Nelson & Hill Nail a Big Win on Norris
April 6, 2024-Campbell County, TN: The Morristown Marine Team Trail made stop #3 of the 2024 MMTT on awesome Norris Lake today. 226 teams registered for the tournament, and 220 of those teams hit the water at daybreak to compete for their share of the $46,975.00 payout across 38 places and all contingencies. The fishing had been tough this week due to the spring cold front that moved in early in the week. Tournament day started with a frost and a chill but warmed up nicely with temps in the 60s and a light breeze. There were plenty of fish brought to the scales, but quality fish were hard to find. In total, 126 of the participating teams weighed at least one fish for a grand total of 565 fish weighing 1,266.86 lbs hit the scales Saturday afternoon. Of those 126 teams, 97 boats weighed a 5 fish limit. Blast off started at 7:12 and boat 250 was called through at 7:54, taking 42 minutes, averaging 5.2 boats per minute. The scales opened at 2:50 and closed at 4:35, weighing 126 bags in 1 hour and 45 minutes, averaging 1.20 bags per minute weighed.
The team of Colby Nelson and Ryan Hill grabbed a big win with a total weight of 16.60 lbs with a very balanced bag of healthy Norris Lake smallmouth. Colby and Ryan said they caught almost all of their fish for the day using forward facing sonar and chasing bait balls in various areas of the lake. They took home a check for $10,000.00 for their day of fishing. Congrats on a great bag guys! Click here to see the post-tourney interview with Colby and Ryan.
Following up in 2nd place was the team of Mark Pappas and Brooks Vick with a 15.95 lb bag. Mark and Brooks took home a $3,000.00 check for 2nd place, as well as a $250.00 check for Highest Finishing Humminbird/MinnKota payout. Great job, guys!
Trailing closely in 3rd place was John Napier and Jason Keaton with a total weight of 15.13 lbs. John and Jason took home the check for 3rd place worth $2,250.00 as well as 2nd Highest Finishing Humminbird/MinnKota payout for a total payday of $2,400.00. Congrats, John and Jason!
4th place went to Tanner Jordan and Christopher Howard with a total weight of 14.75 lbs. Tanner and Christopher will receive a check for 4th place worth $1,500.00. Great job, Tanner and Christopher!
Rounding out the top 5 was the team of Blake Brashears and Dylan Caudill with a total weight of 14.62 lbs. Blake and Dylan will cash a check for $1,000.00 for their work on Saturday. Way to go, guys!
Check out the full results here: Results
The Citizens Bank Big Largemouth went to Robert Hall/Landon Hall with a monster largemouth tipping the scales at 5.04 lbs. They will add $1,115.00 to their winnings for catching this giant! Congrats!
The Citizens Bank Big Smallmouth payout went to James Barlow/Levi Barlow weighing a monster 3.85 lb smallie. Nice catch, Levi, and way to put $1,115.00 into the bank!
Highest Finishing Minn Kota and Humminbird Bonus paid out this weekend as follows:
1st: Pappas/Vick, 15.95 lbs. $250 Humminbird/MinnKota Bonus
2nd: Napier/Keaton 15.13 lbs. $150 Humminbird/MinnKota Bonus
Humminbird: Simply. Clearly. Better. Check out how to get in on the One Boat Network at https://www.minnkotamotors.com/ and get paid for running the best equipment on the water.
Highest Finishing Gray Fox Insurance payout went to Owens/Spivey with 13.89 lbs for $250.00 2nd Highest Finishing Gray Fox Insurance payout went to Roark/Price with 13.37 lbs. Their choice to insure with Gray Fox Insurance paid them back $250.00 Saturday. Get in touch with Randy Heatherly and the gang at Gray Fox Insurance in LaFollette, TN and get in on the payback!
The Morristown Marine Bucks program paid out as follows:
Morristown Marine New Bucks:
1st: Ownby/Chambers 14.61 lbs. $1,000.00 Bonus.
2nd: Owens/Spivey, 13.89 lbs. $750 Bonus.
The Morristown Marine New Bucks pays back those who purchased a brand-new boat from us in 2020, 2021 or 2022. This is just our way of saying “Thank You” for choosing your new boat from us.
Morristown Marine Pre-Owned Bucks:
1st: Meade/Meade, 3.40 lbs. $500 Bonus
2nd: N/A
Thank you both for choosing to spend your hard-earned dollars at Morristown Marine. All you have to do is purchase a certified pre-owned boat from Morristown Marine to qualify for this payout. As you guys can see, there is money to be won on the #mmtt in a pre-owned boat!
Highest Finishing Skeeter Bonus:
- Ownby/Chambers: 14.61 lbs, $3,000.00
- Dewees/Napier: 14.37lbs, $1,250.00
- Seaton/Lusk: 14.05 lbs, $1,250.00
- Ellison/Davis: 13.93 lbs, $800.00
- Owens/Spivey: 13.89 lbs, $700.00
- Jones/Jones: 13.65 lbs, $500.00
- Smith/Lewis: 13.44 lbs, $250.00
- Roark/Price: 13.37 lbs, $200.00
- Seeber/Moore: 13.34 lbs, $150.00
- Miracle/Wolfenbarger: 12.52 lbs, $100.00
Morristown Marine would like to give a special thanks to: Campbell County Sheriffs office, Campbell County EMA/Parks & Rec, Campbell County Mayor/JEDC/Chamber of Commerce, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha, Humminbird, MinnKota, Morristown Chamber of Commerce/Visit Morristown, Gray Fox Insurance, Dick’s House of Sport-Knoxville, Old Stage Printing, Volunteer Trenching, Jimmy Taylor Plumbing, Lake View Dock, Citizens Bank, Cumberland Gap Spring Water, Jerry’s Bait Shop, Jefferson County, Campbell County, The Roane Alliance/City of Rockwood, AZ Rags and Smoky Mountain Fiberglass for sponsoring the 2024 Morristown Marine Team Trail. If not for the help of these sponsors, this tournament trail could not exist. Thank you all so much for your support of our anglers.
We want to thank our staff and crew for another great event. Most people don’t realize the behind-the-scenes work that goes on to create and operate a tournament of this size. Lastly, we want to thank you, the anglers, for coming out to fish with us. There are a number of tournament trails these days and we sincerely appreciate you choosing to fish with us. Next stop: Watts Bar Lake in beautiful Roane County, TN on April 20! See you then!
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