Fishing is expected to be outstanding for the Tom’s Marine Team Trail tournament on Cherokee Lake Saturday – for numbers, but not necessarily for size, according to Richard McMaster, tournament director.

“Fishing has been excellent on Cherokee. Not a lot of real big bags are being caught, but there are definitely a lot of bags being caught,” McMaster said. “There are a lot of fish being brought to the scales on Cherokee.”

McMaster said there were 121 boats in the last Tom’s Marine tournament on Cherokee two weeks ago and at least that many are expected for Saturday’s tournament.

“It’s been really consistent on Cherokee. Every year the number of boats for our Cherokee tournaments is around 130,” he said.

While anglers can expect to catch a lot of fish Saturday, he said, they should be aware the lake can be pretty dangerous right now because of extremely low water levels.

“Cherokee is 14 feet below what it should be this time of year. We’ve had a shortage of rain to fill the lake and that means there is a lot of danger out there,” McMaster said. “There are a lot of stump piles and rock beds exposed that people are not used to having to worry about.”

Although the water is extremely low, McMaster said there should be a good flipping bite Saturday, “but not anything topwater unless you find some homemade brushpiles or crappie beds. The fish have spawned and they are moving out from the banks to open water. They are easy to catch, but they don’t have a lot of weight since they just spawned.”

McMaster said the fish are coming off the spawning flats and hanging in ditches in 8 to 12 feet of water.

“The biggest thing is dragging football jigs and working Carolina-rigged lizards,” he said.

He also noted that the points race has tightened up with several teams well within striking distance. Three teams are within 12 points of each other at the top of the standings, led by Ron Hyatt and Johnny Parks. Adrian Rasnake and Rodney Ray are 5 points back in second place and Luke Boles and Donnie Absher are third, 7 points behind the second place team.

“It’s not a runaway this year. We like to see that. Plus people are trying real hard this year, weighing in fish, trying to make the Bassmasters.”

McMaster said anglers fishing the Tom’s Marine Team Trail this year will have a chance to qualify for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. Teams can qualify for a chance to fish for the Classic by paying a $10 per angler membership fee. Two teams, based on points, could qualify to fish the Bass Team Classic Championship, where the top three teams will break up into individual boats to fish for a berth in the Bassmaster Classic.

McMaster also announced that Tom’s Marine is bringing back a summer nighttime tournament this year after a three-year absence. The night tournament will be held July 12 on Cherokee Lake with a three-fish limit.

The rest of the 2014 schedule includes: June 7, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove; July 12, Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge; Sept. 13, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove; and Oct. 25-25, Douglas Lake, Shady Grove and Cherokee Lake, 25E Bridge.

The entry fee per tournament is $100, plus a $10 lunker fee. New incentives for the Tom’s Marine Team Trail in 2014 include :
– Toms Marine will pay $250 to anyone who wins out of a boat purchased new from Toms Marine since 20110.

– Glow Max will pay the winner of the night tournament $250 in cash and $250 merchandise if they use Glow Max black lights in their boat. In addition, Toms Marine will pay the winner an additional $100 if the Glow Max black lights were purchased from and installed by Toms Marine.
– Linex has teamed up with Toms Marine Team Trail to sponsor a drawing for a new spray-in Linex bed liner this season. Anyone making a purchase from Linex and letting them know you are a member of Toms Marine Team Trail will be entered into this drawing to be held at the end of the 2014 regular season.

Tom’s Marine Team Trail 2014

Sat, May 24, 2014

Cherokee Lake

25 E Bridge Access

Call Richard McMaster 423-748-3240

www.tomsmarinetn.com