Division 9 Set to Hit Santee-Cooper Lakes

ATHENS, Ala. – The South Carolina Division 9 of the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, will hold its second tournament of the season on March 9, 2013, on the Santee-Cooper Lakes.

The anglers will launch at John C. Land III ramp, located on County Road 514-260 near Summerton. Anglers may begin fishing at 6:30 a.m. or safe light. The weigh-in will begin at 2:30 p.m. Registration begins at 4 p.m. on March 8.

Anglers fishing the Boater Division may weigh in up to five bass, each at least 14 inches long. Co-anglers may weigh in up to three bass.

Opened in 1942, Lake Marion on the Santee River covers about 110,600 acres or 174 square miles at normal pool stage. Thousands of stumps, tree trunks and many acres of live cypress trees dot the largest lake in South Carolina. Lake Marion connects to Lake Moultrie, the third largest lake in South Carolina, through a 6.5-mile diversion canal. Slightly deeper with more open water, Lake Moultrie covers 60,400 acres on the Cooper River system at the lower end of the system. It stretches 14 miles at its widest point.

Both lakes can produce double-digit bass and many in the 7- to 9-pound range. Lake Marion produced the South Carolina state record bass, a 16.20-pounder caught in 1949.

During a BWS tournament held on the Santee-Cooper Lakes in March 2012, Chad Cook of Summerville, S.C., won the Boater Division with a five-bass tournament limit weighing 25.64 pounds for a 5.12-pound average. He upped his average with a 7.45-pound kicker that set the division lunker standard. Cook caught most of his fish on spinnerbaits, craw worms and swimbaits around cypress stumps.

In the Co-Angler Division during that tournament, Charles “Chuck” B. Padget of Greenwood, S.C., won with a three-bass division limit going 13.49 pounds for a 4.49-pound average. He anchored his catch with a 6.24-pound kicker. Padget caught his fish on a frog while fishing Lake Marion. Todd Gambrell of Duncan, S.C., caught the tournament lunker, an 8.24-pounder that hit a junebug senko fished near grass.

Anglers can call the South Carolina Public Service Authority at 800-925-2537 for updates on water levels and lake conditions. For fishing license information, call 866-714-3611 or see www.dnr.sc.gov. To register for this tournament, see https://www.americanbassanglers.com/proddetail.php?prod=657.
At the end of the season, one BWS angler will win the opportunity to compete in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. For more information, call Billy Benedetti, tournament manager, at (256) 230-5632 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.americanbassanglers.com.

About American Bass Anglers: The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series provides weekend anglers a professionally operated competitive tour with a path the world championship of bass fishing the Bassmaster Classic. American Bass Anglers commitment is to provide low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers and the American Fishing Tour, The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.

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