Lake Wateree – April 6th 2019
The Southeastern Catfish Club hosted its 8th tournament of the 2018-2019 season on Lake Wateree Saturday, April 6th, and it was another RECORD turnout! It was our 3rd time back to Lake Wateree this year, and we smashed the previous record with a total of 77 teams and 181 anglers eager to compete for their share of the $7,695 purse! We would like to give a very special shout-out to Wendy for opening up the State Park store at 5:30am and giving anglers the chance to pick up last minute items and a cup of hot coffee. THANK YOU Wendy for making our tournament experience at Lake Wateree that much more enjoyable!
The week was full of crazy weather patterns leaving many to wonder what affect it would have on the weekend bite. Earlier in the week, most of the region saw sunny skies with temps in the upper 50s turn into snow within a 24-hour period! Temps moved back in the upper 60s, and rain settled in for the majority of the day on Friday. In the end, teams reported a tough bite, but father-son duo Jamie and Blake Williams of Team Backland Outdoors brought home the win with a impressive 72.55lb stringer collecting a massive $3,780! It’s the biggest payday in club history!
Joseph Spittle, Paige Spittle, and Christopher Helms of Team All Slimed Up wasn’t far behind with a 70.75lb stringer and collected $1,900 for their 2nd place finish. Less than 2lbs behind, Evan Martin and Larry Godwin of Team Let Em Pull finished in 3rd and took home $630.
Jason Clinton, Chris Clinton, and Garrett Adkins of Team Katomatic took home Big Fish of the tournament honors with a bruiser 40.30lb blue and collected $970! Justin Taylor, Josh Whitaker, and Brandon Shoffner of Team Ramrod had 2nd Big Fish of the Tournament with 40.25 blue and collected $415. It was the closest weight margin for the tournament Big Fish.
Congratulations to Jamie and Blake Williams of Team Backland Outdoors on their 1st win of the season! The Season’s Points Race is as tight as it can get coming down the home stretch, so next month’s season finale will determine our Points Champion!
The club is certainly growing by the record number of teams coming out to join the fun, but we should feel most proud of the camaraderie that runs deep through our members. A new tradition continued this month where the winners from the previous tournament gave away a portion of their earnings today. Some have chosen to reward the smallest stringer or the 4th place team. Jacob Williams and Lee Cowan of Team Bluehead, who finished 1st in last month’s tournament, rewarded a $50 gift card to a randon draw. We appreciate you guys for keeping the tradition alive!
As the crowd waited to tally up the results, we collected donations for the United Special Sportman Alliance charity. The impromptu ask was simple, but the response was over overwhelming! The USSA is hosting a fishing event for special needs kids and their families on April 20th. They were about $400 short of their goal to cover hotel expenses for families traveling from out of town. Club members didn’t hesitate to chip-in, and we collected $440! It’s acts of kindness like this that make our club extraordinary!
As we announced last month, we had two national sponsors come onboard giving teams a chance to win additional bonus money and prizes. SeaArk paid a whopping $500 to the top finishing SeaArk, and husband-wife duo Cary and Vicky Vanden Brock Team Reel Addiction won the honors with their 48.30lb stringer. Suzuki gave away a maintenance kit to the top finishing team that’s powered by a Suzuki outboard. Brian Snipes and Bubba Branch of Team Tightline won the incredible package with their 58.40ln stringer!
We’re down to the last and final tournament next month on Lake Wylie, so come on out and join in on the fun!
Tight Lines!
Total Weights
| Place | Team | Members | Total Weight | Big Fish | Tournament Points |
| 1 | Team Backland Outdoors | Blake Williams, Jamie Williams, Gerald Beck | 72.55 | 35.15 | 30 |
| 2 | Team All Slimed Up | Joseph Spittle, Paige Spittle, Christopher Helms | 70.75 | 34.40 | 28 |
| 3 | Team Let Em Pull | Evan Martin, Larry Godwin | 69.00 | 27.60 | 26 |
| 4 | Team Ramrod | Justin Taylor, Josh Whitaker, Brandon Shoffner | 63.80 | 40.25 | 24 |
| 5 | Team Y-Not Fishing | William Harvey, Watson Hayes, Tommy Hayes | 62.65 | 21.45 | 22 |
| 6 | Team Whiskers | Shane Queen, Quentin Queen, Toby Griffin, Ric Helms | 59.25 | 27.45 | 20 |
| 7 | Team Trophy Hunter | John Terry, Andy Hensley | 59.05 | 33.40 | 19 |
| 8 | Team Tightline | Brian Snipes, Bubba Branch, Mason Brakefield | 58.40 | 25.95 | 18 |
| 9 | Team Katomatic | Jason Clinton, Chris Clinton, Garrett Adkins | 56.60 | 40.30 | 17 |
| 10 | Team Get The Net | Harry Dickerson, Jamie Dickerson | 53.30 | 24.55 | 16 |
| 11 | Team Our Time | Tim Brewer, Jimmy Turner | 52.85 | 33.50 | 15 |
| 12 | Team Old Men | Dean Birch, Robert Ayers | 51.20 | 23.40 | 14 |
| 13 | Team Buchcanan | Aaron Buchanan, Matt Hall | 48.45 | 22.15 | 13 |
| 14 | Team Reel Addiction | Cary Vanden Brock, Vicky Vanden Brock | 48.30 | 19.25 | 12 |
| 15 | Team Rip Lipp | Ashley Campbell, Jennifer Campbell, Tony Campbell | 47.65 | 24.45 | 11 |
| 16 | Team Good Times | Gary Morton Jr., Gary Morton Sr. | 46.35 | 21.00 | 10 |
| 17 | Team Reelin’ the Blues | Jeff Manning, Michael Paciocco, Allen Manning | 46.00 | 16.50 | 9 |
| 18 | Team Whiskers Inc | Mark Phillips, Kyle Phillips, Brent Surratt, Mason Surratt | 44.40 | 20.55 | 8 |
| 19 | Team Brown Dog | Ray Waldrop, Tracey Waldrop, Grayson Waldrop | 44.30 | 19.40 | 7 |
| 20 | Team Polebender | Scott Peavey, Amanda Peavey, Gage Peavey, Jamie Medlin | 44.15 | 18.00 | 6 |
| 21 | Team Lee | Tyler Lee, Carly Wilcox, Tyler Greiner | 43.80 | 19.00 | 5 |
| 22 | Team Lip Snatcher | Matt Tucker, Bobby Finley, Tyler Lockridge | 42.60 | 17.20 | 5 |
| 23 | Team Split Decisions | Jared Powell, Ryan Young, Spencer Powell | 41.90 | 14.60 | 5 |
| 24 | Team Waxhaw Hookers | Eric Hinson, Joey Osborne, Terry Osborne, David Osborne | 41.00 | 19.40 | 5 |
| 25 | Team Drifting Stix | David Henderson, Landin Loftin, Timmy Patterson | 39.95 | 13.55 | 5 |
| 26 | Team 2nd String | Steve Whitley, Shane Owenby, Tyler Painter | 39.65 | 14.00 | 5 |
| 27 | Team Drifters | Arnold Hodge, Missy Mixon | 39.50 | 20.50 | 5 |
| 28 | Team All For One Outdoors | Michael Anderson, Samuel Edwards, John Phillips | 39.25 | 16.65 | 5 |
| 29 | Team On The Prowl | Smiley Jessie, Roger Wolford | 38.35 | 16.45 | 5 |
| 30 | Team Polekat | Benji Brown, Riley Brown, Lindsey Patterson | 38.00 | 14.60 | 5 |
| 31 | Team Hard At It | Anthony Williams, Josh Christopher, Cameron Christopher, Layne Christopher | 37.95 | 14.90 | 5 |
| 32 | Team KHT | Kevin Huynh, John Anderson, Keith McClean | 37.95 | 18.15 | 5 |
| 33 | Team Fat Cat | Zach Taylor, Joni Bailey, Matthew Anthony, Fowler | 37.70 | 12.90 | 5 |
| 34 | Team Catnip | Shane Lee, Doug Vick, Kyle Smith, Bonnie Lee | 37.40 | 15.55 | 5 |
| 35 | Team Lyt “N” Bugg | Ken Kennamer, Mike Holcomb, Tracy Bingham | 37.30 | 18.25 | 5 |
| 36 | Team Jamie K Outdoors | Clay Henderson, Jason Henderson, Jason Wolfe | 36.85 | 12.10 | 5 |
| 37 | Team 2 Deep | Donald Kirkley, Rick Kirkley, Russ Robinson, Tony Vick | 36.65 | 16.45 | 5 |
| 38 | Team Cat Snatch Fever | Phil Rollings, Wesley Rollings, Michael Thomas, Scoot Edwards | 36.35 | 12.35 | 5 |
| 39 | Team Sparky | Ron Carden, Bill Carden, Todd Hendrix, Cade Hendrix | 34.85 | 15.00 | 5 |
| 40 | Team In God We Trust | David Faulkenberry, Reece Holley | 34.50 | 20.30 | 5 |
| 41 | Team Mixed Knuts | Trace Evans, Cliff Conant | 34.05 | 34.05 | 5 |
| 42 | Team Keepin’ It Reel | Richard Warskow, Mark Turner | 33.55 | 14.05 | 5 |
| 43 | Team Rod Down | Gene Gaston, Jonathan Brunet, Donny Clark | 32.15 | 18.75 | 5 |
| 44 | Team Carolina Blues | Joshua Coggins, Jimmy Holbrook, Tim Coggins | 29.95 | 10.20 | 5 |
| 45 | Team Backlash | Joshua Hinson, Stacey Hinson, Josiah Hinson | 29.55 | 11.10 | 5 |
| 46 | Team Blue Dog | Junior Proctor, Angie Proctor | 29.45 | 10.85 | 5 |
| 47 | Team Croxton | Manny Croxton, Ed Croxton | 29.40 | 13.80 | 5 |
| 48 | Team Cat Nap’n | Shane Morris, Tim Morris, Josh Reister, Matoka Morris | 28.65 | 10.55 | 5 |
| 49 | Team DMT | David Catoe, Mike Rape, Tony Canthen | 27.95 | 10.05 | 5 |
| 50 | Team Fox Cat Snatchers | Ryan Williams, Brian Williams, Mike Fox | 27.75 | 16.20 | 5 |
| 51 | Team Whisker Gitters | Sam Williams III, Amy Williams, Sam Williams IV | 26.90 | 14.05 | 5 |
| 52 | Team Knot Workin’ | Andy Pitts, Rylan Debruhl, Chris Debruhl, Tripp Cobb | 25.05 | 12.80 | 5 |
| 53 | Team Flat N2 Tha Blues | Mark Ghent, Logan Seegee | 24.15 | 13.70 | 5 |
| 54 | Team Bird | Will Bird, Jeff Bird, Will Bird Jr. | 22.15 | 11.35 | 5 |
| 55 | Team Catfish Slayer | Matt Richardson, Joey Deese | 21.35 | 8.85 | 5 |
| 56 | Team Bluehead | Jacob Williams, Frank Wilson, Lee Cowan, Nicole TurnerTyler Beck | 21.00 | 6.85 | 5 |
| 57 | Team Cat Baby | Ken Frost, Bill Sutton | 20.55 | 8.80 | 5 |
| 58 | Team Mr. Whiskers | John Faust, Laurie Faust, Cody Faust, Benny Mentesana | 17.15 | 7.30 | 5 |
| 59 | Team BNW | Billy Robertson, Joe Humphries, Will Robertson | 16.50 | 6.30 | 5 |
| 60 | Team Fish Bite Rod Holders | Alan Long, Lynn Long, Ric Helms | 16.50 | 6.10 | 5 |
| 61 | Team Smokin’ Blues | David Carter, Jamie Carter, Brian Carter, Robin Warren | 14.95 | 5.25 | 5 |
| 62 | Team Bonetown Catfishin’ | Bob Keiningham, Vernon Carnahan | 14.20 | 6.05 | 5 |
| 63 | Team SC Slime Time | Anthony Dallas, Tony Dallas, Josh Tucker | 5.15 | 2.95 | 5 |
The remaining teams did not weigh-in.
