February, 23, 2019– Morristown, TN–The 2019 Morristown Marine Team Trail got kicked off with a big, wet bang with 213 boats piled into the muddy, cold water of Cherokee Lake in Morristown, Tennessee. With record rainfall and incredibly fast-rising water, the bite would prove to be tough with only 10 limits being weighed in and 669 lbs of bass being weighed and released, with a 2.7 lb average. To say the conditions were miserable is an understatement. 
 
Wading through the competition was Mike Milton and Paul Sharp, both of Lafollette, TN, with a whopping 18.72 lb sack anchored by a 5.53 largemouth that came very close to taking Big Largemouth, too. The heavy bag earned them a check for $10,000.00 in addition to the Highest Finishing Skeeter Boats Bonus of $3,000.00 and the Enigma Fishing Bonus of $200.00 for a total payday of $13,200.00. 
 
Coming in second was Travis O’Quinn(Charlotte, NC) and Shannon O’Quinn(Gray, TN) with 15.74 lbs for a check of $3,500.00 plus 2nd Highest Finishing Skeeter Boats Bonus of $1,500.00 for a total purse of $5,000.00. 
 
3rd place honors went to Mark Shaffer(Hiltons, VA) and Todd Godsey(Blountville, TN) on their 15.26 lb limit. They cashed a check for $2,500.00 for their work Saturday. 
 
Coming in 4th were Jeff Russell(Pigeon Forge, TN) and Jeff Lindsey(Sevierville, TN) on a 14.09 lb sack. They received a check for $1,500.00 and an additional $1,000.00 for 3rd Highest Finishing Skeeter Boats Bonus, for a total of $2,500.00 
 
Rounding out the Top 5 was Gary Heath(Bristol, TN) and Darren Miller(Bristol, TN) on a 12.24 lb bag of 4 fish. Their performance earned them a check for $1,000.00 on a cold, rainy day. 
 
The Highest Finishing Skeeter Bonuses were awarded as follows: 
 
1) Milton/Sharp: $3,000.00 
 
2) O’Quinn/O’Quinn: $1,500.00 
 
3) Russell/Lindsey: $1,000.00 
 
4) Crum/Redmond: $800.00 
 
5) Roberts/Nidiffer: $700.00 
 
6) Smith/Lewis: $600.00 
 
7) Bishop/Matherly: $250.00 
 
8) Riley/Roberts: $200.00 
 
9) Malone/Davis: $150.00 
 
10) Nicely/Kitts: $100.00 
 
The Citizens Bank Big Largemouth went to Bobby Hicks/Randall Lane with a green fish tipping the scales at 5.58 lbs. The catch netted them a check for $1,040.00. 
 
The Citizens Bank Big Smallmouth was caught by Rodney Thompson/Robert Hunt and weighed in at 4.64 lbs. The smallmouth helped them to a check for $1,040.00. 
 
The two Highest Finishing Gray Insurance Agency winners were Steve Bean/Garret Bartlett and Jackie Nicely/Earl Kitts. These guys cashed checks for $250.00 per team for choosing Gray Insurance to insure their boats. If you haven’t yet, give them a call for a quote. 
 
The Enigma Fishing Bonus was paid out to Mike Milton and Paul Sharp and was a nice $200.00 addition to their paycheck. Simply for using a registered Enigma rod/reel. New for this year, the highest finishing boat not cashing a check will receive an Enigma Fishing product and an Enigma Fishing hat per team member. This tournament’s winner was Johnny Messer and Jason Messer. Johnny will each receive a new Enigma rod or reel and an Enigma Fishing hat . Enigma Fishing: Cast. Catch.Repeat. 
 
2019 brings the return of Morristown Marine Bonus Bucks. This tournament’s winners were Josh Roark ($1,500.00) and Taylor Watkins($1,000.00) for buying a new boat in 2018/2019 from Morristown Marine. On the pre-owned side, winners were Bobby Chambers($500.00) and AJ Ison($250). This contingency money is available to anyone who purchased their new or used boat from Morristown Marine in 2018 OR 2019, so if you’re on the fence about a new bass rig, come see us and lay claim to some of that Morristown Marine Bonus money! 
 
Morristown Marine would also like to thank Yamaha, Skeeter Boats, Citizens Bank, B&H Sales, Shotcrete, Taylor Battery-Deka, The Morristown Chamber of Commerce, Best Western Hotel-Morristown, Gray Insurance Agency, Old Stage Printing and B&M Tire. Without the support of our sponsors, this tournament trail could not exist. Please help show your thanks by supporting these businesses. We would also like to thank Redbud Deli in Morristown for catering the delicious sandwiches and desserts! Stop by and have lunch or ask them to cater your next event. 
 
Our second stop in the 2019 Morristown Marine Team Trail will be on Norris Lake out of Lonas Young Park on March 30. We will be taking registrations starting Monday, March 25 at Morristown Marine and we will be set up taking registrations in person at Lonas Young State Park on Friday, March 29 from 10am-5pm.