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FISHERMEN
WEATHER STORM
The
Bruceton anglers, have fished the Birdsong Creek on Kentucky Lake
frequently and were familiar with its many moods. They raced north from
the Birdsong Marina launch site near Camden into 15 mph winds, two foot
waves and rising muddy water before they ever made it to Harmon's and
White Oak Creeks - where
they and several other anglers planned to win their catch for the
classic two-day event. Saturday,
and into the night, torrential rains caused the Tennessee River to climb
two feet producing swift currents and floating debris. French spotted
clear water up in the north end of Benton County in Harmon's Creek to
land the seven and half pounds of fish on his Strike King Spinner bait
with a red and white skirt. Partner Bawcum, fished a Carolina rig over
the brush-covered ridge. He brought part of the first day’s catch in
of slightly under eleven pounds luring them into fourth place on day
one. The come-from-behind team fished hard to find the clear waters of
Kentucky Lake on the second day which bumped them into first place. The
second heaviest catch of day two netted them the first place cash prize
of $870.00.
On
day one, Earl and Wayne Clouse, Joelton, TN, were in first place with
15.85 pounds. This father-and-son team combined their second day catch
of only one fish - weighing a meager 1.94 pounds, sliding them into
second place. Their total weight of 17.79 pounds netted them $580.00
Earl
Clouse fished down the Tennessee in the middle of the river where he
faced the full force of the current, wind and waves. He concentrated
along the ragged edge of a deep flat where he used both a Carolina rig
and a drop-shot in 10 to 12 feet of water. Day one "Big Bass"
check of $ 200.00 went to the Clouse team with a 6.23 pound Largemouth,
the Official Fish of the State of Tennessee.
"If
the weather had been good this week, everyone would probably have fished
the lower pool creeks of Morgan, Trace, Birdsong, and Eagle, according
to veteran angler and retired marina operator, Michael Redfearn.
Redfearn teamed up with Kyle Parnell to boat 17.25 pounds of bass in the
two days. Redfearn and Parnell placed the number four spot, luring them
a check for $290.00
"The
ooze offs went smooth each day at daylight from the well-lighted and
large concrete ramp at Birdsong," claimed Jeff Peach, Camden. Peach
fishes daily and placed sixth in the tournament. He is a
third-generation fisherman who is sponsored by Shooters Supply of
Camden. " It's been a real pleasure and an honor to fish with all
the out-of-town fishermen from over 25 different cities in Middle and
Western Tennessee", said Jeff. “This is my second Birdsong Fall
Bass Classic Tournament, and I am already gearing up for next
year."
Daily
weigh-ins took place at 3:30 p.m. at Birdsong Resort and Marina Fish
Weigh-In Pavilion on Kentucky Lake. This pavilion is also open - at no
cost - for Bass clubs and other tournament promoters to use. The site
for over one hundred tournaments a year, Birdsong Resort is the Official
Weigh and Launch Site for Kentucky Lake. It is the oldest and most
prestigious fishing tournament area on the lake. Birdsong continues to
set the standard for credibility, professionalism, and sportsmanship
after more than four decades. Birdsong
Resort, Marina and Lakeside RV and Tent Campgrounds is a family-owned,
second-generation, family recreational facility that serves the avid
outdoor recreationalist with the finest of southern hospitality. This
58-acre lake view complex is situated on the shorelines of the scenic
Tennessee River's beautiful Kentucky Lake.
Tournament Statistics
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Jimmy
French and Bryant Bawcum, Bruceton, teamed up to gamble - not only that
they could catch enough bass to keep their number four slot - but also
that they could get back to weigh them in. It all looked too easy as the
Carroll County duo took the first place prize in the 18th Annual Fall
Bass Classic Open Buddy Bass Tournament with a total of 18.44 pounds.
The annual tournament was hosted at Birdsong Resort, Marina and Lakeside
RV & Tent Campground, Camden Kentucky Lake.
In
third place for two days in a row, but very consistent, was the team of
Ray Eaton, Nashville and Ben Pearson, Franklin, TN, with a total weight
of 17.37 which landed them a check for $ 435.00. Eaton fished more than
twenty miles up the Tennessee River to escape both the wind as well as
other anglers. He used a drop-shot rig along steep river shorelines in
just three to eight feet of water, casting upriver and then dragging his
plastic worm along the bottom with the current. In the clear, shallow
water he could see many of the fish he caught - including the six-pound
largemouth that put him in second place for "big fish" honors
of day one. He caught a 3.15 pounder in the same "honey hole,"
"Two
hundred and four pounds of large and smallmouth bass were caught and all
were released alive,"
After
the weigh in of the first day, Keast and the Birdsong staff treated all
of the fishermen and their families to a complimentary bar-be-que rib
and chicken dinner. The pool-side pavilion held many whose drive for
competition wasn't near as dampened as the weather. All enjoyed the
bar-be-que, fellowship, and spirits were high.
