Keith Lusher Bass Tournament fishing on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain has exploded in the last few years. Now tournament anglers have another event to add to their calendar. The first Northshore Bass Series Championship Tournament is going to be held on October 7th. Tournament Director Terry Jones has worked painstakingly at putting together the tournament and says his goal is to bring anglers on the North Shore together. “We all fish different tournaments and we don’t get to fish together much. There’s the guys that fish Manchac and there’s the guys who fish the Pearl and there’s a big divide in between. I just thought there should be something done to get everyone fishing one tournament,” Jones says. The rules for the tournament will follow standard bass tournament rules all except the fact that this tournament will be a trailer style tournament which means all anglers can use any pre-designated launch and are required to make it to the weigh-in destination which will be the Blind Tiger Restaurant in Slidell.
Jason Pittman, Terry Jones, and Keith Lusher discuss the upcoming tournament at Dockside Marine The scales will open at 4:00 p.m. and will close at 5:00 p.m. Terry says the trailer style tournament allows every angler to fish their “home water” and even extends to Delacroix. “This allows everyone to fish this tournament. If someone has a 40 HP Yamaha and we held the event at the Pearl River - There’s no way he’s going to be able to run to Manchac. With the trailer style tournament, everybody can fish where they want to fish. So everyone with a little boat can fish this tournament,” Terry says.
There are numerous locations that offer anglers a variety of locations to fish. Those locations are: The Pearl River at Poole’s Bluff, Lock #1 on either side, Crawford’s Landing, East Pearl River at Hwy 90, Bayou Bonfouca at Heritage Park, Bayou Lacombe at Main Street, Tchefucte River at 4th Street, Manchac at I-55, The Dock in Slidell, Rigolets Marina in Slidell, Serignes at Delacroix, Bayou Bienvenue at Paris Road, Tangipahoa River at Lee’s Landing, and the Tickfaw River at Tickfaw Marina.
To qualify for the tournament an angler needs to have fished at least one NBS tournament. The tournaments competing in the NBS are: Bass Assassin’s, Florida Parish Bass Anglers, Pearl River Singles Circuit, Liar’s and Lunker’s, Pearl River Team Trails, Bogalusa Bass Club, Wednesday Evening Bass Club (Tchefuncte River), and the Dockside Marine Tournament Trail. Terry says if you haven’t fished any tournaments yet, there’s still a chance to fish one. “There’s still time to get out there and fish one of these tournaments on the North Shore,” Jones says. There are three tournament trails that are holding events before the Championship that anglers can fish to qualify. Those events are: Pearl River Team Trails at the East Pear River on September 9th, Florida Parishes Bass Anglers at Manchac on September 10th, and Bass Assassins on September 24th.
The Championship Tournament will pay out 100% and will include a big bass division for the biggest bass caught in the tournament. Trophies will also be awarded. Terry says the tournament will be an annual event and he intends on making it something that anglers look forward to every year. “I want to see the North Shore have a tournament that people say ‘I can’t wait for October to come so I can fish this thing.” For more information about the tournament please contact Terry Jones at 985-255-2136.
Pear River Clean Sweep
The Pearl River is home to many sportsman and offers numerous options from hunting to fishing. State Rep. Melinda White wants to remind everyone who enjoys what the River has to offer that the upcoming Pear River Clean Sweep is a great way to help clean up and care for the river. Melinda says there is a log jam at the oxbow that needs attention. “We have a log jam/trash jam that has created a huge problem just below the seal at Poole’s Bluff. It’s like a waterfall there so it’s not safe at all,” White says. If you would like to help register to help clean up please visit PearlRiverKeeper.com.
Melinda White updates the audience about the Pearl River Clean Sweep at Dockside Marine
