The new schedule and a new optional format will bring some new challenges for 5280 Team Series anglers who would like to fish a Team Tournament circuit.
April 10, Pueblo
May 1, Santa Rosa
June 5, Ute
August 28, Navajo
October 22-24, Powell*
*Championship
A new fishing season dawns. The new schedule has a few noticeable changes and some old well known fishing holes. Two new lakes are included in the 2010 qualifying schedule.
We will start in April at Pueblo Reservoir, which has fished well early in the last few seasons. Pueblo showed great promise early in 2009, with big small mouth and hefty spotted bass filling the weigh-in bags. Near state record sizes, and one unofficial state record spot, came during the 2009 season.
At the beginning of May Santa Rosa will replace Ute as the first New Mexico lake in 2010. This should be well in advance of the usual draw-down date, and that usually means big largemouth and even some good smallies to be had. There is always a possibility of a record size limit from Santa Rosa.
The circuit returns to Ute Lake, a favorite in this area, in June. Ute is a lake that many are familiar with and a good kicker fish or two are needed to make it here.
5280 Team Series travels to Navajo Reservoir in late August. The site of the 2009 Championship, Navajo is closer than many think, only a five and a half hour drive from Denver, and the lake will become a quick favorite for those who have not been there before. The size of the lake, quality and quantity of bass, and the facilities are unrivaled in our region.
Finally, the Championship Tournament returns to October and also returns to Lake Powell. Fall at Lake Powell is one of the best times to be there, both for the fishing, the scenery, and the solitude. There are few other boaters on most weekends in October.
Also new for the 2010 season is an optional Draw Team Tournament to be held on Sundays following the Saturday Team Series dates during the qualifying season. Random boaters and co-anglers will be paired on Sunday who will then fish as a team. More information on this will follow.
The $5,000 Big Bass Bonus will not be available, but the optional High Stakes Pot will continue. For most of the 2009 Team Series Tournaments, those that got a check in the High Stakes Pot were not among those who cashed a check in the regular tournament, but were cashing checks nearly equal. To win a place in each pot nearly doubled the winnings for those also participating in High Stakes.
2009 was the second season for the 5280 Team Series, and saw a growth of 30% participation. We hope to see all our existing friends and add even more new ones to the 2010 season. Increasing participation leads to increased pay outs, and to more places and for more winnings.
Jeff Jones
2009 Tournament Director
5280 Team Series
