Published: April 29, 2008 10:18 am            

Toyota Bass Classic ruled a success

The 2008 Toyota Texas Bass Classic held on Lake Fork on April, 18, 19 and 20, was heralded as an overwhelming success.

This tournament consisted of 25 four-man professional fishermen teams. On Sunday, day three, there were only five, four-man teams left competing.

First place winners lead by team captain Kelly Jordon, along with Lance Vick, David Walker and David Smith, brought in a three-day total of 54 bass weighing 228 pounds. Close behind them was the team No. 19 lead by Bobby Lane, with 219.12 pounds. Jordon weighed in the largest individual total of 85.8 pounds and the heaviest catch on the last day of 22.08 pounds. The team earned a paycheck of $250,000. Not bad for a few days of fishing.

I was amazed at the variety of ways or patterns the pros quickly put together in their four-hour day of fishing.

First place team led by Kelly Jordon caught a few bass on beds, but the rest was caught deep on a Lucky Craft D-20 (splatter back color). Second place team led by Lane reported that their best spot was in 22 to 25 feet deep. They used a Norman DD22 crankbait. Their string included an 11 pound 12 ounce lunker that earned big fish honors for the classic and won him (Lane) a Toyota Tundra truck valued at $48,000, plus a $6,000 pair of custom made Lucchese boots.

When up on the stage, Dave Smith and Lance Vic, two local pros, said they were on a real strong pattern. Smith said, “Lance really knows his way around here. We caught 39.4 pounds in four hours. If we had four more hours we probably could catch 100 pounds of bass.”

Mark Tucker on Team 22 had an awesome beginning on day one sight fishing. Tucker caught a nine-pound bass on a football jig.

Team 10 consisting of Dave Wolak, Terry Segraves, Mike McClelland and Travis Rulle, lead the first day with 13 bass totaling 72 pounds 4 ounces. Segraves said, “We missed two bass that were probably pushing 10 pounds. We were throwing the big swim baits. We made a commitment to fish these baits.

Some of these bass were shallow, right against the bank. The bites were vicious and some nearly jerked the rod out of my hand.” When Van Dam took the stage he said, “I had the best practice I’ve ever had anywhere.” Unfortunately, Van Dam hit a stump on his way in and bent his prop and broke the gear case. His day’s catch (Saturday’s) was disqualified because he changed boats and rode back in with another contestant. He was granted permission to ride back in a separate boat but the rules committee disqualified him for that day.

There are a lot of fish moving in now during the full moon to spawn and there are a lot of post-spawn fish that are moving out to main lake structure. If we have a few more stable days some of the big females will move out of the deeper water to spawn.

The pros caught bass in a variety of ways using multiple patterns.

Some were catching bass on topwater baits, swim baits and spinners near the bank. Spinner baits were especially good on windy banks. Others fished deeper humps and points targeting the post-spawn bass. Deep crankbaits and football jigs caught several of the larger bass.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. I spent all day Saturday at this event. Part of the time I committed to helping David Nichols of Nichols Lures talk to customers and share my experiences and successes with his lures. I met many people, some as far away as Mississippi, who drove down to attend this classic.

One of the things I enjoyed doing was going around to the 60 or so vendors who set up wares at this event.

I got to see all the latest inventions and lures. They could really educate one on the benefits of the new products.

I met Brent Delo, owner of Froggy D’s Tackle and Rainwear, located on 5190 N. FM 17, Lake Fork. According to Delo, he is going to be the largest tackle dealer in this area.

I talked to Wesley Higgins, PR and advertising director of Biosonix. Biosonix is an electronic device with a transducer that can be lowered into the water, that send out signals that replicate sounds made by a school of shad. They call this a fish activator. It is designed to stimulate fish and cause them to feed.

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic drew approximately 40,000 people. I noticed that when it came time for the live concert headlining Trace Adkins at 5:30 p.m. that hundreds of people began surging into the area. Other popular entertainers included Kacey Musgroves, Robert Earl Keen and Roger Creager. Everyone, young and old, seemed to be having a good time. I know I did.

Miller can be reached at gonefishing813@peoplepc.com

        

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