SANTEE COOPER LAKES, S.C. — Members of the Cooper River Bassmasters, South Carolina’s 2011 Federation Club of the Year, continued their march toward success at South Carolina’s 6-Man Tournament on Santee Cooper lakes, Oct. 7-8, 2011. They defeated 39 other teams to secure a team win, and in the process placed two of their members on the 2012 state team.
“This is really exciting for us,” said Fred Cruise, club president. “It’s the first time we’ve won it as a team and it’s also the first time we’ve had any of our members on the state team. We’re all really enthused about what’s been happening with us. Our biggest challenge right now is to keep working and keep the momentum going.”
The team’s total weight of 97.56 pounds was the team’s best performance in history, and overall winner Jason Reinke’s total weight of 31.55 pounds ranks among one of his best individual performances.
“I’m really happy I could help my team win the state,” said Reinke, the active duty Air Force warrior. “That’s most important. But I have to be honest and say that my spot on the state team is especially sweet. I’ve come close a couple of times in the past but fell just short. This makes it all worthwhile. I’m serious about my bass fishing. This is one more step up the ladder toward professional success in the sport.”
Fellow club member Ferris Jennings secured the individual fourth-place slot in the tournament. As a fellow state team member, he’ll join Reinke at the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Southern Divisional presented by Skeeter and Yamaha, March 26-30, on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee.