So far this summer has been a scorcher and the hot weather has taken its toll on a number of fishing tournaments as anglers find other, more comfortable pastimes for their weekends.
And the Angler''s Choice Marine Buggs Island Team Trail sponsored by Stratos is no exception.
We didnt have but 43 boats in the last tournament and I probably would not expect any more this weekend as hot as it has been, said Randy Joyce, tournament director. From what I hear, although I have not been on the lake fishing myself, fishing is pretty tough.
Joyce said the lake level is coming down and the water is clearing up in the hot weather.
Im sure most of the fish will be deep they usually are this time of year, he said. Im sure most of them are 15 to 25 feet deep by now and when they are that deep, if you find them on structure you might be able to get three or four fish off one hole.
Joyce said most anglers will go after the deep fish with big deep-diving crankbaits and Carolina rigs with big worms, but there should be some topwater action very early in the day, too.
There is a pretty hot points race underway, led by Brandon Gray of Bullock, N.C., and Brian Clark of South Boston, Va., Joyce noted. Gray and Clark lead Jack Markham of Stem, N.C., and Jack Markham III of Durham by less than 7 points. Also in the hunt for the points title are Stephen Griggs of Summerfield, N.C. and Gary Wade of Pleasant Garden, N.C., less than 8 points behind the leaders; Dan Jackson of Youngsville, N.C., and Jon Yager of Apex, N.C.,, also less than 8 points back; and Steven Bailey of Chase City, Va., and Stanley Brown of Clarksville, Va., less than 9 points back.
All five teams have a legitimate shot at the championship, but Joyce said Gray and Clark are hot right now after winning the June tournament on Kerr-Buggs Island, especially with all the tournaments the rest of the season scheduled for Kerr-Buggs Island.
We are kind of getting into Brandons wheelhouse now. He may be tough again this year. He won the title last year with a different partner, Joyce said. Brandon is pretty good on this lake. He knows it very well and he may be tough to beat.
Entry fee for the Buggs Island Team Trail is $110 per boat with a payback to one out of every six boats in the field. There is an optional Big Fish pot with a $20 entry. The trail is Stratos 2X registered, Ranger Cup registered and Triton Gold registered.
The winner of the Classic in October will take home a new Stratos boat and the points champions will get $1,000.
There is another major series tournament on Kerr this weekend, the Virginia Bassmaster Weekend Series, held out of North Bend on Saturday.
Rodney Sorrell of Stokesdale, N.C., is atop the points standings for the season in the Virginia BWS closely followed by Aaron Bussard of Clayton, N.C., and James Blankenship of Lexington, N.C.
With two second places finishes and a 23rd place, Sorrell is 8 points ahead of Bussard who has finished at third place, 14th and 18th. Blankenship is one point behind Bussard with a ninth place finish, plus finishes of 13th and 14th place.
Right on their heels are Chris Bullock of Fountain, N.C., with sixth, 10th and 28th place finishes, and Joe Eberts of Powhatan, Va., who has finished sixth, eighth and 30th
Angler''s Choice Marine Buggs Island Team Trail 2010
Sun. Jul. 25, 2010
Kerr / Buggs Island
Occoneechee State Park Ramp #1
http://www.anglerschoicemarine.com
Bassmaster Weekend Series - Virginia 2010
Sat. Jul. 24, 2010
Kerr / Buggs Island
North Bend
http://www.abaproam.com
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