Kleman and Kelley Win BIG
Posted by admin on December 10, 2018
CLEWISTON, FL - When the final fish was weighed, the names on the big check for $25,000 was Howard Kleman and Pat Kelley with a two-day total weight of just over 40 pounds.
Championship weekend started on Friday at the John Boy Auditorium in Clewiston with the presentation of 2018 Team Of The Year presented by ARK Rods going to the team of Brandon Medlock and Charles Metheney. Thanks to ARK Rods, their registrations for the 2019 Qualifiers are all paid up.
But this weekend was about something even more. MO’ MONEY! With a record $25,000 on the line, focus quickly turned to the action on the water.
Saturday started with high hopes and sunshine but the wind was going to be a factor. With air temperature in the mid sixties and water temperature a chilled mid sixties as well, the anglers were going to have to work for it to fill the wells. As it turned out, the champions ignored the wind and milked a honey-hole for all it was worth.
“We went to one spot on Saturday, and except for brief stop and one other place, we stayed at our first spot all day and caught 15 fish,” said Kleman. “We went back on Sunday and stayed there all day with the same results.”
Bagging 19.79 pounds on Saturday and 20.92 pounds on Sunday was a ¾ pound better than the rest and good for $25,000.
“We were throwing spinnerbaits and Chatterbaits,” said Kelley. “Howard was using white but they seemed be hitting the chartreuse better. We were fishing down south around submerged structure, like cattails underwater that Howard knew was there and that’s where we found them.”
In second place with 40.13 pounds was the team of Chris Schirling and Kail Stevens that came close but had to settle for the runners-up check for $9,000.
“Our pregame plan was to cover water and find something different,” said Schirling. “We ended up finding something and were punching mats all day long. We beat them up a little too hard on Saturday and just didn’t hold up for Sunday.”
“We ran up north but I think the wind and lack of sun on Sunday cost us the championship,” said Stevens. “We were punching 1.5 ounce weights with Gambler Stingers in Gold Rush.”
Cashing in the third place check for $4,500 was the team of Nicholas Hoinig and Matt Wietheha.
“We discovered a new place in practice and that’s where we caught most of our fish out of on day one,” said Wietheha. “On Sunday we only had two big bites and had to move around to catch the rest.”
“We might have had the winning fish on around two o’clock that could have won it but we can’t talk about the ones you miss,” said Hoinig.
They were flipping ¾ oz. weights with Gambler Burner Craws in green pumpkin and black and blue.
And since this is Lake Okeechobee, it’s all about the big bass. And the biggest was caught by Chris Jerdan with the U.S. Sugar Big Bass of 8.46 pounds.
With that, the 2018 Roland Martin Marine Center Series is a wrap. But with a couple last sips of Red Bull, Tournament Director Ramon Iglesias whispered to Emcee Chris “Peanut” Brill, “I got some ideas on how we can make 2019 even bigger”
Happy Holidays and we’ll see you all next season.
• CHAMPIONSHIP GALLERY
• CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
2018 Team of the Year - Brandon Medlock and Chuck Metheney
Posted by admin on December 7, 2018
[VIDEO] On the eve of the 2018 Roland Marine Center Series, Brandon Medlock and Chuck Metheney take home the Team Of The Year presented by ARK Rods. With the award, ARK Rods covers all of their 2019 Qualifier Registrations.
This is the second year ARK Rods has sponsored the Team Of The Year award.
"We are proud to sponsor the Team Of The Year award for the Roland Martin Marine Center Series," said Louie Zhang, owner of Ark Rods."This series is by far the best tournament series in Florida."
ARK Rods of Port St Lucie, FL is known for building the lightest and strongest rods while maintaining precise actions, tailored to specific fishing styles. And for 2019, they are expanding their line of rods with 2 new series releases along with superior tungsten weights, hard baits and a line of sunglasses. The complete line can be picked at a great price at the Roland Martin Marine Center.
It's Championship Time - 2018 Roland Martin Marine Center Series
Posted by admin on December 5, 2018
Check out the video setting up Championship Weekend as anglers compete for $25,000
The 2018 Roland Martin Marine Center Series Championship
DECEMBER 8TH & 9TH IN CLEWISTON, FL
• Daily Weigh-ins @ 3pm Roland Martin Marina [directions]
• Great Food and Drinks at the Tiki Hut
• HUGE! GIVEAWAYS
• Fun for the whole family with surprises for the kids
• $25,000 CHAMPIONSHIP CHECK awarded after weigh-in Sunday
See You This Weekend
Durrance & Wright win big at the 4th and final qualifier of the 2018 season.
Posted by admin on October 22, 2018
CLEWISTON, FL – While the rest of the country prepares for fall and the holiday season, Lake Okeechobee welcomes the big bass parade. Under clear blue skies and ninety-plus degrees, the stage was set for the final qualifier of the 2018 Roland Martin Marine Center Series.
At safe light on Saturday morning, 130 boats launched out of Roland Martin Marina for the fourth and final qualifier of the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida. At 3 p.m., they emptied the wells and hit the stage with bags full of hefty Lake Okeechobee bass.
After all the teams weighed in, the team of Buck Durrance and Larry Wright came out on top with 28.54. That earned them the champion’s check of $6,000. On top of that, they earned $1,000 with the Ranger Cup Contigency Program and another $500 for the highest finishing angler who purchased a boat at Roland Martin Marine Center. That’s a nice $7,500 payday for a day on the lake. Their tried-and-true bait of choice — Carolina rig with a black worm.
In second place with 26.44 was the team of Brett Cannon and Ricky Congero going with a Gambler Mega Daddy and Gambler Jig in black and blue. That earned them $3,000. In third place was the team of Bill Barrett and Rick Sawvell with 25.43 and a check for $1,500. Their bait of choice was also the Gambler Mega Daddy in black and blue.
Paying out the top 20 teams, the 100% pay out tournament series continues to grow. With a record amount of teams for this year’s qualifying events, this year’s championship on December 8th & 9th will be a record as well with the winning team taking home $25,000. Stay tuned for details.
Also, make sure to visit AnglersForLakeO.org and join us in our efforts to protect Lake Okeechobee. Together, we can make a difference and make sure the liquid heart of Florida is cared for and is recognized as a priority in the halls of Tallahassee and Washington.
We’re gearing up for a great holiday season and we’ll see you in December.
The RMMC Series
> View Q4 - October 20, 2018 Results
> View Media Gallery
Big healthy bass and big checks continue strong on Lake Okeechobee
Posted by admin on August 6, 2018
CLEWISTON, FL – How is Lake Okeechobee doing? With lots of big bass hitting the stage and checks with big numbers being handed out, the anglers in the third qualifier of the 2018 Roland Martin Marine Center Series will tell you it’s doing just fine.
With 137 boats launching out of Roland Martin Marina at safe light for Qualifier #3, the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida continued strong.
The winning team of Charles Metheney and Brandon Medlock loaded their well with 28 pounds of Lake Okeechobee bass and banked the $6,000 winners check. They came from the north with black and blue Medlock jigs in the reeds and proved to be the winning ticket. And they needed all 28 pounds with the top eight teams bringing in sacks of 20 pound plus.
The second place team of Donny Bass and Mike Meisenheimer tapped some plentiful honey holes for 26-13 and cashed in for $3,000. The third place finishers included the top female finisher, Deanna Ford, that collected her bonus check from Mary Anne Martin and added $1,800 more with her teammate Anthony Ford with a weight of 24.73.
Overall, the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida paid out to the top 22 finishing teams with 83 of the 137 teams bringing healthy Lake Okeechobee bass to the scales. And despite what rumors and news-hype sound bites are saying, Lake Okeechobee is doing well. But one of the most famous big-bass fisheries in the world could use your support.
Recently, we launched SlowTheFlowFL.com to urge leaders to come up with solutions to get all of the excess water and nutrients entering Lake Okeechobee from the north under control. Visit SlowTheFlowFL.com today and join us in our efforts to protect Lake Okeechobee AND the coastal estuaries at the same time.
And be sure to join us in October for Qualifier #4 that all leads up to the Championship in December that will reward the top team with $25,000 or more. Thanks for joining us and we’ll see you in October – The RMMC Series.
Crossed Industries joins our roster of quality sponsors
Posted by admin on July 30, 2018
When it comes to meeting and exceeding the needs of today's traveling angler, Crossed Industries is leading the way.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – As the Roland Martin Marine Center Series, the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida, gears up for the 3rd Qualifier of the 2018 Season, we’re proud to welcome Crossed Industries to our roster of quality sponsors.
“We’re excited to be a part of the series,” said Chaz Hickcox, Owner and CEO of Crossed Industries. “We have signed on for the remainder of the 2018 season and look forward to being a part of upcoming seasons as well.”
Established in 2015, Crossed Industries focus is to be the Angler’s number one source of vehicular aftermarket parts. Going beyond most auto parts stores, Crossed Industries anticipates the needs of anglers from inside and out. As the name implies, it’s where automotive crosses into angling.
“At the end of the day, we’re anglers just like our customers," says Hickcox. “We know what it’s like out on the road traveling thousands of miles from lake to lake. From security of your gear at hotels and remote lakes to hauling your boat in and out of ramps under all conditions, we provide peace-of-mind on and off the road for you and your equipment.”
Providing the necessary parts and accessories for some of the top names in fishing, including 2017 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk, Crossed Industries continues with its commitment to the angling community with a growing roster of national and regional sponsored professionals. Top finishers in the two remaining qualifiers and Championship of the 2018 Roland Martin Marine Center Series will be rewarded with valuable gift cards from Crossed Industries and can look forward to additional prizes and support for up coming seasons and beyond. For more information on Crossed Industries product and services, be sure to visit CrossedIndustries.com.
And be sure to register your team now for Qualifier #3 of the 2018 Roland Martin Marine Center Series as we gear up for the Championship in December where the winning team will take home the top prize of $20,000. Deadline to pre-register for the August 4, 2018 event is Thursday, August 2nd at 5 pm ET. Don’t miss out and register your team today.
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