Treon Wins Angler of the Year

Okay, so there is another headline about Treon.

The Allatoona tournament wrapped up the 2005 season for the PTCBA. Andy Treon went into the tournament with a 21+ pound lead over Donnie Hendrickson. Donnie held nearly a 10 pound lead over Mick Keener.

Donnie had a solo fish and added a little over a pound to his YTD points. Mick's 13.59 pounds advanced him over Donnie to take the second spot in the Angler of the Year standings.

Jim Norton's catch was enough for him to pass Lanier Hunt for fourth place.

The 2006 Top Six team looks like this:

Andy Treon

Mick Keener

Donnie Hendrickson

Jim Norton

Lanier Hunt

Jim Daughtry

Congratulations to all of these guys.

Master Of His Own Domain

Finally, a headline that isn't about Treon. Yes folks, we have a new winner this month.

In early December the Peachtree City Bass Anglers traveled up I-75 to Lake Allatoona for the first time in recorded history. The Toona is Mick Keener's home lake and Mick has been trying to get it on our schedule for years. This year, with Donnie's help, it finally happened.

The day started out partly cloudy and cold—about 28°. There was a 30% chance of rain which changed to 100% by about 7:30 am. The temperature warmed a little, but the rain was pretty persistent. At least until the wind started to blow.

Seeing how most of the club had never been on the lake except for nighttime drunken water skiing, it was a bit expected that there wouldn't be any record creels. It actually turned out pretty fair considering the odds that were against us.

Mick prevailed on his home turf with an excellent sack of spots that weighed 13.59 pounds. I know he was relieved. Could you imagine the crap he would have had to put up with had he not won?

In second place was Jim Norton with three fish that weighed 7.26 pounds. Jim might would have had something for Mick if he wouldn't have had battery problems. He spent the second half of the day enjoying a hot cheeseburger in the warm confines of Hardee's.

Andy Treon finished in third place with two fish and 2.63 pounds, while Mike Sullivan rounded out the top four. Mike's two fish weighed 2.43 pounds.

Despite the rain, cold and wind, it wasn't a bad tournament. We've done worse on our "favorite" lakes.

Treon Does It Yet Again

The Peachtree City Bass Anglers fished Lake Oconee this month. Oconee has become a fixture in our schedule this time of year, and it usually takes about 10 pounds to win.

The lake appeared to be turning over in areas, but that didn't seem to prevent us from catching fish on the Friday before the tournament. The few who were able to prefish caught fish—although some of them were small.

Saturday morning found the lake covered in a blanket of fog that reduced the visibility to about 100 feet. We decided to idle away and start fishing. The fog lifted about an hour and a half later and everyone was able to hit the big water.

At weigh-in it was once again Andy Treon who took the top spot. Andy weighed a limit that totaled 10.35 pounds, including a 4 pounder that took the big fish money.

Mark Ward brought in four fish that weighed 6.81 pounds and took second place. Jim Daughtry had a pair of Sugar Creek rip-rap fish that weighed in at 4.32 pounds—good enough for third place. Rounding out the top four was Mick Keener who had a sole keeper at 2.05 pounds.

Donnie Hendrickson couldn't fish the tournament, so Andy's lead in the year to date standings increased to 21.41 pounds. There is one tournament left this year. On December 3, the club will fish Lake Allatoona for the first time in at least the past 11 years, maybe for the first time in the history of the club.

Ditto, Blah, Blah, Blah...

The Peachtree City Bass Anglers braved three dollar per gallon fuel to go to Lake Guntersville this month. We had hoped they would be on the rat bite that is legendary this time of year, but it proved otherwise for us.

The lake gave up some good fish during practice on Friday, but no one seemed to be on a rat bite. There were reports of a few blow-ups but no hook-ups. A cold front was bearing down on northeastern Alabama Friday afternoon as is the norm with our tournaments.

Day one found Andy Treon once again on top with four fish, 13.35 pounds, and a 4.42 pounder that took the big fish money. The club's newest member, Tom Nicodemus, had a great catch of three fish and a total weight of 8.79 pounds. Matt Davis also had three keepers and 6.79 pounds. Ronnie Hendrickson (AKA The Peckerhead King) rounded out the day one top four with a pair of fish that weighed 4.40 pounds.

Day two found the cold front settled in and the fish tougher to catch. Ris Cowan rebounded from zero to hero with a lone five pounder—enough for all of the money. Matt Davis added another fish and 1.63 pounds to his creel. No one else weighed a fish on Sunday.

In the end it was once again Andy Treon taking the top spot. Tom Nicodemus took second, Matt Davis third and Ris Cowan fourth.

Andy now leads Donnie by more than 11 pounds in the year-to-date standings with two tournaments left on the schedule.

Treon Wins Again, Again

After changing the September tournament from Logan Martin to Lake Lanier, it was changed again to Lake Harding (Bartlett's Ferry).

It was a pretty typical tournament for us. The fish were still in their summer patterns and were not very easy to catch. Most fish were caught early in the day in shallow water.

Going into the tournament, Donnie Hendrickson held the top spot on the Year To Date leader board by less than a pound over Andy Treon. Donnie did his best to add to that lead by catching 3 fish that weighed 7.25 pounds, but it wasn't enough. Andy managed four fish and a weight of 8.51 pounds and took the lead for Angler of the Year (aside from winning his fourth tournament of the year).

Tom Nicodemus, nearly eligible for full membership, had no fear in bringing a sole 4.62 pound lunker to the scales. It would hold up for big fish of the tournament and gave Tom third place.

Mark Ward finished fourth with three fish and 2.50 pounds.

Next month the club will travel to Lake Guntersville for a two day event on October 8-9.

Treon Wins Again

The most common descriptive word you will find on this site is tough. Pretty much every tournament we have had this year has been tough. The weather was tough. The fishing was tough. The conditions were tough. It is getting tough to come up with other words that describe how tough it was.

A check of the Thesaurus suggests words such as:

difficult, hard, challenging, demanding, exacting, arduous, strenuous, daunting, taxing, tricky and testing.

Personally, I find myself partial to arduous or testing.

The headline could read: "Andy Treon Wins An Arduous And Testing Tournament At Blue Ridge".

Well, whatever. It was a tough tournament. There were plenty of shallow fish and no lack of fish that would follow a bait, but few that would actually bite.

This was the first tournament we have fished on a predominately smallmouth bass lake. Our general lack of experience with smallies probably contributed to our lack of fish in the livewells, but most everyone found fish. Getting them to bite was a different story.

Andy Treon caught a few here and there and took first place with five fish that weighed 5.40 pounds.

Tim Griffin, the local favorite, weighed in a pair of nice smallies that weighed 3.50 pounds and placed second.

Third place went to Mike Sullivan who had three fish and 3.40 pounds, while prospective member Tom Nicodemus took the fourth place spot with 2 fish and 2.70 pounds.

Big fish went to Jim Daughtry for a nice 2.60 pound smallmouth.

The club is taking the summer off and will fish Bartlett's Ferry (Lake Harding) on September 10.

Treon Wins A Tough One At Hartwell

After a few tough tournaments, the club had high hopes that our May event on Lake Hartwell would be a turning point. Unfortunately, it wasn't.

Mike Sullivan and Andy Treon each had a limit on Saturday. Mike took the day's top spot by less than a half-pound over Andy. (Mike was fishing out of the back of Andy's boat, so you can add him to the Matt Davis hall of fame.)

Lanier Hunt brought the big fish of day one to the scales—a 3.85 pound largemouth.

Jim Norton, Tony Vacinek, Tom Nicodemus and Cliff Bost each weighed a solo fish the first day.

Day two found Andy with two fish and Mike with only one. Jim Norton, Tony Vacinek, Eddie Privett, Jim Daughtry and Matt Davis all had a solo fish.

In the end, Andy beat Mike by 1.80 pounds to take first place with 9.95 pounds. He also took the day two big fish money for his 2.60 pound monster largemouth.

Mike placed second with 8.15 pounds and moved up seven places in the year to date standings.

Jim Norton's 2 fish and 4.15 pounds was enough for third and Lanier's 3.85 pound big fish of the tournament was enough to take fourth place.

The fish were biting as we saw at another club's weigh-in on Saturday, we just didn't find them.

Next up is Lake Blue Ridge on June 11-12.

Griffin Goes Fishin'

The Second April tournament was held at Lake Russell on April 23-24. The big story once again was the weather.

Not many club members showed up for the tournament due to work obligations and other sorry excuses. The few that did had to deal with a major cold front which brought unseasonably cold air and very high winds.

Tim Griffin knew where the fish would be under those conditions, and threw a spinnerbait into blow-downs to catch the only limit on the first day.

Matt Davis continued his streak of out-catching his boater and brought four fish to the scales on day one. Joe Schwering had two fish and Mark Ward had the big fish of the day with a solo 2.90 pounder.

Day two found Jim Daughtry at the top of the daily heap with three fish and a weight of 4.25 pounds, but it was Tim Griffin in the driver's seat with three more fish and four more pounds.

Tim's total was 11.20 pounds. Second place went to Matt "From the back of the boat" Davis who had six fish and 6.35 pounds.

Jim "The Ringmaster" Daughtry placed third with four fish and 5.30 pounds, while Mark Ward had three fish and 4.80 pounds and took fourth place.

Eddie Privett's 2.00 pound fish ended up taking the big fish money for the second day.

Next up is Lake Hartwell on May 14-15.

Another Top Six Lunker

At the Top Six Classic last year, PTCBA member Don DeHaven caught the big fish of the tournament, a 7.15 pound lunker.

This year, in keeping with tradition, it was a Peachtree City Bass Angler who caught the big fish of the tournament.

On day one, Donnie Hendrickson weighed in an 8.84 pounder. It held up as the biggest fish of the tournament and was worth $2300.

West Point Gives Up Some Fish

Less people caught more fish at West Point this month than any of our tournaments so far this year. Most of the fish were spots, but there were some decent largemouth taken also.

The club fished a one day event at West Point Lake in conjunction with the official practice period of the Top Six Classic.

Andy Treon and Eddie Privett were the only two who were able to practice on Friday, and both were on fish. Eddie's best five on Friday weighed about 15 pounds.

At weigh-in Andy, Eddie, Tony Vacinek, Joe Schwering and George Edwards had limits of five fish.

Andy took the top spot with a total weight of 11.15 pounds while Eddie finished a close second with 10.15 pounds. Andy had the big fish of the tournament at 3.15 pounds.

Third place went to Tony Vacinek with five fish and 7.50 pounds. Joe Schwering finished fourth with a limit and 5.50 pounds.

George Edwards gets honorary mention for his first limit and a weight of 4.80 pounds.

Our next tournament is on Lake Russell on April 23-24.

Keener Conquers Oconee, V.2

The Peachtree City Bass Anglers hit Lake Oconee in early March for a single-day tournament. After two pretty tough events where the (bad) weather was a factor, the club was looking forward to a good tournament. Well, other than the wind, it was pretty good weather, but the wind was tough.

Mick Keener used up all of his trolling motor batteries and almost every drop of gas in his boat fighting the wind, but it was worth it. Mick brought five almost identical fish to the weigh-in that totaled 15.60 pounds.

It was the only limit of fish brought in and gave Mick a first place finish. Mick won the fall tournament at Oconee in 2003 also.

Jim Daughtry may have used up all of his trolling motor batteries, but he didn't burn much gas. He stayed in the same area for almost the whole day and caught a pair of nice fish. Jim's total weight was 9.10 pounds.

Third place went to Donnie Hendrickson. Donnie had two fish, one of which tipped the scales at 6.65 pounds and took the big fish money. His total weight was 8.85 pounds. Lanier Hunt took fourth with three fish and a weight of 8.60 pounds.

The rest of the club didn't fare so well. Only one other person caught two fish, four anglers weighed a single fish, and five were zeroes. Over all, it was another tough tournament.

The angler of the year race seems to have become a four man show. After just three tournaments, Donnie, Lanier, Mick and Jim Norton have pulled away from the rest of the field. It will definitely be a fight to the finish this year. 

Guntersville Gives Mixed Results

The Peachtree City Bass Anglers traveled to Guntersville, Alabama in late February for a two-day tournament.

The wild card as usual was the weather. Saturday was a little cold, but the rain held off and some good sacks of fish were brought to the scales.

Leading the pack on day one was Donnie Hendrickson. Donnie and his partner Jim Norton made a long trek up the lake and found early limits of five fish. Donnie had a total weight of 17.45 pounds, including the big fish of the day at 5.70 pounds. Jim also had a healthy sack of fish that weighed 14.80 pounds.

Mick Keener brought four fish to the scales on the first day and had a total weight of 13.30 pounds. Lanier Hunt had two nice fish and a weight of 8.10 pounds.

There were a couple other solo fish weighed and several zeroes on the first day.

Day two began with a steady, cold rain. Most of those who were not on fish decided to cut their losses and head home to watch the Great American Race. There were only four anglers with the guts and will to stay and brave the weather.

Donnie and Jim were two of those daring souls—even with a forty minute boat ride ahead of them. In the end it paid off as they each brought back fish. Jim was the man to beat on Sunday with three fish, 10.25 pounds and a six pound lunker that would prove to be the tournament-winning fish. Donnie couldn't quite beat him with two fish and 6.80 pounds.

Jim's two-day total was 25.05 pounds, while Donnie finished with 24.25 pounds. Both very respectable weights for any lake or tournament.

No one else weighed any fish on the second day. Mick took third place with 13.30 pounds and Lanier's 8.10 pounds held up for fourth place.

Next month will find the club at Lake Oconee for a single-day tournament. The Angler of the Year race is heating up already and Jim seems determined to defend his title. Stay tuned...

Blow, Blow, Seminole Wind

Where have we heard that before?

It was just a typical Lake Seminole tournament for us. Brutal temperatures, wind and rain made the conditions less than favorable. Well, you can't control the weather and we're goin' anyway.

Day one of our Seminole tournament started with air temps in the mid thirties, wind 15-20 mph from the northeast, and rain, cold rain. The water temperature had dropped about five degrees in a day to about 47°. It was very uncomfortable for us and appeared to be uncomfortable for the fish, also.

Lanier "I'm fishin' every tournament this year" Hunt took the lead with two (count 'em!) fish, including an ugly Seminole bass that weighed 4.60 pounds. Matt Davis also weighed in a four pounder. The rest of the club either caught a squeaker or went home.

The day two weather was better. Still a bit cold, but no rain and the wind had laid down considerably. Once again Lanier came in with the big fish of the day, a pretty 5.70 pounder. Ronnie "I think I'll go fishin' today" Hendrickson was Lanier's closest competition with a lone 3.55 pound fish. Everyone else had a squeaker or had gone home.

In the end, Lanier blew away the field with a total of 12.15 pounds. Matt finished second with 4.15 pounds while Ronnie's 3.55 pounds was enough for third. Andy Treon finished fourth with three fish and a weight of 3.40 pounds.

There's always next year...(Where have we heard that?)