ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 24, 1997 TAG: 9702250147
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
Two national bass tournaments and a bevy of state and regional contests are destined to keep anglers busy casting for cash this year on Virginia waters.
B.A.S.S. plans its Federation Eastern Division Championship from Sept.21-26 at Kerr Lake. This event, with headquarters in South Hill, will send one fisherman from Virginia, along with one representative from other Eastern states, to the 1998 Wrangler/B.A.S.S. National Championship. The championship is an avenue for so-called ``amateur'' anglers to qualify for the BASS Masters Classic.
The new $3.1 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour stops at 50,000-acre Kerr from April 30-May 3. Headquarters will be Henderson, N.C., but most of the fishing will be done in Virginia water.
The tournament offers $100,000 to the winner, and leads to a tournament June 25-28 on Lake Minnetonka in suburban Minneapolis that will pay a $1 million purse, the largest in the history of competitive bass fishing.
Last week, the Wal-Mart FLW Tour announced it had added Pepsi-Cola as a sponsor. Other sponsors, in addition to Wal-Mart, are Evinrude and Johnson outboards, CITGO petroleum, Chevrolet trucks and Ranger boats.
``Corporate America is rapidly awakening to the enormous marketing opportunities that exist within the fishing industry,'' said Irwin Jacobs, chairman of the tour.
The new circuit has attracted big-name bass pros, along with a number of serious fishermen from Virginia.
Here's the schedule for regional tournaments:
ALLEGHANY COUNTY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The chamber has scheduled its
annual Bass Bonanza. Entry fees and other details have yet to be finalized. Information from 540) 962-2178.
June 1 Lake Moomaw
VIRGINIA DIVISION
AMERICAN BASS ASSOCIATION
Unlike some circuits, this one encourages participation from women and youngsters and attracts father-son, father-daughter and husband-wife teams. A $25 membership in the association is required. Entry fees are $75 per adult team; $55 per adult-youth team. First place pays $2,000. Contact Wesley Dew, (540) 862-7977.
March 23 Kerr Lake
April 20 Lake Gaston
May 18 Smith Mountain Lake
June 8 Lake Moomaw
BLUE RIDGE BASSMASTERS
This is a new club, a spinoff from the Roanoke Valley Bassmasters. Bruce Falls, the president, said the organization likely will sponsor an open tournament, but dates haven't been set. Information on the club is available from Falls, 989-1446.
CAMPERS PARADISE
Tuesday night tournaments at this marina on Smith Mountain Lake will begin in May and run every other week into October. Dates and other details haven't been set. The tournament director is Billy Hancock, 297-5092.
CAVE SPRING OPTIMIST CLUB
At age 29, the Optimist Club of Cave Spring Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Tournament is the longest-running regional tournament. While it has categories for largemouth and smallmouth, it isn't strictly a bass tournament. There also are crappie, muskie, walleye and catfish divisions. There are no changes in the format for this year. Entry fee is $25, and the payoff is $800 to the winner in each division. Tournament brochures will be available in two weeks at sports shops or from the Optimist Club of Cave Spring, P.O. Box 1276, Salem, 24153.
May 2-4 Smith Mountain Lake
NEW RIVER BASSMASTERS
The annual Dogwood Tournament is a major bass contest for Claytor Lake. Information is available from (540) 639-1038.
April 26 Claytor Lake
PRO-AM TEAMS
This Virginia-based circuit consists of six qualifying events followed by a classic and a top-50 tournament. A $35 membership is required. The qualifying tournaments have a $75 entry fee. In addition, there is an open Chucky Fulghum Memorial tournament that does not require membership. Information is available from Pro-Am Teams, 11647 Jefferson Davis Highway, Chester, 23831, (804) 796-4992.
March 16 Lake Gaston
April 3 Kerr Lake
May 18 Potomac River
June 21 Chickahominy-James rivers
Sept. 14 Potomac River
Oct. 11-12 Classic, Lake Gaston
Oct. 19 Big bass, Lake Gaston
July 12 Chucky Fulgham Memorial,
Chickahominy-James rivers
RED MAN
The Piedmont Division of Red Man has scheduled six tournaments that offer anglers the opportunity to advance to higher competition, including the Red Man All-American, which pays $100,000 to the winner. The division tournaments have a $75 entry fee and a guaranteed first-place cash award of $1,000. Information is available from Operation Bass, 88 Moors Road, Gilbertsville, Ky., 420443, (502) 362-8110.
March 9 Kerr Lake
April 13 Lake Gaston
April 27 Smith Mountain Lake
August 17 James River
Sept. 14 Potomac River
Oct. 5 Kerr Lake
ROANOKE VALLEY BASSMASTERS
The annual Spring Invitational Partners Tournament is one of the oldest bass events in the region. There is a $60
entry fee. Information is available from Keith Dooley, 774-8379. The club has voted to discontinue its night tournaments.
March 29 Smith Mountain Lake
SMITH MOUNTAIN RURITAN
The 18th annual Ruritan tournament is one of the earliest events of the fishing season. It will be at Smith Mountain Lake State Park. Entry fee is $60 per team. Information from Russ Carrico, 297-2379, or Dan Ziegler, 297-7492.
March 15 Smith Mountain Lake
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA BOAT DEALERS ASSOCIATION
This organization treats its customers each year by sponsoring an invitational tournament on Smith Mountain Lake with a modest $20 entry fee. Contact Bay Roc Marina for information, 890-2194.
Oct. 11 Smith Mountain Lake
STAR CITY BASSMASTERS
This Roanoke-based club has scheduled its annual Special Olympics Charity tournament on Smith Mountain Lake. Entry fee is $50. Information is available from Chuck Hart, 389-5920.
April 19 Smith Mountain Lake
STONE MOUNTAIN BASSMASTERS
An early-season tournament out of Saunders Marina has been scheduled by this Smith Mountain Lake club. The entry fee is $60. Information is available from Billy Hancock, 297-5092.
March 22 Smith Mountain Lake
TARHEEL TEAMS
This circuit has a new Virginia Division, which will feature tournaments on five Virginia lakes. Entry fee is $165 per team. A $30 membership in the organization is required. Information from Tarheel Team Tournaments, 2506-A Wooten Blvd., Wilson, N.C., 27839, (919) 243-4665.
March 8 Kerr Lake
April 5 Smith Mountain Lake
May 10 Kerr Lake
May 31 Kerr Lake
June 29 Lake Gaston
August 24 Kerr Lake
Sept. 27-28 Championship, Gaston, 27;
Kerr, 28.
VIRGINIA STATE
B.A.S.S. FEDERATION
Mr.Bass, one of the federation's major tournaments, will return to Smith Mountain Lake, as will the federation's charity tournament. In addition, Region IV of the federation has scheduled tournaments on area lakes. The region's director is Mike Huffman of New Castle, (800) 231-0936.
April 12-13 Mr. Bass, Smith Mountain Lake
May 3-4 Six-man team Group 1, Kerr Lake
Oct. 11 Charity tournament, Smith Mountain Lake
Region IV
April 5 Smith Mountain Lake
May 17 Lake Gaston
June 14 Kerr Lake
Sept. 6 Claytor Lake
LENGTH: Long : 175 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: BILL COCHRAN/Staff. Contest anglers will be looking forby CNBbass like this one landed by Jim Abers during a 1996 tournament at
Kerr Lake. color.