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 Between the Great Santee Lakes on Diversion Canal 

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Monday, March 15, 2010

Record Weigh-in at Hill's Landing Spring Fling Tournament!

Hill's Landing on the Diversion Canal held their 8th annual Spring Fling Catfish Tournament this past weekend and the team captained by Lynwood Thornhill took first place honors with a record-breaking weight. Their 10-fish limit over the two-day event broke the 300-pound mark for the first time in the history of this tournament.

Previously, the top weigh-in for this tournament was just over 290 pounds. Thornhill and crew shattered that mark as they brought 327 lbs to the scale. Capt. Thornhill and his brother Brian are both catfish guides on the Santee-Cooper Lakes System, and their experience helped them in this event, which started on Saturday morning and ran all day and night, with one weigh-in at 4p.m. Saturday and the final one at 11a.m. Sunday. Another optional weigh-in took place at 11p.m. Saturday night.

Team Thornhill also took big-fish honors with a 53.9 lb catfish which they caught Saturday, and weighed in another 50+ pounder at the same weigh-in.

Ronnie Johnson's team finished a distant 2nd with a total weight of 238.7 lbs, followed by Harry Collins in 3rd with 212.6 lbs.

The tournament limit is 5 fish per team, per day, and tournament rules follow state law when it comes to blue catfish. An angler may keep only one blue catfish that is 36-inches long or longer, and this regulation hurt one angler who was forced to fish alone after his teammate canceled on him. Rick Walker shoveled snow out of his boat to pull it to the tournament from Nebraska. Rick owns a house in Platt, Nebraska and one in North Charleston and has fished this tournament for years. Fishing alone, he caught a 36"+ blue catfish before the final weigh-in, and with that fish in the livewell, he caught a second blue that exceeded 36". Abiding by state law, he had no choice but to release the second blue immediately. Still, fishing alone, Walker, a retired firefighter, finished in the money, taking 4th place with a total weight of 204.6 lbs.

Hill's Landing promotes catch-and-release, and all catfish caught in this tournament were released in accordance with tournament rules.

The Spring Fling is only one of two annual catfish tournaments run by Jamie and Tenley Courtney, who own the landing along with the cleanest tackle store/restaurant on the Santee Lakes. The second tournament takes place in November of every year and is the bigger of the two events. One of the unique things about the November tournament is that 10th place wins the same prize money ($1000) as 2nd place, with 3rd-9th paying less. Jamie Courtney states he decided to give that a try for no particular reason, and that it is a big hit with all the anglers and sponsors. With a low entry fee and guaranteed prize money, this event is a must-stop for catfish anglers. Look for more information about the November tournament in the fall at http://www.midlandsoutdoors.com/, http://www.hillslanding.com/, and http://www.sctraveler.com/. And don't forget that Hill's Landing has plenty of lodging on site, as well as an inboard/outboard motor and boat-trailer repair shop.

An angler who did not participate in the tournament caught the biggest catfish of the weekend out of Hill's Landing.

Photos By BrianCope: (Top) Capt. Lynwood Thornhill receives his first place check from Jamie Tenley, owner of Hill's Landing. (Middle) Tournament angler and Santee catfishing guide Tony Hall hefts a 25+ pound catfish onto the scale. (Bottom) This mess of catfish, like all caught in this tournament, were weighed in and released healthy, keeping the resource alive for future anglers.

 

 

7th Annual BIG CAT Fishing Tournament- Nov. 14-15, 2009

The Boat Doctor        GUARANTEED $7,500 PAYOUT     SEI Santee Embroidery, Inc.

Strick's One Stop                    Butler Marine    

Shuman Food                  Key West             First National Bank of South Carolina  

50 Boats Caught & Released 6,671 lbs. of Santee Cooper Catfish!

Jamie, Tenley, and the Staff at Hill's Landing would like to thank everyone for their support in The 7th  Annual BIG CAT Tournament. We would like to invite everyone to next year's Spring Fling Tournament the 2nd weekend of March. March 13-14, 2010.

7th BIG CAT Dinner Friday Night Video

7th BIG CAT Slideshow

 "BIG CAT" Fish Tournament $7,500 Payout Results

(November 16, 2009) Hill's Landing, located on the Diversion Canal in Cross, SC. hosted their 7th Annual BIG CAT Catfishing Tournament November 13-15, 2009.  Sponsored by The Boat Doctor, SEI Santee Embroidery, Inc., Strick's One Stop, Butler Marine, Key West, First National Bank of South Carolina, and Shuman Foods 50 boats competed for the guaranteed pay-out of $7,500!

Santee Cooper's incredible lake system is home to some of the countries greatest fishing with 3 world record and 4 state record catches. Hill's Landing's previous tournaments have all seen monster catfish caught. This tournament was no exception. Anglers caught & released 6,671 lbs. of Santee Cooper Catfish!

Under skies with the most incredible pink sunset, the event began with Friday night dinner. Food was supplied by Shuman Foods of Reevesville, SC. The absolutely fabulously delicious barbque and chicken with potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans and dessert was prepared by Ms. Patsie, who has been the landing's cook for 50 years. Afterwards followed the Captains' Meeting.

Blast off was at safe light on the cloudy Sat. morning. Hill's central location gave anglers easy access to both lakes, Marion and Moultrie

A 10 fish boat aggregate, 5 fish could be weighed in by 4:00 p.m. Saturday, and 5 fish on Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The 1st Total Weight team, (shown left) Captained by Joe Payne, weighed in 290.1 lbs. taking the Grand Prize of $2,000! Fishing with him were Rebecca Banner, Chris & Barbara Lyles, and George and Elaine Weatherford.

 

2nd Total Weight went to Gene Hicks and his son Jeremy (shown left) with 252.5 lbs. winning $1,000.

Jeremy (shown right) also won $200, 1st Place Youth Award, with his 36.0 lbs. catfish.

 

 

 

Tim Farris, (shown right) from Lake Wylie, won 3rd Total Weight with 244.1 Lbs paying $500.

4th Total Weight was won by Stan Pierce (shown left)  who weighed in  236.5 lbs. giving him $450. Pierce also caught the biggest fish that was 48.2 lbs. Big Fish paid out $500.

 

 

5th Total Weight went to Paul Osbourne, (shown right) of Manning, SC with 229.6 lbs. taking home $350. His Teammate, Wendy also took 3rd Place Lady Angler Award with her 39.7 lbs. catfish.

 

 

 

 

 

6th Total Weight was Keith Leggit (shown right)  weighing in 220.8 lbs. and winning $300.

Chris Brown's 215.9 lbs. gave him 7th Total Weight paying $250.

8th Total Weight was 208.5 lbs caught by David Lovelace winning him $200.

9th Total Weight was Ray Hill with 207.0 lbs paying $150.

10 Total Weight: Mike Maxwell 188.3 lbs. winning $1,000!

 

 

1st Place Lady Angler award went to Kay Hill of Covington, Ga. (shown right) with her $200 44.2 lbs. catfish. Kay was fishing with her husband, Monty Hill, who won 1st Place at The Spring Fling last March with Capt. Tony Hall.

2nd Place Lady Angler that paid $100 was awarded to Denise Connell (shown below) for her 39.9 lbs. catch. Nice fish, ladies!

 

 

 

 

 

Owner, Jamie Courtney is helping preserve the catfishing sport with the Catch and Release Rule and encourages  you to bring a kid fishing.  All youths who fished received a rod and reel.

 

 

The 2nd Place Youth Award went to Mathew Brooks (shown left) for his 32.3 lbs. catfish paid $100. Mathew, know at the Hill by "little man" is only 11 years old and has fish all 7 BIG CAT Tournaments.

 

The  Spring Fling Catfishing Tournament March 7-8, 2009 in conjunction with the spawn was an exciting event with record weigh-in catches! Next year's Spring Fling Tournament is the 2nd weekend of March. March 13-14, 2010. To make lodging reservations or questions for the upcoming Spring Fling call Jamie Courtney 1-843-753-2731.

 

BIG FISH PAYS $500.00

 

 

 

 

Hill's Landing Spring Fling Catfish Tournament March 7-8, 2009

 

Big Fish

1st Place Ronnie Yandle, Columbia, SC 52.8 lbs.

Ralph "Buzzard" Buckner, Joe Carnley, and Ronnie Yandle. Photo provided by
Joe Carnley .

2nd Place Monty Hill, Covington, Ga. 49 lbs.

3rd Place George Brooks, Comer, Ga. 41.3 lbs.

Total Weight

1st Place~ Monty Hill, Covington, Ga. 273.8 lbs.

Jamie Courtney and Monty Hill

2nd Place Mike Sandusky 243.9 lbs.

3rd Place David Lovelace 187.8 lbs.

4th Place Scott Bailey 177.7 lbs.

5th Place Gene Hicks 174.8 lbs.

6th Place Rick Walker 173.7 lbs.

7th Place David Rorie 166.2 lbs.

8th Place Ronnie Johnson 159 lbs.

9th Place Steve Wood 147.8 lbs.

10th Place Paul Osbourne 145.2 lbs.

All children 15 and under who fished the tournament received a rod n reel.

 

 

 

 

6th Annual Hill's Landing " BIG CAT" Catfish Tournament- Nov. 15-16, 2008 Tournament Results

Youth Awards

1st Place~ Josh Rose, Lugoff, SC  39.6 lbs. winning $150.00

2nd Place~ McKinsey Rose, Lugoff, SC with 29.2 lbs. 100

3rd Place~ Cody Berry, Eutawville, SC 21 lbs. 50

 

Lady Angler Awards

1st Place~ Velvet Miller, Windsor, SC...33.3 lbs. $150

2nd Place~ Sharon Strength, Gray Court, SC...31.4 lbs...$90

3rd Place~ Michelle Howard, Kings Mountain, NC...21.1 $60

 

Big Fish Winners

1st Place~ Monty Hill, Covington, Ga. ...44.3 lbs...$350

2nd Place~ Stan Pierce, Florence, SC...42.5 lbs....$210

3rd Place~ Steve Wood, Duncan, SC  42.0 lbs. $210

4th Place~ Jerry Whitfield...39.4 lbs....$140

 

Total Weight Winners

1st Place~ John Guerin Pendleton, SC .246.2 lbs....$1550.00

2nd Place~ Jerry Whitfield, Hartwell Ga. and Jim Hall, Elberton, Ga.....232.1 lbs. $750

3rd Place~ Monty Hill, Covington, Ga. ..220.3 lbs....$400

4th Place~ Keith Leggett, Cross, SC..202.3 lbs. $300

5th Place~ Stan Pierce, Florence, SC...195.2 lbs. $200

6th Place~ Steven Wood, Duncan, SC...188.2 lbs. $175

7th Place~ Cliff Strength, Gray Court, SC...187.6 lbs. $150

         

 

 

 

 5th Annual Hill's Landing

       "BIG CAT" Fishing Tournament

           November 10 - 11, 2007

 

Hill's Landing hosted our 5th Annual BIG CAT Fishing Tournament November 10th & 11th, 2007. There was a 100% Cash Payback. Teams were 1,2,3 or 4 people. All fish weighed in were alive and released back into Santee Cooper Lakes. There was a children’s division and all children were rewarded with a rod and reel. Tournament boundaries were all waters navigable by boat from the top of the lock on Lake Moultrie to I-95 on Lake Marion.

 

It was a 10 Fish Boat Aggregate. 5 Fish could be weighed in on Saturday and 5 Fish on Sunday. Fish were weighed in by 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 10th and from 7:30 a.m. through 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11th.

 

Here are the Tournament Results with 16 boats competing to weigh in the "BIG CAT".

 

TOTAL WEIGHT

 

1st Place~ George Brooks Comer, Ga.217.7 lbs

2ndplace~ Stan Pierce 145.7 lbs.

3rd Place~ Jerry Carter 120.1 lbs.

4th Place~ Mark Looney  119.2 lbs.

5th Place~ Logan Kale 118.2 lbs.

6th Place~ David Rorie 109.0 lbs.

7th Place~ Mark Stanley 108.8 lbs.

8th Place~ Cliff Strength 98 lbs.

9th Place~ James Simpson 81.0 lbs.

10th Place~ Gene Hicks 79.5 lbs.

11th Place~ Ron Howard 57.9 lbs.

12th Place~ George Lindsay 42.5 lbs.

13th Place~ Steve Wood 34.6 lbs.

 


BIG FISH

1st Place~ George Brooks  39.5 lbs.

2nd Place~ Sharon Strength 29.7 lbs.

3rd Place~ David Rorie  29.3 lbs.
 

 

BIG FISH YOUTH

Mathew Brooks 23 lbs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4th Annual Hill's Landing Catfish Tournament

 November 10th-12th 2006

 

 

 

  TOURNAMENT RESULTS

 

1st Place- Junior Bowers 240.1lbs 

2nd Place-Ronnie Yandle 199.5 lbs

3rd Place-Kenneth Edwards-190.9 lbs

4th Place-Tim Farris-181.2 lbs

5th Place-Billy Parten-177.8 lbs

6th Place-Jason Rose-177.3 lbs

7th Place-Gary Kilby-169.8 lbs

8th Place-Jerry Hildebrauder-157.3 lbs

9th Place-Ed Brown-152.3 lbs

10th Place-Mike Maxwell-131.2 lbs

 

Youth Awards

1st Place-Douglas Leggett-42.3 lbs

2nd Place-Jonathan Whisnant-34.8 lbs

3rd Place-Marcus Bowers-34.4 lbs

 

Lady Angler Award

1st Place-Christine Rose-63.3 lbs

2nd Place-Libby Bowers-53.1 lbs

 

Big Fish

1st Place-Jason Rose-63.3lbs

2nd Place-Theo Garland-57.4 lbs

3rd Place-Jerry Carter-55.2 lbs.

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Hill's Landing- 2005 "BIG CAT"

Fishing Tournament

November 12 - 13, 2005

 

 

3rd Annual "BIG CAT" Fishing Tournament Winner

Theo Garland 90.03 lbs. This  Monster Catfish is believed to be the biggest catfish caught and released in a fishing tournament in the Santee Cooper Lakes~ ever!!


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2nd Annual Hill's Landing - Summerville Marine

"Big Cat" Fishing Tournament

November 13-14, 2004
 

 

1st Hill's Landing - Summerville Marine, "Big Cat" Fishing Tournament

 

1st Place Big Fish.............Ed Brown............................67.59 lbs.

November 21-23, 2003
 

 

 

 We Specialize in Friendliness and Cleanliness!

728 Hill's Landing Road, Cross, SC 29436   Phone: (843) 753-2731

Owners Jamie & Tenley Courtney   (Email Owners)

 

 

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Web Page by Carole Lee Hinten

www.sctraveler.com

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