Staff report
The Piedmont North Carolina Division of Fishers Of Men National Bass Tournament trail held the final tournament of the 2012 season at High Rock Lake on Saturday.
The pretournament meeting was held at High Rock Community Church East Campus.
Although it was a windy day on High Rock, most teams brought fish to the scales as they were all competing for a spot in the Regional Championships on Lake Erie in September.
Brad Houchins and Brayden Rakes of Thomasville won the event as they brought 18.22 pounds to the Flow Motor Scales as well as the Big Fish for the Year of 5.84 pounds. Rakes and Houchins also won 2 Cashion Rods in a Drawing.
This secured them a $1,218 paycheck.
Finishing second was the team of Jon Morgan of Rockwell and Rodney Eller of Landis, who netted 16.5 pounds receiving a check of $598.
Third place went to CJ Johnston and Matt Stanley of Salisbury with 13.91 pounds and a payoff of $416.
Fourth place went to Jonathon Leonard and Andrew Byrd of Belews Creek, who was only .01 ounces behind with 13.90 pounds receiving $389.
Securing the points championship for the year and barely edging out three-time runner up Steve Singleton and AL Needham was the team of Kenny Ray Seagle of China Grove and Drew Montgomery of Mooresville with a weight of 11.74 and banking a total of $1,288.
Second Big fish went to Gary Payne and Weldon Tolber of Mt Airy with a 5.46-pound lunker.
Special awards were given out at weigh in as Seagle and Montgomery won the Points Championship. Rodney Eller was awarded the Bruce Briggs Christ-like award. Angler of the year voted by the anglers went to Eddie Caudill.
Rookie Team of the year award went to Marty Nester and Joey Pack.
The Adult/Jr. Champion was Cameron and Scott Andrews. The Guy–Gal champion was Marc and Monica Morrison.
Automatic bids to the Regional Championships were awarded to the following teams won at least one of the 2012 events.
They were Points Champions Seagle and Montgomery, Belews Creek Champions Ricky Goings and Jack Hardy, Lake Wylie Champions Mark Benge and Rodney Cozart, Lake Norman winners Wes Lewis and Kelli Tremblay, Badin Lake winner Adam Vanhoy and Ricky Cooper and High Rock Lake Champions Rakes and Houchins.
The FOM Fall Club will begin on Aug. 25.
For more information call, Director Mike Sides at 704-239-4097.
We cannot do this without the help of our sponsors.
Our Divisional sponsors are: Nester Hosiery, Snyders Packaging, Tamarac Marina, Ben Franklin Attorney at Law, Cagles General Store, and Flow Motors
Our tournament sponsors are: Sports Fisherman’s Center, Bass Pro Shops, J&B Custom Rods, The Trophy House, Asheboro Alarm and Electric Co., Cashion Custom Rods, Pine Ridge General Store, Katie Matthews CPA, and Muddy Water Guide Service
Sponsoring our Adult/Jr. teams is Lyerly Dental
The door prize sponsors are: Advance Auto, Hwy 49 Sporting Goods, Fishing Fever, and Fleming Candy Co.