East Regional Championship

2007 East Regional Championship

In completing the 2007 Fishers of Men East Regional Championship, the final results showed their were numerous winners that came out of this event, 1st and foremost, the entire Elizabeth City, North Carolina area. Businesses and individual citizens alike showed great southern hospitality to all 126 of our elite teams as well as team of staff and volunteers and everyone walked away impressed. Special thanks go to Russ Haddad of the Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for a job well done. In addition, much appreciation goes out to Roanoke Bible College and its staff for allowing us to utilize their facilities during our tournament weigh-in activities.

Second big winners were the 13 lives changed forever after hearing from our keynote speaker, Pastor Bill Howard at our pre-tournament dinner meeting hosted by the K.E. White Center and Leon Nixon Catering. Thanks to everyone for making it a special start to our event.

A 3rd big winner was the entire Pasquotank River / Albemarle Sound fishery which showed us it was truly a much better destination then anyone expected as 376 fourteen inch or better largemouth bass were weighed in by our teams for a total weight of just over 812 pounds. This total doesn’t even account for the tons of smaller bass caught as well as the flounder, striper, redfish and big bothersome bowfin many anglers had attacking their lure presentations. Despite the tougher than hoped for conditions, exemplified by the fact that their were only 4 teams who limited out both days, mostly attributed to the strong winds and post cold front mile high blue skies combined with salt-locked fish in many areas, teams who made the long runs to less pressured rivers managed to catch the better sacks with most bass falling for soft plastics, jigs, spinnerbaits and topwaters. That being said, it seemed that the key bait, while not fished by many teams, but which scored best for most of the highest weight teams was a shallow diving crankbait banged off wood and cypress knees.

Finally, the 4th and biggest winners were the members themselves, specifically the 28 highest teams who cashed in this tournament. To earn a check and part of the over $76,000.00 in cash and prizes, it took just over 10 pounds for a two day total. In addition, one team from every division represented who finished with the highest weight outside the top 9 teams earned berths to the National Championships. These teams were Kenneth and David Buchanan from North Carolina - East, Brent Thackston and Don Carter from Mid-Atlantic, Jeff Brown and Eddie Gantt from Virginia – East, Tony Foster and Steve Sink from North Carolina – Piedmont, Johnny Howard and Tom Carter from North Carolina – Central, Shawn and John Skobel from North Appalachian, Scott and Jeff Wilson from North Carolina – Foothills, Steve Patrick and Tim Kowalewski from New Jersey and Jeff Mandes and Mike Morris from Delaware. Earning slots to the “big show” as well for being the highest placing Male / Female and Adult / Junior teams were Jackson and Martha Hudson from Virginia – East with their 17th place finish at 14.97 pounds and Buz and Buzzy Billings from the Mid-Atlantic division with their 21st place finish at 12.77 pounds.

With an awesome show of consistency and determination, leading wire-to-wire and claiming 1st place with a two day cumulative total for 10 bass of 30.99 pounds, Gil Burk and Michael Wenthe from the North Carolina – East division are your 2007 FOM East Regional Champions. For their efforts, they have won a 2008 Triton TR-186 Bass Boat powered by a 150 HP Mercury Motor valued at over $25,000 as well as an additional $400 in cash from their Bonus Bucks winnings.

Placing 2nd in the runner-up position was Eric Tilley and Don Porter from the North Carolina – East division with 27.64 pounds. For their efforts, they earned $2200.00 in cash including Day One’s second biggest bass plus Bonus Bucks from both days.

Taking the 3rd place spot was another North Carolina – East team, Keith Meads and Gerald Murray. Their two day, ten bass total weight of 24.75 pounds earned them $1830.00 including cash for having the biggest bass of the tournament at 6.60 pounds.

Claiming the 4th place spot and subsequent $1440.00 cash was the North Carolina – Central team of David and Larry Jacobs with 23.77 pounds while Ronnie Edwards and Michael Cumbia Sr. from the North Carolina – East division earned $1000.00 cash with their 5th place weight of 22.21 pounds.

Earning $1140.00 for their 6th place weight of 21.38 pounds was Tony Barham and Rick Ohlson from the North Carolina – Central division while Fred Downey and John Baumann Jr. from the Maryland based Mid-Atlantic division went from zero weight after Day One to hero weight with the biggest Day Two bag at 19.22 pounds. For their perseverance, they earned the 7th place spot and took home $1490.00 cash including prize money for having the 2nd biggest bass of the tournament at 5.70 pounds.

From North Carolina – Central, Andy Bass and Joel Lloyd used the only other 10 fish total of 18.84 pounds to earn $700.00 and an 8th place finish while Greg Campbell and Andrei Pelech laid claim to the final automatic National Championship berth with their 9th place, 18.14 pound sack which earned them $550.00 in cash! Christopher and Conner Harrison, an Adult / Junior team from Virginia – East managed only 1 keeper bass all tournament but that one fish was worth $430.00 as it took Day Two big bass honors. Congratulations to each and every one of our teams for admirably representing your divisions and for being such great examples of “Fishers of Men”!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our primary national sponsors: Triton Boats www.tritonboats.com, Mercury Outboards  www.mercurymarine.com, Strike King Lure Company www.strikeking.com and Shakespeare.

We would also like to thank our other National Sponsors which include: Lowrance, Pflueger, Sospenders, Keelshield, Solar Bat Polarized Sunglasses, Yamamoto, Marshall’s Marine, Kistler Rods, Spike-It Bait Company, Motor Guide, X-Tools, Stanley Jigs, Dual Pro Chargers, Deka Marine Master Batteries, All-Terrain Tackle, Jacob’s Glass, Buckeye Lures, Poor Boys Baits, Hooah Energy Bars & Drinks, All Star Rods, Bass Rx and Keep Alive Oxygen Infusors.