DAYTON, Tenn. - Fishermen dispersed beneath a purple October sky as their boats zipped across Lake Chickamauga in the early hours Thursday for the start of a major regional championship tournament.
More than 200 anglers descended upon the area that has built a flourishing reputation as a hotbed for fishing. The world's largest tournament-fishing organization is hosting an event on the highly ranked bass fishing lake this week, promising a grand prize of a new boat and a check for $20,000 to the winning boater and a new boat to the top co-angler.
"It's part of the Tennessee River chain, and any lake on the Tennessee River chain is a great fishery," tournament director Robert Evans said. "The grass that this lake still has, that's going to create better fishing."
The three-day Fishing League Worldwide Bass Fishing League Regional Championship tournament began Thursday morning and concludes Saturday afternoon. Fishermen are tasked with catching the five biggest fish they can each day, with a minimum fish requirement of 15 inches for largemouth bass, 18 inches for smallmouth bass and a foot for spotted bass. Their cumulative scores will decide who qualifies for the 2019 Bass Fishing League All-American event next spring on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland - one of the longest-running championships in bass fishing.
The regional event had no fee. For this, they also had to qualify. The top 45 boaters and 45 co-anglers from four divisions throughout this region of the Southeast were invited.
However, previous success, good grass coverage and big fish beneath the surface didn't automatically mean fish were going to bite. The tournament saw a slow start as anglers deal with seasonal changes. Fall is prime fishing time for many; bass come to the surface and follow bait fish. It often makes them easier to catch, but there was little sign of that Thursday morning.
Fishermen struggled to get fish to bite, but were optimistic about the three-day event.
"I hear the lake is good, but I haven't done real good," Henderson, Kentucky, fisherman Mike McAtee said. "It's a nice lake. We've had a few fish, and it's been decent. I feel like I can probably catch some today, but who knows."
Alongside McAtee on the water was one of the few pro fisherman in the tournament, Dan Morehead, of Kentucky. Morehead got a late start after some boat problems but was soon back on the water playing catch-up.
"I've fished here several times, and Dayton and Tennessee get it," he said. 'They take care of this lake and have done a lot. It's a premier lake for the United States. It's fun to come fish where you can catch a 10-pounder on any cast."
Morehead has fished and won a lot of tournaments, he said, but has never made the All-American.
"That's why I keep chasing this, and one of these days hopefully I'll make it," he said.
The tournament continues Friday and Saturday at 8 a.m.
Contact staff writer Mark Pace at mpace@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659. Follow him on Twitter @themarkpace and on Facebook at ChattanoogaOutdoorsTFP.