By kevin eckleberry

Daily News

They arrived before sun-up on a frigid Saturday morning, ready to patrol the waters of West Point Lake in search of the big fish.

More than 50 anglers came out to participate in a benefit tournament for the Callaway High fishing team, and it was the team of Chris Blair and Bryan “Dug” Asay capturing the top spot by bringing in five bass weighing more than 15 pounds.

A member of Troup High’s fishing team, Trayton Gay, and his teammate Frank Eslinger brought in the big fish weighing 6.3 pounds.

In all, 27 two-person teams took part in the tournament, with the money raised helping fund Callaway’s second-year fishing program.

Houston Gaddy, who finished fourth, is a member of the Callaway fishing team, and he enjoys the laid-back atmosphere at the high-school events.

“It’s competitive, but it’s not like the football games,” he said. “Everybody out here our buddies.”

That was a sentiment echoed Drake Reeves, a member of Troup’s fishing team.

“It’s fun,” he said. “It’s a nice change of pace. It’s a friendly competition.”

Trayton Gay also competes on the Troup fishing team, and while he was happy to be a part of Saturday’s tournament, it was a bit frigid when he arrived at Highland Marina before sun-up.

“It was fun, but it was cold,” he said.

Blair and Asay, who have formed a successful partnership that has resulted in plenty of high finishes in tournaments on West Point Lake, took top honors, with their five fish weighing 15.13 pounds.

“I thought I was on a pattern, and the morning it completely shut down, and then the sun came up and they started biting a little better,” Blair said.

Finishing second was the team of Jay Cook and Jeff Morgan with a five-fish haul of 14.10 pounds.

Gay and Eslinger were in third with 13.14 pounds, and nearly half of that came from their big fish.

When asked by Mark Biagiotti where he and Esgliner caught the big fish, Gay said with a smile, “in the water.”

Gaddy was in fourth place with five fish weighing 13.10 pounds.

A handful of local businesses donated items for a raffle, and the winners were announced before and after the weigh-in.

Among the big prizes was a one-night stay at the Great Wolf Lodge, as well as free admission for four people to Wild Animal Safari.

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