder Current points champions leaders Steve Singleton and Wayne Needham of Seagrove and Andrew Byrd and Johnathon Leanord of Walkertown tied for second place with 15.46 pounds. Both teams won $642.00.
Fourth Place went to 2008 Points Champions Robert Mixon and Robert Lambert of Lexington who won $422 by catching 15.44 pounds. Fifth place went to Ray Furr and Dean Collins of Lexington with 13.62 lbs and $350. Sixth place went to Kenneth Wall and Andy Darnell of Asheboro who won $280 with a 13.30 catch. Rounding out the top seven paying positions were James Allred and Clarence Brickey of Pfafftown, winning $208 with 12.86 pounds of bass.
The Fishers of Men's next tournament will be at High Rock Lake on June 13th. Generally, the FOM Piedmont Division fields between 35 and 60 boat teams.
The organization's director, staff and members thanked all the fine companies that make Fishers of Men possible: Triton Boats, Mercury, Strike King Lure Company, Markel Marine Insurance, Solar Bat, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Power-Pole, Kistler, Berkley, Keelshield, Grace Full Gospel Church, MotorGuide, Lowrance,Marshall’s Marine Lake City SC, Mizmo Bait Company, Dual Pro Charger, Buckeye Lures, Stanley Jigs, Spike-It, Jacobs Glass, Logan Fire Apparatus, T&H Marine, Rejuvenade, and Keep Alive Oxygen Infusers
Thanks also went to local sponsors:
DIVISION SPONSORS- Nesters Outdoor Socks, Ben Franklin Atty.at Law, Fisherman’s Friend, Cagles Chevron
TOURNAMENT SPONSORS - Snyder’s Packaging , Sports Fisherman’s Center, Johnny’s BBQ of Rockwell NC, Bass Proshops, The Trophy House, Tamarac Marina, Asheboro Alarm and Electric
DOOR PRIZE SPONSORS- Lyerly Dental, Advance Auto, Hwy 49 Sporting Goods, Fishing Fever, Carolina Marina and Bass Craft Lures, Poison Ivy Soap.
For more information about the group, contact Mike Sides of 562 Cornelius Rd Rockwell, NC 28138 at 704-239-4097 The organization's web site is www.fompiedmont.com
Fishers of Men Piedmont Championship Nailed In Final Moments
June 13, 2009
Made for television... fishing competition doesn't get any better than this and the 200 plus people on hand for the Fishers of Men Piedmont Division's season-ending weigh in waited until the last moment to hear the verdict. The Spring/Summer Series leaders had struggled to find fish all day, weighing in only 12.7.2 pounds, and had come into the day a mere four points ahead of their closest competitors.
High Rock Lake's Tamarac Marina was the decision site for the closest-ever points competition in the Fishers of Men Piedmont Series. Leaders Steve Singleton and Wayne Needham had not been able to break away from the field all season. Their closest competition, Robert Mixon and Robert Lambert, who had won the Points Championship two years ago, had dogged them at every event, keeping pressure on until last call. Although the four are close friends, the competition between them has been fierce. Barking at the two top teams heels was a pile of other teams waiting for them to stumble.
“This season has really been exciting,” noted Director Mike Sides. “These two teams have been battling it out at every event. Singleton and Needham took the lead after the second event of the season and have been barely hanging on since.” He added that, while a number of the top teams have been feeling the pressure, the close competition has been real drama for everyone else. “These guys really duke it out every event, but they all understand what's most important. And, they have tremendous respect for each other,” he stated.
Singleton and Needham came to the scales early on, short on smiles, expecting their lead to be gone. Asked how they had done, Singleton only grimaced and stated, “Tough day... all little fish.” The scales told the truth and a new tension rose in the crowd. Everyone knew those four points could easily melt, especially when Mixon and Lambert and other teams like Steve Sink and Tony Foster were around. No one left the area, accepting they'd have to wait it out in the mid-eighty degree temps.
Series Director, Mike Sides, lead the efforts at weigh in and watched the score board carefully. Thirty nine boats had blasted off exactly at 5:36 AM for a tournament that would pay out over $1,000 for biggest bag and over $3,600 in total prize money. Still, as Sides called out each weight and the audience watched the day's results go up, everyone had the bigger picture in mind. The lead boats had run their final creek and it was too close to call.
As the lead team watched, Mixon and Lambert dropped their fish into the drain tank. Full limit, but the leaders breathed a small sigh of relief. It wasn't a big bag, although larger than the 12 pound plus the leaders scored. No doubt some ground would be made up, but the second-place-competitors hadn't set the hook when the stumble came. Moments later, Director Sides announced the final news. Singleton and Needham had, indeed, sewn up the championship by a mere three points. Mixon and Lambert settled for second in the points race, while third place was only six points behind them. This was, by far, the closest in the history of the Piedmont Division. Payout for the Points Championship was $1,010.
Sides went on to announce the day's winners. CJ Johnston and Matt Stanley walked away with the day by hoisting 21.2.6 pounds onto the scales. They accepted the $1,080 in prize money and the applause of all watching. Everyone knew that was a superb bag weight on a day bite was tough to find. Their closest pressure came from Larry and Gary Rose, who brought in 17.3.2 pounds. Their earnings totaled $612.
Steve Sink and Tony Foster captured third with 16.4.2 pounds, winning $504 in the process. Fourth went to Dean Collins and Ray Furr, who won $432 with 15.3.4 pounds of bass. The pair also hooked Big Fish honors for the day with a 5.7.6 pounder, earning an extra $240.
Fifth through eighth positions and payouts were as follows: Mixon and Lambert settled for fifth (13.3.8 lb. $324), Butch Bonner and Mike Piercy sixth (13.1.5 lb. $252), Singleton and Needham seventh (12.7.2 lb. $216), Jerry Blinson and Steve Roberts eighth (12.4 lb. $180). Second Big Fish was netted by Ben and Jason Hargett (5.0.6 lb. $160).
Three teams split $325 in Bonus Bucks for the day. First went to Larry and Gary Rose, while second and third went to teams Sink and Foster, and Mixon and Lambert.
Sides took the opportunity to thank the numerous sponsors of the Series, adding that, “...without these great folks, none of this would be possible.” The weigh in area was loaded with banners proclaiming all the supporters and sponsors for everyone to see. He went on to announce the Fall/Winter Series schedule which begins August 8th at Tuckertown Reservoir.
For more information about the F.O.M. Series, visit the Piedmont Division's web site at www.fompiedmont.com or call Sides at 704-239-4097. The club is a Christian faith-based organization with divisions located across the country. Top teams move on to regional and national competitions.
Johnston And Singleton Nail Tuckertown For 20 In Opening Event
August 8, 2009
By Mike Sides and Fishbyte.net Staff
Although their regular season ended a couple months ago, many anglers in the Fishers of Men group have continued to gather and tame bass in North Carolina lakes. The Fall & Winter series is an open schedule allowing a more laid-back approach to the rigorous competition seen earlier in the season. As was the case in a number of those regular schedule tournaments, a couple of veterans teamed up to take home some prize money.
In the first event in the schedule, Steve Singleton, one of the club's season champions, and partner, CJ Johnston, rounded up 20.38 pounds of bass from Tuckertown Reservoir last Saturday to top all others. The group fished from safelight to 2 PM from the Highway 49 Access ramp area.
Five pounds of greenback behind them in second place was the team of Ben and Jason Hargett. The pair managed to coax 15.02 pounds from the stingy lake. Jonathan Leanord and Andrew Byrd rounded out the top three with 14.16 pounds. Others results were:
Templeton/Hooker 12.84; Wayne Needham/Brown 10.84 (Big Fish 6.18); Morgan/Eller 9.50; Richard Bost/Jerry Bost 9.28; Brawn/Trembly 5.66; Kenny Seagle/Mike Sides 4.54; Willoushby/Nieser 3.20; Jamison Hamilton/Hamilton 3.14.
Membership dues for the fall series are $20. Registration fee for each tournament is $100, which includes Big Fish. The group uses a five-fish limit in the four-event, safelight to 3 PM series. The club will fish at Norman September 5th at McCrary, October 3rd at Badin's Circle Drive, and November 14th at high Rock's Tamarac Marina.
For more information about the Fishers of Men fall series or the upcoming 2010 series, contact director Mike Sides at 704-239-4097. Information can also be found at the regional web site of the Fishers of Men at www.fompiedmont.com.
Fishers Of Men Fall/Winter Trail Visits Badin
October 3, 2009
Eleven boat teams of the Fishers of Men Fall/Winter Trail slid into the Badin waters at safelight last Saturday hoping to improve on bass bite experienced there recently. Organized by Mike Sides of Rockwell, NC , the series is an extension of the regular season, but not directly connected to the qualifying schedule the national affiliated club runs earlier in the year.
With water temps dropping and levels fluctuating almost daily, things had to improve. A near full moon greeted the anglers at the landing that morning and made a quick run to favorite holes easier. It all worked well for local anglers Darryl Crumbley and Derrick Crumbley. The father and son team battled 23.62 pounds of bass from the lake easily capturing first place. The pair also netted a solo toad that weighed 5.12 pounds. In total, the team won $687 on the day.
Jon Morgan and Rodney Eller took second place, catching 13.62 pounds and scoring $247. Just outside the money, Jerrett Freeze and Mike Deese netted 8.46 pounds for third. Other boats weighing in fish included, in order of weight, Al Brown and Landon Brown with 7.72, David Brawn and Kelli Trembley with 3.05, Mike Sides and Kenny Seagle with 2.35, Wayne Needham and Howie Payne with 1.64, and Mike Templeton and Chad Hooker with 1.52. Also fishing were Wayne Bost and Richard Bost, CJ Johnston and Steve Singleton, and Anthony Byrd and Jonathon Leonard.
The fall/winter trail finishes its run on November 14th at High Rock. For more information about the group, contact Mike Sides at 704-239-4097 or email him at www.fompiedmont.com.
Fishers Of Men Wraps Up Winter Trail At High Rock
November 14, 2009
The Fishers of Men North Carolina Piedmont Division finished off its Winter Trail last Saturday by visiting a favorite haunt on the north end of the Yadkin Chain. High Rock's Tamarac Marina was the site if the last of four events scheduled after the regular season.
Sporting a new web site URL, www.fomnc.com, the Series saw a variety of the usual angling teams vie for one last win before setting the boat and rods aside until the new season opens February 20th at Belews Creek. It was John Sninacka and Richard Jordan who tagged the biggest weight, tipping the scales at 16.6 pounds. The pair also caught Big Fish on the day, a 5.46 pounder.
Director Mike Sides and partner, Kenny Seagle, nailed the second position down with 12.78 pounds. Unlike most of the other anglers in the field, Sides boat blasts off after all others and comes back to the docks well ahead of everyone else in order to prepare for the weigh in.
Wayne Needham and Howie Payne found enough for third place as they brought 10.9 pounds to weigh in. CJ Johnston and Steve Singleton scored 9.28 pounds for fourth, while Jon Morgan and Rodney Eller landed 7.95 pounds for fifth. That team ended the winter season as Points Champions.
AL Needham and Landon Brown brought in 6.58 pounds for sixth, and Mike Templeton and Chad Hooker took seventh with 5.08 pounds. Andrew Byrd and Jonathon Leonard placed eighth with 4.26 pounds.
The Fishers of Men Piedmont has seven events on its 2010 schedule including the State Championship. For more information about joining the faith-based group, contact Director Mike Sides through the web site at www.fomnc.com.