The Hydrilla Gnats take second at Bass Club World Championship Qualifier
By: Mike Prindle

Local bass club that meets at Wingate's (the Hydrilla Gnats - "The Swarm")

With a second place finish at the Bass Club World Championship qualifying event held on Lake Russell December 15 and 16, Team Captain Chris Neely and his band of misfit Hydrilla Gnats are proving to be a force to be reckoned with.

"The BASS Club World Championships are the kind of event that the Hydrilla Gnats were made for," said Chris. "We were founded on teamwork and fellowship."

Joining Chris Neely are the 2007 Angler of the Year Andy Koundourakis, the 2006 Angler of the Year Mike Prindle, the 2006 Classic Champion and 2007 Angler of the Year runner-up Paul Tyre, Hydrilla Gnats member Sean Neel, and Hydrilla Gnats member Mike Sloan.

The team employed several techniques to catch their fishduring the event at Lake Russell. The most productive was a Carolina Rig fished slowly along main lake rock points in 10 to 25 feet of water.

The Carolina Rig was made up of a 1/2 ounce or 3/4 ounce tungsten weight and a 16 to 24 inch leader. It was rigged with a Bitter's Salty Sling on a 4/0 Owner, or Gamakatsu offset shank hook.

The Carolina Rig accounted for more than 50 percent of the fishweighed in by Hydrilla Gnats team during the twoday event.

With their finish at the Lake Russell Event, the Hydrilla Gnats and fiveother Georgia teams qualified for the Bass Club World Championship Regional Event to be held on Alabama's fabled Lake Guntersville in May 2008.

Supporting the Hydrilla Gnats on their road to the BASS Club World National Championship are Wingate's Lunker Lodge and Action Marine and Powersports of Bainbridge.

To learn more about the BASS Club World Championships, or the Hydrilla Gnats Bass Club and its sponsors, log on to www.hydrillagnats. com.