2011 Results
Championship Wheeler, November 12-13. The fish were biting in the windy conditions for the 1st annual Top Rod Solo Trail Championship. Fish were caught on jig, crankbaits and the Alabama Rig and there were lots of good fish weighed in. First place paid $711, 2nd was $395, 3rd was $237, 4th was $158 and 5th paid $79. Congrats to Nick Reeves who added the Championship title to his Angler of the Year win.
1st place: Nick Reeves 17.64, 19.52 total 37.16
2nd place: Lee Black 10.41, 20.78 total 31.19
3rd place: Chase Reeves 16.70, 12.70 total 29.40
4th place: Rex Chambers 14.82, 11.13 total 25.95
5th place: Allen Johnson 14.07, 11.38 total 25.45
Rex Chambers with two from day 1
Nick Reeves with two more from day 2
Nick Reeves with two day 1 beauties
Lee Black with two nice ones from day 2
Chase Reeves with two nice ones from day 2
Smith, October 22. The first year of the Top Rod Trail wrapped up today at Smith Lake Dam with 16 anglers looking for some big spotted bass. The weather was perfect after a chilly start, warming up to 75 degrees with bright sunshine. The fishing was tough for most anglers, with just two limits crossing the scales. Crankbaits, jigs and swimbaits seemed to work best for the anglers that caught fish. First place paid $480, with 2nd place paying $160 and big fish was worth $160. We added $160 to the AOY and Championship purses as well to end the year with $1380 collected for each purse.
1st place: Brent Crow 12.72
2nd place: Justin Poole 9.99
3rd place: Nick Reeves 5.96 Big fish 3.06
4th place: Byron Terry 5.29
5th place: Allen Johnson 3.48
Wilson, September 10. Our second Wilson Lake tournament was a tough one for the 8 anglers that fished on a beautiful sunny day. There were just a handful of fish caught, even with Wheeler Dam discharging quite a bit of water all day. Only three anglers made it to the scales with keeper fish. This became a winner take all tournament with first place paying out $320. Big Fish paid $80 and $80 also went into the pot for the angler of the year and for the championship pot, with $1220 collected year to date for each purse.
1st: Joel Green 10.5
2nd: Nick Reeves 6.9 Big Fish 3.9
3rd: Danny Morrow 1.0
Pickwick, August 13. The second Pickwick tournament saw 14 anglers looking for the big smallmouth and largemouth that inhabit this area of the Tennessee River. Conditions made for a nice day on the water, with overcast skies most of the morning and a gentle breeze at times. The fishing was slow for the most part with only a light current flowing from Wilson Dam and little schooling action. Fish were caught on swimbaits, topwaters and jigs according to the post tourney talk. First place paid $420 with second and big fish paying $140 each. $140 was also added to the AOY and Championship purses, with $1140 collected for each thus far. Once again we went with a 3 fish limit due to the high water temps.
1st place: Brent Crow 11.13
2nd place: Justin Poole 8.68
3rd place: Rex Chambers 7.33 Big Fish 4.81
4th place: Nick Reeves 5.68
5th place: Steve Humphries 5.54
Brent Crow's winning fish
Rex Chambers' big fish. Right species this time!
Guntersville, July 16. Our second Guntersville tourney blasted off from Waterfront Grocery at daylight and 12 anglers had a nice cool, windy, cloudy day on the lake. The fishing was tough by Guntersville standards for the most part. Jigs, worms and swimbaits accounted for most of the catches according to the post tourney talk. First place paid $360 with 2nd and big fish paying $120. $120 was also added to the pots for AOY and the Classic and $1000 has been collected for each this year. We had a 3 fish limit and no dead fish were weighed.
1st place: Brent Crow 14.45 Big Fish: 6.13
2nd place: Richard Mason 11.91
3rd place: Rex Chambers 9.50
4th place: Tyler Weeks 9.21
5th place: Allen Johnson 6.60
Brent Crow with the winning stringer
Too bad for Rex it wasnt a catfish derby
Wheeler, June 12. It was another Chamber of Commerce day on Wheeler for the second Wheeler Lake event. This time the fish were cooperating as eight of the 14 anglers weighed in double digit bags and it took 12.94 to make the top 5. Fish were caught on a variety of baits: worms, jigs, crankbaits and swimbaits in a variety of depths. First place payed $420 and second was worth $140 with big fish also paying $140. We added $140 to the AOY and Championship purses as well and the total collected for both is now $880 for the year.
1st place: Nick Reeves 19.15 big fish 5.42
2nd place: Lee Black 19.01
3rd place: Joel Green 17.29
4th place: Justin Poole 16.06
5th place: Philex Daniel 12.94
Nick Reeves with two of the winning fish
Lee Black with two nice bass
Wheeler, May 28. Perfect weather conditions again for the Mallard Creek event. Shad were spawning on the boat ramp and rip rap at Mallard Creek this morning when 16 anglers blasted off in search of big Wheeler Lake bass. Most anglers reported tougher than expected conditions, with little current and little wind. Lots of 1-2lb fish at the weigh in, but 10 anglers did bring back a limit. First place paid $480 with 2nd paying $160 and big fish worth $160. $160 was added to the AOY and Classic pots, and both now contain $740.
1st place: Nick Reeves: 17.85 Big Fish 4.83
2nd place: Brent Crow 12.03
3rd place: Blaine Shelton 11.33
4th place: Tyler Weeks 10.25
5th Place: Chase Reeves 9.50
Nick Reeves with two of his winning fish
Wilson, April 17. Compared to last month’s Pickwick tourney, Mother Nature actually cooperated for today’s event out of Safety Harbor on Wilson Lake. Thirteen anglers blasted off in 38 degree temps, but at least their was no rain or wind this time. Temps got into the 70′s by the end of the day. Unfotunately, the fish didn’t cooperate very well for the majority of the field. It seems like the fish on Wilson are way behind their normal spawning schedules. All of the fish weighed in today were fat and prespawn. Fish were caught on spinnerbaits, shaky heads, crankbaits and jerkbaits today. First place was $390 today, 2nd and big fish were $130 each and $260 was split for the AOY and Championship Pots. We now have $580 in each after today’s event. Top finishers were:
1st: Shawn Striker 14.32
2nd: Nick Reeves 13.80
3rd: Allen Johnson 11.77
4th: Tyler Weeks 9.61
5th: Lee Black 8.82 Big Fish 4.78
Pickwick March 26. The third event of the season kicked off with a bang on Saturday. Actually, lots of em, as Mother Nature put on quite a display of thunder and lightning just after the 6:30AM takeoff. Nine anglers braved the torrential rains and dodged the lightning to find a decent bite on Pickwick. Most anglers stayed close to Wilson Dam and fish were caught on swimbaits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and shaky heads. First place paid $360 and big fish $90 with another $90 added to the AOY and Championship pots. There is $450 in each after three events. Top finishers were:
1. Nick Reeves 15.81lbs
2. Allen Johnson 14.72 big fish 5.78
3. Sam Moody 13.21
4. Tyler Weeks 12.77
5. Brent Crow 10.52
Nick Reeves with his winning stringer
Allen Johnson with big fish
Sam Moody with a 5.75 Smallie
Guntersville Feb. 19. Event number two saw a week of warm weather and 25 anglers expecting big Guntersville bass to be biting by Saturday’s tournament. The rattlebait bite was not what everyone was expecting , as most fishermen reported losing fish, catching small fish, and getting fewer bites than they had hoped for. Jordan Lee of Cullman, AL, had a great catch, landing a Top Rod Solo Trail record, 21.67lbs. to take the $650 top prize. Lee also had the big fish of the tourney with a 5.29lb largemouth worth $250. Nick Reeves of Trinity, AL also had a solid sack of fish, weighing 16.13lbs for the second place check of $250. Third place went to Lee Black of Danville, AL with 14.89lbs, including a nice 4.21lb spotted bass. Black took $100 for third place. 4th place went to Kenny Meek of Vincent, Ohio with 13.57lbs and Rex Chambers of Baileyton, AL finished fifth with 12.67. With 25 boats, we added $250 to the Angler of the Year and the Championship pots, bringing the total to $360 collected for each thus far.
Jordan Lee with part of his winning stringer
Smith Lake Jan 15th. We kicked off our 2011 season at Smith Lake with 11 fishermen braving the cold air. A couple of boats were actually frozen to their trailers this morning and the sun never did show itself. Most anglers reported very few bites in the 45 degree water. However, their were some active fish as crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and even topwaters got some action today. First place paid $330, 2nd was $110 and big fish was worth $110. The top finishers were:
1. Brent Crow 9.40 Big fish 4.11
2. Rex Chambers 5.03
3. Jamie Butler 4.96
4. Bob Espinosa 4.47
5. Danny Morrow 1.82
Brent Crow with part of the winning bag
