Lake Wateree – February 3rd, 2018
The Southeastern Catfish Club hosted its 6th tournament of the 2017-2018 season on Lake Wateree Saturday, February 3rd.
Tournament registration opened at 5am sharp, and temperatures were in the low 20s as folks huddled around the heater by the sign-in table. Luckily, we had coffee brewing courtesy of the kind folks at the state park. Wendy, you’re the best! In the end, 49 teams were ready to cash in again on the winter bite and compete for the $4,800 purse!
Rains throughout the week made most of the lake chocolate soup, and surface water temps still hovered in the high 40s. Teams that pre-fished over the last week reported catching fish all over the lake, so half the teams went north and the other half went south at blast-off. Reports were that the bite was great, and many team brought excellent stringers to the weigh-in. In the end, Steve Whitley and Shane Owenby got the job done again and took home their first win of the season with a 86.49lb stringer. Their 1st place placed finish earned them a whopping $2,380!
Less than a pound behind, Jamie and Blake Williams of Team Backland Outdoors finished in 2nd place with a total weight of 85.90lbs and collected $1,180. Richard Warskow and Chris Lunsford of Team Keepin’ It Reel finished in 3rd place with a 79.91lb stringer and collected $400. They also had 2nd Big Fish of the tournament with a 40.13lb blue and collected another $260 bringing their total winnings to $660. Lindsay Bigham and Rob McHenry of Team Troller had Big Fish of the tournament with a 41.02lb bruiser blue and collected $600.
Congratulations to Steve Whitley and Shane Owenby of Team 2nd String for adding a win to their impressive run this season! They continue to stretch their lead on the field.
We look forward to seeing everyone next month back on Fishing Creek on March 3rd!
Tight Lines!
Brian Snipes and Josh Coggins
Total Weights
| Place | Team | Members | Total Weight | Big Fish | Tournament Points |
| 1 | Team 2nd String | Steve Whitley, Shane Owenby | 86.49 | 37.16 | 30 |
| 2 | Team Backland Outdoors | Blake Williams, Jamie Williams, Madison Reynolds | 85.90 | 39.06 | 28 |
| 3 | Team Keepin’ It Reel | Richard Warskow, Chris Lunsford | 79.91 | 40.13 | 26 |
| 4 | Team Whiskers | Shane Queen, Quentin Queen, Toby Griffin, Ric Helms | 79.48 | 33.56 | 24 |
| 5 | Team Troller | Mark Follet, Lindsay Bigham | 77.69 | 41.02 | 22 |
| 6 | Team Carolina Blues | Lee Hardee, Joshua Coggins, Tim Coggins | 73.01 | 28.90 | 20 |
| 7 | Team Reel Addiction | Cary Vanden Brock | 72.61 | 28.42 | 19 |
| 8 | Team Polekat | Benji Brown, Riley Brown | 68.86 | 30.56 | 18 |
| 9 | Team Tightline | Brian Snipes, Bubba Branch, Mason Brakefield | 66.46 | 26.72 | 17 |
| 10 | Team Knot Workin’ | Andy Pitts, Rylan Debruhl, Chris Debruhl | 66.13 | 27.28 | 16 |
| 11 | Team Cat Stalker | Jimmy Dixson, Jacob Williams | 63.74 | 36.06 | 15 |
| 12 | Team Mclean | Keith Mclean, Kevin Huynh | 59.74 | 24.39 | 14 |
| 13 | Team Jamie K Outdoors | Clay Henderson, Jason Henderson, David Henderson, Landen Loftin | 56.67 | 18.93 | 13 |
| 14 | Team Razor’s Edge | Micheal Crotts, Ray Morton | 55.25 | 21.00 | 12 |
| 15 | Team Old Men | Dean Birch, Ned Davis | 54.66 | 22.05 | 11 |
| 16 | Team Adversity | Jeff Outz, Kenny Sudderht | 51.30 | 23.90 | 10 |
| 17 | Team Can’t Get Right | Rodney Locklear, Glen Lovin | 48.57 | 18.58 | 9 |
| 18 | Team Killin’ Time | David McPeek, Michael McPeek, Todd Kendrick | 48.36 | 21.78 | 8 |
| 19 | Team Hard At It | Anthony Williams, Josh Christopher, Cameron Christopher, Layne Christopher | 47.58 | 18.71 | 7 |
| 20 | Team Reelin’ the Blues | Jeff Manning, Michael Paciocco | 47.49 | 20.57 | 6 |
| 21 | Team Good Times | Gary Morton Jr., Caleb Sturgis, Gary Morton Sr. | 46.29 | 22.84 | 5 |
| 22 | Team Catmando | Larry Casper, Scott Mackie, Danny Holt | 44.16 | 24.73 | 5 |
| 23 | Team Rip Lipp | Ashley Campbell, Jennifer Campbell | 43.95 | 23.42 | 5 |
| 24 | Team DMT | David Catoe, Mike Rape, Tony Canthen | 43.14 | 19.42 | 5 |
| 25 | Team Catnip | Shane Lee, John Powell, Scott Christian | 42.39 | 22.47 | 5 |
| 26 | Team Rod Down | Gene Gaston, Jonathan Brunet, Allison Brunet, Jennifer Gaston | 42.11 | 14.51 | 5 |
| 27 | Team Michael | Michael Passmore, Michael Parker, Aaron Passmore, Cole Parker | 39.32 | 18.36 | 5 |
| 28 | Team Whisker Gitters | Sam Williams III, Amy Williams, Sam Williams IV | 35.99 | 17.81 | 5 |
| 29 | Team 2 Deep | Donald Kirkley, Rick Kirkley, Tony Vick, Doug Vick | 33.56 | 33.56 | 5 |
| 30 | Team Cat Snatch Fever | Phil Rollings, Wesley Rollings, Michael Thomas, Chris Cook | 32.96 | 16.17 | 5 |
| 31 | Team Smokin’ Blues | David Carter, Jamie Carter, Brian Carter | 32.34 | 11.19 | 5 |
| 32 | Team All For One Outdoors | Michael Anderson, Samuel Edwards | 32.08 | 13.40 | 5 |
| 33 | Team SC Slime Time | Anthony Dallas, Tony Dallas | 30.38 | 10.49 | 5 |
| 34 | Team Fish Bite Rod Holders | Alan Long, Lynn Long, Bill Sutton | 28.36 | 11.21 | 5 |
| 35 | Team Trophy Hunter | John Terry, Jason Knight | 25.86 | 9.54 | 5 |
The other teams did not weigh in.
Total Weights
| Finish – Team – Anglers – Big Fish – Total Weight |
| 1. Team 2nd String: Steve Whitley, Shane Owenby – 37.16 & 86.49 |
| 2. Team Backland Outdoors: Blake Williams, Jamie Williams, Madison Reynolds – 39.06 & 85.9 |
| 3. Team Keepin’ It Reel: Richard Warskow, Chris Lunsford – 40.13 & 79.91 |
| 4. Team Whiskers: Shane Queen, Quentin Queen, Toby Griffin, Ric Helms – 33.56 & 79.48 |
| 5. Team Troller: Mark Follet, Lindsay Bigham – 41.02 & 77.69 |
| 6. Team Carolina Blues: Lee Hardee, Joshua Coggins, Tim Coggins – 28.9 & 73.01 |
| 7. Team Reel Addiction: Cary Vanden Brock – 28.42 & 72.61 |
| 8. Team Polekat: Benji Brown, Riley Brown – 30.56 & 68.86 |
| 9. Team Tightline: Brian Snipes, Bubba Branch, Mason Brakefield – 26.72 & 66.46 |
| 10. Team Knot Workin’: Andy Pitts, Rylan Debruhl, Chris Debruhl – 27.28 & 66.13 |
| 11. Team Cat Stalker: Jimmy Dixson, Jacob Williams – 36.06 & 63.74 |
| 12. Team Mclean: Keith Mclean, Kevin Huynh – 24.39 & 59.74 |
| 13. Team Jamie K Outdoors: Clay Henderson, Jason Henderson, David Henderson, Landen Loftin – 18.93 & 56.67 |
| 14. Team Razor’s Edge: Micheal Crotts, Ray Morton – 21 & 55.25 |
| 15. Team Old Men: Dean Birch, Ned Davis – 22.05 & 54.66 |
| 16. Team Adversity: Jeff Outz, Kenny Sudderht – 23.9 & 51.3 |
| 17. Team Can’t Get Right: Rodney Locklear, Glen Lovin – 18.58 & 48.57 |
| 18. Team Killin’ Time: David McPeek, Michael McPeek, Todd Kendrick – 21.78 & 48.36 |
| 19. Team Hard At It: Anthony Williams, Josh Christopher, Cameron Christopher, Layne Christopher – 18.71 & 47.58 |
| 20. Team Reelin’ the Blues: Jeff Manning, Michael Paciocco – 20.57 & 47.49 |
| 21. Team Good Times: Gary Morton Jr., Caleb Sturgis, Gary Morton Sr. – 22.84 & 46.29 |
| 22. Team Catmando: Larry Casper, Scott Mackie, Danny Holt – 24.73 & 44.16 |
| 23. Team Rip Lipp: Ashley Campbell, Jennifer Campbell – 23.42 & 43.95 |
| 24. Team DMT: David Catoe, Mike Rape, Tony Canthen – 19.42 & 43.14 |
| 25. Team Catnip: Shane Lee, John Powell, Scott Christian – 22.47 & 42.39 |
| 26. Team Rod Down: Gene Gaston, Jonathan Brunet, Allison Brunet, Jennifer Gaston – 14.51 & 42.11 |
| 27. Team Michael: Michael Passmore, Michael Parker, Aaron Passmore, Cole Parker – 18.36 & 39.32 |
| 28. Team Whisker Gitters: Sam Williams III, Amy Williams, Sam Williams IV – 17.81 & 35.99 |
| 29. Team 2 Deep: Donald Kirkley, Rick Kirkley, Tony Vick, Doug Vick – 33.56 & 33.56 |
| 30. Team Cat Snatch Fever: Phil Rollings, Wesley Rollings, Michael Thomas, Chris Cook – 16.17 & 32.96 |
| 31. Team Smokin’ Blues: David Carter, Jamie Carter, Brian Carter – 11.19 & 32.34 |
| 32. Team All For One Outdoors: Michael Anderson, Samuel Edwards – 13.4 & 32.08 |
| 33. Team SC Slime Time: Anthony Dallas, Tony Dallas – 10.49 & 30.38 |
| 34. Team Fish Bite Rod Holders: Alan Long, Lynn Long, Bill Sutton – 11.21 & 28.36 |
| 35. Team Trophy Hunter: John Terry, Jason Knight – 9.54 & 25.86 |
The remaining teams did not weigh-in.
