Local fishermen win championship

Two Campbell County bass fishermen did quite well for themselves last weekend while competing in the Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail on Pickwick Lake in North Alabama.

Frank Evans

Brian Jordan and Michael Smith show off their final day’s catch. Sharing a proud moment with his son is Brian’s father, Ray Jordan (middle).

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Brian Jordan and Michael Smith won the 2012 FOM Stren Team Series National Championship after hauling in 62.83 lbs. of bass during the three-day event.

Their prizes included a few thousand dollars in prize money and a brand new, fully rigged 21-foot Skeeter bass boat with 250 horsepower Yamaha motor worth around $72,000.

The two men, who have been fishing competitively together for 20 years, had the biggest catch each day of the tournament for an additional $2,400 bonus. They netted 22.69 lbs. the first day, 20.41 lbs. the second day and 19.73 lbs. the third day.

Jordan reeled in a 7.45 lb. largemouth to win a $250 big fish award on the first day.

“We actually extended our lead every day,” Smith said.

“We went from a two and a half pound lead the first day to six pounds the second day to a little over seven for the three days total.”

Smith said he and Jordan caught all their bass on deep-running Strike King 6XD crank baits (green gizzard shad pattern) fished on bait casting rods crafted in LaFollette by Dewayne Wilson of Dixie Custom Rods. 

Jordan and Smith made up two teams from East Tennessee that competed in the FOM Stren Team Series Nationals. Benny Roberts and Todd Nidiffer, also from Campbell County, fished the tournament, as well.