Making the Best of a Bad Situation

Boats start returning for weigh-in.

By Ken Testorff

A few familiar faces from the Dewey Mullins Tribute Bass Tourney Series were among those Virginia Region 7 anglers who braved the high winds and low water--make that low, "chocolate" water--to fish the Saturday, May 19, 2012, tournament out of Munden Point Park.

It certainly wasn't a day for fishing creeks, except those deeper ones. I talked to angler Danny Knight, who said he and his partner, Mike White, of the Princess Anne Bassmasters, only could get about 300 yards in one of their favorites before they ran out of water. Danny went on to note that the low, muddy water had North Landing River's supply of bowfin and catfish all stirred up and turned on--he had to wrestle a big one of each specie during the day's fishing. Meanwhile, he and his partner only boated a couple of keeper bass before calling it quits a little ahead of time.

Wayne Hayes (left) weighs the bag of fish
brought in by Craig (right) and Susan Owens.

The day's top honors among the field of 51 boats went to the Virginia Bassmasters team of Craig and Susan Owens, who had an 8-bass limit weighing 20.44 lbs. Their bag included two hefty fish--one over 4 lbs. and another over 5 lbs. Big-fish honors, however, went to Marty Cole of the Backwoods Anglers, with a bass weighing 5.37 lbs. He and his partner, Jeff Hayden, also captured second place in yesterday's tournament, with a total weight of 16.73 lbs.


Those anglers from the Dewey Mullins Tribute Bass Tourney Series who fished yesterday finished the wind-tossed event as follows: In 11th place was the County Bassmasters team of Chris Napier and Alan Dean, with 8 fish weighing 13.78 lbs.; in 20th place was the Confederate Bass Anglers team of Rob Peppers and Al Napier, with 8 fish weighing 10.34 lbs.; and in 22nd place was the Performance Fishing Team of Wayne Hayes and Chris Sims, with 7 fish weighing 9.7 lbs.

(Left) Kevin Massie and his partner, Vince Stuccio, recover their boat.
(Right) Wayne Hayes and his partner, Chris Sims, recover their rig.

Overall 2012 Region 7 tournament standings (through three of four tournaments for the 128 members) show the team of Chris Napier and Alan Dean with a combined total weight of 49.48 lbs., which is only 3.3 lbs. behind the leaders, Brian Cottrell and Ellis Jones, of the Hampton Roads Fishing Team. Meanwhile, the team of Rob Peppers and Al Napier has a combined total weight of 37.65 lbs., which is 15.13 lbs. off the mark; the team of Wayne Hayes and Chris Sims has a combined total weight of 30.6 lbs., which trails the leaders by 22.18 lbs.; and Paul Celentano, of the County Bassmasters, has a combined total weight of 17.01 lbs., which puts him more than 35 lbs. behind the leaders.

(Left & Right) Regional anglers moor at the dock railing in
preparation for bringing their fish to the scales.

Wayne Hayes (in the driver's seat) angles toward the dock to
let out his partner, Chris Sims, so he can go get the tow
vehicle and trailer from the parking lot.