Tennessee Fishing News

PARIS, Tennessee - For three days, Bobby Lane seemed destined to take his first BASS victory. The Lakeland, Florida, Bassmaster Elite Series pro opened up a nearly 9-pound advantage, barely scratching the surface of a foolproof spot on massive Kentucky Lake. The second-year Elite pro and two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier had it so good he was able to take a nap on the water Friday while defending his area. But on Saturday, the final day of competition at the SpongeTech Tennessee Triumph, things took an unexpected turn.

PARIS, Tennessee - Throughout two competition days, Bobby Lane has taken it fairly easy on Kentucky Lake, and it's debatable as to whether the Lakeland, Florida, pro has broken a sweat. But don't let that fool you. Lane, with 54 pounds, 7 ounces after Day Two on Thursday, has employed a cunning strategy at the SpongeTech Tennessee Triumph, managing a "special" spot for a fraction of his day while employing a tight defense as he leads the field heading into the final two days of competition at the sixth regular-season Bassmaster Elite Series event.

PARIS, Tennessee - In a reversal of fortune, Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Florida, finally took advantage of a hot Kentucky Lake bite, totaling 29 pounds, 14 ounces, Wednesday, which was enough to open up a one-plus pound advantage over four-time Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, at the SpongeTech Tennessee Triumph. Lane, something of a shallow-water specialist, ditched the banks and targeted the ledges, home to the heaviest bass on Kentucky.

Camden, Tennessee - 80 collegiate anglers representing 21 universities throughout the southeast met at Birdsong Resort in Camden, Tennessee on Saturday, May 16 to contest the Tennessee River Rumble on Kentucky Lake. This event was the final of 5 regional events sanctioned by the Association of Collegiate Anglers leading up to the 2009 BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship (CBFC) scheduled for May 25 - 29 at Lake Lewisville, Texas. Careco Multimedia's camera teams were on hand to capture the action. Coverage of the regional events and the CBFC will be featured on the collegiate bass fishing championship television series that will air on the Versus network Saturday mornings this fall.

"Out-of-control good" is what 2008 Bassmaster Classic champion Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, calls the fishing at Kentucky Lake, where the Bassmaster Elite Series will head to next for the June 3-6 SpongeTech Tennessee Triumph out of Paris, Tenn.

SMYRNA, Tennessee- The Music City Division of the $8 million Walmart Bass Fishing League® will visit Percy Priest Lake in Smyrna, Tenn., June 6 for the fourth of five regular-season events. As many as 200 boaters and 200 co-anglers are expected to compete in the tournament, which will award as much as $45,000 in cash, including a top award of $6,000 in the Boater Division.

MORRISTOWN, TENNESEE - The Volunteer Division of the $8 million Walmart Bass Fishing League® will visit Lake Cherokee in Morristown, Tennessee, June 6 for the fourth of five regular-season events. As many as 200 boaters and 200 co-anglers are expected to compete in the tournament, which will award as much as $45,000 in cash, including a top award of $6,000 in the Boater Division.

KODAK, TENNESSEE - The Volunteer Division of the $8 million Walmart Bass Fishing League® will visit Douglas Lake in Kodak, Tennessee, May 9 for the third of five regular-season events. As many as 200 boaters and 200 co-anglers are expected to compete in the tournament, which will award as much as $45,000 in cash, including a top award of $6,000 in the Boater Division.

BYRDSTOWN, TENNESSEE - Jack Poindexter of Livingston, Tennessee, won the Walmart Bass Fishing League® Mountain Division tournament on Dale Hollow Lake Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces. The victory earned Poindexter $4,763 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Norman Regional Championship in Lake Norman, N.C., Oct. 22-24, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - The Volunteer Division of the $8 million Walmart Bass Fishing League® will visit the South Holston Reservoir in Bristol, Tennessee, April 18 for the second of five regular-season events. As many as 200 boaters and 200 co-anglers are expected to compete in the tournament, which will award as much as $45,000 in cash, including a top award of $6,000 in the Boater Division.