Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 4, 1990 TAG: 9003062305
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: bill cochran outdoor editor
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Blanking out - coming in with no fish to show for their efforts - never enters the minds of Ronnie Lemons and James Dudley. They are there to win.
"We feel like we can win any tournament we go to," said Dudley. "That is just the way we feel. It doesn't work out every time, but we are confident about it."
With the tournament season beginning in earnest this month, Lemons, from Vinton, and Dudley, from Lynchburg, have the kind of confidence that borders on cockiness. And for good reason. Last year, they paired up to put bass in the boat and money in the bank to the tune of just over $24,000.
Not bad for a couple of fellows who call themselves working men first and weekend fishermen second. Lemons is a machinist and Dudley a telephone lineman.
The weekend tournament fisherman has seen his sport become increasingly lucrative, with a growing number of contest sponsors sweetening the pot by waving a swelling wad of money to attract entries.
Most of the tournaments are pool-your-entry-fee affairs, with an 80- to 100-percent payback. The fact that they will attract 100 or so good old boys just hoping to place is helpful to fishermen like Lemons and Dudley who expect to win.
Often they do, or come close. Like last season:
Fourth, Pro-Am Teams, March 18, Kerr Lake, 31 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,001.
First, Pro-Am Greenback, May 6-7, Kerr, 45 pounds, 8 ounces, $20,000.
Fourth, Tarheel Super Big Bucks, May 13, Kerr, 26 pounds, 4 ounces, $2,300.
Tenth, Pro-Am Teams, June 3, Potomac River, 24 pounds, $130.
Twelfth, Pro-Am Classic, Oct. 21-22, Lake Gaston, 8 pounds, 15 ounces, $760.
"Our winnings support our habit," said Dudley, who figures his entry fees this season will total $3,100.
It is possible for a weekend angler to fish a tournament virtually every Saturday or Sunday - or both - from mid-March to mid-October, with maybe a break to take the family to the beach during the hot months of summer.
Add to that schedule a couple of major national tournaments in the state - the BASS Masters Classic and the BASS Federation National Championship - and 1990 is destined to be remembered as the year to cast-for-cash in Virginia.
There are so many contests to choose from that the trick for serious weekend warriors, like Lemons and Dudley, is to map out the most promising tournament trail.
"We are looking at the biggest money tournaments on the lakes that we think we can do the best on," said Lemons.
That puts them on a level above club competition, but under the pro circuit.
With considerable success, a weekend angler might make as much money nowadays in winnings as a pro did 15 years ago.
At Kerr Lake, for example, the Tarheel Team Tournament is paying $20,000 for first place one weekend and the Pro-Am Teams is matching that the next.
Lemons and Dudley came close to winning both last year, reeling in the $20,000 prize in the Pro-Am and falling just 3 pounds short of doing it again the following weekend.
The two anglers call themselves the odd couple. Lemons keeps a neat tackle box and would never think of wiping his hands on his pants after catching a fish.
Dudley is the opposite, tossing lures back into his box much like you'd throw bones to a dog, with little concern for where they land.
"He is Mr. Clean," Dudley says of Lemons. "Ronnie has his tackle box sitting there and everything is in the right order. When I pick up one plug, all of mine come out."
There is little difference, though, when it comes to strategy and respect.
"We think alike," Lemons said. "If something isn't working, he will make a suggestion and we will do it. Or vice-versa."
There is no second guessing. No arguments.
"You have to fish as a team," said Lemons. "No one man can win a teams' tournament."
SIDEBAR
The bass anglers' tournament trail
BASSING AMERICAN GRAND NATIONAL: Mid-Atlantic Region. Kerr Lake, March 11; Gaston Lake, April 1; Potomac River, May 20; Kerr, June 10; Gaston, July 1; James River, July 28-29; Chickahominy River, Aug. 18-19, $50 entry fee, advance to championship. Team tournaments, Gaston, March 31; Potomac, May 19. More information from Bassing America Corp., P.O. Box 796908, Dallas Texas 75379, 214-380-2656.
\ SMITH MOUNTAIN RURITAN CLUB: Spring Partners Bass Tournament, Smith Mountain Lake, March 17, Smith Mountain State Park, $60 per team, $10 lunker pot fee, $2,000 first place, more information and entry forms from Bob Carter, 703-297-7144.
\ AMERICAN BASS ASSOCIATION: Virginia schedule, Lake Gaston, March 18; Smith Mountain Lake, April 8; Chickahominy River, June 24; Kerr Lake, Sept. 16; Smith Mountain, Nov. 4. A $1,500 first place prize, $75 entry fee, $55 for adult-youth. More information, George Rodeheaver, Route 1, Box 55A, Charlottesville 22901, 804-296-7821.
\ PRO-AM TEAMS: Kerr Lake, March 24; Potomac River, April 22; Chickahominy-James River, June 17; Chowan River, July 15; Chickahominy-James, Aug. 11; Gaston Lake, Sept. 9. Entry fees, $75. Greenback's tournaments, payment up to $20,000, Kerr, May 20, Chickahominy-James, Oct. 28, entry fee $300. Classic, Chickahominy-James, Oct. 13-14, more information from Pro-Am, 11647 Jefferson Davis Highway, Chester 23831, 804-796-4992.
\ RADFORD BASSMASTERS: Claytor Lake, March 24, $2,000 pay back, 703-980-8248.
\ TARHEEL TEAM TOURNAMENTS: Virginia Division, Kerr Lake, March 24; Chickahominy-James River, April 14; Lake Gaston, June 9; Chowan River, Aug. 4; Kerr, Sept. 29. Entry fee, $150 per team, $5,000 first place. Super Big Bucks Tournament, Kerr Lake, May 12, $20,000 first place, $500 entry fee. Big Bucks Tournaments, Jordon Lake, April 22; High Rock Lake, June 17; Roanoke River, Sept. 9; Kerr, Nov. 24, $10,000 first place, $225 entry fee. More information from Tarheel Team Tournaments, 2002 Knightdale Drive, Wilson, N.C. 27893.
\ OPERATION BASS RED MAN: Piedmont Region. Kerr Lake, March 25; Gaston Lake, April 29; Kerr, June 3; Chickahominy River, July 22; Gaston, Aug. 12; Kerr, Sept. 23. A $60 per angler entry fee, $10 lunker pot. Membership in Operation Bass required, $18 per year. Top anglers from each region advance toward championship with $100,000 first-place prize. More information from Operation Bass, Route 2, Box 74B, Gilbertville, Ky. 42044, 502-362-4880.
\ HENRY COUNTY BASSMASTERS: Virginia-Carolina Open Team Tournament, Kerr Lake, April 7, $50 per team registration fee, $10 lunker fee, $2,000 first place, Henry County Bassmasters, P.O. Box 4387, Martinsville 24115, 703-629-7273.
\ ROANOKE VALLEY BASSMASTERS: Spring Invitational Partners Tournament, Smith Mountain Lake, April 7, Foxsport Marine Camp, $100 per team entry fee, $10 lunker pot, 90 percent pay back, March 30 deadline, Roanoke Valley Bassmasters, Rt. 1, Box 770, Boones Mill, 24065, 890-4739, 890-3286, 334-5803.
\ VINTON BASSMASTERS: Open Partners Spring Fling, Smith Mountain Lake, April 14, Waterwheel Marina, $60 per team, $1,000 first place, more information from Vic Hamblett, Vinton Bassmasters, P.O. Box 13724, Roanoke 24034, 890-5656.
\ NEW RIVER VALLEY BASSMASTERS: Dogwood Invitational, April 28, Claytor Lake, Claytor Lake State Park, $50 per team entry fee, prizes, $2,500 cash, New River Valley Bassmasters, 107 Wesley Lane, Dublin 24084, 703-674-8502.
\ CAVE SPRING OPTIMIST CLUB: Smith Mountain Lake, May 4-6, $15 entry fee, categories for largemouth, smallmouth, muskie, walleye, crappie and catfish. First place in each category, $600. Cave Spring Optimist Club, P.O. Box 1276, Salem 24153.
\ BAY ROC FISHING TEAM: Smith Mountain Lake, June 2, entry fee $60 per team, $10 optional lunker pot. George Welch, Bay Roc Marina and Yacht Club, Rt. 1, Box 91, Hardy 24101, 890-2194.
\ BASS FEDERATION NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: Smith Mountain Lake, June 21-23, Bay Roc Marina and Yacht Club launch site, LancerLot weigh in.
\ BASS MASTERS CLASSIC: Richmond-James River, Aug. 23-25, weigh in Richmond Coliseum.
\ OAK RIDGE TOYOTA, INC.: Smith Mountain Lake, Sept. 22, first prize a pickup truck, details to be announced later, Oak Ridge Toyota, 301 Oakley Ave., Lynchburg 24501, 804-528-3202.
\ VINTON BASSMASTERS: Smith Mountain Lake Partners Tournament, early October, details later, Vic Hamblett, 890-5656.
\ SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA BOAT DEALERS ASSOCIATION: Smith Mountain Invitational, Smith Mountain Lake, late October, details later, Bay Roc Marina. George Welch, Bay Roc Marina and Yacht Club, Rt. 1, Box 91, Hardy 24101, 890-2194.
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