HENDERSON, N.C., (Nov. 9, 1999) – Jeff Coble of Henderson, N.C., won the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Regional Bass Championship Saturday on Kerr Lake with a two-day catch of 36 pounds, 4 ounces.
The victory earns Coble 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, Coble hauled in 18 pounds, 13 ounces of bass to lead the field of 83 anglers from the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Buckeye, Carolina, Mountain and Northeastern divisions. On day two, he weighed in a 17-pound, 7-ounce catch to finish with the victory.
Also qualifying for the Red Man All-American are Robert Walser of Lexington, N.C., 33 pounds; Scott Browning of Franklin, N.C., 29 pounds, 2 ounces; Bill Chapman of Salt Rock, W.Va., 26 pounds, 12 ounces; Anthony Fofi of Spring Lake, N.C., 26 pounds, 5 ounces; Wally Szuba of Cary, N.C., 25 pounds, 6 ounces; Danny Lowery of Shelby, N.C., 24 pounds, 7 ounces; and Randy Alexander of London, Ky., 23 pounds, 2 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.