NEW TOURNAMENT TRAIL FOR 2005!!

[jigNpig]

Guys, I have some great news for us weekend wariors! I was on the phone yesterday with a gentleman by the name of Jerry Bastian. Jerry runs the C.A.T.T. (Competitive Anglers Tournament Trail) and has asked me to setup a division in S.E. Pennsylvania and become the tournament director. This will NOT just be your ordinary local tournament. It is through "Bassin' Magazine" and is brand new to the fishing world. They have MAJOR sponsors such as Tracker Boats, Nitro, Minn Kotta, Mercury, Humminbird, and Trojan Battery Company. This is a buddy tournament trail ,you can fish alone but I would like to see everyone have an equal oppertunity to move on to the "NORTHERN REGION CHAMPIONSHIP" where a NITRO NX882 with a 150HP Mercury Motor will be up for grabs along with the cash payback ! I bet I have everybodys attention now!! The tournament trail will consist of 6 tournaments and will work on a point system setup by the C.A.T.T. to determine the division winner and they move on to the championship. Each tournament will cost $80 per boat with a 90% payback at the ramp and 5% going to the "Regional Championship Tournment". Anyone can fish the C.A.T.T. trail except proffesionals (a.k.a. anyone who has fished a tournament within the past 24 months with an entry fee of $1500 or more), you must be a C.A.T.T. member to fish ($60 or $55 if you join by 4/05). Keep in mind this is not a "fishing club" in the classic sense, it is a tournament trail, you can still belong to your clubs and fish the C.A.T.T.! The best part about this tournament trail is WE GET TO DECIDE WHERE OUR DIVISION TOURNAMENTS ARE HELD!! I would love to have everyones input on where they think we should have the tournaments. I was thinking 2 at Nockamixon, 2 at Marsh Creek, and the other two I would like some real input on. Keep in mind they have to have some decent size and good ramp access. I will add the link for the C.A.T.T., CHECK IT OUT !! www.cattbass.com/

[Midnitebasser]

jigNpig how you making out with the new tournament trail, any dates yet, I'm sure there are plenty of guys looking for some local tournaments to fish.When you have more info let us know. hope every thing works out.

[jigNpig]

Midnitebasser, Thanks for the reply! The CATT is getting ready to announce our division on there website. There will be 6 division tournaments between June and September. Then the Division Champions go on to the Regional Championship (location to be announced the week of the tournament) where theywill be fishing for the cash payback and a Nitro Bass Boat with a 150HP Mercury engine. The CATT is putting up all division champions in a hotel for the weekend. I will update when I get more information and the exact dates and locations of the division tournaments. In the meen time keep an eye on the CATT website for our division announcement! www.cattbass.com/

[jigNpig]

THEY DIDNT WAIST ANY TIME! IT IS OFFICIAL, WE ARE IN ;D! www.cattbass.com/news.cfm?ID=39&Action=view

[Midnitebasser]

Hey jig&pig, how is it going, I was talking to a friend Saturday and he said he was interested as long as the dates don't conflict with his club tournaments, he also wanted to know where the other two tournaments might be held, I told him you wanted to hold them on lakes with unlimited HP, these are the lakes we thought of, Beltzville, Bluemarsh, Conowingo Reservoir and lake Auburn which is on the Schuylkill River a few miles west of Cabela's.

[TomM]

I've been fishing tournaments in this area for a number of years, and my $.02 is to stay away from places like Blue Marsh and Beltsville. You want a tournament trail, especially a new one, to have good turnout and good sacks of fish for everyone, not just a few, and that's what'll happen fishing BM and Beltsville. Consider Harvey's Lake, Delaware River, the Flats and more areas on the Schuylkill River instead for more consistent weigh ins.

Tom

[jigNpig]

I gave the CATT the lakes and/or rivers I thought most people would be interested in. Now we are just waiting for the final dates. So far 2 places seem to be definite locations, Marsh creek and Nockamixon Lake, with Blue Marsh and Beltzville being other obvious possabilities. I am trying to keep the tournaments as close to our area as possible for the first year to try to keep everyone happy and intersted. Most of the fisherman I have talked to like the idea of staying somewhat local for the first year. After this year (thinking way ahead) I think it would be great to talk to the teams that fish this years trail and take a vote on the bodies of water they would like to see on the trail in 06'.

[jigNpig]

The preliminary schedule is posted. There will be 1 more tournament added to this list. It will probably be held on September 3rd. Check it out! www.cattbass.com/tournaments.cfm?action=view2&divid=202

[Midnitebasser]

jig&pig I don't think you are going to get a permit for the Marsh Creek tournament. I don't think fish comm. allows tournaments on the first day of bass season.

[jigNpig]

If they do not give us the day we will just pick another date. It is only the preliminary schedule. Not a problem!

[TomM]

Midnitebasser is correct, the state won't issue any permits on the first day of open season.

Tom

[jigNpig]

I received the "Director's Handbook" that lists all the CATT rules and regulations for the tournaments. There is NO early registration, all teams pay for each tournament when they register the day of the tournament. Registration will begin 1 hour (5:00 A.M.) before each tournament and will end 20 minutes before kickoff (5:40 A.M.), NO EXCEPTIONS. You MUST have your "membership cards" when you register. We will draw numbers 10 minutes before kickoff to determine the order the teams will leave (must be one at a time) and they will be released in 5 second intervals. There will be 2 bump boards available at weigh in for anyone who wants to check there fish. There is no early weigh in. The point system goes 300 pts for first, 298 for second, and so on. You must weigh in at least 1 legal fish to place and receive points. Most other rules are standard. When you join you will receive a C.A.T.T. members pack in the mail with all the rules and regulations (plus other real good stuff from sponsors). It is highly recomended that everyone reads the rules and regulations prior to the tournaments. If anyone has anymore questions just fire away!

Now that I said that I have to tell you guys that the organization of the CATT is amazing!! They are making sure this is going to be a blast for all involved. When you guys see what your member packs are going to look like, well, lets just say you will not be disapointed! It was also mentioned that we should not be surprised if the "sponsers" play a nice little role in our tournaments!

[Midnitebasser]

Thanks for the update jig&pig, I might try to fish a couple of the tournaments. Hope every thing goes well for your first season and please keep us informed. Good Luck.

[jigNpig]

I received the permits today for both of the Nockamixon tournaments. They will be held July 9th and July 23rd. The other permits will be received this week. Attached is a link to our official schedule and trail notification form that will soon be available at your local tackle shops.

[jigNpig]

The schedule for the CATT is now available at Gordons sport supply. I also received the permits for the Blue Marsh tournaments. They are scheduled for August 6th and 20th.