NEUSE RIVER BASSMASTERS TOURNAMENT TRAIL
New Bern Bass Fishing Competitive Series
2015 Tournament Results >>

Tournament results for the current year are posted below. To find results from previous years, hover over the Results tab above.
MARCH 28
A good number of decent fish were caught at our first tournament of the 2015 season. High winds out of the NW had water very low and rains the previous days had dropped water temps back into the mid-upper 50s. Air temps hovered in the 40s most of the day. 17 limits were weighed from the 30 boat field. The father son duo of Ronald and Caleb Vaughan took top honors for both total weight and big fish, with 15.07# and 6.64# respectively. Their effort earned them $900 on the day.
APRIL 11
Our second tournament of the 2015 season began with low water much like the first event. However, water temps had increased to near 70 in most areas. Air temps also reached the 70 degree mark. A night and morning of passing showers did not dampen spirits or catches as 27 limits were brought to the scales by the 43 boat field. Most impressive was the winning bag of 18.47# by Randy and Eric Brown. Once again, the top team swept the payout, weighing a big fish of 5.38#. Their day's catch earned them $1290. Also in play was the Grifton Shad Festival Annual Bass Tournament, which the team also swept to earn nearly $700 more. Of note in the results, it took over 13# to receive any sort of payback--stout for this body of water.
May 23
The third event of the 2015 season had a backdrop of beautiful weather, with temps starting near 50* and climbing to the low 80*s during the day. Winds were calm and picked up briefly after noon. Water levels were the lowest of the year for the Neuse and once again blown out of the Trent. The fish were hungry as 29 of the 44 teams weighed a limit with the fish averaging a plump 2.18#. The winning weight has increased with each event and this was no exception. The team of Jacob and Josh Brown dropped 19.09# on the scale with a 5.59# kicker to earn top honors in both and take home $1320. Once again it took over 13# to earn any cash with 6th place holding 13.52#.
June 6
Mother Nature chose this fourth event of the 2015 season to try to shake things up a bit, dumping 6" of rain on the area during the preceding week, stirring up both rivers. Morning fog lifted to a beautiful day with air temps topping out around 75*. Water temps were noted around 80*. Winds were light and for once did not have the water in New Bern blown out. 41 teams managed 25 limits of bass averaging just shy of 2# per fish. The duo of Robin Bowen & Monte Morgan has proven a dominant force, finishing in the money at every event. This was no exception, as they hefted 16.56# on the scales to best the rest and earn $820. For the first time this season, the limit winners did not have the big fish, a 5.60# toad from the team of Jacob & Josh Brown worth $410. Tougher conditions dropped the last check weight to 11.92#.
July 25
Well once again Mother Nature played havoc on the tournament waters. Rising muddy waters in much of the Neuse basin were evidenced by the lack of weight at the scales. We did have a beautiful day to be on the water, which was the only consolation for many of our anglers. Our first solo win of the year was recorded by Jared Sasnett, with a bag of 16.61#. While he was close to a sweep, the team of Brian Boyd & Roger Williams took the best lunker by 3 hundredths of a pound, at 4.85#. Average fish weight dropped for the day to 1.85# as competitors took advantage of the 12" rule to try and fill their limit. Unfortunately this proved too difficult for all but 14 teams. Money weight also dropped noticeably, with sub-double digit weights getting paid.
August 29
One of the better fishing days of the year turned out to be one of the tightest weigh ins we have conducted. We actually had to break a tie for a check by 1 hundredth of a pound on the big fish! Leading the pack this day was the father/son duo of Bill Rodney & Bill Rodney Jr. with a pretty sack of 14.58# of fish, worth $820. Randy Rhoderick brought a toad to the scales that tipped to 6.29# for the day's big fish and $410. Many anglers cited lack of crawfish in the livewell for the lowered weights of their fish, but the average fish weighed actually increased to 2.07#, suggesting more 14" fish were weighed. 30 limits were turned in by the 41 boat field. Paychecks were doled out to any team returning with at least 12.71#. The success of our anglers was somewhat of a surprise with a week of NE winds continuing throught the day. Highs reached a manageable 85*. Waters were high in the Trent and lower Neuse, and low in the upper reaches, with good clarity throughout.
September 18-19 >> *Championship*
The Farley father & son team crushed the field Day 1 with the year's largest sack of 20.11#, and managed a decent limit of 10.04# Day 2 to edge out a strong run from Robin Bowen by 1.65#. Some improved their weights on Day 2 but much of the field's struggles increased, evidenced by lower weights. 27 boats participated in the year end contest. Over the two days, anglers averaged 4 of 5 fish to weigh, with the average fish weighing 1.99#. Last cash earning total was 21.27#. Highs for the two days reached the mid to upper 80*s, and winds were from the NE with gusts to 20mph. Water temperatures were also noticed to have started cooling, with som mentions of mid to high 70*s. During the tournament, 11 teams managed to limit both days.