With only 9 points separating the top two teams heading into the sixth and final tournament of the season, the Anglers Choice Marine Invitational Tournament Saturday could come down to a real shootout.
Or, there is a third place team lurking just 24 points off the lead who could turn the points standings upside down with a strong finish Saturday.
“The top three teams were neck and neck, within four points of each other, going into Smith Mountain (June 12),but there is a little bit of separation there now,” said tournament director Chris Lucas. “It will be interesting to see how this plays out Saturday.”
With 200 points going to the top team anybody in the top 10 could still take it, Lewis noted.
“Buggs is not the home lake for either of those top two teams so it could be a shootout or it could be someone else.”
After finishing 25th in the second tournament of the season on Kerr April 3, the team of Adams and Lewis finished second at Smith Lake April 24, then won the Claytor Lake tournament May 8 and finished fourth at Smith Mountain June 12.
After winning both April tournaments on Kerr and Smith Mountain, Freeman and Terry finished 12th on Claytor Lake and 15th at Smith Mountain. They led the points through the first several tournaments, but Adams and Lewis took over the lead with strong finishes in the last two tournaments.
Lucas said he expects between 130 and 150 boats for Saturday’s tournament.
“Next year we are hoping to hit the 200 boat mark and get a $5,000 payday in there,” he said.
Pre-registration will be held at Anglers Choice Marine in Martinsville, Va., through 5 p.m. Thursday, and then will be held at the Best Western in Clarksville from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. Lucas will take registrations at the ramp beginning at 4 a.m. Saturday.
“The water temperature is warm so the bass will be on offshore structure and anglers will fish for them with soft plastics,” Lucas said. “My guess is there will also be a topwater bite early in the morning.”
The problem, he said, will be catching quality fish.
“It seems like every year it is getting tougher and tougher to find a 4- to 5-pound bass at Buggs and there is a lot of concern about that. But whoever can get four decent fish and find that one good kicker will be in good shape.”
Angler''s Choice Marine Invitational Team Trail
Sat. Jun. 26, 2010
Kerr/Buggs Island Lake
Occoneechee State Park
http://www.anglerschoicemarine.com
Chris Lucas, 276-358-0844
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