Boater + Student Catch
1st Adam Spalding & Eric Hickman Jr. 2 fish 4lbs 9oz $160
*2nd Billy Bilyeu & Ryan Mihaljevic 2 fish 4lbs 8oz
*3rd Jarrod Swift & Amber Helton 2 fish 3lbs 14oz
4th Carl Vertrees & Don Mattingly 1 fish 2lbs 8oz
*5th Darrell Swift & Brian Reynolds 1 fish 2lbs 7oz
*6th Nolan Caudill & Scott Brown 1 fish 1lb 11oz

*Gift certificate winners
(Each boater also got a certificate of appreciation in frame, plus a grad bag of baits)

Students
*1st Don Mattingly 1 fish 2lbs 8oz
2nd Brian Reynolds 1 fish 2lbs 7oz
3rd Eric Hickman Jr. 1 fish 2lbs 3oz

*Overall Big fish 2lbs 8oz

We had a total of 8 boats in the qualifier. Like anyday on Taylorsville it was tough. We had two boats zero on both sides, we had 4 boaters weigh in fish, and 3 students weigh in fish.
My boater and myself caught ALOT of fish 25-30 just two keepers though. The fish were in 3-6 ' of water. Lake is murky, but clears up in some places. We saw 4-6 good fish cruising (not locked on beds yet but almost there). The shad were spawning right up on the bank. Nonetheless, I was able to put a solid keeper in the boat. I know Scott also caught alot of fish, 20-30, on soft plastics. The fish were definately biting, just hard to find those bigger fish.

I want to thank everyone for helping us out, especially the boaters. Also I would like to thank all of our sponsors and anyone who put in extra time to make this a successful tournament. This was our second qualifier, we have one more on 6/10 at Barren. These qualifying tournaments decide who we send to the ESPN Smash-Mouth Tournament, televised on ESPN. With one tournament left, we have four guys in the running for this. If anyone is interested in being a boater, contact me. I will give details.

Eric J. Hickman Jr.
The L-Raisin' Anglers
Tournament Director
[email protected]