Couch and McGhee win Fishers of Men at Jackson Hill
By Lynn Atkinson

April 26 found the Fishers Of Men at Jackson Hill Marina for their fourth tournament of the year. Jackson Hill was open serving hot coffee and a quick breakfast to go for the ones that eat on the run. Rodney Howard and the crew were getting everyone checked in. The excitement was high with only one more tournament on the schedule after today. The pre-fishing on Friday had showed it was tough out there on "Big Sam." The weather had been calm for the last few days with a change coming in for the weekend. Would this change the bite or slow it down even more? Saturday morning we had light winds blowing from the north with cloud cover. All of that was to clean off by noon.

With safe light approaching everyone bowed their head as a prayer was said to start them off on a wonderful day of fishing on "Big Sam." As their boat number was called they raced out sight to see if their skills were up to the test. What would it take to win in what looked like a post spawn scenario? Would some of them make the long run down south to find fish on a different pattern? Was it best to stay close to the mid lake area and figure them out up here? Who would guess correctly and put together a winning catch?

The boats started coming in around 3:00 and it looked as if it had been tough on a lot of the anglers. One angler said they had hit several of their spots and couldn't con the fish into biting. As we all know some lucky boat will hit the pattern just right and load up the live well.

First Place went to Couch and McGhee with five fish weighing 20.07 lbs. The kicker fish weighed in at 6.45 lbs. Couch and McGhee fished the Mid Lake area not running more then 10 miles from the boat lunch. When asked about their best bait it was a wide range from Topwater and whacky worm to a Carolina Rig. They did say they culled 15 fish all day.

Second place went to Baker and Dew with five fish weighing in at 19.02 lbs. They were all good fish but they couldn't get that kicker fish today. This team ran south making 45 miles round trip. They were culling by 8 a.m. and only fished two stops all day. Their best bait was big worms, and that's all they would say.

Baker and Dew win 2nd place with five fish weighing in at 19.02 lbs.

Third Place went Muddleman and Howell with 5 fish weighing 17.27 lbs. Their kicker fish weighed in at 6.30 lbs. This team started out slow had the limit by 11 a.m. and started culling around 1 p.m. They caught all their fish on soft plastic on the bank. Both of these gentlemen have been fishing for many years.

Big Bass Goes to Robert and Robin VonHeeder with and nice big Bass that weighed in at 7.72 lbs. The fish was caught around 11:30 a.m. on a Carolina Rig in about 13 ft of water. Robert hooked the fish and Robin asked if he needed the net and he said he didn't think so. After a few seconds he changed his mind. Robin grabbed the net and netted the fish not putting her rod down, just in case. She knows you've got keep the bait in the water to catch fish.

The Fishers of Men would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the fine national sponsors that make Fishers of Men possible: Triton Boats; Mercury; Shakespeare; All Star Rods; Pflueger; Strike King Lure Company; Reese Marine Towpower; XTools; Solar Bat; Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits; Berkley; Keelshield; Grace Full Gospel Church; MotorGuide; SOSPENDERS; Marshall's Marine Lake City, SC; Kistler; Mizmo Bait Company; Dual Pro Charger; Buckeye Lures; Stanley Jigs; Deka Marine Master Batteries; Spike-It; Jacobs Glass; Poor Boys Baits; T&H Marine; Rejuvenade; and, Keep Alive Oxygen Infusers

Muddleman and Howell win 3rd place with 5 fish weighing 17.27 lbs.

Tournament organizers also thanked Terry and Connie Sympson and the Crew for getting up early and having a great breakfast ready. They also had BBQ and cheese burgers for any fishermen or guests who were hungry after the tournament.

Robert and Robin VonHeeder win Big Bass with a nice one weighing in at 7.72 lbs.