Over 1,900 anglers from Canada and 23 states spanning from Ohio to Texas converged at Lake Fork Marina where thre 11 pound largemouth bass were weighed throughout the day. Garrett Hall of Kilgore, TX caught the mega bass of the day to win the grand prize of a new Skeeter ZX200 powered by a Yamaha SHO and equipped with Lowrance and Power Pole.
All but two hours of the day the top winners caught bass over the slot limit. The first double digit fish, 11.34 pounds, was weighed in by Owen Rowland.
Garrett Hall of Kilgore, TX took his bass to the scales, and it locked in at 11.38 pounds.
In the last hour of the tournament, Bryan Toombs of Royse City, TX weighed another bass over 11 pound bass, 11.13 pounds.
Hall's total winnings added up to $70,00. Patty Lenderman of Bass Champs reports Garrett and partner initially fished shallow banks on the north end of the lake, working their way south.
They had some luck on a Space Monkey, square billed crank baits, and senko’s. He caught the tournament winning bass on a white chatter bait.
“As soon as I set the hook, I knew it was a good fish."
Garrett's partner netted the fish on the first try.
“We took pictures, and guessed it was around 12 pounds. I tried to fish some more after that, but couldn’t. This is the biggest fish I have ever caught!”
Top hourly $15,000 winners include:
8:00 8.40 lbs. Anthony Jones, Irving TX
9:00 11.34 lbs. Owen Rowland, Bearden AR
10:00 2.50 lbs. Richard Michaels, Alba TX
11:00 2.55 lbs. Alan Swarts, Mt Vernon, TX
12:00 9.65 lbs. Eric Worley, Fort Worth, TX
1:00 11.38 lbs. Garrett Hall, Kilgore TX
2:00 11.13 lbs. Bryan Toombs, Royse City, TX
For more details visit www.BassChamps.com or call 817-439-3274