Archive
Friday Nights at Tillery & Badin
2010
2009
Tillery Hosts Bi-Weekly Friday Nighters
May 8, 2009
It was the bass in Lake Tillery's turn to ward off anglers who hit the water May 8th at a different hour of the day than regular anglers. The Friday Nights at Tillery and Badin group used the Swift Island 24/27 Landing as a 7 PM launch point for what is quickly becoming the favored alternative to the heavy traffic seen during the days.
The group's midnight weigh in saw Ronnie Blankenship doing it again, as he brought 13 pounds half an ounce to the scales all by himself. Blankenship has seen solid success on the waters recently, especially in the late-night events.
Second place boat were anglers Todd Street and Todd Little. Their combined total weight of 10 pounds 9.2 ounces were enough to capture the only other paying slot of the night. The five fish limit competition saw 14 boats turn out that evening.
The group, which alternates between Tillery and Badin at Alcoa, features two Saturday Night Fish Offs later in the season. The first is at Badin June 6th and the second hits Tillery August 1st. Both will see fishing begin at 11 PM and end at 7 AM the next morning with a six fish limit. Entry fees for those events are $40 per boat with an optional $10 Big Fish.
For more information about the regular season and Fish Offs, contact organizers Shawn Williams at 704-438-1563 or Chris Eudy at 704-244-4444. Entry fee for the regular series is only $30 per boat.
Midnight Group Battles Storms And Fish
By Chris Eudy and Fishbyte.net Staff
May 15, 2009
A whopping twenty-one boats turned out for bass competition this past Friday night on Badin that began at 7 PM and didn't turn in until midnight. As blast off neared for the group that uses the Alcoa Landing, heavy storms raged across the north end of the lake, while those getting ready for the event stayed dry on the south. Just as the blast off whistle sounded, dark clouds raced in from the south, sandwiching the competitors between two problems.
“We had a great turn out and only got a little wet,” stated Chris Eudy, one of the group's organizers. “Seems like Badin is just that way,” he joked. Entry into this five-fish-limit, open series is only $30 and that may be why its numbers are growing so quickly.
Of the 21 boats in the open competition, 12 brought bags to the scales. Terry Coats and Rodney Harris ended up besting all others in the dark waters, bringing 15.98 pounds of night time bass to the finish. Ronnie Blankenship and partner, Keith Deal, a team that is consistently finishing in the money, placed second. Todd Little, who fished solo against his competition, finished third. Big Fish honors went to the team of Roger Vanover and fishing partner, Neil Cagle.
The group, which alternates between Tillery and Badin at Alcoa, features two Saturday Night Fish Offs later in the season. The first is at Badin June 6th and the second hits Tillery August 1st. Both will see fishing begin at 11 PM and end at 7 AM the next morning with a six fish limit. Entry fees for those events are $40 per boat with an optional $10 Big Fish.
For more information about the regular season and Fish Offs, contact organizers Shawn Williams at 704-438-1563 or Chris Eudy at 704-244-4444. Entry fee for the regular series is only $30 per boat.
Fifty-Five Boat Teams Hit Badin Over Two Nights
May 29 – 30, 2009
A pair of fishing groups converged on Badin this past week on back-to-back nights in hopes of ending the on again, off again fishing success patterns of weeks past. The Friday Nights on Tillery & Badin and the Saturday Nights on Badin anglers both used the Alcoa Landing as an assault point for their competition on the Yadkin River waters.
After two evenings of intense efforts, first with a 33 boat turnout record for the season on Friday, followed by a 22 boat attack Saturday, it was clear fishing outcomes remained the same... great one moment and gone the next. Friday's combined bag weight of the top three finishers was 11.9 pounds more than Saturday's top three. The only consolation was that the second night's Big Fish was five-and-a-half ounces heavier. Great fishing one day and just the opposite the next.
“Saturday's competition was pretty much what we have been seeing so often lately, “ stated Todd Street, director of both the Friday and Saturday evening gatherings. “Lots of fish caught, but not many keepers. Way too many were only 14 to 15 inches long and that doesn't add up to much weight.” Eleven of the 22 boats that evening did catch limit, so there was plenty of action, just no rod-benders to haul to the scales. “You either found the fish or you didn't,” noted Street. “A big difference in bite.”
The Friday event (both run from 7 PM to midnight), on the other hand, had 15 of the 33 angling teams catch limit in the five fish competition and the average bass was over two pounds heavier. The evenings total boat count smashed a season record 21 boats from just the week before. Night bass competitions are becoming more and more popular in the region as anglers avoid day water traffic and heat.
In Friday's competition, Chad Smith and Steve Butler topped all with a 16 pound 8 ounce bag, earning a hefty $384 paycheck. Rusty and Roscoe Bowers slid into second, earning $160 with 15 pounds 8.5 ounces. The final paying spot of $96 went to Ronnie Blankenship and Keith Deel who boated 12 pounds 7.5 ounces. Big Fish winner, Terry Cato and Rodney Harris traded their 5 pound 1.5 ounce bass in for $320. Entry fees for Friday events are $40 per boat with an optional $10 Big Fish. The Friday group alternates between Badin and Tillery.
Jerry Freeze and Bo Russell lead the way on Saturday night with 12 pounds 7 ounces and $252. Second place winner, Jarrett Freeze, fished solo and brought in 10 pounds 7 ounces that paid him $105. Third spot went to Mark and Melissa (no last name given) who netted 10 pounds 1 ounce and $73. Bruce Gowens and Jeff Smith caught Big Fish, the biggest of the two nights, a 5 pound 7 ounce bass and won $210 for their effort. Entry fees for Saturday events are $30 per boat, Big Fish included.
Two big events are just around the corner for the anglers when the annual Fish Offs are held, one on Lake Tillery (7/1) and the other on Badin (6/6) this coming weekend. Both will begin at 11 PM and finish the next morning at 7 AM and cost $40 to enter. For more information, contact Street at 704-791-4009. A complete schedule can be found on the Fishbyte.net Forums and Calendar.
Friday Nighters Rally To Whip Tillery
June 5, 2009
If ever there was an evening to do some bass fishing, Friday, June 5 had to be it. After a full week of intermittent storms and even flash flooding, Mother Nature decided to play nice to the Friday Nights on Tillery and Badin competition. Shortly before the dinner bells rang, clouds rolled back and sunshine slid over Lake Tillery, leaving behind one of those perfect early-summer evenings.
Twenty one boat teams agreed and turned out for the popular 7 PM to midnight event. And, after weeks of good fishing one day and below-average the next, the Friday nighters found all good that evening. Organizers Todd Little and Todd Street captured top spot in their own tournament, dragging a 23.1 pound bag in for weigh in. They won $252 in the process.
“Man, they were really hitting out there tonight,” commented Street. “We could throw most anything at them and they took.” As always seems to be the case with any angler you speak with, the pair said they could have added five more pounds to their livewell had they been able to boat a couple big ones.
Greg Gooch and Chip Hurley walked away with another paying spot when their 18.55 pound bad tied up second place. They were handed $105 for their efforts. Brian and Michael Gillespie took the final paying place for the evening, which ran from 7 PM to midnight, with a 17.8 pound sack. Their earnings were $63. Street and Little also added Big Fish to their winnings with one of the larger bass caught in recent weeks. The monster weighed in at 7.75 pounds.
The group, which alternates between Tillery and Badin at Alcoa, features two Saturday Night Fish Offs later in the season. The first was held at Badin June 6th and the second hits Tillery August 1st. Both will see fishing begin at 11 PM and end at 7 AM the next morning with a six fish limit. Entry fees for those events are $40 per boat with an optional $10 Big Fish.
For more information about the regular season and Fish Offs, contact organizers Shawn Williams at 704-438-1563 or Chris Eudy at 704-244-4444. Entry fee for the regular series is only $30 per boat.
Badin Friday Nighters Score Big Haul
June 12, 2009
They hit pay-dirt. For all the outings when only small fish could be found, this Friday evening competition made up for them all. A whopping thirty four boats showed up for the Friday Nights on Tillery and Badin event (held on Badin this week) and twenty one of the teams scored limits.
“Friday night was great!” exclaimed director, Todd Street. “It was excellent,” he added, noting that bite seemed to be everywhere for everyone. Weather conditions were about as good as it gets for the evening event and the big bass were on the prowl. The series begins its water assault at 7PM every Friday evening at either Tillery or Badin, and swarms off the lakes at midnight. Popularity has grown sharply as local anglers discover the alternative to heat and recreational traffic.
Rusty Bowers, fishing solo in an event that allows one or two per boat, walked away with the grand prize for the night when he dragged a bag weight of 23 pounds even to the scales. His evening jaunt put $396 in his pocket.
Second place went to a team that finishes in the money more often than not. Roger Vanover and Neil Cagle lured in 15.3 pounds of fight and shared the $165 in prize money. Gary Freeze and Max Leer, also consistent money makers, took third with 15.1 pounds, winning $99. Rusty Bowers also added Big Fish to his evening's crown with a 6.6 pound bass that added another $330 to his wallet.
The Friday Nights on Tillery and Badin series continues to grow in numbers and seeks to add additional boats to its ranks. Registration occurs at the landing (Swift Island at Tillery and Alcoa at Badin) and costs only $30. The group moves back to Tillery June 19th. For more information, contact Street at704-791-4009 or check out the group's information on the Fishbyte.net Forums.
Friday Night Anglers Fight Mad Waters Of Tillery
June 19, 2009
By Todd Street
Lake Tillery was all but tame last Friday night as twenty-two boats from the Friday Nights on Tillery & Badin crew took to the waters. Torrential downpours across the region the entire past week left Alcoa and Progress Energy no choice but to dump water as fast as the dams could lose it. Power chutes and overflow spillways up and down the chain were wide open, creating white water and rapid currents all along the chain.
“Tillery was more like Rocky River than a lake,” stated group director, Todd Street. “The north end was fast with current and the lake was dangerous with debris.” Street noted the impact on fishing that evening as tremendous. High waters pull sticks, logs and all sorts of trash, large and small, off the banks all along the river, making the drive from one fishing hole to another treacherous.
“The boats had to run slow with the spotlights out. That was about how the fishing was all night, too... slow,” he added. Currents like the ones anglers experienced yhat evening throw any fish patterns to the waves, leaving fishermen guessing where fish are and what they'll strike.
Still, the group averaged two fish per boat as five caught the limit of five fish and a total of forty-four bass were hauled to the scales. Gary Freeze and Max Lear continued their casting dominance, having won and placed in a series of events in recent weeks. The pair netted 10.55 pounds, winning the $252 attached to first place.
There was barely a crank bait's weight between first and the second place team's weights that evening when all came to the scales at midnight. Bo Russell and Gary Freeze Jr. just missed the top paying spot with 10.45 pounds of gill, a mere tenth of a pound behind the leaders. They did find Big Fish on the night with a 4.75 pounder. The pair walked away with the second place purse of $105 and the $210 honors check that went with their heavy weight.
Ricky Treece and Mark Treece rounded out the payday spots with 10.10 pounds on the scales. They took home $63 as a prize in a competition where a third place finish is something to be proud of.
The group moves back to Badin's Alcoa Landing Friday, June 26th for a 7 PM blast off. Entry fee to play is only $30 per boat. “This series is really growing,” commented Street. “I know we can get fifty boats to show up and we're gonna keep trying until we do on a regular basis.” Street can be contacted at toddsatvshop@yahoo.com or call him at 704-791-4009 for more information.
Badin Friday Nighters Torn Up By Vicious Storm
June 26, 2009
Fishing was very good for the Friday night gang on Badin. The fish bite was on and recreational traffic had crawled to a stop for the evening. Water was being pulled from the lake so that a good current stirred the bass to feed. Until about 10:15 PM, it looked like it was going to be the best night ever for the 22 boats that had shown up to compete that evening from 7 PM to midnight. Then, to the north, the first crack of lightning ripped through the sky.
Veterans of Badin's waters know that a storm coming from the north can create big problems in a hurry for boaters on those waters. Winds seem to grow their own legs as they rip down the lake, pushing waves higher and higher until they reach the docks of Alcoa directly on. Anglers always make a critical choice about the time they note a storm coming from that direction... do they seek shelter along the shore or head for the home dock? On this night, it took only a few minutes to decide. According to Todd Little, co-organizer of the event, it was coming fast. “When you see it headed towards you that quickly, it's gonna be bad,” he stated. “I've never seen one move in so fast. It was so fast.”
He and boat partner and co-organizer, Todd Street, made up their minds in a heartbeat, as did about every other competitor. They hauled in and went full throttle for the Alcoa Access landing. Tonight, their engines weren't big enough.
“We came from the north end of the lake,” said Street. “That thing rolled down on us faster and faster and we had the boat cranked out. It caught up to us before we made shore.” Street reported waves pouring up over the back of their boat as they fought the last few hundred yards in. “I'll admit it,” he added, “this one made me more than just nervous.”
All boats except one had experienced the same race. One angler elected to pull up to a dock and try to wait it out further up the lake. Only a handful had their boats trailered at the landing when all broke loose. Anyone whose boat was safely ashore, helped others as they tried to save their boats.
One evening after the beating, as the proud group met again for Saturday night's competition on the same lake, they recounted exactly what happened, the many ways they helped each other battle the storm, and all the damage done to equipment. “It just kept running through my mind how bad the chances were somebody was gonna get hurt or we'd lose someone out there,” stated Street. “I kept trying to count heads to see if everybody got back in, but they were all scrambling around to all the shouts for help. I didn't know for sure until after the worst was over”
Boats were flung up on the rocks and concrete landing pad. Those who tried to tie off to the docks found their boats being hammered in white water waves. Everyone had bumps and major bruises. One angler showed up Saturday night displaying hands torn up. “I was trying to hold my boat with one hand and the dock with the other. The bow kept coming up onto the top of the dock and I knew I was better not to have it tied up... but I couldn't get it unhitched it was bucking around so much. First it was way below the dock, and the next second it was two feet above and on the dock,” he stated. Those who had boats on the windward side of the docks found their craft on top of the dock. Waves poured over them all, making it nearly impossible for the battered anglers to hang on themselves.
Some who tried to load during the storm found they needed as much help as possible as their boats hung and slid off trailers in all directions. Only a few tried that approach and everyone else knew it was too dangerous.
“Guys lost trolling motors, electronics, gear... you name it,” said Little. “It was a bad mess. But, you know, these guys are back tonight and they aren't licking their wounds. We stuck together, got our equipment trashed a whole bit, but everybody's safe.”
Street said the weigh in was fast and furious once all assisted getting every boat ashore. It was 11:15 PM and all were done in for the night. The one missing angler was accounted for and scales were brought out as winds and waves died. The results seemed anti-climactic after such an experience, but there were four hours of that great fishing to account for. The group needed to finish off the evening right.
Eight of the boats had caught limit during the shortened event and Chuck and Tim Nance had done the best. Their 20.1 ounces added $252 to their beating, but they were the winners who took it on a night all would talk about for years.
Gary Freeze and Bo Russell captured second place with 14.45 pounds of bass to earn $105. It wouldn't be enough to replace the trolling motor Russell lost. The third and final paying position ended in a tie and split the $62 pot. Both the teams of Roscoe and Rusty Bowers and Brandon and Megan Talbert scored 10.95 pounds. Rusty's electronics were found floating in the lake after the event. The Talberts did manage Big Fish that night, finding a $210, 6.9 pounder that got hungry before the perfect storm.
“All I can say is these guys stuck together and did each other right Friday night,” ended Street. “Sometimes they grumble and growl at stuff, but when things get tough, they are watching each others backs.” The Friday Nights on Tillery and Badin open competition meets up again this coming Friday, the evening before the Fourth, on Tillery at the Swift Island Landing. More information is available through Street at 704-791-4009 or toddsatvshop@yahoo.com. If you are looking for some angling competitors who have weathered the perfect storm, this is the bunch.
Friday And Saturday Night Anglers Have Mixed Returns
July 10-11, 2009
By Todd Street and Fishbyte.net Staff
It was two lakes, two different nights with perfect weather, and two different end results when the Friday Nights on Tillery & Badin Trail and the Saturday Nights on Badin series met this past weekend. Both had solid boat turnouts for mid-July, but the bass responded best to the casts on Saturday where Roger Vanover and Neil Cagel carried off first place with 16.2 pounds.
“We had a great turnout Friday night, but the fishing was slow,” stated Todd Street, organizer for both series. “Lake Tillery had no water movement so the bite just wasn't there.” Only two of the fishing teams brought in the five fish limit, while three others brought in four fish. Jordan and Ricky Godwin made the best of the situation, out-casting 23 other boats, by bringing 12.75 pounds of bass to weigh in. The father and son team won $276 on the evening.
Second place on the night, that begins at 7 PM and ends at midnight, went to Joel Threadgill and Jeff Preslar. Their 11.7 pounds brought them a $115 payout. The husband and wife team of Ronnie and Teresa Blankenship placed in the money, yet again, with 11.5 pounds of bass. They earned $69. The Godwins added Big Fish to their prize package with a 6.75 pounder, capturing the $230 payday with it. The Friday Night Series alternates between Tillery and Badin lakes.
Saturday night's series, which always meets on Badin and the Alcoa Landing, saw fewer boats and more fish caught. “Our boat numbers were down a bit, but the action was better,” noted Street. Again, no water was being pulled from the lake, but Street reported the weather as being near-perfect. Water levels were down at least a foot.
Nineteen boats went searching at 7 PM and five came back with their limit. Four other teams found four fish. Vanover and Cagel's 16.2 pounds earned them $216. They also caught Big Fish, a 5.25 pounder, and added $180 to their haul for the evening.
David and Aaron Stirewalt, a father and son team, took second place with 12.35 pounds of bass. They won $90. The final paying spot went to Brian Welch and Chuck Green, who netted 11.45 pounds and won $54.
Both series will be on Badin this weekend, July 17th and 18th. August 1 marks a big night for the groups when the second all-night tournament takes place. Teams will fish through the night and into the next day in that event. At weigh in, the lake draw for the “King of the Night” tournament will take place. Information about both these events can be found on the Fishbyte.net Calendar and Forums. Those interested can also contact Street at 704-791-4009 or toddsatvshop@yahoo.com.
Weekend Evening Blast Off Crews Pound Badin
Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18
By Todd Street and Fishbyte.net Staff
The Friday Nights on Badin/Tillery competitors added yet another twist to bass fishing this past weekend... they added sauna to the list of weather extremes they've encountered this season. And, like the on-again, off-again bass fishing in recent weeks, those anglers who returned for the Saturday Nights on Badin event 24 hours later found a picture-perfect, summer evening for fishing. The change was a relief from the dripping humidity and heat the Friday nighters battled.
It's been that kind of season for the anglers who fish both series. While one night battles fish all evening, the other will be dead flat. Hit or miss moments is how the competitors describe their season. Both series fish from 7 PM until midnight and the Friday night competitions alternate between Badin and Lake Tillery. The Saturday events always occur at Badin and the Alcoa landing. This past weekend, both tournaments were held on Badin.
Friday night seemed to be the evening of choice, when thirty-four boat teams turned out in the heat. “The dog days of summer have set in, but these fishermen want to fish,” stated director Todd Street. “You either catch all the fish or you don't catch any. Not many fish were weighed in by each boat, but those that did come in had weight.” Six boats weighed in the limit of five fish with four others weighing in four fish. The winning bag topped the sixteen pound rating. In July any bag with average fish weights of three pounds is a good one. “I think it was the hottest night of the year so far, smiled Street. “The humidity was horrible, but everyone was excited to have so many competitors there.”
Derrick Livingston and Jonathon Spivey were the anglers with the magic that evening, scoring 16.35 pounds of bass. Their haul earned them $416. They added a rather handsome Big Fish purse to the accomplishment with a 7.25 pounder which earned them another $330. The $700 plus reward on a Friday night is a great example of where this series is going.
Second placers, Don Campbell and Greg Underhill, were but a crankbait's weight behind them. The pair rocked the scales with 16.1 pounds and took away the $176 prize money. Third place went to Brad Foley and Derrick Cranford who found 14.1 pounds. They earned $106, a sizable prize for a Friday night out in the heat.
On Saturday night, the weather and the bass had turned in opposite directions. While the heat and humidity had given way to cool and dry, the fish bite went away. Like other rivers on the Yadkin Chain, utility companies began to pull water around noontime that day, and it may have affected feeding patterns.
“There was a lot of boat traffic until dark,” noted Street, “but then it always turns into a fisherman's paradise.” Recreational boats turn in for the night, leaving the waters all to the anglers. “The boat crowd was a little lower than Friday, but we still had a good crowd.”
Twenty boat teams headed onto the waters at 7 PM and three came back with limits. One other boat had four fish in the livewell for weigh in. In a bit of a twist for weigh ins, a three-fish bag ended up winning the night. Jeff Swinney and Jeff Britt scored 12.6 pounds and walked away with the $228 in prize money. In order to win with two less fish than any other team, you've got to have a big one in the bag, and such was the case for this team. They also grabbed the Big Fish honors for the night with a 6 pounder, accepting the $190 in cash that came with it.
Returning to a paying position was Rusty Bowers and Rosco Bowers who brought in 12.15 pounds. The team won $95 for their efforts. Greg Campbell and Andrei Pelech hung in for third, tipping the scales at 10.8 pounds for the $57 third place prize.
Both Series come together in less than two weeks on Lake Tillery (August 1) for an all-nighter, open competition together. Any angler can enter. There will be no Saturday Night tournament that week on Badin. Directors Street and Todd Little plan to hold the drawing for the “King of the Night” Tournament lake to be held at a later date.
Information about both these events and the regular schedule of both open series can be found on the Fishbyte.net Calendar and Forums. Those interested can also contact Street at 704-791-4009 or toddsatvshop@yahoo.com.
Freeze And Lear Take Badin Friday Night Event
July 31, 2009
It hasn't been the kind of July fishing one would wish for. Weights dropped off, weekly strain on equipment has begun to take its toll, and mid-summer heat has plagued any fishing event. Still, the Friday Nights on Tillery & Badin Series continues to chase the little green monsters in local lakes. This week fifteen boats turned out to try it all again.
This past Friday the group, which alternates between the two lakes, had another chance at Badin's treasures and it was all Gary Freeze and Max Lear. The partners rarely miss one of these events and have figured out how to pick a few out of the stumps and grasses, even when nothing really wants to bite. That evening, they managed to pull 12.6.5 pounds out of the darkness to win the only spot payout for the evening, a $280 pot. The pair has won or placed in numerous events this season.
Second placers Harry Goodle and Archie Webb gave them a run for the money. Their catch was only 5 ounces away from a paying evening. Unfortunately for the pair, a 12.1.5 bag wasn't enough to score any cash.
Third spot was netted by Drex Harding and Kevin King, who pulled 10.3.5 pounds from the lake. Although two places out of the placement money, the team did manage Big Fish of the evening, a five pounder paying $140.
As August rolls in, the Friday night series has only a few weekends left in its schedule. The weekend of August 28th will be the final weekly series effort for the group. The series fishes a five fish limit.
Labor Day Weekend and September 4th will be the culminating championship called, “King of the Night”, when the Friday and Saturday Night groups come together at Lake Tillery and the Swift Island Access for a winner-take-all competition. Both series are open to any angler and begin at 7 PM, with weigh ins at midnight.
Information about both these events and the regular schedule of both open series can be found on the Fishbyte.net Calendar and Forums. Those interested can also contact Street at 704-791-4009 or toddsatvshop@yahoo.com.
Saunders And Baker Capture Tillery Evening Event
August 7, 2009
It wasn't much, but Tillery began to give up her stingy ways and show some better manners last Friday evening, as the weekly Friday Nights on Tillery and Badin troop came to town. Best bass bags are still a ways off, but Dwayne Saunders and Frank Baker coaxed the southern Yadkin lake to at least give up some double-digit results.
Anglers reported virtually no water flow and air temps that dropped to 72 degrees by midnight, their weigh in date. A good number of them spent much of the evening on the north end, hoping fresher waters would create some bass hunger. In recent weeks, any bag nearing the ten pound mark has been considered very good in a five-fish tournament, while a biggest fish over four pounds has had a good chance of nailing that prize.
Saunders and Baker carried the charm in this week's event, netting an 11.4.0 pound total catch. The pair won $200 in the 10 boat competition.
Fishing solo as he sometimes does, Ronnie Blankenship added to his season's collection of wins and placements with a 10.3.5 pound bag for second. With that number of boats, the event paid only one spot. An additional team and Blankenship would have carried away some cash.
Boat partners Brian Brown and Billy Haywood hooked up with the biggest loner of the evening, putting a 4 pound bass in their livewell. They drew the $100 prize for Big Fish.
The weekly series moves back to Badin and the Alcoa Landing this coming Friday. Cost to join the open competition, where either one or two anglers are allowed per boat, is just $30 per boat. Registration is done at the landing just prior to the 7 PM blast off.
Information about both these events and the regular schedule of both open series can be found on the Fishbyte.net Calendar and Forums. Those interested can also contact Street at 704-791-4009 or toddsatvshop@yahoo.com.
Badin Runs Roughshod Over Friday And Saturday Crews
August 14-15, 2009
By Todd Street and Fishbyte.net Staff
The fishing has been tough, but it really got rough for both the Friday Nights On Tillery/Badin and Saturday Nights on Badin groups this past weekend. The open competitions met at Badin Lake both nights and the waters refused to give up even one limit.
“When does the drought end?” laughed director Todd Street. “It's the first time I can remember us going a whole weekend and not one boat found a limit.” Just the weekend before, Roger Vanover pounded the waters for 20.05 pounds with four fish, giving everyone hope the rough ride was over. Vanover has been in the money on numerous occasions this season. “It was a barely nothing weekend, so we'll just keep fishing” said Street.
The end result wasn't for a lack of trying. On Friday evening twenty one boats turned out. Two caught four fish, while three others caught three fish. The 12.55 pound winning sack caught by Bruce Goins and Rodney Kinney would be considered excellent by most other fishing groups, but for this crowd it's tough. Goins and Kinney won $252 for their efforts.
Michael Cribb and Joe Bullard walked in 7.85 pounds to take the second place $105 prize, while third was won by Luke Helms and Nick Rushing with 7.35 pounds. Their take was $63. Don Underhill and Greg Campbell found the solo big one on the evening. Their 4.9 pounder earned them $210.
On Saturday night fifteen boats showed up back at Badin and only two boats found at least three fish. “if it wasn't for the fellowship it would be really bad,” added Street. Only one boat team caught two fish. Rusty Bowers and Ken Akers headed up the lackluster results at the scales with 6.85 pounds to win $180. Derek Cranford and Brad Foley found 6.10 pounds to take home $75, while Chris Furr and Chance Furr landed 4.70 pounds for third and $45. Bowers and Akers had Big Fish, a 3.35 pounder, to win the $150 prize for solo best.
With only two weeks left in both competitions' events, Street expects a good turnout. Most teams will use the remaining events as practice for the “King of the Night” championship September 4th at Lake Tillery. The lake was drawn two weeks ago after the second all-nighter the groups faced.
For more information, contact Street at 704-791-4009, or email him at toddsatvshop@yahoo.com.
Local Friday And Saturday Night Crews Wrap Up Regular Season On Badin
August 28 and 29, 2009
By Todd Street and Fishbyte.net Staff
It has to be the most grueling and exhausting bass series in the region for those who follow it week to week. The Friday Nights on Tillery and Badin Open and the Saturday Nights on Badin Series wrapped up their regular open series competition this past weekend with two events on Badin. Both Opens begin in early April and meet every seven days for five months straight, with blast off at 7 PM and scale time at midnight.
“It's always a bit sad to see it end for the year,” stated co-director Todd Street. He and fishing partner, Todd Little, coordinate the five-month-long endeavor. “But I think everyone is ready for a break.” The two groups will come together one last time for a run at the championship when all boats will compete in the King of the Night this coming Friday evening, September 4 at 7 PM at Lake Tillery's Swift Island Access area. Anglers have earned the right to compete for the honor with participation during the regular season. A large field of angling competitors is expected and the winners will walk away with some major bragging rights until next spring.
Harry Goodle and Archie Webb waited all season to finally light up the scoreboard with a win, much to everyone's delight, on Friday, August 28th. The pair travel all the way from Laurel Hill, NC every week to join in and have been as regular as clockwork. Although fishing was the usual summer tough, the pair netted 8.9 pounds to win the $192 first place prize. “We've been making donations all year,” laughed Goodle. “At least we got a little of it back!” Webb concurred. “Those were expensive bass,” he hollered from his boat as the pair prepared to blast off in Saturday's competition. While many competitors fish in either the Friday or Saturday event, Webb and Goodle will most often fish both each week.
Friday's seventeen boat field made it all the tougher to place. No boats brought in the five-fish limit, but Gary Freeze and Max Leer did manage enough to take the second spot with 7.95 pounds. They earned $80 for their efforts. Sammy Crader and Mike White placed third with 5.15 pounds to win $48. With more than fifteen boats, the series pays three places.
Co-directors Todd Street and Todd Little took home some tournament money with a 4.90 pound solo lunker to win Big Fish honors and $160 that went with it. The pair were still being teased the next night by fellow anglers about that effort. Street and Little, always laughing, picking at and enjoying those who join them each week, have won or placed on and off during the season. Those times give the rest of the crew an opportunity to take some shots back at them. All are received and fired back in a manner characteristic of the group. “It's really all about the friendships,” said Street. “New guys who join in fit in real fast and they never regret coming out.”
Friday's event was typical of Badin... about 9 PM it began to rain. “Most of the guys found a boat house and stayed there and talked,” stated Street. “If this was earlier in the year, you couldn't pay them to get under cover and not fish.” The drenching lasted until about 10:30 PM, but no one seemed to mind. “When you fish Badin at night, you kind of expect some rain,” noted Little. “It isn't Badin without rain storms.”
On Saturday night twenty boats turned out for the competition. “We've never seen these numbers at the end of a season,” noted Street. “It's probably one of the best turnouts at the end of the year that I can remember.” And, for one rare night of Badin evening fishing, the weather was perfect with low humidity and moderate temperatures. Mother Nature ended the regular season in gracious style. As a send off, total bag weights were up for the first time in weeks.
It took 13.8 pounds to win that night, as Trent and Cody Stegall, a father and son team, caught four fish and $228 in prize money. Ronnie Blankenship, fishing solo, boated 11.3 pounds to grab second and the $95 that went with it. Blankenship has often placed in the money this season and often fishes with wife, Teresa. Part of his bag included Big Fish for the night with a five pound solo hawg worth $190. Just a week before on Friday, he and Teresa won another first place with 4 fish and 10.35 pounds for $280 and had Big Fish for another $145.
Another angler who has earned his share of wins and places is Rusty Bowers. He and fishing partner Kenny Akers brought in the only limit for the night and took third place. They won $57 for that effort of 10.9 pounds of bass.
“You'd think these guys would just want to head home at midnight, but we all hung out in the Alcoa parking lot until after 2 AM talking about the season,” stated Street. “There was more than one big story told. This year has been one of the best ever; I can guarantee this is the best group of guys to fish with if anyone is looking for a group to fish with,” he ended.
After the King of the Night Championship this coming Friday on Tillery, the group will take a winter's nap and start back up April 2, 2010 at 7PM at Badin Lake at the Alcoa boat ramp. “New guys will never egret joining us next year, but they better come prepared to fish because these guys know the lake better than any. They all fish when it's dark, so they have to know it!” quipped Street one last time.
Night Champ Crowned As Friday And Saturday Series Close
September 4, 2009
Five months of weekly competitions and it all came down to a single outing. The King of the Night crown was bestowed on a father and son team at about 12:30 in the morning last Saturday. It wasn't about the prize money in this event; it was all about bragging rights.
The Friday Nights on Tillery and Badin Series and the Saturday Nights on Badin group came together for one final tournament of the season at Tillery's Swift Island Access off Highway 24/27 Friday night. Together, the two groups have met nearly fifty times on the two bodies of water since April. The grueling weekly series has become one of the most-popular gathering places of the season, attracting as many as 36 boats per week.
Criteria for an invitation to the championship included participation in a high percentage of the weekly competitions during the season. The prize money was a winner take all... no second or third and no Big Fish. Anglers would go home with cash or just memories. The open series groups had drawn Tillery as the location just a couple weeks before in an all-night event. Normal fishing hours for these anglers is 7 PM to midnight, offering something different from the usual early-morning events statewide.
By midnight, scales were set up by Todd Street, director of both groups. Beside the equipment were displayed two impressive trophies ready to go home with someone. A total of $480 was up for grabs for one of the 16 boat teams there. Anglers circled the area in the dark watching bags being emptied into the bin. Not surprising, Tillery had been another tough fish for everyone and bass were elusive. The big names and past winners had shown up for this last try and many had been skunked.
Trent and Cody Stegall, fishing the north end of the lake early on, had managed to find 11.85 pounds, filling a five-fish limit to claim the victory and crown. The pair lined up as anglers walked by shaking hands and getting in final friendly jabs. The were Kings of the Night and had earned the title.
“I'm really gonna miss not heading for the lake next weekend,” stated Street. These guys have been some of the best there is to meet up with each week. It's been a great year and interest has stayed high all season.” Co-director Todd Little was unable to make the final competition due to a conflict in schedules, leaving Street to fish solo. “Tough for you, but it gave us all a better chance,” laughed Harry Goodle. Street and Little have won a number of events during the season.
After weigh in, Street announced the opening event of the 2010 season. “Gear up and get ready for April 2nd at Badin and the Alcoa Landing,” shouted Street. “You better bring your best game, because it'll be back on that date.” Ronnie Blankenship and Rusty Bowers, two weekly anglers, were ready to go next weekend. “I sure hate to see it end for the season,” they agreed. “It's been a lot of fun.” It was well after 1:30 AM when the crowd finally headed back to their trucks and drove away, the closing act in a near-perfect season. No one wanted to see the curtain come down.