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Sunday Wildcats
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2009
Sunday Wildcats Show They Know Their Lake
June 28, 2009
Numbers have been up for the High Rock Sunday Wildcats recently as local anglers discover the fun, Sunday competition on the lake. Fourteen boats entered the open competition this past week to find the best, six fish in the lake.
“We like to keep it fun out here,” stated organizer, Orlando Giles. Giles had been on the lake just the day before as co-angler on the boat that won the NC Walmart BFL competition there. Yet, the very next morning, he was back at the Southmont Access landing seeing off his non-affiliated fishermen. According to the BFL boater winner, Spence Brunson of Salisbury, Giles' surgical and net skills saved his day of fishing as the Wildcat organizer worked a hook out of the winner's thumb and put on a real show when netting two of his winning fish. “I like to balance things,” smiled Giles.
The Wildcat 6 AM blast off was an “ease out” situation this week, as two other tournaments were using the same landing that Sunday morning. Giles, and co-organizer, Nick Ross, took the high road, letting other competitors hit the waters first rather than create a traffic hazard. All went well, as the Sunday Wildcats showed they knew their lake and a few extra minutes and first at a hole wouldn't matter in the end.
Jason Thomas and Chris Brown nailed down the day's honors when the pair brought back 16.14 pounds to the weight scales. Their efforts gave them well over $200 for the day.
Donald Lampert and Jerry Brindle were hot on their tails and made the competition a close one. That boat team needed just a few ounces more to grab first place away. Their 17.7 pounds fell just short of the winning mark, but did earn them approximately $150.
The Sunday Wildcats pay three places when this many boats show and Michael Bryant and partner Michael Hedgecock raced 14.7 pounds of bass in. The third placers also lured in the Big Fish of the day, finding a hungry 3.1 pounder out in the waters. Their combined winnings were just over $100.
One or two anglers may fish from the same boat in the competitions.
For more information about the group, contact Nick Ross at 336-242-1417 or email him at crew39racing@yahoo.com. You can also contact Lando Giles at 336-357-3303.
Sunday Wildcats Shatter July Woes On High Rock
August 2, 2009
Under overcast skies and occasional rain squalls, a group of Sunday anglers finally shattered the horrible spell of low bag weights and little bite that local anglers suffered through in July. Twenty three boats showed up for the weekly, High Rock Sunday Wildcat Open competition and foundnothing but bite. Fishing with a full pond after a week of intermittent downpours in the area, boat teams rocked the bass of High Rock from safelight to the 1:30 weigh in.
“This is the kind of fishing we like,” stated co-organizer Orlando Giles. “We had a great turnout today and bite was definitely on. It's about time.” The other organizer of the event, Nick Ross, also expressed delight with the show up. “This is the second best showing we've ever had and I think guys are enjoying the Sunday competition.” The group, an open competition that allows one or two anglers in a boat team, uses the Southmont Access Landing on High Rock every Sunday until deer season. They use a five-fish limit and charge a $35 entry fee, which covers the Big Fish Pot.
As one heavy bag after another neared the scales, admiration and a nervous tension that hadn't been seen at the scales since Spring, began to show up. For the first time in weeks, there was something to stay and watch. A line up of smiles of those waiting to weigh in told everyone that another contender was waiting. The five-fish limit was anything but elusive as most teams filled that quota easily.
“Can you believe it?” exclaimed Randy File of Salisbury. “We were culling three pounders at the end. How long has it been since anyone had that kind of fun?” As it turned out, that careful culling took he and brother, Tom File, to the victors' circle. Their five totaled an even 19 pounds, giving them another joy for the day, the $290 grand prize for first place.
“Just catching all those fish,” laughed Tom. “Finding so many of that size was as good as the money.” Like other boats, the pair reported catching the fish on worms, jigs and crankbaits all over the lake. “They went after everything we threw at them today,” noted Randy. “We were all over the lake and in deep and shallow waters. It was just one of those days you'll remember.”
Just a fish away in second place were Joey Musgrave and series co-organizer Orlando Giles. They piled 17.9 pounds of bass on the scales to capture the $180 payday for that position. They also hauled in Big Fish for the event, a 6.5 pounder that brought with it another $115 in prize money, making them the richest team of the day by $5.
The series pays a number of positions, and with twenty three boats in the field, four spots took home funds. Third place, a scant three ounces behind the second place bag weight, went to Jerry Bono and Tony Waterhouse who mustered 17.6 pounds on the day. They walked off with a solid $100, a profit of $65 after deducting their entry fee. Bono also noted catching all the fish on worms and jigs “all over the lake”. Fourth place and the $50 winners were Austin and Todd Harris. Todd, of Winston-Salem, was joined by nephew, Austin, from Cayce, South Carolina for the day's search. The pair managed to locate a very respectable 16.1 pounds of bass.
For more information about the group, contact Orlando Giles at 336-357-3303 or Nick Ross at 336-357-1417. You can also email Ross at crew39racing@yahoo.com. Registration happens at the landing prior to the safelight blast off.
Sunday Wildcats Prove Mastery of Bass Again
August 30, 2009
As a large field of ABA Bassmaster boats gathered at the Southmont Access at High Rock this past weekend, the High Rock Sunday Wildcats quietly registered with organizers Nick Ross and Orlando Giles off to one side. Twelve boats from the group then slid off into the semi-darkness in their weekly quest for the biggest greenbacks on the lake, mostly unnoticed by those who had gathered to see the larger event on the other side of the parking lot.
The Sunday open has become wildly popular this season, with boat numbers sometimes in the upper thirties. For those looking for some inexpensive competition, the small entry fee is a perfect ticket for some fishing during hours when recreational traffic is low. “We've really grown this year,” stated Giles, “and I think the guys like the fact that we keep it fun. The added boat numbers have really increased the payouts, too!”
Two anglers who have proven their mastery on High Rock and who have landed in the money in numerous events this season, captured top spot. Michael Hedgecock and Brian Sorrell have been the up-and-coming young team of the year, fishing and winning in a variety of clubs and opens from early spring and throughout the season on many lakes. The pair captured 17.6 pounds of bass to haul in the $230 first place prize. They also landed Big Fish when Hedgecock boated a 4.2 pounder for an additional $60 cash payout.
A solo fisherman outfished the remainder of the field with the exception of one other team. Tim Hawley, fishing by himself, and the team of Bobby Leonard Jr and Bobby Leonard Sr. managed to weave thier way in and around both tournament's boats to find the right holes where fish were hungry. Both soloist Hawley and the Leonard team boated 12.9 pounds of bass to split the $150 second place prize.
“With the Bassmasters here, it was tough to find good holes where there weren't anglers,” stated Hedgecock. “But they missed a few and hurried through some others. We caught all ours all over the place, but mostly up the creeks.” Both Sorrell and Hedgecock said they had to move a fair amount to hit a variety of locations given the fishing pressures.
The High Rock Sunday Wildcats meet every Sunday to blast off from the Southmont Landing off Highway 8 at safelight. End times adjust with seasonal light changes and are announced prior to take off. For more information about the group, contact Orlando Giles at 336-357-3303 or Nick Ross at 336-357-1417. You can also email Ross at crew39racing@yahoo.com. Registration happens at the landing prior to the safelight blast off.
Nix and Sealy Bag 25 Pounds Plus On High Rock
Photos courtesy of Andrew Nix
October 4, 2009
We all fish for the days when it seems like the toads are jumping into our boat. Most of us can go season after season without experiencing that, but once in awhile, we find ourselves in anglers paradise. Such was the case last Sunday, when Andy Nix and Carty Sealy hauled over twenty five pounds of heavy bass to the scales during the Sunday Wildcats on High Rock competition.
“We were culling 4 and a half pounders by 9:30,” stated Nix. “The smallest fish was 5.1 pounds, and the biggest was 5.3 pounds. We came up with 25.9 pounds in five fish”
According to Nix, Abbott's Creek was the hottest spot he has landed on in some time. “We caught all of them on crankbait and a couple on jigs in Abbotts. Carty Sealy fished with me, and we had a limit by 8 AM of 2-1/2 to 3 pounders.”
Clearly, the pair were headed for a first place in the day's competition. The real action was just beginning. Nix continued. “I caught one of the 5 pounders on a crankbait and, on the next cast, Carty caught another 5 pounder flipping a jig. After that it was on... everything I flipped at them I caught a 4-1/2 to 5 pounder the rest of the day.”
Nix caught the last 4 pounder about ten minutes before weigh in. According to the team of anglers, it got to the point where, if the fish wasn't 5 pounds, they wouldn't even put it in the boat. “We would shake it off! Now that's a day!” Nix ended. Nix is a Senior Warranty Analyst at Thomas Built Bus in High Point.
Second place for the event was won with 16 pounds, as another boat in the competition ran into almost as good luck as Nix and Sealy did.
The High Rock Sunday Wildcats meet every Sunday to blast off at safelight. End times adjust with seasonal light changes and are announced prior to take off. For more information about the group, contact Orlando Giles at 336-357-3303 or Nick Ross at 336-357-1417. You can also email Ross at crew39racing@yahoo.com. Registration happens at the landing prior to the safelight blast off.
Hughes Team Wins Sunday High Rock Event
October 11, 2009
It took seven hours and fifteen pounds to decide the High Rock Sunday Wildcat competition this past weekend, as Chuck and Dwayne Hughes used the time wisely to capture the $220 first place prize. Nine boat teams in the weekly open series used the Southmont Landing off Highway 8 to stage their attack on the northern Yadkin waters.
The Hughes team's catch from the Cabella's Team boat included a 4.7 pounder that helped them on their way to the win. The pair reported catching the earlier fish on a rattletrap, but then they switched to a sinko to nab the rest.
Two teams tied for second position. Only first place and Big Fish were paid with only nine boats present. Don Oakes and Chuck Teal Jr. found 10.6 pounds of bass, while organizer Orlando Giles and Ronnie Blankenship matched their weight at the scales. Solo angler Chris Brown was just a tick behind with 105 pounds.
The High Rock Sunday Wildcats meet every Sunday to blast off at safelight. End times adjust with seasonal light changes and are announced prior to take off. For more information about the group, contact Orlando Giles at 336-357-3303 or Nick Ross at 336-357-1417. You can also email Ross at crew39racing@yahoo.com. Registration happens at the landing prior to the safelight blast off.
Brown And Thomas Win Sunday Wildcats With 16.3.5
October 18, 2009
Sometimes helping out a buddy pays off in unexpected ways. When Orlando Giles, director of the High Rock Sunday Wildcats, couldn't attend the weekly event last Sunday, Chris Brown stepped in and took over management of the competition for the day. Turns out the payout to the top place team was simple that day as Brown only needed to shift the prize funds from one pocket to the other.
Brown had eleven boat teams on hand to organize in near-freezing temps and blustery conditions. Jason Poindexter with the Yadkin One-On-One Series offered his scales and assistance with weigh ins at the 2:30 stage. The pair quickly worked through bag after bag of five-fish limits as competitors scored big on the pond that Sunday.
Brown and partner, Jason Thomas, netted the biggest haul, a 16.3.5 pound bag that came with a $225 payoff. They also scored the Big Fish honors with a solo 5.3 pounder to add $55 in extra prize money to their day's earnings.
David Singleton, fishing by himself, boated just over a tenth of a pound less than Brown and Thomas, bringing 16.2.4 pounds of toad haul to the scales. He won $105 for his second place casting. The event paid two places and Big Fish. Just beyond a payday was Phillip King with 14.4.3 pounds, and Bo and John Russell with 14.0.7 pounds. Dwayne and Chuck Hughes scored 13.1.9 pounds of fish, while soloist Ray Deal rounded out the top six angling teams with 13.0.9 pounds of bass.
The High Rock Sunday Wildcats is an open event that meets each Sunday at the Southmont Access just off Highway 8 on the east side of the lake. End times adjust with seasonal light changes and are announced prior to take off. For more information about the group, contact Orlando Giles at 336-357-3303 or Nick Ross at 336-357-1417. You can also email Ross at crew39racing@yahoo.com. Registration happens at the landing prior to the safelight blast off.
Sunday Wildcats On High Rock
October 25, 2009
Sometimes even the best lakes take a breather, and this last weekend High Rock cooled off a bit for the various bass tournaments held there. That didn't seem to matter for the weekly Sunday series as the winning bag topped the eighteen pound mark despite reluctant feeding bass.
The High Rock Sunday Wildcats held their last regular event of the season October 25th and will hold a special event to end the season this coming weekend. Sunday, November 1st will be the last gathering. According to organizer, Orlando Giles, entry fees into the final open competition will be $50 per boat with a $5 Big Fish option. “It's a great way to end a successful season,” stated Giles. “We've had really good participation this year and good coverage.” According to Giles, the series will begin again the third Sunday in February.
This past Sunday, it was David and Gene Singleton returning to the winners circle with 18.8 pounds of hawg. They earned $180 in the safelight to 2:30 PM effort. “We caught all the fish up in the backs of creeks,” stated David Singleton. “Everything hit crankbaits and spinnerbaits,” he noted.
Chuck and Dwayne Hughes, who joined in just weeks ago, placed second with 14.9 pounds. The pair have had solid success in the series since coming out and pocketed $65. Jesse Ingram found the biggest fish of the day, a 4.5 pounder that provided a $55 payday.
The weekly series is an open competition that allows either one or two anglers per boat with a five fish limit. Anyone can show up to join in as there is no membership required. The series attracted nealry forty boats a week earlier in the season, although eleven showed up last weekend. Joey Musgrave has joined Giles in organizational efforts.
For more information about the group, contact Orlando Giles at 336-357-3303 or Joey Musgrave at 336-239-5441 or email him at jmusgrave1@triad.rr.com.