Lincoln County angler Scott Beattie estimates he’s won nearly $115,000 catching fish during his lifetime.

On March 8, he’ll be angling for the one that always got away.

“I would consider [the Ledbetter Tournament] the largest amateur tournament in North Carolina, no doubt,” said Beattie, 39. “It’s not about the money. It’s a matter of knowing we were the best on Lake Norman in 2008.”

For 50 bass anglers, one of the biggest weekends in professional angling starts Friday on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina.

The full field will compete in the 38th Bassmaster Classic on Friday and Saturday and the top 25 will face off Sunday for the $500,000 first-place prize. Daily weigh-ins will be at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, S.C. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m., and admission is free.

Nobody told me about the mud; how it oozed and squished with each step; how it made brand new boots look old in just minutes; how it foiled my best attempts at stopping on a slope. I came to hate the mud.

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I have the opportunity to present the inaugural issue of MARLIN WORLD.

LINK TO MAGAZINE: http://viewer.zmags.com/showmag.php?mid=pgptf

1. Click anywhere on the screen to ZOOM in and read.

The idea for Outdoorsman Exchange came about in an instant, but in a way it was sometime in the making – we just didn’t realize it at the time.

For years my husband, Paul, has wanted to go on an elk hunt. I’ve encouraged him many times. He and his brothers talk how they should all go elk hunting out west with their Dad before age took its toll on him. Pursuit of that dream sounded good but there was always the financial reality check that held my husband back. He couldn’t justify spending money on a guided hunting trip and felt a guided trip was the only way to go for a successful hunt. This voice inside kept telling him - we need to save money for more sensible things like kids braces, college funds, etc. Most everyone can relate to these thoughts, unless you’re an heir to a fortune.