Todd Auten and Pat Tierney thought they had a good sack, 10 or 11 pounds maybe, but instead the pair had a solid 13 pounds, 1 ounce, enough to best the rest of the field at the Toyota Trucks Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament on Lake Norman by 2 pounds, 4 ounces.
“I was just hunting and pecking all day,” said Auten, a former Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Lake Wylie, S.C. “The fish were scattered. You couldn’t pin them down, so you just had to fish the whole area once you found a good spot.”
The two-man team fished docks and brushpiles in main channel pockets in the upper and midsection of the lake. They ran only 20 to 30 minutes from the launch area and stayed in about the same area all day.
“We fished a lot of good stuff and never got a bite,” said Tierney. “It was really hard out there.”
Auten and Tierney were among the 32 boats that brought in a five-fish limit. Of the 75 teams, 17 zeroed. Many of the anglers had a hard time catching fish that measured a full 14 inches, and several — including the winners — complained of missed fish and breakoffs.
Auten and Tierney caught their two biggest bass on a white homemade buzzbait. The other three came on a Shooter Jigs jig with a green pumpkin Zoom Super Chunk or a shaky head rig with a 4-inch Zoom Finesse Worm (green pumpkin). Tierney fished with a 6-10 medium-heavy Shimano Clarus rod and a Quantum KVD reel with a 6.2:1 gear ratio. Auten’s setup was a 7-0 medium-heavy All Star Rods 845 rod with a Pflueger Supreme baitcast reel. Both used 20-pound-test Bass Pro Shops Excel Clear monofilament.
The winning team took home a check for $5,000. And Auten’s cash winnings didn’t stop with his first place prize, he also picked up a $500 “Weigh-to-Win” bonus because of his membership in the BoatUS ANGLER supported program. Auten and Tierney also tied for the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass award, with a 4-pound, 2-ounce beauty. Shane Lineberger and Hank Cherry, who came in third with 10 pounds, 10 ounces, caught the other big fish. The second-place team of Joel Ross and Jerry Goble brought in a limit of 10 pounds, 13 ounces.
“This is a great deal here,” said Auten. “You don’t get the opportunity to fish free hardly ever.” The Toyota Trucks Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament required no entry fee. Instead, competitors simply had to be a participant in the Toyota Trucks Bonus Bucks program.
Because of the $0 entry fee, many competitors said they came out merely to have a good time. “As soon as I found out about this tournament, I signed up for it,” said Markus Whitman of North Carolina. “I’m just here for fun!”
Several pros were in attendance for the event — and not just bass pros. Racing stars Timothy Peters and Parker Kligerman, who are currently in the Top 5 in the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Official Driver Standings, visited today’s weigh-in and met Bassmaster Elite Series pros Terry Scroggins, Michael Iaconelli and Gerald Swindle.
“They were cool to meet,” said Kligerman, “especially because we have such similar lives. They’ve got a lot of personality.”
Peters even went fishing with Kevin VanDam this morning. “I understand he’s the Dale Earnhardt of the fishing world,” said Peters. “He taught me how to use a baitcaster today, and he gave me a rod, reel and some lures. And I caught a bass, too!”
This tournament is the first of its kind for Toyota Trucks Bonus Bucks owners, and it’s planned to become an annual event.
“This is our way of thanking the working guy for buying the truck,” said Alan McGuckin, a representative of Toyota. “This has really been great.”
About B.A.S.S.
For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles. The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications — Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times — comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle. The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Cabela’s B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic. B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.
2012 Toyota Trucks Bonus Buck Owners Tournament 11/14-11/14
Lake Norman, Charlotte NC.
Standings
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 13-01 0
Day 1: 5 13-01
2. Joel Ross Brandon, MS 5 10-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-13
3. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 10-10 0
Day 1: 5 10-10
4. Todd Massey Chapel Hill, NC 5 10-07 0
Day 1: 5 10-07
5. Tony Hatten Huntersville, NC 5 10-01 0
Day 1: 5 10-01
6. Pete Bejte Charlotte, NC 5 09-11 0
Day 1: 5 09-11
7. Troy Lehew Charlotte, NC 5 09-08 0
Day 1: 5 09-08
8. Brad Voegele Hamilton, AL 5 09-07 0
Day 1: 5 09-07
9. Joshua Queen Lincolton, NC 5 09-02 0
Day 1: 5 09-02
9. David G Williams Maiden, NC 5 09-02 0
Day 1: 5 09-02
11. Thomas Coleman Kernersville, NC 5 09-00 0
Day 1: 5 09-00
11. Dwayne Linkous Dublin, VA 5 09-00 0
Day 1: 5 09-00
13. Ray Gilleland Davidson, NC 5 08-15 0
Day 1: 5 08-15
14. Brad Wright Granite Falls, NC 5 08-14 0
Day 1: 5 08-14
15. Wayne Hauser Mooresville, NC 5 08-10 0
Day 1: 5 08-10
15. Joseph Trinko Southern Pines, NC 5 08-10 0
Day 1: 5 08-10
17. Derrick Bridges Greenville, SC 5 08-08 0
Day 1: 5 08-08
17. Jimmy Hale Jr Martinsville, VA 5 08-08 0
Day 1: 5 08-08
19. Brent Long Cornelius, NC 5 08-07 0
Day 1: 5 08-07
19. Phil Mansfield Palm Harbor, FL 5 08-07 0
Day 1: 5 08-07
21. Charles Fox Dallas, NC 5 08-06 0
Day 1: 5 08-06
22. Bryan Lefever Stateville, NC 5 08-03 0
Day 1: 5 08-03
23. Paul McDowell Jr Princeton, WV 5 08-00 0
Day 1: 5 08-00
24. Rick Steckelbeg Eastonllee, GA 5 07-15 0
Day 1: 5 07-15
25. Rob Middleton Huntersville, NC 5 07-11 0
Day 1: 5 07-11
26. Vann Gilleland Concord, NC 5 07-09 0
Day 1: 5 07-09
27. Phillip Witmer Huddleston, VA 5 07-08 0
Day 1: 5 07-08
28. Markus Whitman Elon, NC 5 07-07 0
Day 1: 5 07-07
29. Tim Malone Gatlinburg, TN 5 07-03 0
Day 1: 5 07-03
30. David Burqin Lincolnton, NC 5 07-00 0
Day 1: 5 07-00
31. Darren Raabe Sumter, SC 4 07-00 0
Day 1: 4 07-00
32. Chris Allison West Portsmouth, OH 5 06-15 0
Day 1: 5 06-15
33. Steve Miller Mechanicsville, VA 5 06-10 0
Day 1: 5 06-10
34. Adam Evans Dandridge, TN 4 05-15 0
Day 1: 4 05-15
35. Greg Lyko Pelzer, SC 4 05-12 0
Day 1: 4 05-12
36. Bradwell Sampey Savannah, GA 4 05-08 0
Day 1: 4 05-08
37. Scott Dupree Wake Forest, NC 3 05-00 0
Day 1: 3 05-00
38. Duane D Glassco Chester, VA 3 04-05 0
Day 1: 3 04-05
39. Carey Matheson Mooresville, NC 2 04-01 0
Day 1: 2 04-01
40. James Mcmullen Quakertown, PA 2 03-13 0
Day 1: 2 03-13
41. Hamilton Derricott Chesterfield, VA 2 03-11 0
Day 1: 2 03-11
42. Larry M Edwards Pipestem, WV 3 03-08 0
Day 1: 3 03-08
43. Melvin Harris Mt. Pleasant, NC 2 03-01 0
Day 1: 2 03-01
44. Jim Cline Mount Holly, NC 2 02-10 0
Day 1: 2 02-10
45. Darrell Pons Sr. Gainesville, FL 2 02-06 0
Day 1: 2 02-06
46. Christopher Graham Camden, SC 1 02-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-06
47. Rondell Chambers Henrico, VA 1 01-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-13
48. Frank Mackin New Port Richey, FL 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11
49. Edgar Alewine Lexington, SC 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08
50. Charles Donahue Clayton, DE 1 01-07 0
Day 1: 1 01-07
50. Jeffrey Myers Martinsburg, WV 1 01-07 0
Day 1: 1 01-07
52. Garry Rogers Statesville, NC 2 01-06 0
Day 1: 2 01-06
53. Matthew Dissinger Lebanon, PA 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05
54. Chris Hamilton LaGrange, NC 1 01-03 0
Day 1: 1 01-03
55. James Turner Charlotte, NC 2 01-02 0
Day 1: 2 01-02
56. Travis Dehart Greenville, SC 1 01-01 0
Day 1: 1 01-01
56. Gregg Keller Ellabell, GA 1 01-01 0
Day 1: 1 01-01
58. Lewis Bouhkris Hendersonville, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. Jerry Burford Lawrenceville, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. David Converse Carthage, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. James Dickens Beauex, WV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. Vernie Haltwinger Lexington, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. Paul Ham West Columbia, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. William Jones Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. Scott Kennedy Mooresville, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. Deandrae Kimbrough Tuscaloosa, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. Eric Klotz Bowling Green, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. Jim Lovelace Liberty Township, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. Greg Ory 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. Lynn Roller Fort Worth, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. Brett Self Griffin, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. Joel Setser Daniels, WV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. David Sharpe Statesville, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. Jeff Tant Eden, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
58. Ronald Waters Denver, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 32 211 353-04
———————————-
32 211 353-04