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May 24, 2011

Miller's Ferry – Bain Henderson and William Morton have assumed the duties of tournament organizers and this year's event will be headquartered in Miller's Ferry.  The same basic format of the tournament will remain with one exception.  Fishermen can begin taking fish off the lines on Friday morning rather that mid afternoon.  This year's event is expected to draw a large crowd of spectators as nine teams complete for the title of Catfishing Kings.  

June 10, 2009

Mouth of Pine Barren Creek – After a one year hiatus, the Pine Barren Creek Invitational Catfish Tournament is on the books once again.  Fishermen are racing to prepare line, hooks, jugs, and various other methods used to corral the elusive blue and yellow cats that roam the mighty and muddy waters of the Alabama River.  This, the 7th event held, looks to be yet another successful tournament with as many as 10 teams throwing their hats in the ring to compete for the title, held for the past two years by the team of Bryant Hollinger, William Malone, and Hudson Williams.  

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May 23, 2007

Mouth of Pine Barren Creek – Pine Barren Creek-The 6^th Pine Barren Creek Invitational Catfish Tournament is now in the record books and by the time the sun set over the receding waters of Lake Dannelly Saturday evening, the Tiger Cats team had apparently broken the all-time record of most fish caught during the event.  The record breaking catch did not come without a great deal of controversy which is certain to be the talk of the local fishing community for months to come.

       The official judges of the event, William H. Johnson, Jr., and John P. Webb. III, who also happen to hold the overall record of 369.2 lbs. of overall catch, rendered a stunning ruling to the crowd that came to witness the final weigh-in.  Citing decades of catfishing experience along these same waters, Johnson reduced the overall catch of the Tiger Cats team by 100 pounds due to the low waters of the lake caused by the excessively dry conditions.  The reduction, said the judges, did not affect the overall winner of the tournament, however, it would prevent the Tiger Cats from claiming the overall highest catch in the official record books.  

       Johnson and Webb, two time winners of the tournament fishing under the Taylor ’s Pride name, had stated that if any team ever broke their record that was set in 2004, they would come out of retirement to fish again.  The reduction of the Tiger Cats’ catch will keep the Taylor ’s Pride in retirement. 

      William Malone, member of the Tiger Cats team, disagreed with the ruling citing a severe conflict of interest on the part of the judges.  Local barber and celebrity catfish cooker Van Waren came to the rescue of the Tiger Cats team Saturday evening and pleaded to no avail with the judges.   

       Tuesday morning, the judges restated their position citing studies conducted by the Corps of Engineers and the Fisheries Department at Auburn University .  The information provided, along with graphs, shows the affects a lower water level would have on concentrating the fish for an easier catch.  The data also shows a larger number of fish now in the waters due to the lack of fishing the past few years by Johnson and Webb.

       Controversy aside, the event was hailed as another great success.  1328 pounds of fish were brought to the scales over the weekend.  The Fat Cats team claimed second place with 300.2 lbs.  Third place went to the Clarke County Cats with 216.4 pounds and fourth place was claimed by the Miller’s Ferry Flatheads with 211.04 pounds of fish.  The 2006 winners, the Cat Snatchers, fell to a 5^th place finish with 139 pounds followed by the Yellowhammers with 30.2 pounds.  The newest teams in the event were in 7^th and 8^th place with the Calling ‘Em Up team catching 22.8 lbs. and the River Rats failing to bring in any fish due to last minute complications. 

       Once again the event was emceed by “Big Daddy” Lawler, who now hosts an outdoors radio show each Saturday morning in central Alabama (www.chattinoutdoors.com).  Van Waren and the Shawnee Cookmasters fed a crowd of over 200 that showed up for the final weigh-in.  Many of the hungry river goers claimed to have eaten the best fish they have ever tasted.

Click here to read the official ruling by the judges.  

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May 18, 2007

Mouth of Pine Barren Creek –  Tournament time has arrived and fishermen are upon the waters of the Alabama River this morning in preparation for the 27 hour event that is sure to be the most exciting ever.  Lake levels have fallen to all time lows for this time of year with a nearly 4 foot deficit from the normal pool.  However, cooler weather has arrived just in time for the weekend and experts predict a major feeding frenzy that is sure to result in record catches on both Friday and Saturday.  

       Eight teams have officially entered the contest.  The Pine Barren Pirates, led by the famous river rat, Paul J. Strickland, withdrew earlier this week due to work conflicts.  That leaves most observers predicting that the Tiger Cat team will rebound from a mid-pack finish last year to claim the title Saturday night.  Others are saying the Clarke County Cats team of G. Alford and Ric Gilmore are a sure bet to win.  The Cat Snatcher team of Jamie Bender, Matt Bush, and Ken Crosswhite certainly have the skills to defend the title if they put forth the effort.  The title has never been successfully defended, however.  

       Hank Mosley has returned to lead the Fat Cats team made up of the youngest fishermen.  They are expected to have a good catch.  The Millers Ferry Flatheads team of Jason Haynes and Jason Ledbetter will hold their own at the weigh-in.  It is believed that the team of John Powell Webb and Will Curry will greatly surpass their measly catches of past tournaments.  Two new teams are on board.  Carl Duncan and son Wade have entered along with a team led by Jeremy Jones.

May 9, 2007

Camden –  As tournament time nears, the defending champions, the Cat Snatchers, are making plans to defend their title as numerous other teams conspire to defeat them.  Another great tournament is expected to take place here along the waters of Lake Dannelly on May 18th and 19th, concluding at 5pm on Saturday afternoon at the Johnson's Lakehouse on Pine Barren Creek.  

Many observers expect the Cat Snatchers to be the first team to successful defend the Kings of Catfish title, however, others are placing their bets on the team of Alford and Gilmore to rise to the top.  The tragic death of competitor Wayne Guy late late year has forever sidelined the Whiskey Cats team, a perennial top three team.  The crowd favorite team of the Whiskey Cats, Wayne Guy and Wayne Dunnam, will be sorely missed by competitors and spectators.  

The Pine Barren Pirates team led by river rat Paul J. Strickland is expected to make a strong run at the title this year.  Strickland, an experienced cat man on the river fell just a few pounds short of the title in 2001 and again last year.  

A handful of other teams will be competing in the tournament but are not expected to make a strong run for the title.  

Once again the famous "Big Daddy" Lawler will emcee the event and the huge fish fry will be led by the Shawnee Cooking Team of Van Waren and friends.  Spectators are invited to the banks of Pine Barren Creek on Saturday evening to witness the greatest catfish tournament in this neck of the woods.  

March 10, 2007

Camden –  As plans are beginning to take shape for the 2007 Tournament, the competitors are mourning the loss of Wayne Guy, who passed away suddenly in early December.  Wayne Guy was one of this river's great fishermen and he will be sorely missed in his family and community each and every day of the year.  The team of Wayne and Wayne (Wayne Guy and Wayne Dunnam) was a crowd favorite each year in the tournament, always bringing in a huge haul of fish.  Thanks for the memories, Wayne.

 

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May 13, 2006

Camden –  Rains this week have swollen the muddy waters of the Alabama River while frantic fishing competitors are hastily preparing for one of the most important weekends of the year.  The team that stands in the victory circle on May 20th will have one year's worth of bragging rights.  All others will have another year of misery.  On the banks of Pine Barren Creek Saturday evening, second place is the first loser.  
       The Wilcox County Catfishing Association expects that 10 teams will be competing this year.  A total of 12 teams were approved for the event but a few may have to back out at the last minute due to other conflicts.  All major players from the past are expected to compete, though the Taylor's Pride team is not expected to mount an all out assault on the catfish this time around and may not officially throw their hats in the ring this year, contrary to rumors circling through the area.
      

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April 12, 2006

Camden – Members of the loosely held group known as the Wilcox County Catfishing Association met in Camden last night to hammer out details for the 2006 Tournament.  A vote was held to determine the date of the event and after a lively debate the group settled on May 19-20.  
       In other developments the entry fee was increased to $75 per team in order to cover all costs of the Saturday evening meal prepared by the famous Shawnee chef Van Waren.  A calcutta will also be held this year on Friday night.  Two new local teams were approved to fish in this year's event.    
       The mood of the night turned to a feverish pitch when the Taylor's Pride team of Johnny Webb and Billy Johnson announced they were considering coming out of retirement to fish yet again.  The competitors welcomed the news though some were thought to have been shaking in their shoes at the news.  The last time the Taylor's Pride team fished the event they used over 1,000 hooks and caught as many fish as the 2nd and 3rd place teams combined.  Johnson and Webb would not totally commit but are thought to be leaning heavily toward returning to the field of competition.
 
      

May 22, 2005

Pine Barren Creek – Over twelve hundred pounds of catfish were brought to the scales here along the banks of scenic Pine Barren Creek through the weekend and when the final tally was made the L. A. Linemen bested the Mulletheads by a mere 8 pounds of fish.  The L. A. Linemen team of Fleetwood Hollinger and William Malone, aided by a massive 46.2 lb. yellow cat, reclaimed the top prize they relinquished at last year's event.  
      A crowd of several hundred gathered to watch the last round of fish come to the scales on a beautiful and sunny Saturday afternoon.  Several teams were in the running for the top prize as the final weigh-in began.  The Mulletheads team of G. Alford and Hudson Williams, having fished much of Friday night under the light of a near full moon, brought in the biggest haul of Saturday afternoon but came up just short of the total prize.  The difference in the top two teams could easily be summed up in the fact that the L. A. Linemen's big fish (46.2 lbs.) was bigger than the Mulletheads' big fish ( 31 lbs.).   
       Several new records were set in this the 4th Pine Barren Creek Invitational.  A total of 9 teams caught a record 1205 pounds of fish.  The L. A. Linemen team's 46.2 yellow cat bested the previous tournament record of 33 lbs.  A total of three fish over 30 pounds were brought to the scales, more than the other three tournaments combined.    
       After three weeks of dry weather a storm front moved in Friday afternoon and cut short the fishing in the final hour of the day as lightning streaked across the skies and rain fell.  A few hours later clear skies returned and many teams went back to the water to tend lines throughout the night under the light of a near full moon.  Saturday greeted the fishermen with warm and sunny skies.  
      The event was emceed by James "Big Daddy" Lawler who did a marvelous job and also kept the crowd entertained with music into the night.   The Van Waren and friends cooking team put on a real southern fish fry that bears no comparison.  The crowd was treated to a acoustic guitar performance by Nashville songwriter Arlos Smith, who has authored several country hits in the recent years.  
       As Saturday ended and fishermen returned home, smelling of shad and catfish and holding cut and aching hands, you can be assured that plans to win the 2006 tournament were dancing in their heads.  

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May 18, 2005

Pine Barren Creek – The now world famous Pine Barren Creek Invitational Catfish Tournament (PBCICT) is slated for May 20 and 21, 2005 with the final weigh-in to be held at the Johnson Lakehouse along the banks of scenic Pine Barren Creek Saturday afternoon.  Teams are feverishly working to make sure they are in the winner’s circle when all the fish are weighed.  Legendary catfishermen and two-time tournament winners Billy Johnson and Johnny Webb will be serving as hosts and judges of the event, having retired after their lopsided win in the 2004 event.

      James “Big Daddy” Lawler will be on hand to emcee the event and Van Waren and the Shawnee Cookmasters will serve up a smorgasbord of food immediately after the weigh-in, including, as you might have guessed, fresh river catfish.

      William Malone, member of the L. A. Linemen team that won the 2001 event, says he has seen a difference in the approach of most of the competitors.  “In the past,” Malone said, “most of these guys were trying to convince their competitors that they had 1000 or more hooks in the water and there was no reason for anyone to give it any effort because their team had it in the bag already.  This year, however, everyone is bluffing in a different direction.  Everyone I have talked to has told me they are way behind and will not get any hooks in the water until the last minute and will be fishing with just a few lines.  The reality is this, most of the guys have been fishing for the past few weeks and most teams are expected to be using holding tanks where they keep fish alive until the final tournament weigh-in.”

       Tournament organizers have noted that such actions are against the rules.  However, they readily admit that such practices have been common in the past tournaments and it is extremely hard to prove a team gained an edge using this method.  Furthermore, if a team finds a competitor’s stash of fish they are not going to turn them in for cheating.  They will instead steal the fish and waltz into the winner’s circle themselves.  The fishermen that compete in this event are know to leave their integrity on the bank during this weekend.         

      Several new teams have entered the event this year upon the invitation of the tournament regulars.  At least 8 teams and maybe as many as nine will compete for the Cat King title.  The field is wide open and no clear favorite has emerged.  Though no team is expected to surpass Taylor ’s Pride’s 369 pounds hauled in during the 2004 event, most observers agree that this year’s event will surpass the grand total of 1087 pounds caught last year.

       The PBCICT, which began in the year 2000, has become the most widely anticipated fishing tournament along the Alabama River each year.  Hundreds of bystanders are expected to gather along the bank of Pine Barren Creek prior to 5PM Saturday to await the parade of catfishing boats which should enter the mouth of the creek just before the final bell and race to the finish line and possibly into the record books as well.

        Paul J. Strickland hopes to finally land in first place after two 2^nd place finishes and a dismal 4^th place finish last year.  Strickland says that last year’s slide downward in the pack has troubled him greatly through the past 11 months.  He’ll be fishing as the Pine Barren Pirates this time around. 

       Wayne Dunnam has guaranteed a win for his team, the Whiskey Cats, at every available opportunity after placing a distant 2^nd in last year’s event.  A 55 gallon barrel of Old Forester will not drown out the sorrows of the Whiskey Cats should they fail to take the top prize Saturday evening.

        The Mullethead team of G. Alford and Hudson Williams (and honorary member Brad Powe) caught an impressive round of fish last year and are looking to finally reach the winner’s circle.  Alford has been one of the more consistent fishermen in each of the tournaments but has not found himself on a winning team.  At least not yet.

      Tod Echler, another veteran of the event, will be back this year,  A member of the winning Taylor ’s Pride team in 2004, Echler knows the way to the catfish hideouts.  As of press time it was unknown what name he will be fishing under.

     The Cat Snatchers team of Crosswhile, Bender, and Bush garnered the “Best New Team” prize last year and though they finished one better than last place, they turned the heads of many seasoned Alabama River fishermen and now have veteran catfish tournament competitors more than a bit uneasy.  They have reportedly spent lots of time on the river in the past few weeks and could be fishing between 600 and 700 hooks. 

      Hank Mosely, having learned the tricks of the trade from the Taylor ’s Pride veterans in the 2004 event, is leading a new team called the Young Guns (Tyler Sims & Braxton Cook).  The Young Guns have also reportedly gotten an early start this year.

       Jason Haynes, having fished in the 2001 event, returns this year assisted by Jason Ledbetter.  The M. F. Flatheads are expected to perform well. 

        The L. A. Linemen team of Hollinger and Malone know the thrill of victory and not only the agony of defeat but also the embarrassment of finishing in last place.  They are believed to be well prepared this year and have a target weight of 300 lbs. to bring to the scales.  They are looking forward to seeing someone else in last place this year. 

        At the last minute, the team of Will Curry and John Powell Webb have thrown their hat into the ring.  With little known preparation it is not expected that this yet unnamed team will pose much of a threat this year.  

        There can be only one winner and as one competitor noted, “Second place is the first loser.”  The stakes are high and the highly coveted bragging rights are on the line this weekend.  You can almost feel the intensity rising up out of the muddy waters of the Alabama River and it is only Wednesday.  On Saturday afternoon, that intensity will rise to a feverish pitch, then boil down to one winner and a handful of losers, destined to hear about their misfortune for another year.    

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January 2, 2005

Pine Barren Creek--- While most locals were out chasing deer, Taylor’s Pride hauled in two trophy catfish this weekend to kick off the New Year in style.  The scales showed these fish to weigh about 30 pounds each, however, the team of Johnson & Webb claimed the scales were in error and the fish "must be 40 pounds a piece."

 

 

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2004- 3rd Annual

May 16, 2004

2004 – Final Press Release  

Pine Barren Creek--- Team Taylor ’s Pride blew away the competition Saturday evening to reclaim the title of Kings of Catfish of the Pine Barren Creek Invitational Catfish Tournament, setting a new event record for overall pounds caught by a single team. 
     As a light rain began to fall the Taylor ’s Pride team weighed in an impressive 207.6 pounds on Saturday evening to add to their Friday catch of 161.6, giving them an overall tally of 369.2 pounds.  The original team members Billy Johnson and Johnny Webb were assisted by Tod Echler and Hank Mosley throughout the weekend.      
      Echler has fished in the two previous events.  This was Mosley’s first time to participate.
      Wayne Guy and Wayne Dunnam, fishing under the team name of the Whiskey Cats, hauled in 199 pounds, barely edging the Mulletheads for 2^nd place.
      The Mulletheads, primary led by G. Alford and Hudson Williams, caught 195 pounds landing them in 3^rd place.  Brad Powe was also a listed member of this team though it is not known if he assisted in their efforts in any way.
      Paul J. Strickland, Paul Hardin, and Mike Bailey—aka the Foul Hookers--- garnered 4^th place with a catch of 132.8 pounds.
     The Cat Snatchers team made of tournament rookies weighed in an impressive 129.6 pounds of fish.  This new team consisting of Jamie Bender, Matt Bush, and Ken Crosswhite also won the “Best New Team Award.” 
      In the poorest showing of the event, the defending champions team L. A. Linemen caught only 62 pounds.  William Malone and Fleetwood Hollinger had at least another 100 pounds worth of excuses for their last place finish.  They were pegged with the “Worst of Show Award.” 
      Overall the tournament tallied 1087 pounds of fish, topping the 2001 event’s record of 561 pounds.  Overall the weather cooperated and though a 50/50 chance of rain was forecasted for Saturday only a light sprinkle landed on the competition at the final weigh-in.  Over 125 spectators showed up to see the final fish come in.
      The winning team says they caught at least half of their fish on one long line in the main river channel that stretched through a deep hole somewhere north of the mouth of Pine Barren Creek. 
      Billy Johnson and Johnny Webb officially announced their retirement at the end of the event.  They were serve as judges and hosts at all future events, now having won two out of the first three events. 
      An impressive Old Southern Fish Fry was enjoyed by all present courtesy of Van Waren, Danny Stoudenmier, Phil Creswell, and Tommy Gregory. 

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May 13, 2004

2004 – 4^th Press Release  

Camden - Rain and thunderstorms have entered the forecast for the weekend but organizers of the Pine Barren Creek Invitational have stressed that the event will go on regardless of the weather.  "The fish are already wet so what is it going to hurt?," asked one team member.  
      Rain falling Wednesday evening likely hampered some teams' last minute preparations.  All teams are expected to be on the water Thursday evening baiting lines in anticipation of the first weigh-in Friday evening.  
      In a surprising shift the 1st Annual winners, Taylor's Pride, have vaulted into pre-tournament first place and are now favored to walk away with the title again.  Their efforts in placing nearly twice as many hooks in the water than other teams could result in a big payday for them.  
      The Foul Hookers are now holding the 2nd place position going into the weekend.  Their preparation has been disorganized with one team member vacationing this week and another living out of town.  However, it is believed they have solicited the assistance of legendary catfisherman Billy Wilkerson and could bring in a very impressive catch.  
       The 2001 Cat Kings, the L. A. Linemen, have fallen to 3rd place but are expected to bring in another big haul to the scales.  They completed their lines on Saturday and have been coasting since then.  "If we don't get a bunch of them hung up on logs and such we'll be in the top 3 with ease," said team member Malone.  
       The Mulletheads are now holding 4th place in the pre-tournament standings.  They have stepped up their efforts this week under the direction of team captain G. Alford.  This team vows to bring in the Big Fish and some are expecting that the Big Fish could already be secured in an unknown location by this team.  
       The W. W. Catdaddies hold 5th place though they could place literally anywhere in the final results.  This team is made up of former commercial fisherman Wayne Guy and is known to possess a vast amount of catfishing knowledge.  In past events they have not placed well but could vault to the top at any time.  
       The Cat Snatchers are in 6th place with it being noted that they are placing too many lines in creeks and not enough in the main river channel.  This could result in too many gar caught rather than catfish.  
       The Backwoods Boys and the Cirrhosis of the River teams bring up the back of the pack.  Little is known of the Backwoods Boys preparations and strategy but it is known that the Cirrhosis team has fallen apart and is without a vessel in which to fish.  It is doubtful they can catch enough from the bank to even garner the dreaded Worst of Show award.
       Overall it is being speculated that upwards of 900 pounds of catfish will be brought to the scales in the event lasting just 26 hours.    
       Organizers again put out the call to all interested parties and well-wishers to attend the final weigh-in on Saturday afternoon.  The final fish will be coming to the scales from 4 to 5PM with a fish fry and awards ceremony following.  

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2004 – 3^rd Press Release  

Camden - It was a busy and eventful weekend for competitors with the tournament looming large on the horizon.  After much "poor mouthing" about lack of time to properly prepare, the Taylor's Pride team was seen on the water for most of the weekend are are expected to have placed somewhere over 600 hooks in the waters around Pine Barren Creek on Saturday and Sunday.  They plan to be parked squarely in Victory Lane late Saturday evening.  
      It was also learned that the L. A. Linemen completed their lines late Saturday evening and also appear confident that they can withstand the fierce competition.  When asked if they had over or under 500 hooks they simply replied, "under."  
      Spotters along the river reported a good bit of activity from the Cat Snatchers but very little from other teams.  The Mulletheads were only seen for a short time on Saturday and Sunday and were enjoying cool snacks rather than the hard work of line tending.  
       The Cirrhosis of the River team knocked a hole in their boat on another lake Saturday as one team member was in pursuit of the lowly black bass and are therefore searching for a boat in order to fish the tournament.
       Tod Echler's team has dropped out of the race but a new team, the Backwoods Boys, have thrown their hat into the ring.  The Backwoods Boys team consists of Curtis Jenkins Stallworth and Zach English and will be sponsored by Steve Stallworth and Ray Herring.  The Backwoods Boys are the youngest team and could quickly become the crowd favorite.    
       Vegas has issued these latest odds which include some drastic shifts...

Foul Hookers:  2 to 1
L. A. Linemen: 3 to 1
Taylor ’s Pride:  4 to 1
W. W. Catdaddies:  5 to 1
Cat Snatchers:  6 to 1
Mulletheads:  7 to 1
Backwoods Boys:  35 to 1
Cirrhosis of the River:  58 to 1
Walburn & Walburn:  108 to 1

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May 8, 2004

2004 – 2^nd Press Release  

Camden - One week from today the most anticipated catfish tournament held annually on Lake Dannelly will be underway with as many as 9 teams vying for the grand title of Kings of Catfish.  By Saturday evening hundreds of pounds of catfish, possibly as many as one thousand, will have been brought to the scales.  
      Tuesday evening, a lively meeting of the loosely knit organization called the Wilcox County Catfishing Association was held.  The final rules were approved.  Major developments included increasing the entry fee from $25 per boat to $40 to cover all costs of the Saturday evening meal along with the whiskey needed for the chefs.  Competitors agreed that no fish should be weighed unless witnessed by a team member from another team.  Paul J. Strickland pleaded with everyone to use running lights on Friday night, per state regulations, rather than always operate in the stealth catfish mode.  All teams were in agreement on another item as well----that they were going to win and likely win big.  
      The first team to have officially entered by paying their registration fee is the Cat Snatchers, one of two completely new teams to the field.  After much speculation and threatening to retire, the crowd favorite Taylor's Pride team anteed up their $40 and vowed to give the younger fishermen a run to the finish.      
     Inside sources indicate that no frontrunner has emerged at this point.  The L. A. Linemen team of Hollinger and Malone have begun placing lines in the water and it is widely believed that they will bring in another impressive load of fish in hopes of being the first team to successfully defend the title. 
     The Foul Hookers led by two time 2^nd place finisher Paul. J. Strickland is another favorite to win the top prize.  Strickland has commandeered Mike Bailey, a New York native, and attorney Paul Hardin from the dry county of Monroe to assist in a quest that Strickland refers to as “The Run to Glory.” 
     The Mulletheads team of Alford and Powe have been joined by a new member, Hudson Williams.  Williams, having grown up near the Alabama River also in the dry county of Monroe , is expected to bring a vast amount of catfishing knowledge to this team.  Team members say he will be solely in charge of preparing the cut bait and other foul smelling baits needed to lure the bottom feeding buzzards.  The Mulletheads have always placed near the top of this event.
     The Taylor ’s Pride team appears to be entering the final week of preparation playing catch-up.  It is widely speculated that due to their busy schedules they will have fewer hooks in the water than in the two prior events and could even fall to the second half of the pack when the final results are tallied.
     The W. W. Catdaddies led by former commercial fisherman Wayne Guy and assisted by the colorful and entertaining Wayne Dunnam have vowed to shock everyone with how many fish they will bring to the bank by Friday evening.  Undoubtedly they possess the knowledge and skills to perform such a feat but in the two prior events their results were less than spectacular.  A plot was uncovered late this week that was designed to cripple this team’s chances of winning.  Unknown persons were planning to place a case of whiskey in this team’s boat in hopes of distracting them from hook baiting.    
     The Cat Snatchers team of Bender, Bush, and Crosswhite have been making haste in their preparation and are expected to be one of the event’s top new teams. 
      Todd Echler returns to Pine Barren Creek to chase the title, though living many miles away is severely handicapped when compared to the other local teams.
     Nothing has been heard from the team of Webb IV / Murphy / Bell who will fish under the name of Cirrhosis of the River.  Murphy, a successful tournament bass fishermen is expected to lead this group.  Tournament organizers have reminded Murphy that no trash fish such as the lowly green bass will be allowed on the premises.  Likewise, the Walburn and Son team have been quiet as to their tournament plans.

     Oddsmakers in Vegas closely watching the event have issued these latest odds: 

Foul Fishermen:  2 to 1
L. A. Linemen: 3 to 1
Mulletheads:  4 to 1
W. W. Catdaddies:  4 to 1
Cat Snatchers:  8 to 1
Taylor ’s Pride:  9 to 1
Cirrhosis of the River:  10 to 1
Echler / Steve:  12 to 1
Walburn & Walburn:  423 to 1

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April 30, 2004

2004 – 1^st Press Release  

Camden - After a two year absence of competition, teams are once again readying hooks and line in preparation for round three of the Pine Barren Invitational Catfish Tournament.  The Third Annual event, previously scheduled for May of 2002, was canceled due to an accident involving Forrest Johnson the week prior to the tournament.  Forrest’s tragic death that December left a huge void in the friendly competition of the popular event.  Competitors have recently decided to resume the annual fishing event to be held on May 14 and 15, 2004.

“Forrest would have wanted the tournament to go on,” said William Malone.  “He loved this thing as much as any of us and I really think he would want us to keep it going.  There are going to be a lot of memories of Forrest shared during the weekend of fishing.  Even the unique trophies that go home each year with the winners were made by Forrest himself so you know they will be even more special to the victors.  He’ll always be a part of this fishing tournament”  He added, “I’m a little worried that if he can spare some time away from turkey hunting there in Heaven, he’s going to be pointing some catfish toward Paul J’s hooks!” 

The final weigh-in will be held at the Johnson Lakehouse on Pine Barren Creek at 5PM , followed by a fish fry.  Van Waren and the world renowned Shawnee Cookmasters will once again be frying fish so fresh they will have nearly jumped right out of the water and onto the plates.  Organizers are inviting friends and well wishers of the competing teams to the final weigh-in and feeding. 

T-shirts are currently on order and will be available for sale the week of the event and at the final weigh-in.  Watch this website for more information regarding those shirts.  

The currently invited teams are listed below. 

    L. A. Linemen – Fleetwood Hollinger & William Malone
    Foul Fishermen – Mike Bailey, Paul Hardin, & Paul J. Strickland
    Mulletheads – G. Alford, Brad Powe, & Hudson Williams
  Taylor’s Pride – Billy Johnson & Johnny Webb
    Cat Snatchers – Jamie Bender, Matt Bush, & Ken Crosswhite
  Wayne ’s World – Wayne Dunnam & Wayne Guy
    Cirrhosis of the River – Lyle Bell, Todd Murphy, & John Powell Webb
    Unknown Team Name – Frank Walburn & Will Walburn
    Backwoods Boys - Curtis Jenkins Stallworth, Zach English, 
                Ray Herring, & Steve Stallworth

 

 

 

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2002- 3rd Annual 

May 13, 2002

Mouth of Pine Barren Creek—In less than two weeks the new Heavyweight Catfishing Champions will be crowned beside scenic Pine Barren Creek. The drama continues to unfold as competitors scramble to prepare lines and strategy.

In a surprising development late last week, an unnamed source reported that he witnessed the Taylor’s Pride team exchanging 16 ounce Budweiser beers to bank fishermen behind the Miller’s Ferry Powerhouse in exchange for promises to deliver fish to them the weekend of the tournament. However, no substantial proof of such has been produced.

Last year, the Taylor’s Pride team entered the tournament on a high. They had recently been featured in Alabama Game & Fish magazine and had made the most of their year as reigning Heavyweight Catfishing Champions. But a date with a stump and one sinking boat later, they quickly saw their title slip away. This year they are rumored to have purchased 1000 new hooks. If they are able to bait all of those hooks and remember where that submerged stump is, they could walk away with the title once again.

The Reb & Yank team has already placed lines in the water and are using sophisticated GPS equipment to track and monitor them. Their hastiness has led one competitor to comment that maybe they should change their name to the "Wannabees." "After all," he said, "they just want to be in the top 5 teams instead of the bottom five!"

John Powell Webb, IV has entered the tournament for the first time along with partner Shane Carter. Webb is the son of 1^st Annual Heavyweight Catfishing Champion Johnny Webb. Speculation is mounting as to whether any of the elder Webb’s catfishing prowess has been passed on to the next generation.

Will Curry and Greg Ingram will be fishing as the "Intimibaiters" team. Curry fished in the first annual tournament with Robert Smith, finishing next to last with only 7 pounds of fish. This is Ingram’s inaugural run at the title.

The Maren-Cox team, 6^th place finishers last year, has withdrawn from this year’s contest. Though one team member has a job conflict, the other team member has shunned the prestige of the event in order to fish in a billfish tournament along the Gulf Coast. Die-hard catfisherman regard billfish as a trash fish in the same category as the lowly black bass. Legend has it that billfish were once prevalent in the waters of Lake Dannelly until catfisherman, fearing that they would crowd out the more popular blue and yellow cat species, exterminated them. One competitor stated, "I ain’t never heard of nobody bailing out of no catfishing contest to go get seasick chasing some fish you ain’t even goin’ to eat. What is this world coming to?" he asked. Another commented, "He musta ate too much lead paint when he was a young ‘un."

Numerous complaints have circulated concerning the Master Baiters team running other teams’ lines during the night last year while other teams slept. Teams will be more secretive this time in placing their lines and most are expected to travel farther north and south to fish in an effort to outwit these river pirates. Fisherman can choose from any spot along the 105 miles of river, from the Miller’s Ferry Dam to the Robert F. Henry Dam. Lake Dannelly boasts an area of about 27 square miles and a shoreline of nearly 500 miles.

T-shirts will go on sale on May 15, 2002.  They are $12 each.  XXL, XL, and L sizes are available.  Please see William Malone (334-682-9876) to purchase your shirts.  A photograph of the shirts will be posted to the website on May 14th.  You don't want to miss out on these cool shirts. 

While much of the fishing community continues to be mesmerized by the black bass, this group of hard core fishermen regards the pursuit of such a small fish as a practice that borders on ridiculous. They choose to set their hooks deep with their sights set on big yellow and blue cats. Stringers of fifty-pound blue cats are common in these waters as are dreams of the 185 to 250 pound blue cats that were documented by Mark Twain in his writings about American river life. The blue cat is among the species of fish who actually flourish in rivers that have been tamed by locks, dams and riprap which direct current into the center of rivers, carving out deep holes. It is in these deep chutes and holes where the blue cat thrives. It is in these deep holes where this tournament will be decided.

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May 1, 2002 

Camden, AL—From the shallows to the depths of Lake Dannelly’s muddy waters there swims a slimy, whiskered fish that tends to cause quite a stir among the residents of these south Alabama woods in the late springtime. One flavor of this elusive fish is a steely, bluish-gray color and the other flavor possesses a yellowish tint. Both the Blue Cat and the Yellow Cat can grow to a hundred pounds or more, almost as big as the egos of those that pursue him. And on May 24^th and 25th he will indeed be pursued.

Members of the loosely knit group that refer to themselves as the Wilcox County Catfishing Association met here last night to hammer out the details of their upcoming 3^rd Annual Invitational Tournament. As usual it was a lively meeting with plenty of boasting and accusations of past cheating.

Last May at the conclusion of the 2^nd Annual Event, the L. A. Lineman team of Hollinger & Malone surprised the defending champions, the Taylor’s Pride team of B. Johnson and Webb, and now possess the coveted Heavyweight Catfishing Belts. If one believes half of the talk made by the teams at last night’s meeting, the L. A. Linemen are going to have a hard time in holding onto the belts.

Taylor’s Pride contends that they are ready to retire and plan to do so after they win back the belts. The 2^nd place finishers in both prior events, the Master Baiters, say it is their year to win. The Mulletheads, who placed 4^th last year, are also considered major contenders. Six other teams are lining up to challenge as well.

The 2^nd Annual Tournament witnessed a total of 651 pounds of catfish caught in just over 27 hours of fishing. The largest catfish brought to the scales weighed 23.6 pounds. The top four teams posted weights of 144 lbs., 129.2 lbs., 118.05 lbs., and 112.20 lbs. The worst showing netted only 8.60 lbs. The members of that team have asked that their names not be published as to prevent further embarrassment to themselves and their families.

The past two tournaments have witnessed two types of competing teams, which could be called first and second tier teams. The first tier teams strive to finish in first place. The second tier teams hope to do just enough to avoid last place.

The tournament is unique considering the fact that a $25 fee is required to enter the team, however, no money is awarded to the winners. Teams compete for bragging rights and the Heavyweight Catfishing Belts.

In just its 3^rd year the tournament has signed on a major sponsor and sold the television rights to the event. Georgia-Pacific has agreed to be the official sponsor, citing the event’s “clean, wholesome fun for all ages and....spirit of sportsmanship.”

The group has approved a few rule changes. Rule #9 stated, “Absolutely no cheating will be permitted.” In order to bring the majority of the teams in compliance with the rules, Rule #9 has been changed to; “Cheating is discouraged but expected.”

The event will begin at 3PM on Friday afternoon with a shotgun start from Pine Barren Creek for all those that can attend. Fishing will cease with the final weigh-in at 5PM at the Johnson’s Lakehouse. The awards ceremony will begin after a fine meal of fried catfish, prepared by the Shawnee Cookmasters, led by legendary Camden barber Van Waren. James “Big Daddy” Lawler has once again graciously agreed to emcee the popular event.

A Calcutta has been added to this year’s itinerary. Each team will be sold via a silent auction. The person who purchases the winning team will win the pot. Bidding will begin on May 6^th and end at 10AM on May 24^th. It is open to any and everyone. To enter your bid for your favorite team stop by Van’s Barber Shop in Camden or give him a call at 334-682-4441.

Tournament organizers encourage everyone to stop by the official website to read all the latest news as it develops. Also included on the website are pictures, news, and results from past events. Photos of this year’s t-shirts will be added on May 15^th. Limited quantities of the shirts at $12 each will be available at that time with all details of ordering posted on the website.

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2001 - 2nd Annual

  [2001 Final Results][Press Release #4] [2001 Odds] [Press Release #3]
[Press Release #2] [Press Release #1]  

 

New Kings of Catfish Crowned

May 20, 2001

Northwestern Bank of Pine Barren Creek---New Kings of Catfish were crowned yesterday evening here on the northwestern bank of Pine Barren Creek at the conclusion of the 2nd Annual Pine Barren Invitational Catfish Tournament. Reigning champions Billy Johnson & Johnny Webb, also known as "Taylor's Pride," relinquished their heavyweight catfishing belts to the "L. A. Linemen," Fleetwood Hollinger and William Malone.

During 27 hours of fishing, primarily using trotlines, the nine teams brought in just over 651 pounds of catfish.

The event officially began at 3PM on Friday when the nine competing teams were allowed to begin boating fish. Most of the teams had been putting out lines for the last few weeks and had baited them a day prior to the official start.

By dark on Friday evening the teams began bringing their evening's catch to the scales and the serious players quickly began to emerge. The "L. A. Linemen" took the early lead bringing an impressive 91 pounds to shore, including the largest fish caught during the tournament, a 23.6 lb. blue. "Taylor's Pride" closely followed with 82.25 pounds. The "Master Baiters" weighed in 63.2 pounds and the "Mulletheads" brought in 47.2 pounds. The "Reb & Yank" had 15 pounds., "Maren-Cox" had 7.8 pounds, and the "Dirty Hookers" had 5.2 pounds.

Though the "W. W. Cat Daddies" were just getting out their lines on Friday evening, they fed the entire group a steak dinner and therefore "one cow" was added to the leaderboard under their name. After a great meal some teams headed back out on the water in the darkness to tend lines or run jugs until the early morning hours. Other teams called it a night and rested up for the long day ahead.

At dawn the next morning fishermen began to appear on the dock and were soon off again to bait hooks and boat fish. The "Mulletheads" were first out of the gate followed soon by the "W. W. Cat Daddies" and the "L. A. Linemen."

The morning weigh-in was an optional one. Teams could bring their fish to be weighed and cleaned or could choose to ice them down and bring them to the scales in the final minutes of the tournament. The "L. A. Linemen were the first to return and brought with them another 46.2 pounds of fish. The "W. W. Cat Daddies" soon arrived with 55 pounds. Just after noon the reigning Kings of Catfish returned with 27 pounds. By now the "L. A. Linemen" had established a good lead but with two of the heavy hitters still in the water, the "Mulletheads" and the "Master Baiters," the tournament title was still on the line.

As the six o'clock deadline loomed, boats began to file into the mouth of the creek and towards tournament headquarters. Quite a crowd had gathered by now ready to enjoy the feast that was being prepared. The "Mulletheads" brought in 65 pounds that included their catch from Friday night and during the day on Saturday. The "L. A. Linemen" brought in what little their lines had yielded during the day which amounted to only 6.8 pounds but giving them a grand total of 144 pounds. As the crowd cheered them on, the elder "Taylor's Pride" pair brought their cooler of fish up the hill. With only 8.8 pounds to add to their score it was soon apparent that they would not be able to top the mark set by the "L. A. Linemen." Yet somewhere on the water the "Master Baiters" were gathering their final catch. At 5:45 they arrived, having not weighed in since Friday evening. They had another impressive collection of fish, 66 pounds, that would give them a grand total of 129.20 pounds and second place for the second consecutive year.

At 5:55 PM, five minutes before the close of the event, "Taylor's Pride" roused the crowd one final time announcing that they still had fish in a cooler in their boat. They walked down the bank and returned with a large cooler. The leaders sweated for a few final seconds before it was revealed that the cooler did not contain a single fish. Six o'clock had arrived and the "L. A. Linemen" had won.

Van Waren, Phillip Luker, Bob Smith, Danny Stoudenmier, and their posse of traveling cooks had prepared one of the finest meals of fresh catfish, hushpuppies, fries, and cole slaw that one could ever imagine. The spoils of the tournament were enjoyed by all.

When asked about their successful strategy, the "L. A. Linemen" said they fished exclusively in the main river channel at depths of up to 55 feet. "We knew we were not going to get as many hooks in the water as some of the teams so we tried to get most of our hooks in an area that was supposed to have some real big fish," said team member William Malone. "Instead of quantity, we hoped we could win with quality," he added. Fleetwood Hollinger said the team started with four lines in this area but two of them hung on underwater structure before the tournament even began and on Friday evening the third line was also lost. Yet the team managed to hang on to their best line, said to have about 60 hooks, which they estimate produced 90-100 pounds of their total catch including a 23.6 lb. blue and a 19 lb. yellow and two more blues over 12 lbs. (It is worth noting that their most productive line yielded a 37½ pound yellow cat a week prior to the event.)  They used these big fish along with a number of smaller fish caught on two other long lines upstream of the mouth of Pine Barren Creek to claim victory.  

Second place team, the "Master Baiters," primarily used a dozen short lines of 25 hooks tied from the riverbank and extending into the river channel.  Their strategy was to catch fish along the ledge leading into deeper water.  Considering their overall weight and lack of any big fish, it is believed that they caught the most fish, though no official count was kept.   

Cut shad was the bait of choice for most every team. "Taylor's Pride" also used shrimp and live shiners with some success.

Putting up their best effort to defend their title, "Taylor's Pride" hit a snag, literally, on Friday morning while making last minute adjustments to their lines. They hit a submerged stump in the creek backwater, knocking a four-inch hole in their fiberglass boat. Barely making it back to shore, they scrambled to repair the hole in time to get back in the water by late evening. Both team members say that although serious disaster was avoided, this turn of events crippled their efforts at repeating last year's 1st place finish.

The organizers of the event, known collectively as the Wilcox County Catfishing Association, extends their appreciation to those that made the event a great success including the Johnson family for allowing the use of their scenic lakehouse and grounds, Van Waren and his posse for their championship cooking, legendary emcee "Big Daddy" Lawler, and the entire fleet of fishermen who participated.

After becoming one of the most exciting events in south Alabama the tournament is expected to be continued in 2002.

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Catfish, Here they Come!

May 17, 2001

Lake Dannelly---Eleven months have passed since "Taylor’s Pride" was crowned the "Kings of Catfish" at the conclusion of the 1^st Annual Pine Barren Invitational. No team would have relished victory more and going into the 2^nd Annual event no team feels more pressure. Picture the pair in their boat with a bullseye positioned over them and that will give you a good feel for the mood of the competitors as final preparations are made.

News of the approaching 2^nd Annual Invitational has spread across the Southeast and hundreds are expected to be on hand to witness the conclusion of 27 hours of competition between nine determined teams. The long dirt road leading out of Portland will be a bit longer if there are not enough fish in the grease to feed all those present. Tournament officials are cautiously optimistic that a big catch will be made in order to feed the masses.

A majority of the competitors met one final time in Camden on Tuesday night to address any last minute issues. Presiding over the meeting, Johnny Webb offered a motion to handicap the "W. W. Cat Daddies" due to their experience in the commercial fishing business. Wayne Guy, "W. W. Cat Daddies" team member, objected, stating that they were not planning to use commercial fishing methods. The group was unconvinced and passed the motion to handicap the team by 30 pounds. Wayne’s other team member, Wayne Dunnam, immediately announced that he had planned to cook a steak dinner for the competitors on Friday night but was now reconsidering due to this turn of events. The group quickly reconsidered and agreed that the 30-pound handicap was not necessary and began looking forward to the Friday evening steaks.

Next, Webb proposed that the "Nashville Cats" with the longest odds to win the event (100 to 1) should be given a few extra pounds to add to their score. The group quickly agreed to allow them 3 pounds.

The official tournament roster will be missing Billy Chesnut, one of the South’s greatest trotliners. Health problems have temporarily sidelined Chesnut, part of the Reb & Yank team in last year’s inaugural event. Before adjourning their meeting Tuesday evening, competitors went on record to express their sincere hopes and prayers that their friend’s health will allow him to return to the fishing scene in the very near future.

A source that wishes to remain anonymous has leaked information that indicates the Nashville Cats could be using fish boxes, a method that is strictly forbidden by rules one and four. Officials at the weigh-in station have been instructed to check the fish brought in by the Nashville Cats to make certain they contain evidence of a hook.

To avoid confusion between the "Cat Daddies" (Johnson & Strickland) and the "W. W. Cat Daddies" (Dunnam & Guy), the "Cat Daddies" have officially changed their name to the "Master Baiters."

Local bookmakers have released their odds for the tournament. As expected "Taylor’s Pride" was installed at an EVEN bet. The "L. A. Linemen" and the "Master Baiters" sport 2 to 1 odds of winning the top prize. The "Mulletheads" were given 3 to 1 odds. The "Maren-Cox" pair were given 20 to 1 odds and the "Reb & Yank" team 75 to 1 odds. The "Dirty Hookers" were installed at 99 to 1 odds and the "Nashville Cats" were stuck with a whopping 100 to 1 chance of pulling out a miracle. The over and under for total pounds caught has been set at 900 pounds.

Panic seems to be the mood of many teams as late as mid-week. "Taylor’s Pride" maintains that they do not have as many hooks in the water as they had originally intended and have lost some lines. The Mulletheads have lost several lines that became hung on underwater structure. The "Cat Daddies" are continuing to put out lines in the closing hours. The "W. W. Cat Daddies" report boat trouble and indicate that all their hooks will hit the water on Friday.

One team that seems to be extremely calm this week is the "L. A. Lineman." Having put out all their lines well ahead of schedule and having experienced immediate success by boating a huge yellow catfish a week prior to the tournament, they have enjoyed the last few days watching the other competitors sweat. The "Reb & Yank" team live the farthest distance from the lake and will be arriving just in time to crack open a cold one and find a line to bait. The "Maren-Cox" pair have been very discreet with their preparations and have refused to answer any questions. The "Dirty Hookers" have yet to be seen on the water, which has led many to speculate that they are only in the event for the beer drinking.

We have learned that a second monster yellow catfish was caught by a competing team last weekend. The "Master Baiters," formerly known as the "Cat Daddies," caught a 37-pound yellow cat using live bait. They report that only a few of their hooks were baited when the big cat latched on. Anticipation is mounting that a truly large fish could be brought to the scales this weekend.

For those that will be unable to attend the event, complete results will be posted late Saturday night to the tournament website. 

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****Official News Release ****

The following information has been reported to us...

Upon learning of the tournament local bookmakers have provided these odds to the interested parties for this weekend’s tournament. These odds are official as of 2:00 PM, C.S.T, on May 14, 2001. They do not take into account adverse weather conditions, water temperature, injuries, late night lounge strategy sessions, age and endurance due to excessive heat and humidity, and alcohol consumption .

Taylor’s Pride ............................. EVEN
(Johnson & Webb)

L. A. Linemen ............................ 2 to 1
(Hollinger & Malone)

Master Baiters........................... 2 to 1
(F. Johnson & Strickland)

Mulletheads ............................... 3 to 1
(Alford & Powe)

W. W. Cat Daddies .................... 3 to 1 -30 Pounds ***
(Dunnam & Guy)

Maren-Cox ................................ 20 to 1
(Haynes & Martin)

Reb & Yank ............................... 75 to 1
(Echler & Easterling)

Dirty Hookers ............................ 99 to 1
(Herring & Stallworth)

Nashville Cats ........................... 100 to 1
(Jones &  Walburn)

 

***Separate bet due to Wayne Guy having a commercial fishing license.

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Tournament Week Arrives

May 14, 2001

On a Log Near the Mouth of Pine Barren Creek---A busy weekend for tournament competitors has concluded and the much anticipated tournament week has arrived here in scenic south Alabama. Most of the teams spent a portion if not the entire weekend on the water putting out new lines and repairing others. It is believed that no team spent more time in last minute preparation that the defending champions.

     News began to spread throughout the region on Saturday morning regarding a massive yellow catfish boated by the L. A. Lineman. Loftin’s Bait Shop has confirmed that the fish was weighed on their scales at 37« pounds. When contacted about their fish, the L. A. Lineman indicated that the fish bit a yet unbaited hook somewhere in the vicinity of Foster’s Creek. Some competitors breathed a sigh of relief saying they are glad this fish was caught a week before tournament time. However, others worry what could happen when the L. A. Linemen actually bait their lines. Regarded earlier as a longshot to win the event, most now say that the L. A. Linemen are posing a serious threat.

     On Monday two stories concerning the whereabouts of the fish were circulating. One version indicates that the team is keeping the fish alive in an undisclosed location for eventual entry in the tournament. The other version indicates that the fish was eaten. The real story will likely never be known.

     The tournament field is now complete as the ninth and final team has been announced. Frank Walburn and country music recording artist Bill Jones have officially entered, according to Van Waren, and will be fishing as the "Nashville Cats."

     Renowned fisherman Ed Gault will be bringing a 1^st Place Prize of his own to award on Saturday evening. He will be on hand to personally present the overall winners with a jug of Old Forester, the preferred flavor of Wilcox County. Another half gallon has also been promised by tournament emcee "Big Daddy" Lawler. The second half-gallon is expected to be awarded to the Big Fish winner. One competitor stated, "It’s one thing to fish for fun or to fish for a title but to fish for whiskey takes this tournament to a whole new level!"

     "Cat Daddies" team member Forrest Johnson has designed a new and very impressive trophy to be held for the next year by the winner of the Big Fish category. Fishermen will be looking for their deep lines to pay off and deliver this new trophy into their hands on Saturday evening.

     Locals spotted the original "Cat Daddies," Johnson and Strickland, passing through Camden on Friday towing one boat and hauling another small skiff on the roll bars of their jeep. They allegedly spent the day putting out fresh lines in areas they have declined to identify. The need for two boats has raised a red flag with tournament officials. Only one method of "fishing" involves the use of two boats and that method----telephoning----is specifically against the rules. The Cat Daddies were second place finishers last year and they are expected to make a run for first this weekend.

     Most locals say the team to beat could be the W. W. Cat Daddies. It has been rumored that they could be using floating lines of 1,000 hooks or more that will not be put in the water until a few hours before the tournament will begin. They will be fishing in a back up boat after blowing an engine over the weekend.

     Johnny Webb, team member of the now legendary team "Taylor’s Pride," commented last week that if his team should happen to win again this year they plan to officially retire from the tournament circuit. He held open the option that they may join the Senior’s Tour. He did not comment on their plans should they place well down the leader board as it is now expected. "I feel like an old wolf in the pack with the young wolves nipping at my heels," said Billy Johnson.

     On Monday news began to circulate that the Taylor’s Team was having difficulty with their lines. Though they worked through the weekend they have admitted that they are not as prepared as they need to be. Alligators have ripped apart most of the floats marking their floating lines, sending the unrecoverable hooks to the depths of the river.

     Oddsmakers are having difficulty coming to a conclusion, as teams are being extremely secretive about their preparations and there appears to be no clear leader. However, the official numbers will be available for the final news release later this week.

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A Week to Go

May 10, 2001

Mouth of Pine Barren Creek---In just one week competitors in the 2^nd Annual Pine Barren Invitational Catfish Tournament will have lines baited and will be awaiting the contest’s official start to begin filling their coolers with catfish. Anticipation is high between the teams as each will give their best shot at defeating the now legendary "Taylor’s Pride" team.

What began as a mere exchange of words between friends concerning who could catch the most catfish has turned into an event that in just its second year is expected to draw hundreds to the final weigh-in. It has become one of most exciting weekends of fishing held anywhere in the southeast for all involved.

The event gained national attention after an outdoor writer interviewed the "Taylor’s Pride" team earlier this year. A full-page photograph of Johnson and Webb can be found in the June 2001 issue of Alabama Game & Fish magazine. The accompanying article also mentions the tournament and the tactics used by the "Taylor’s Pride" team in securing their narrow victory.

Some teams are expected to begin baiting lines as early as Sunday and others will wait as late as next Thursday afternoon. Regardless, a big catch will be expected for the first weigh-in near dark on Friday afternoon.

A weigh-in Saturday morning will be held at 10AM. By then the leaders will surely have emerged, as the majority of the fish will have been caught. Fishing is generally slower during the day but with a close race expected, each team will be hoping for a few more fish to be caught during the day on Saturday to propel them into the fishing record books.

The "Mulletheads" have been spotted making frequent trips to the river during the past few weeks and appeared to be getting a jump on the other teams. However, on Sunday afternoon they experienced engine trouble and were towed by a "Marencox" team member. After three days of suspense, they reported just before press time that their boat had been repaired.

"Taylor’s Pride" found a few of their lines cut over the weekend and have commented that they might be moving their lines out of the creek and into the river channel. It has also been learned that their lines are in a state of disrepair and much last minute work will be required if they are to be successful in defending their current title.

The "L.A. Linemen" report that they have out hundreds of hooks and have seen large numbers of hungry fish congregating around their lines.

The remaining teams are coming together here in the closing days. Tod Echler & Steve Easterling team will fish under the "Reb & Yank" name. Steve Stallworth and Ray Herring have joined in as the "Dirty Hookers." Wayne Dunnam & Wayne Guy have taken on the official name of the "W.W. Cat Daddies" not to be confused with the original "Cat Daddies," Forrest Johnson and Paul J. Strickland.

Tournament officials have issued a "No Swimming Advisory" that extends three miles north and three miles south of the mouth of Pine Barren Creek. Due to the excessive number of hooks now in this area of the lake they are urging people to stay out of the water for fear someone could become entangled in one of the lines.

In an era were bass fishermen believe that one must have a $30,000 rig complete with a 200 horsepower motor in order to catch fish, the simple catfisherman is a relic from the past. He will normally have a small, flat bottom boat with a motor just big enough to push his tiny craft and its load. The money he saves on his boat can be spent on the more important items he will need----line, hooks, bait, and beer. His boat reeks of the bait he is using which is often the foulest smelling concoction he can find. If he is able to catch or make his bait then he can spend the majority of his money on just the beer. It is little wonder why the elusive bottom feeding catfish is such a highly sought after specimen.

This year teams will be required to have an official flag with their team’s name prominently displayed. They will be required to display the flag at all times. Failure to do so will result in a reduction of their total score.

Though qualifying teams have already been officially "invited," they must register and pay a $25 entry fee by Monday, May 14^th. With that deadline looming, Van Waren confirmed that four teams have qualified at his office in Camden including: Taylor’s Pride, the Mulletheads, the W.W. Cat Daddys, and the L. A. Linemen.

Oddsmakers are busy working on the official odds for the tournament and we will bring those to you as soon as they are available.

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2^nd Annual on Horizon

May 7, 2001 
Mouth of Pine Barren Creek

Competitors in the 2nd Annual Pine Barren Invitational Catfish Tournament are preparing lines and strategy in anticipation of the annual tournament now only days away.  Teams met in April to approve the rules for the tournament.  This year's contest will begin at 3PM on May 18th and will cease at 6PM on May 19th.  

A few new rules were suggested and implemented in order to stamp out any possibility of unfair competition between the teams. Though suspicions of cheating in last year’s contest have circulated throughout the catfish community none of them have been or are expected to be proven.

Back by popular demand will be the renowned catfish chefs led by celebrity barber Van Waren for the huge fish fry to be held on Saturday evening. The event will be emceed by none other than James “Big Daddy” Lawler, veteran emcee of more fishing tournaments than can be mentioned in this brief space.

Last year’s tournament was a hastily scheduled affair that ultimately ended with the favored team coming out on top. However, with 11 months to prepare it is expected that the 1^st Annual Champions will be unseated and forced to hand over their Heavyweight Catfishing Belts.

The 1^st Annual ended with the “Taylor’s Pride” team on top with 97 pounds, the “Cat Daddies” in second with 94 pounds, the “Triple Threat” team in 3^rd with 93 pounds, and the late entering “Reb & Yank Team” in 4^th with 30 pounds. The other two teams failed to catch enough to stink up the grease.  

After a good deal of discussion, several new teams have been accepted for this year’s event. Highly successful catfisherman Wayne Guy was accepted for entry in the event after a close vote. After objections were raised that his commercial fishing experience disqualified him for entry he agreed to accept Wayne Dunnam as a team member nullifying any advantage that he may have taken into the contest.

“Little Ralph” Martin and Jason Haynes will also enter for the first time, competing under the “Marencox” name (pronounced “Marine Cocks” but taken from their home counties of Marengo and Wilcox. Voting was close in allowing their team to enter due to the fact that Little Ralph’s family is in the commercial catfish farming business and Jason, a Corps of Engineers employee, actually electroshocks fish for a living. Upon careful consideration the veteran competitors agreed to allow the team to compete.

The “Triple Threat” team, after taking on additional member Fleetwood Hollinger, will compete under two teams this year. G. Alford and Brad Powe will fish under the “Mulletheads” name. Fleetwood Hollinger and William Malone will be competing as the “L.A. Linemen.” The “Cat Daddies,” Paul J. Strickland and Forrest Johnson will compete as expected. Unfortunately, the “Hookers,” after having caught a mere 7 pounds last year, have sold their boat and taken up golf.

Two other teams will also be competing but they have not been reached for comment at this time

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Anticipation Mounting for 2nd Annual Invitational Tournament

February 5, 2001

Mouth of Pine Barren Creek--Planning has begun on a sequel to last season's highly successful catfish tournament to be held this spring in the waters of the mighty and muddy Alabama River impoundment known as Lake Dannelly.  As of this time it appears the 2nd Annual event will be a May outing this time around.  

Already tension is mounting between the competitors of last year's event.  The "Triple Threat" team, having taken the prize for the largest catfish, continues to face scrutiny over the legitimacy of their prized 33 lb. behemoth blue cat.  The team maintains their position that the catch was ethical and done according to all rules of the tournament. However, convincing the other teams of such has not been easy.   

The "Cat Daddies," known locally as Forrest & Paul J., have been very quiet during the last six months and that has several teams worried.  "You never know what those two could be up to," commented one tournament competitor.  

After accepting the Top Prize last June, the "Taylor's Pride" team of Billy Johnson & Johnny Webb went right back to work on honing their catfishing skills and techniques (after they finished signing autographs).  They seem to have taken an early lead in preparations for this year's event.  Those early preparations have raised more than one set of eyebrows as well.  

"Those men have been fishing this river longer than some of us have been on this earth," said "Triple Threat" team member William Malone.  "I think when we came up just a few pounds shy of their total, they realized that we were nipping at their tails and gaining fast."  "I'm glad to see them out practicing because we're not real worried," he added.  Brad Powe, chief hook baiter for the "Triple Threat" team says he believes that "Taylor's Pride" will fish most of the fish out of their favorite holes by the time the tournament weekend arrives, providing for an easy victory for his team.

However, "Taylor's Pride" team member Johnny Webb just grinned when he stated, "We catch 100-200 pounds of fish most weekends and we don't care whether you kids have your boats in the water or not!"  

Last year's event was hailed as the most successful catfish tournament even held near the mouth of Pine Barren Creek and this year's event is expected to an even higher caliber event.  

Johnny Webb (l) & Billy Johnson (r) show off their 
catch from the last weekend of January, 2001
Sunday's results 

Johnny Webb (l) & Billy Johnson (r) show off their 
catch from the last weekend of January, 2001
Saturday's results 

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 [2000 Final Results] [Friday News] [Thursday News] [Wednesday News]  

First Annual Invitational Tagged a Big Success,

Planning for Second Annual Now Underway

Sunday, June 25, 2000

Pine Barren Creek--The most anticipated fishing tournament on Lake Dannelly in many years concluded here Saturday evening along the scenic banks of Pine Barren Creek as participants and well-wishers gathered as the final coolers of fish were brought to the scales. When the final fish was weighed the Taylor's Pride team claimed the top prize and were awarded the much sought after "Cat Kings" title. The Big Fish award went to the Triple Threat team who brought in a 33-lb. behemoth blue cat.

Sunny skies and hot weather reaching into the high 90's greeted fishermen for the event that lasted just over 24 hours. The drama played out until the very end with the winners decided in the closing minutes of the tourney.

The contest began in the mid-afternoon hours of Friday as the competitors began baiting hooks with a wide variety of bait. Some stayed on the water deep into the night hoping to pick up an extra fish or two that would ultimately propel them into the catfishing history books. Yet the fishermen reported that the fish simply were not cooperating and most headed in for a few hours rest before daybreak and time to once again "run the lines."

As the fishermen slept the fish began to bite and by morning a few hundred pounds of fish were waiting to be boated. The Cat Daddies were the first to the scales around mid-morning, weighing in an impressive 84 pounds of fish. Shortly thereafter the Triple Threat team arrived to weigh in their catch that included the 33-lb. blue boated just after daybreak. Their total catch catapulted them into 1st place with 88 lbs. After boat problems and an ensuing late start the Taylor's Pride team returned with enough fish to put them in 3rd place and within reach of the big prize, weighing in 77 lbs., including the 2nd largest fish of the tourney, a 23 lb. blue. The Reb & Yank team brought in 24 lbs. of fish for the morning as well.

After the catch was dressed and put on ice in anticipation of the evening's fish fry, the teams rested for a bit before the final run. No team expected the fish to bite during the day and all agreed that just a few fish by any team would likely be enough to take 1st place.

The three teams that entered the tournament early and had the most time to prepare were now neck and neck in the race to the finish. The other three teams had entered in the final few days and without as much time to prepare lines were at a serious disadvantage, though the Reb & Yank team were putting up a impressive run.

As the final minutes ticked off the tournament clock, the Cat Daddies and the Triple Threat teams raced through the mouth of Pine Barren toward tournament headquarters, brimming with confidence and toting a few more fish to add to their totals. But when they reached the scales they learned that the Taylor's Pride team had just weighed in an impressive day's catch of 20 lbs., giving them a total of 97 lbs. for the tourney. No other team could top this and victory was conceded to the elder fishermen. However, the Cat Daddies had enough fish from the day to leap-frog the Triple Threat team by one pound and claim 2nd place, with 94 lbs.

The news had spread far and wide than Van Waren, Phillip Luker, and Bob Smith had lit a fire under the grease and by now a large crowd had gathered, some arriving by land and others by water. The finest fish ever fried was soon served to the crowd. Afterwards, Jay Beck, emcee of the event, handed out the heavyweight belts and crowned the Taylor's Pride team of Billy Johnson and Johnny Webb as the "Cat Kings."

Johnson & Webb indicated that their fish were caught in deep water of 50-60 feet using maw, chicken hearts, and other assorted parts and pieces. Cut shad and a line in 20-feet of water did the trick in catching the Big Fish, according to the members of the Triple Threat team.

Plans for next summer's tournament will be finalized in the next six months and considering the fun experienced by all involved, these teams will return again and again to enjoy Alabama's great outdoors and to fish for the elusive bottom-feeding catfish.

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Time to Fish, say Participants

Final Press Release, pending outcome of tourney

Friday, June 23, 2000

Pine Barren Creek--The long awaited weekend has arrived here on this Alabama River lake and by the time it's over the debate raging over the best catfishermen in these parts will have been decided. Late Saturday evening, along the scenic banks of Pine Barren Creek, the new "Kings of Catfish" will be crowned in a ceremony that is expect to draw a massive crowd. And on Sunday, the participants can return to their everyday lives knowing that either they are the best or they only wish they were the best.

A bizarre turn of events has likely sidelined the Dan Burford Team. In a statement issued late Thursday evening Burford states, "Due to the various unguided mistruths circulating the tournament circuit, I would like to remove all doubts regarding the lack of enthusiasm on the part of the Dan Burford Team." Burford went on to say, "Some unknown agent of two unnamed teams fixed a plot in which I was infected by a rare digestive tract virus that even treated by the best physician in Wilcox County still leaves me with my fire gone out." Burford added that he has also experienced difficulty finding a partner. One person speculated that Burford’s digestive tract troubles were likely the reason he could not find a partner, speculating that no sane individual would want to spend a considerable amount of time in a boat with Burford with him in that sort of condition. Burford questioned the rule prohibiting dynamite and felt that due to his sickness and lack of a partner he should be allowed to bend the rules.

On Thursday, a catfish processing plant, whose name is being withheld, reportedly contacted tournament officials offering to buy the surplus catch. The processor was instructed to have no less than two refrigerated 18-wheelers on stand-by.

Competition for the top prize, most pounds of fish, now seems to be a dead heat between all six teams with most observers saying that it's anyone's prize to take at this point.

However, in the largest cat category, one team remains confident that they possess a strong advantage over the others. The Cat Daddies team of F. Johnson and P. J. Strickland argue, convincingly, that this will be a cakewalk for them. They state that most Saturday mornings in the summer find them deep in a south Alabama swamp, side-stepping venomous snakes and other dangerous critters, to capture alive one of the most dangerous creatures in these woods----the long-toothed wild boar hog. The Cat Daddies agree that capturing a 400-pound boar is quite a challenge but boating a few 50-pound catfish will be a "walk in the park."

A late entry into the tourney proves to add a new twist as a part-time resident of the Pine Barren Creek area has joined in the contest under the team name "Roy Gene & Jellybean."

Late week news from most teams has been scarce overall. The early bait catching troubles experienced by the Taylor's Pride team appeared to spill over to the Triple Threat team on Thursday. They report that shad are not running well at all behind the Powerhouse and they will be forced to resort to plan B, yet they would not elaborate on what exactly "Plan B" entails. They did say that it did not mean "baskets," as that would be a serious violation of the rules.

The Hookers are alleged to have their lines ready and are boasting that they will win due to their strategic placement of lines. They claim to know a secret hole containing some of the largest blue cats in the southeast.

In just it's first year, the Pine Barren Creek Catfish Tournament has captured the attention of south Alabama and is sure to become an annual event. 

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Thursday, June 22, 2000

Official Press Release

Pine Barren Catfishing Tournament

These issues continue to develop....

1. The Reb & Yank team of Billy Chesnut and Tod Echler will have to weigh in early due to early departure of Echler. With Echler on this team it is doubtful that this team will be in the money at the final weight-in.
2. G. Alford may be sidelined due to motor problems. Alford may end up a spectator rather than a participant. Others have speculated that the likelihood is high that Alford will get stuck on a stump and miss the final weigh-in. Alford is a member of the Triple Threat team.
3. The Cat Daddys were seen riding with a well-known Wilcox County catfisherman on Wednesday of this week. This last minute panic is not expected to be enough to put this long shot team in the money. In addition, the need for "outside help" indicates that this team does not have what it takes to run with the big dogs (aka big cats).
4. The Taylor’s Pride team is having problems with their baitcatching but does have 10 lbs. of maw in reserve. It was earlier reported, though erroneously, that crews of Stallworth & Johnson were hauling 5 loads of catawba trees per day to the team’s headquarters in an effort to stock enough catawba worms to win the tourney. That rumor has been determined to be false.
5. The Hookers were seeking advice from Auburn University Fisheries on Wednesday of this week. With all that Auburn has to offer this team will still remain a 1000 to 1 long shot and have been given the dreaded "no official threat" status by tournament officials.
6. The Danny Burford team has been exceedingly quiet. This could indicate a sign of fear and last minute jitters going up against the big boys of Dannelly Reservoir.
7. The Triple Threat team (better known in fishing circles as the "NO THREAT TEAM") is looking to be stiff competition, claiming to have 1000 hooks (unconfirmed) in the water. Their main concern will likely not rear its ugly head until mid-day Saturday, when it is expected they could become disoriented and unable to find their lines due to extreme overindulgence. This is the only three-man team in the tourney and some who know the participants well speculate that they will be so overloaded with supplies (beer) in their tiny skiff that they will not have room for their catch and will have to release most of the fish.
8. Now within 24 hours of blast off, the Event continues to draw an incredible amount of interest. Some have speculated that this event will be the 2^nd largest sporting event held in the southeast over the past 10 years, second only to Atlanta’s 1996 Olympic Games.

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Wednesday, June 21, 2000

Tournament Time Approaches

Lake Dannelly—This weekend, the national spotlight will be cast on this secluded reservoir of the Alabama River for the 1^st Annual Pine Barren Catfishing Tournament, thought to be the largest of its kind ever held on Lake Dannelly. Though countless bass tournaments are held on the waters each year, no tournament here has ever garnered the attention of so many. Sources close to the scene indicate that participating teams are feverishly preparing lines and strategy in anticipation of the event.

The event will decide the rightful owners of the coveted bragging rights as the best catfishing team on the river. Reporters indicated that the early front runners were the "Taylors Pride" team of Billy Johnson and Johnny Webb, both seasoned veterans of the trotlining wars. However, most knowledgeable fishermen interviewed this week indicate that, considering their innovative fishing techniques combined with their vast knowledge of the lake, the "Triple Threat" team of G. Alford, William Malone, and Brad Powe will likely take top honors in the event. Several other teams are expected to place highly, including the Strickland-Johnson and the Smith-Curry teams.

The tournament will conclude with awards for both the largest cat and the most total pounds of fish. Legendary cook Van Waren will feed the masses expected to attend the event from all over the county. Waren, the local barber, also serves as the manager of the Camden Information Center.

Rumors of corruption of some tournament officials have been circulating, including officials offering preferential treatment in exchange for whiskey. To prevent such from occurring, the local ABC Stores are being monitored in an effort to pinpoint any team member that may be purchasing a greater than normal allotment of whiskey for the weekend.

Most locals agree that the time to decide the real Kings of Catfish is well overdue.

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