Team Nash Nails Down A Big Win
October 20-21, 2023-Jefferson City, TN: The Morristown Marine Team Trail made the last stop of the 2023 Season in Jefferson County, TN on Cherokee Lake at Cherokee Dam Park in Jefferson City for Championship Weekend. 215 teams qualified for the tournament and 179 were in the water for blast-off on Day 1 looking to claim a share of the $71,248.00 pay out across 35 places and contingencies. We could not have ordered better weather, with overnight lows hovering around 50, no cloud cover, just enough wind to keep the fog away and bright, sun filled 65-70 degree days! The fishing was tougher for most anglers than it should have been for the weather and time of year. Of the 179 registered teams, 103 teams weighed at least 1 fish for a total of 336 fish weighed with all of them being released alive and well for other anglers to catch on Cherokee Lake. A total of 31 teams weighed a limit on Saturday, with a grand total of 681.85 lbs. of fish brought to the scales. Total across both days had 106 teams weighing at least one fish for a total of 522 fish caught and 520 released alive with a total weight of 1,075.44 lbs. hitting the scales. 10 Teams weighed limits on both days. Thanks to a lack of cloud cover and fog, safe light came a little earlier than expected and we were able to get blast off going by 7:20 on both days. We appreciate all you guys for making that run so smoothly. By far the best group of fishermen in the sport!
The team of Nathan and Billy Nash took home the title of 2023 Classic Champs with a 2-day total weight of 28.85 lbs. Nathan and Billy told us they stayed upper, mid lake and up lake all weekend and fished a variety of baits, depths and structure to put together back-to-back bags of 13.46 lbs and 15.39 lbs. They said they fished very clean, were blessed to spend some good Father/Son time and take home a big win! Nathan and Billy will take home a check for $30,000.00 for 1st place overall and a check for 1st Humminbird/MinnKota for $250.00.Congrats and a big payday and a great memory together!
Following in second place was the team of Bill Dunn and Rob Dunn with a 2-day total weight of 25.96 lbs. Bill and Rob started off strong on Day 1 with 5 keepers for 13.22 lbs and 3rd place. They followed that up with another strong showing on Day 2 with 12.74 lbs. Bill and Rob will cash checks for $6,000.00 for 2nd place overall and $150.00 for 2nd Humminbird/MinnKota! Great job putting together 2 solid days on a tough weekend!
3rd place was the team of Bryant and Mark Ailor with a 2-day total weight of 24.88 lbs anchored by a toad smallmouth weighing 4.09. Bryant and Mark led the tournament after Day 1 with a 15.10 lb bag and held Big Smallmouth well into Day 2. They fell just a little short on Day 2 only bringing 4 fish to the scales for 9.78 lbs. Bryant and Mark will carry a $3,000.00 check to the bank for their hard work. Way to go, guys! Congrats on a great finish during some really tough fishing!
4th place went to Timothy Wacker and Dustin Dyer with a 2-day total of 22.55 lbs. Tim and Dustin were sitting in 6th place after a solid Day 1 weight of 12.50 lbs. and followed that up with a Day 2 weight of 10.05 to jump 2 spots in the final standings. Tim and Dustin will cash checks for $2,000.00 for 4th place overall, as well as $3,000.00 for Highest Finishing Skeeter. It always pays more to fish out of a Skeeter. Congratulations on a great weekend of fishing, guys!
Rounding out the top 5 was the team of Brian Everett and Mark Trent with a 2-day total weight of 22.28 lbs. Brian and Mark had a good start with a limit weighing 12.64 lbs. and 5th place after Day 1. They were on the right ones, but missed that 5th keeper on Day 2 for a bag weight of 9.64 lbs. Still, a great way to finish the weekend by cashing checks for $1,000.00 for 5th place and another $1,500.00 for 2nd Highest Finishing Skeeter. Great job, guys!
Check out the full results here 2023 Classic Results.
The Citizens Bank Big Largemouth went to the team of Eddie Baker and Casey Baker with a stud green fish weighing 4.42 lbs. They will receive a check for $1,000.00 for catching this toad! Congrats!
The Citizens Bank Big Smallmouth payout went to the team of Chris Bentley and Lucas Harrison with a monster 4.25 lb brownie. These guys will get a check for $1,000.00 for their big fish. Way to go, guys!
Highest Finishing Minn Kota and Humminbird Bonus paid out this weekend as follows:
1st: Nash/Nash, 28.85 lbs. $250 Humminbird/MinnKota Bonus
2nd: Dunn/Dunn, 25.96 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 Blake Conn and Ryan Lee with 20.95 lbs for $250.00. 2nd Highest Finishing Gray Fox Insurance payout went to Kenneth Owens and Adam Spivey with 16.63 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: Smith/Lewis, 20.91 lbs. $1,000.00 Bonus.
2nd: Majni/Brooks, 20.49 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: Wilson/Houston, 11.90 lbs. $500 Bonus.
2nd: N/A……someone left $250 on the table by not weighing in at least one fish out a pre-owned boat from Morristown Marine! Come see us to get in on this payout….we have some great used boats currently in stock!!
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.
Highest Finishing Skeeter Bonus:
- Wacker/Dyer: 22.55 lbs, $3,000.00
- Everett/Trent: 22.28 lbs, $1,500.00
- Smith/Lewis: 20.91 lbs, $1,000.00
- Majni/Brooks: 20.49 lbs, $800.00
- Baker/Baker: 18.49 lbs, $700.00
- Hamilton/Ball: 18.29 lbs, $500.00
- Runions/Runions: 17.87 lbs, $250.00
- Brown/Powers: 17.74 lbs, $200.00
- Bryan/Bryan: 17.63 lbs, $150.00
- Gordon/Gordon: 17.46 lbs, $100.00
Thursday night’s Dinner Banquet saw some great food thanks to Que’s Backyard BBQ and catering and some good times with good friends. We appreciate all who came to break bread with us and take a look back at the 2023 season. Some really good door prizes were given out as well as a new Humminbird Mega LIVE unit off a raffle. Most importantly, we wanted to honor the top 5 in the Anglers Of The Year points race. In a group of fishermen that contain some of the best sticks in East Tennessee, it takes dedication, skill, consistency and a lot of luck to place in this group. BIG congrats to all these teams on a fantastic year of hard fishing.
2023 MMTT Angler Of The Year Points
5th(tie): Casey Majni/Corey Brooks
5th(tie): Keith McDeerman/Von Dilbeck
4th: Hunter Hamilton/Ty Ball
3rd: Travis O’Quinn/Shannon O’Quinn: $500.00
2nd: Josh Osborne/Sam Meade: $750.00
AOY Champs: Chris Whitson/Kevin King: $1,000.00
Morristown Marine would like to give a special thanks to Skeeter Boats, Yamaha, Humminbird, MinnKota, Gray Fox Insurance, Jefferson County, Lauren Hurdle and Lee Rose Koza, TVA, Jefferson County PD, The Carson Newman Fishing Team and Coach Hunter Sales for help with parking, Old Stage Printing, Volunteer Trenching, Jimmy Taylor Plumbing, Lake View Dock, Citizens Bank, Cumberland Gap Spring Water, Jerry’s Bait Shop, Value RX Pharmacy, Jefferson County, Campbell County, GH&C, Toms Sporting Goods, AZ Rags, Abu Garcia and Smoky Mountain Fiberglass for sponsoring the 2023 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 and season. The time, effort, long hours, early mornings and late nights don’t get noticed by very many people, but we want you guys to know how much we appreciate all the sacrifices you make to help us with this trail. Thank you so much! We also want to thank you, the anglers, for coming out all season to fish with us and finishing strong in some really tough fishing. There are a number of tournament trails these days and we sincerely appreciate you choosing to fish with us. Enjoy the upcoming winter fishing season and be sure to keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram for details on our 2023-2024 Winter Series. These are a great, low-key, rodeo-style tournament series that has grown quite a bit over the past few years. It’s a good time and can be some phenomenal fishing!
Please take a moment to complete the Economic Impact Report for The Classic on Cherokee Lake: Economic Impact Survey
