KIMBERLING CITY, Mo., (Nov. 15, 1999) – Jim Carnell of Muskogee, Okla., won the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Regional Bass Championship Saturday on Table Rock Lake with a two-day catch of 21 pounds, 12 ounces.
The victory earns Carnell a new Chevy truck and Ranger bass boat equipped with 175 hp Johnson outboard motor, Humminbird fishfinders, and Energizer marine batteries. As one of the events top eight finishers, he also receives a berth in the prestigious Red Man All-American Bass Championship May 8-13, 2000, on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark., where he’ll take a shot at winning the $100,000 first place award.
During the first day of competition, Carnell hauled in 12 pounds, 9 ounces of bass to lead the field of 86 anglers from the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Arkie, Great Lakes, Michigan and Okie divisions. On day two, he weighed in a 9-pound, 3-ounce catch to finish with the victory.
Also qualifying for the Red Man All-American are Keith Green of Arkadelphia, Ark., 21 pounds, 5 ounces; Kurt Evans of Hardy, Ark., 20 pounds, 5 ounces; Greg Jones of Little Rock, Ark., 20 pounds, 3 ounces; Jay Scott of Jay, Okla., 19 pounds, 11 ounces; Chris Torkleson of Sand Springs, Okla., 18 pounds, 14 ounces; Marty Clauson of Montello, Wis., 17 pounds, 4 ounces; and Greg Ryan of Nixa, Mo., 16 pounds, 3 ounces.
The Red Man Tournament Trail consists of six one-day weekend qualifying events in each of 22 divisions, five regional championships, each covering four divisions; a western regional, covering two divisions; and two Chevy Wild Card regional tournaments. The top four finishers from the western regional and the top three finishers from each of the Chevy Wild Card events advance to the Red Man All-American along with the top eight finishers from each of the five regional tournaments.
Founded 20 years ago on the principle that working anglers should be able to fish competitively without interfering with jobs and family, the Red Man Tournament Trail has grown into the nation’s largest competitive bass fishing series.
Sponsors of the 1999 Red Man Tournament Trail are: Evinrude Outboards, Evinrude Electrics, CITGO Petroleum, Ranger Boats, Humminbird Fishfinders, Stren Fishing Lines, Abu Garcia Rods and Reels, Chevy Trucks, Energizer Marine Batteries, Old Milwaukee NA, Black & Decker, David Seeds, Coleman Products, Land O’Lakes, BC Powder, Eveready, Wheaties, Chex Mix, Hamburger Helper, Wrangler, US Bank-VISA, Powerbait and Frenzy.