Eric Blankendaal tried a little of everything to win the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, Tennessee Division 3 tournament, held June 26, 2010, on Lake Old Hickory Lake.
Launching at Bulls Creek in Gallatin, the Nolensville angler landed five bass weighing 19.15 pounds, but a penalty gave him an official tally of 18.65 pounds. Still, a 5.05-pound kicker helped him win the Boater Division. Fishing in 25 to 30 feet of water in the 22,000-acre lake, he caught some fish on a spoon and others on crankbaits or a 3/4-ounce green pumpkin jig with a black and blue skirt.
"They ate everything," Blankendaal gushed. "Once the bass started feeding, it didn't matter what color or what it was. My co-angler caught a Carolina rig, tied it on and caught six or seven keepers on it. The bass were chasing shad in open water. I pulled up on a school and caught 4.5-pounder on a big crankbait."
Tim Staley of Dowelltown landed a five-bass bag worth 17.83 pounds. He anchored his catch with a 5.20-pounder that took tournament lunker honors and gave Staley an extra $230 to go with his $1,102 second-place check.
"I caught all my fish on drops in about 12 to 20 feet of water on a white, chartreuse and blue or purple and chartreuse DD-22," Staley said. "I caught two fish early and then didn't catch another until about 11 a.m."
In third for the boaters, Michael Sircy of Lebanon only landed three bass, but they weighed 12.69 pounds with one 4.73-pound kicker. Tempting his fish with a 10.5-inch worm, he collected $735.
"I fished deep on the main channel almost to the dam," Sircy advised. "I got bites all day, but couldn't connect with any of them. I caught one bass early and didn't boat another fish until about 11 a.m."
Jerry Strain of Old Hickory took fourth with a five-bass tournament limit weighing 12.19 pounds. Chad Hall of Dora, Ala., rounded out the top five boaters with five bass for 12.17 pounds.
On the Co-Angler side, Dave Beardsley of Murfreesboro landed a three-bass division limit weighing 10.68 pounds, but suffered a one-pound penalty to finish with 9.68 pounds.
"I fished a Carolina rig with a 7-inch green worm," Beardsley stated. "We stayed in the same spot all day. I had faith in the worm."
Tim Sheets of Murfreesboro placed second with three bass at 9.49 pounds. His 4.90-pound kicker took the division big bass title. He pocketed $551 for the effort and another $115 for the lunker.
"Early in the morning, we pulled up to a point off the main channel with some brush piles around it in about five feet of water," Sheets said. "I caught all three of my keepers on five casts. I caught the fish on a 5-inch green pumpkin shaky head. I caught two smaller ones after that."
Bill Bruce of Hendersonville took third among the non-boaters with three bass going 8.50 pounds to take home $367. He fished a Texas-rigged red shad worm with a 1/2-ounce sinker in about 12 feet of water.
Joel White of Hermitage followed with three bass for 8.02 pounds. In fifth, Jeff Barrentine of Hartselle, Ala., landed three keepers weighing 7.97 pounds.
About American Bass Anglers: The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series provides weekend anglers a professionally operated competitive tour with a path the world championship of bass fishing the Bassmaster Classic. American Bass Anglers commitment is to provide low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers and the American Fishing Tour, The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, The American 150 Series or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
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