Texas Bass Fishing Mag Summer

Visit Us Online www.txbassmag.com

TEXAS

BASS FISHING Magazine kelly jordan’s summer tips for lake fork bass guide jerry dunn conventional tackle not so conventional

Summer 2009

FREE ISSUE Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

1

LAKE CONROE, TEXAS October 16 - 18, 2009

LIV MU E SIC AL

L W EE K

EN

D

Fishing Exposition & TPW Outdoor Adventures Area Nationally Televised Professional Bass Fishing World Championship

TOYOTATEXASBASSCLASSIC.COM | 866-907-0143 Kids 17 and Under Admitted Free

2

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

FEATURES

TEXAS

BASS FISHING Magazine Publisher/Editor Eddie R. Thomas

Executive Editor Doris Thomas

Graphic Designer Trevor Craft

07 Bass Guide, Jerry Dunn

By Danno Wise

Contributors

Steve Price Danno Wise Cody Ryan Greaney Scott DeGrant Larry Hodge

14

Advertising

Kelly Jordan’s

(936) 588-4500 [email protected]

Summer Tips for Lake Fork by Steve Price

Director of Sales: Eddie Thomas Sales Manager: Bryan Norvell Sales: Tanner Morgan

Subscription Information 936-588-4500 www.txbassmag.com

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine is published by Loanstar Publications 21574 Eva Street, Montgomery, Texas 77356

All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without the permission of Texas Bass Fishing Magazine is prohibited. Texas Bass Fishing Magazine assumes no responsibility for any kind of unsolicited materials. Printed in the U.S.A

10 Conventional

Tackle, Not So Conventional By Cody Ryan Greaney

Columns Editor Notes by Eddie Thomas ���������������������� 4

Texas Parks & Wildlife Giant Salvinia

by Larry Hodge������������������������� 5

Endless Highways & Wide Open Spaces… by Scott DeGrant���������������������� 6 Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

Bassin Babes Chats with WBT Angler Janet Parker by Doris Thomas���������������������13

Outdoor Adventures with Hank and Buck by Shooter�������������������������������19

Tournament Trail������������������ 20 3

Letter from the Editor xxxxxxxx

Comments

Read your spring 2009 issue, and it looks good. Glad to see a magazine that concentrates on lakes in Texas.  – Tom G.  Brookland, TX I Think its great to have a local mag that brings great local info.  – James T.  Silsbee, TX Picked up a copy of your magazine at Needmore Tackle at Lake Sam Rayburn. Good magazine , thank you for all the good info. The wife also liked the Bassin Babes article...Thanks again  – Wayne H.  Vidor, TX I am very glad to see a magazine about Texas Bass Fishing!  – Charlie T.  Tomball, TX I was at Sam Rayburn for the Big Bass Splash and I received a copy of your magazine, I think its a great publication, the spring issue was full of great tips & it’s full of up to date tourniment info & standings.  – Scott A.  Ontario, CA Picked up a copy of your magazine at Lake Fork a few weeks ago. Good job! Keep them rolling off the press… Thanks  – Tim S.  Irving, TX I picked up a magazine at Conroe… FANTASTIC!  – Joe N.  Pearland, TX

Send your ideas, photos & comments, to: [email protected]

TEXAS

BASS FISHING Magazine

For a Free 1 Year Subscription visit us at

www.txbassmag.com 4 4

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

Help Stop the Spread of Giant Salvinia By Larry Hodge

ATHENS, Texas - Anglers and boaters must take lead in stopping spread of giant salvinia. East Texas lakes are being threatened by the spread of an invasive aquatic plant, giant salvinia, and anglers and boaters are the first line of defense. “Boat trailers are serving as the primary vector of transmission for giant salvinia,” said Craig Bonds, regional director for TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Division. “Many reservoirs are threatened by this plant due to the high frequency of boat trailers leaving East Texas lakes for destinations all over the United States.” Giant salvinia is a floating fern that can double its population in less than a week. It has been found on 14 lakes in Texas so far, including Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, and Caddo. Left unchecked, it can form thick mats that can block access and kill fish. Boaters should inspect their boats, trailers and vehicles every time they enter or leave the water, remove all plant material, and place it in a trash bin.

Giant Salvinia

Fishing Boats Welcome!

CATFISH FROGLEGS SHRIMP STEAKS

4 Miles West of I-45, on Hwy 105 5901 W. Davis, Conroe, Texas 77304

(936) 760-3386

Serving Lake Conroe Area Since 1984 Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

5

Receive

Special Discounts by Mentioning This Ad

Scott DeGrant Endless highways and wide open spaces… That line perfectly describes the scenery around beautiful Lake Amistad. During the recent FLW Stren Series event in May, I had the opportunity to fish as a co-angler with a different pro each day. The lake was back to near normal pool and abundant cover which had many anglers scratching their heads trying to find the winning fish. The low levels in past years equated to large winning stringers at many tournaments, but that was not the case this year. My day one pro was Terry Rose from Eastland, TX. Terry put us on some deep water fish early that morning and Carolina rig later in the day. One amazing thing I learned about Amistad is that grass will grow out deep to 30 feet. The water clarity was incredible, up to 10 feet in some places. The lake is very healthy with an abundance of shad and hydrilla growing in several locations.

MOBILE RIGGING AND REPAIR

We Keep You Running!

On day two, I fished with Louisiana pro Jeremy Guidry. Jeremy is somewhat of a celebrity in my book after winning on Falcon Lake in 2008. He took a different approach and power fished the bank most of the day. I have never seen an angler swim a jig and crankbait so quickly and effectively. Jeremy went through about 15 keepers all day and caught fish on almost every lure he rigged up. Both Terry and Jeremy are top notch fisherman and very friendly. Terry managed a 37th place finish and Jeremy at 31st place. Pro Jim Milson won the tournament fishing in depths ranging from 14-30 feet using a Texas rigged Senko. Co-angler Chris Hults utilized a Carolina rig and topwater to take home first place. Overall, the weights were low compared to previous years, but it won’t take long for anglers to figure out the patterns of the lake at its current level. As for myself, I managed only a few keepers each day, but learned a wealth of knowledge in the process. When I signed up as a co-angler this year, my thought was to enjoy it as a learning experience, and so far, it has exceeded my expectations. The next Texas Stren Series event will be at Toledo Bend in October. There may still be some co-angler slots open for those anglers eager to improve their skills by fishing with a pro each day. I highly recommend it for fisherman of all experience levels.

6

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

bass guide

Bass Guide

Jerry Dunn By Danno Wise

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

7

B

ass fishing hasn’t always been a high-tech sport filled with modern mechanical wonders. In fact, although many of today’s top stars are too young to remember, there was a time when anglers had to rely solely on their instincts as opposed to depth finders, GPS, trolling motors and the bevy of other conveniences available today. One man who has witnessed the advent of modern-day bass fishing from its inception is Choke Canyon guide Jerry Dunn. Although he was one of the pioneers in the fishing guide business, Dunn, like so many that have followed him, did not set out to make fishing his career. “I never said ‘I want to be a fishing guide,’” said Dunn. “As it turned out, it just sort of happened. And, since 1966, that’s all I’ve ever done to make a living.” Like a lot of Texas bass pros, Dunn was born in East Texas, New London to be exact. However, his family moved to Corpus Christi when he was just a kid. He then spent the early part of his adulthood ranching in West Texas. In fact, it was ranching, not fishing, that brought Dunn back to East Texas in the early 1960s.

Jerry Dunn's 40 Pl

1960’'s 8

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

“I moved back to East Texas to take a job as a ranch foreman,” said Dunn. “Turns out, the ranch was on one of the creeks that empties into Sam Rayburn, which had just been impounded. The man I worked for at the ranch was a retired oil company president and I spent most of my time taking his rich friends fishing instead of doing ranch work. That’s what gave me the idea. So, when I quit the ranch, I went into guiding full time.” Dunn’s lengthy guiding career has taken him to four different Texas impoundments, each of which were just in their infancy when Dunn arrived. “Sam Rayburn was built in 1965,” said Dunn. “I started guiding there in 1966. I was guiding on Livingston from the day it opened. I watched them build Toledo Bend. At the time, I never would have guessed I would have ended up guiding there, but I did shortly after it filled. And, I was here at Choke before they filled the lake and fished it the very first day it opened.” During the early portion of his career, Dunn also witnessed the birth of another major segment of the bass industry - professional tournament fishing. Although he dabbled in competitive bass fishing briefly, he

decided to focus on guiding. “I fished the very first B.A.S.S. event on Rayburn,” said Dunn. “I also fished some of the tournaments put on by Project Sports, which was another tournament trail that started about the

same time as B.A.S.S. The were both good tournament trails, but there really wasn’t much money in tournament fishing at the time. “In fact, to show you how smart I was, I said at the time there would Continued on Page 12…

Plus Years

of

Fishing

2000'’s Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

9

Conventional Tackle, Not So Conventional ... By Cody Ryan Greaney

W

hen that “lunker” is so often weary of the same baits buzzing overhead or bouncing below, it’s often hard to make him bite. With so many people beating the banks of Texas lakes, there are a few things I have been doing to manipulate my tackle. Whether it is a confidence factor or a reaction to something just a little different, it can oftentimes mean the difference between a hot, sunburned day on the water and one to be remembered for years to come. During the early morning active bite of summer, I have found for years that a fluke bite can not only be a blast but also very productive. With the ever growing popularity of this technique, it wasn’t until recently that I started changing the action and presentation just a little. Depending on the bite you are looking for, I will combine a common Chatter Bait and Fluke. All you need is the front portion of a chatter bait with the back portion being that of the fluke. This bait offers you many options to work it fast, sporadic and, later in the day, a bit slower.

Chatter Bait / Fluke How about a summer top-water bite? There are not a lot of other methods that get me fired up as much as a fish “blowing up” on top waters! Sometimes it seems as if the fish are 1010 

Topwater with Suspend Strips hitting the bait light, just slapping it, but just not eating the bait, which can get frustrating. Calming the Chug Bug or Pop-r’s action can help to improve your odds of hooking up. A way I do this is not just by the action I work but also by adding a couple small lead “suspend strips.” Add just enough to where the bait will sit just above the surface but brings a majority of the bait hanging just below the surface. This, in conjunction of slowing the action, will often ease the frustrations. Later in the day I like to slow things down a bit, as many do. Worm fishing has always been a favorite and, in recent years, in most lakes around Texas, the “Spot-Remover” or “Shaky-Head” has taken over in popularity. My preference has been the Spot Remover jig head with the flat top,

allowing some baits to stand up right. The biggest issue I have had is losing baits or having to change baits often due to the post that the worms’ top portion attaches. Recently I found that breaking off the post with a pair of needle-nose pliers and attaching a screw lock onto the eye of the Spot remover not only saves the bait from being pulled off but also improves the amount of times you can re-rig the same bait.

Spot Remover / Creature Bait Texas Texas Bass Bass Fishing Fishing Magazine Magazine | Summer | Summer 2009 2009

Along with the Spot Remover and Shaky-Head phenomenon, I will often rig baits that aren’t often done so with these jig heads. Jigs themselves have been a staple in bass fishing from their conception, along with similar crawfish imitation “creature baits.” Mixing these two proven methods of finesse-style fishing with the ever popular imitators, I will rig a Spot remover with a Creature bait. In theory, it imitates perfectly the crawfish in a “defensive” stature. My personal favorite that seems to easily stand on end is the Grande Bass Mutant.

Some of these techniques you might have fished. Some you might have heard about. If the same old methods aren’t working, don’t be afraid to change your presentation, style or bait selections. Just a little difference in presentation can make for a big impact on the numbers and size of fish. Learning to trust your instincts and not feeling the

If that doesn’t work, try mingling the method of Wacky-worms and a CarolinaRig. Often it’s thought that Carolina-Rig fishing is done with big baits, 10 and 12 in. worms. When the fishing is tough and the fish are deep, as seen often in our clear water reservoirs, try downsizing your rig, weight and hook. In addition, the changing action of a wacky worm will often be too enticing for that big bass to resist. Rig a Carolina-Rig as normal, using a smaller, wide-gap hook and a finesse worm of choice and hold on!

need to fish a bait just as it comes “out of the package” can evolve some newfound productive fishing methods. There are many more baits and ideas that I personally fish differently but have found these simple changes have produced some “hard to beat” days on the water! Fish hard and fish often, Fish ON!

Carolina-Rig / Wacky-Worm

Top Boat Dealer in South Texas Full Service Marine UÊ/>VŽiŜ« UÊ iVÌÀœ˜ˆVà UÊ iÜÊ>˜`Ê1Ãi`Ê œ>Ìà UÊ >ÃÃÊ œ>Ìà UÊ*œ˜Ìœœ˜Ê œ>Ìà UÊ-ŽˆÊ œ>Ìà UÊ iVŽÊ œ>ÌÃ

956-231-3085 Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

Located in Zapata, Texas at Falcon Lake www.d-d-marine.com 11

Continued from Page 9… never be any money in it. I said fishing’s not a spectator sport and there’s no way to televise it. Even back then we knew the big money was tied to television. We’ll today they fill huge arenas just to watch a weigh-in and the televise all the tournaments on ESPN and FOX Sports. So, that just shows you how smart I was. “But, at the time it was hard to imagine tournaments ever paying much money. In those days, unless you finished first or second, you might not even make enough money to cover your expenses. I was getting $45 a day guiding at the time. I decided to take the security of the $45 a day because I could work all I wanted to in those days. “I don’t regret it, though. I’ve been able to do a lot of things through guiding that I couldn’t have done as a tournament pro. And, I’m in the Bass Pro Shops Guide Hall of Fame, which I’m pretty proud of.” Not only has Dunn witnessed the birth of tournament fishing and the advent of modern-day guiding, he has also seen bass fishing go from a simple pursuit to a technology-driven sport. “When I started, my tackle box was a brown paper sack,” said Dunn. “We fished out of 14 and 15-foot open boats with no storage. So, I knew what I’d be fishing with each day and would throw it in a sack. I’d grab a couple of rods and I’d be ready to go. When I sold my latest bass boat recently, I pulled 24 rod and reels out of the rod lockers and probably 300 pounds of tackle. It’s amazing to think how much the equipment has changed this sport.

fishing offshore structure - humps, tank dams, secondary points, stuff like that. “Then came the flashers, which were simple, but could tell you how deep the water was. Then we had graphs, depth finders and now we’ve got side-scanning depth finders that can basically tell you what everything looks like under the water.” Although technology has aided anglers in their quest to catch bass, Dunn says there is still a basic human element that’s necessary to catch fish. “All of that technology won’t help if you don’t understand what you’re doing,” said Dunn. “All of those inventions are wonderful tools, but you still have to understand fish behavior. Everybody thinks they’re born a fishermen, but they’re not. “To consistently catch fish, you need to learn about fish and their behavior and you need to practice. People overlook the importance of practice. I used to practice for hours and hours. Sometimes I would just practice casting. At other times, I would spend time retrieving lures in different ways to see how they acted. But, I was always working and trying to get better.” As his forty-plus year career winds down, Dunn says he still can’t fully explain how or why he spent his life putting people on big bass.

“I still don’t know how I ended up a fishing guide for this long, other than I really love to do what I do,” said Dunn. “It’s by no means a glamorous way to make a living, but it’s a good way to make a living. How do you explain waking up early when it’s cold or raining or windy, knowing you’ve got to fish in tough conditions and try to make it a good trip for your people? You can’t. You just do it, because that’s what you do. “My hat’s off to anyone who’s ever made a living guiding. That’s the only paycheck I’ve had for nearly 45 years. But, the way I look at it, I had a 20 foot boat for a desk and a 26,000 acre lake for an office. Even on bad days, I still got to go fishing.” Those who know Dunn won’t be surprised to learn he has planned a unique farewell as he heads into retirement. “Like I said, when I started guiding I made $45 a day,” Dunn said. “So, I contacted one of my earliest clients. On January 1, 2010 he’s going to come down and fish with me at Choke and I’m going to charge him $45. That will be the final trip of my career. But, by guiding that day in 2010, I’ll be able to say I’ve guided in six different decades. After that, I’m just going to take it easy and go fishing.”

“I’ve watched every invention come along. The one I was most glad to see was trolling motors. Before that, we sculled our boats along with little short-handled paddles. I always tell people, if they hadn’t invented trolling motors, my forearms would be like Popeye’s. “Electronics also changed bass fishing tremendously. When I started, we used to drop down a string with a weight to get an idea how deep the water was. At that time, we mostly beat the banks. We really didn’t know anything about 12 

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

Bassin Babes Chats with Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler

Winner of WBT event on the Ouachita River in West Monroe, LA Where is your hometown? I get my mail in Little Elm, Texas but my home is usually a hotel. I spend anywhere from 40 to 42 weeks on the road fishing tournaments, charity fishing events and NASCAR Race appearances for primary sponsor Aarons. How did you get started bass fishing? My love of fishing began at a very young age. My god grandparents began taking me and my bag of cloth diapers with them fishing every afternoon. I started fishing everything from catfish, to crappie to bass. I have been on the WBT Tour since 2005. How often do you fish? All the time! I fish on the Women’s Bassmaster Tour and fish charity events like the National Guard & St. Judes Charity Fishing Tournament, the Ultimate Bass Challenge & NFL Coaches Tournament. What draws you to the sport of Bass Fishing? I believe Bass Fishing has something to offer for everyone. From the adrenalin rush of intense competition to the peace and relaxation of being on the water, whatever you are looking for you can find it in Bass Fishing. As far as tournament fishing, I feel like a tournament is a test. The outcome determines how well I have prepared. I also have a tremendous respect for anglers like Pam Martin-Wells and Diane Clark-Rodgers who have been competing in this sport for years. I like to compare myself to them to see how I am growing in the sport. Where is your favorite place to fish and is there a specific technique you like to use? I like to fish Lake El Salto, Mexico. I caught my biggest bass there, 12 pounds 5 ounces. I also like Lake Champlain in New York and Beaver Lake in Arkansas because you can catch both large and small mouth bass there. I like to fish soft plastics and jigs. I tend to stay away from the crank and spinner baits. What lead you to become a pro-angler on the Women’s Bassmaster Tour? I never had the intention of becoming a pro angler. I always had a love for fishing and decided one day I wanted to increase my skill level and learn some of the techniques I had been reading about. I joined an all women bass club in the Dallas area who’s mission statement was to teach bass fishing to women. Needless to say this was not the main objective and it left me frustrated and disappointed. One day while crappie fishing in my back yard on Lake Lewisville, angler Troy Smith was pre-fishing a tournament and I mentioned to him my recent discouragement in learning bass fishing techniques. He asked where my poles were and told me to grab them and come on. I fished with him all week and learned a lot. I began fishing FLW Series & FLW Tour as a co-angler with the help of Mike Hawkes of Sabinal, Tx and Sean Hoernke of The Woodlands, Tx who served as my fishing mentors. As luck would have it sponsors started coming in for me, Humminbird and Minnkota. I fished FLW for two years and stopped to concentrate on the WBT. I basically became a pro-angler because nobody told me I couldn’t! Plus the fish don’t care if you are a girl or a boy. Congrats on your recent WBT win on the Ouachita River in West Monroe, LA! How do you prepare for these big tournaments? I usually pre-fish two weeks before a tournament. The official pre-fish days are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the week of the tournament, Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

but I don’t fish these days. I do this because I don’t want to stick my fish right before the tournament and I don’t want to let my competition know where I am fishing and the techniques that I am using! I use these days to rest, regroup and get my tackle ready. I feel it is very important to be well rested for tournaments. I need to get 8 hours sleep to prepare my body for competition and I am better focused. I also found it is important to have tournament support (spouse, boyfriend, etc.). I have hired tournament support this year and it has helped me keep my focus on fishing. My tournament support helps with all the little things that sometimes bogg you down...boat fuel/oil/maintenance, flats, jersey cleaning, laundry & non fish related errands. Any Pre-Tournament Rituals? I get a fresh pedicure and manicure. I also listen to Nickleback on my way to the tournament. Are there any special techniques you used to win this tournament? Did you fish the same each day or change it up? I did fish the same each day. I used a Texas Rig, with a tungsten weight and force bead. I fished a Paca Craw in Red Bama Bug and an Ochechobee Craw with pinchers dipped in chartreuse. I would let the lure fall and get a good click and then jiggle it to get a bite or I would get a bite on the hop up. When did you realize you had won the tournament? It wasn’t until the last weigh-in and I had to sit at the holding tank to wait for everyone else to weigh-in that I realized “Hey I have a chance to win this”. I kept expecting someone to come in with a good sack and knock me out. It never happened! I had to rush and leave to Talladega Superspeedway to receive a commendation from U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute, and then to National Guard & St Judes Charity Fishing Tournament, Minneapolis, MN. so the win didn’t really sink in until a couple of days later. What advice do you have for lady anglers who are starting out? Lots of time ladies (and men sometimes) have trouble setting a hook. What I have realized is that women do not have the same upper body strength as men, therefore we cannot set a hook like a man. I use a heavier and longer rod than is recommended for men. It has more backbone and is stiffer. I also use a braided line (Newtech Power Cable) & fluorocarbon leaders The braided line has no stretch, set goes into mouth, you can keep it on your reel for up to 2 years, does not have any memory, it cast longer and is very sensitive to the bite. The fluorocarbon leader also has no stretch and has less visibility. What are your future goals or aspirations? With my 7th place finish on Lake Maumelle, AR I feel pretty confident at my chances to compete in the Championship held on the Red River. I have faith in god and put it in his hands. I just go out there everyday and do the best that I can. If you have questions about Bass Fishing, techniques, the WBT, or would like to follow Janet as she finishes up the tournament season feel free to visit or contact Janet at www.janetparkerfishing.com 13

Kelly

Jordon’s Summer Tips for

Lake Fork

Story & Photos by Steve Price 14 

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

15

I

t’s nearly 7 p.m. on a June evening on Lake Fork, and for the first time since noon Kelly Jordon has put down his rod simply to watch one of his clients play what Jordon has decided will be the last bass of the day. They’ve probably caught and released 60 largemouths in the four to seven-pound range, along with several others pushing nine.

This bass seems to be pulling harder than the others, and runs behind the outboard where it suddenly decides to go airborne, and Jordon, who spent eight years guiding on Fork before devoting all his time to professional BASS and FLW tournament fishing, is stunned at what he sees. The fish, outlined perfectly in the setting sun, looks like a missile as it completely clears the water, hangs in the air for an instant, then falls back to the surface. It probably weighs 14 pounds, maybe more, and it has thrown the deep diving crankbait in its leap, but perhaps not realizing it is free, lies motionless on the water. Instantly Jordon leaps over the console with a net and nearly jumps overboard to capture the bass, but it is just out of reach; with a splash of its tail, it disappears. “You just never know,” he says ruefully, “but this much I can practically guarantee after all my years of fishing here on Lake Fork: summer fishing on this lake can provide some of the best action an angler has ever experienced, and there’s always the chance of catching a real giant.

16 

“It’s not always an easy lake to fish, but once you do find the bass, you can catch a lot of them.” Jordon’s words are echoed by most who have been on the 27,600 acre reservoir near Quitman, Alba, and Mineola. Since Fork opened to public fishing in 1980, the lake has produced at least five bass topping 17 pounds, at least that many more over 16, and dozens over 13 pounds. “Summer fishing produces a lot of those trophy fish, too,” continues Jordon, “including at least two of those 17 pounders. The weather gets hot, but the fishing can still be surprisingly good.” Summer patterns generally begin in mid-May as early postspawn bass migrate from the creeks out to deeper main lake structure. Even as this is taking place it is possible to find late spawning bass still in shallow water. From late May onward, however, summer patterns just get stronger. “The difference between early summer – mid-May and June – as compared to late summer – August and September – is the amount of hydrilla in the lake that year,” says Jordon. “Naturally, the more hydrilla present, the more bass you’ll find shallow. “The basic summer depth for bass on Fork is from 18 to about 30 feet, but you can always find some fish around the hydrilla in shallow water, although certainly not the schools you can locate offshore. If the hydrilla isn’t matted on the

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

Jordon points out. “Highway 17 crosses Big Mustang, Little Mustang, and Williams Creeks and each of those creeks has a flooded bridge. The old bridge crossing Birch Creek has produced some big fish, too. “These are all places a newcomer to Fork can find pretty quickly with a map and his electronics, and they’re excellent places to begin, and to get accustomed to deep water fishing.” In the early summer months, bass tend to be located in more areas, but as the summer progresses, the fish move tighter to cover and structure. They may be a little harder to find, but the actual schools themselves are larger. Jordon has had August days in which it may have taken five hours of hard fishing without a strike before he finally located a school of bass, and once he did, he caught fish on every cast for the next two hours. surface, you can use a 10 inch Texas rigged plastic worm, or perhaps a buzz bait or frog and catch a lot of fish. “If it is matted out over water deeper than six or seven feet, I’d use a one-ounce jig with braided line and a flipping stick and see what I could catch, but chances are, by afternoon I’d sneak out to deep water with a crankbait, swimbait, or spoon and fish structure. “Deep summer fishing on Fork is phenomenal, but you need good electronics to find not only key structure, but the fish themselves,” the Texas pro continues. “Fork has enough deep fish that you can really look for them, and if you find them and can see them, you can catch them.”

“...summer fishing on this lake can provide some of the best action an angler has ever experienced, and there’s always the chance of catching a real giant.”

The first thing Jordon suggests is studying a good Lake Fork map, because specific structure will be identified. Lake Fork has two major arms, and the larger western arm, Lake Fork Creek, has more offshore structure and more fish. The smaller eastern arm, known as the Caney Creek arm, does not offer as much offshore structure but it may have more hydrilla, so it’s worth checking, especially in one of its tributaries, Glade Creek. Whatever you do, don’t fish in the back of a creek or really in the upper third of the lake, because you’ll be missing what Lake Fork truly has to offer in the summer.

On his best summer afternoon, he and two clients caught more than 40 bass, 21 of which were over seven pounds. Half of those were over eight pounds, and six were nine pounders. This was on a popular summer spot on Fork, Green’s Point, across the lake from Lake Fork Marina. “Another way to fish Fork in the summer is by working your way out from any of the main lake points, particularly those at the mouths of larger tributaries,” notes Jordon. “This is where studying your electronics is important, because summer bass are usually close to baitfish, which can turn your entire graph screen black. If you see something like this, particularly in the 20 to 25 foot range, start fishing immediately.” Jordon has three lures he prefers for summer fishing and which over the years have accounted for much of his success on Fork. These include a Lucky Craft D-20 deep diving crankbait; a five inch Storm Wildeye Shad swimbait; and the Big Joe Spoon, the now-famous flutter spoon Jordon kept secret for several years until an ESPN television camera filmed him using one in a Bassmaster tournament. It’s made right at Lake Fork by Joe Spaits, whose tackle store, The Tackle Factory (903/765-3398), is located on Hwy. 17 between Big and Little Mustang Creeks. “Early in the summer, I think bass hit the deep diving crankbaits the best,” says Jordon, “and I fish them on 10

Two of the key things to look for initially are old pond dams as well as the original bridges that crossed the now-flooded creeks, and both are plentiful on Fork. The pond dams are now high spots, which are always good fishing areas, and on Fork many have some old timber on them; the bridges provide ideal vertical structure around and over deeper channels. “Practically every new highway bridge crossing the lake today has an old one paralleling it just 30 to 40 yards away,” Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

17

pound fluorocarbon off the main lake points and around the pond dams. I use a steady, pretty fast retrieve, and yes, I have left my share of them on stumps and logs on the bottom, but they’re still what bass seem to prefer. “Later, however, the swimbaits and spoons produce better results, and I fish them in exactly the same places I throw crankbaits. With the swimbait, I use 25 pound fluorocarbon and a flipping stick, and usually reel it pretty fast after it sinks. When a Lake Fork bass hits a swimbait, you have to set the hook like there’s no tomorrow, because it’s a big bait and it’s usually a big bass. “The Big Joe Spoon weighs about an ounce and is really a lot easier to fish than most believe. You can hop it on the bottom like a worm, only faster, you can sweep it off the bottom with your rod, or you can burn-and-kill it by reeling it fast. Generally, I combine all of these on each cast to create multiple falls, because that’s when bass hit it. If they’re going

18 

to hit a spoon, they’ll nail it within the first four or five casts, too.” Night fishing can also be excellent, as bass move into eight to 12 foot depths and readily hit big spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Here the fishing takes place in coves and off main lake points; there are enough ramps around the lake that an angler won’t have to run far through the stumps and timber in the dark to find a good fishing spot. Overall, concludes Jordon, summer fishing on Fork can be challenging because the best action will come from deeper offshore structure and it may take visiting several spots before fish are found. Once bass are located, however, Fork offers the unique opportunity not only to catch staggering numbers of quality fish, but also the chance to catch a truly big bass – which, even if it does get away like his client’s 14 pounder -- will still leave an unforgettable memory.

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

Outdoor Adventures with

Hank&Buck W

Down South Adventure

ell, the fellas spent all winter and early spring shooting, catching and eating all live things they’d previously made dead. Well, now the weather was warming up and river water was growing warm and still. After a relaxing evening of giggin frogs and cotton mouths for fun they finally decided to change the name of the game. Hank says to Buck over greasy leg o’ frog, “Hey, why don’t we head down south and visit ole cousin Ben.” Buck reflects on all of the fish that Ben claims to keep in his freezer and finishes his delicious frog leg. The boys retire dreaming of full freezers of fish.

The next morning, they awoke and decided to ring ole’ Cuz Ben. Cuz informs them that the fish are jumping in the boat down on the coast and away they went on their first adventure to the salty variety of pond water, to fill their East Texas freezers with meat. They arrive at a late hour of night and arise at the early hour of morn, prepared with a 15’ aluminum boat, a cast net and 2 rods a piece. Cuz til steers the mighty skiff, better known as a flat bottom to the boys, along the shore line until a huge school of small mullet appear. Hank and Buck had tried repeatedly to stop along the way after witnessing several keeper sized mullet that would have easily fit the net. “Why are ya passing all of these big fish tryin to catch a smaller one?” says Buck. Without missing a beat Cuz retorts, “I’m trying to catch your bait you dummies.” The boys give a shrug and a grin. Heck what does ‘ole cuz know, he’s just passing up good filets to the boys. Well eventually Cuz fills the net with bait, just about the size of your middle finger and scoots the skiff/flatbottom over to this big pile of shells. The boys bait their hooks and start making plans to fish what was later introduced to them as a reef. One hook hit the water at a time, carefully laid alongside the gunwale of the skiff/flatbottom waiting for the first chunk. Just as the first official cast was made one of the extra lines took a run to the east and Hank’s new 7.1 to 1 deep crankbait rig went overboard. Hank, being the optimum observer, dove in to swim that sucker down. Cuz shook his head and waited. Little did Hank know these reefs are put together like a hand poured concrete slab and he came up with a cut forehead to prove it. He, of course with the attitude that let the boaters know that it didn’t hurt. Buck and Cuz cut their eyes at each other and laughed in unison, “What a dummy.” They all dusted it off and continued to catch a nice stringer of fish, 2 of some that were worth keeping and 3 of a variety that were not. Mostly, because cousin Ben just couldn’t talk them out of them. I’m sure he is down south still shaking his head about the whole excursion. On the drive home Buck did all of the driving while Hank held an ice cold aluminum can to his forehead. Buck says,” Hey dummy, I think that cut on your head is growing a knot bigger than a snuff can turned sideways.” “Shut up” says Hank. And in deep thought replies “Do you remember what Uncle Foxy said about pine trees and how nothin’ could grow under’em including Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

brain cells?” Buck replies, ”Yep sure do, what’s that got to do with you, can head.” “Well,” says Hank, “Those South Texas boys ain’t growin no trees down there, wonder what’s wrong with them?” “Shut up dummy and take a drink of that ice pack,” says Buck. And the freezers were soon filled. Until next time.

et your... TEXAS

BASS FISHING Magazine

ear Now!!!

Front

Back

SIGNATURE TEXAS BASS FISHING MAGAZINE T-SHIRT Adult Sizes XXL, XL, Large Medium and Small Colors: White or Gray $15.00 plus tax & Shipping COME BY AND VISIT US DURING THE TEXAS TOYOTA CLASSIC HELD ON LAKE CONROE BASSIN BABE LOGO Pink T-Shirt Adult Sizes XL, Large Medium and Small $15.00 plus tax & Shipping

GET A FREE TEXAS BASS FISHING MAGAZINE KOOZIE AND DECAL WITH EVERY ORDER!

Call to Order Yours Today!

936.588.4500

19

2009 TOURNAMENT TRAIL WWW.BASSCHAMPS.COM

2009 EAST REGION, STANDINGS THROUGH JUNE13, 2009 PLACE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ANGLER 1

MIKE MICHALEC GREG MCDONALD HAROLD ALLEN KEITH CAKA GREG PUGH NATHAN STROUP BILL ROGERS STEVEN MOORHEAD DOUG MCCAIN BILL WILCOX

ANGLER 2

SAM RAYBURN 1

S.R. 2

S.R. 3

TOLEDO BEND

S,R. 4

TOTAL PTS

DAVID OZIO GARY MCDONALD ALBERT COLLINS CHARLES BEBBER BILL DOMINQUE ERIC ADAMS BRIAN BRANUM JOE MOSS MASON MCCAIN GREG CHRISTIAN

275 258 244 282 278 278 197 268 276 281

254 235 230 143 220 248 205 236 217 206

197 169 213 207 210 181 224 160 106 199

173 176 156 189 171 144 155 135 190 142

177 155 142 159 95 103 161 124 132 91

1076 993 985 980 974 954 942 923 921 919

2009 CENTRAL REGION, STANDINGS THROUGH JUNE 6, 2009 PLACE 1 2 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ANGLER 1

ANGLER 2

TREVOR ROMANS MATT HILL JEFF PITRUCHA RANDY GROUNDS DEAN ALEXANDER LOWELL BENNETT TERRY KIRCUS RONNY MAYNARD LEE BEUERSHAUSEN LUCAS LARSON

LESLIE KENNEDY TREY WEBB SCOTT DYER RANDALL MAXWELL ERIC CRUMLEY CHARLES REAGAN JASON BUCHANAN EDDY MAYNARD LANCE DILLARD BILL RULE

LK TRAVIS 1 203 216 212 177 201 206 177 214 171 211

LK BELTON 1 240 217 252 153 231 236 249 254 213 215

196 200 182 198 103 209 198 120 202 174

LK LBJ LK BELTON 2 TOTAL PTS 226 203 204 243 236 116 213 192 129 167

178 130 116 180 174 161 78 124 179 120

1043 966 966 951 945 928 915 904 894 887

Father & Son Team Of Flint & Danny Fisher Won 1st Place And Over $20,000 Topping A Field Of 189 Teams.

2009 NORTH REGION, STANDINGS THROUGH MAY 30, 2009 PLACE

ANGLER 1

ANGLER 2

1 2 3 4 4 6 7 8 9 10

LESLIE KENNEDY SCOTTY WENZEL SHONN BLASSINGAME TOMMY CLIMER JR JAMES LOWE LANDAN WARE JAMES REEDY VINCENT NEAL CHARLIE YOWELL DANIEL STEWART

TREVOR ROMANS ROBERT CASE JR SHANE ELMORE TONY CLIMER RUSSELL LEE MICHAEL SWALLOW BOBBY BOYD KYLE ROWE DON HEINE JD YARBROUGH

RICHLND CHMBRS CEDAR CRK LK FORK LK LEWISVILLE TOTAL PTS 181 180 176 167 145 154 175 109 123 141

157 176 158 175 160 150 172 171 165 177

178 180 162 153 189 185 125 196 148 174

166 130 150 145 146 149 165 131 163 97

682 666 646 640 640 638 637 607 599 589

2009 SOUTH REGION, STANDINGS THROUGH MAY 16, 2009 PLACE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

ANGLER 1

DERICK KUYRKENDALL RAY HANSELMAN LEE BEUERSHAUSEN JAIME BUITRON MIKE BATES LEE LEONARD CODY MARTIN RENE MEZA BILLY HOPKINS ALLEN SHELTON

ANGLER 2

LK AMISTAD1 AMISTAD2

FORREST WILSON JEFFREY PIEL CHARLES WHITED TERRY OLDHAM TYE HEINEMAN SCOTT BRONDER CHARLES SIMMONS JOSE JIMENEZ JACK HOPKINS JOHN MCCALMONT

197 160 130 183 174 174 190 200 172 175

141 189 180 203 200 192 191 168 174 172

CHOKE CNYN1

LK FALCON

207 195 187 135 204 202 196 165 177 156

146 141 174 160 144 124 127 140 178 137

CHOKE CNYN2 TTL PTS 170 171 180 163 116 132 108 136 107 167

861 856 851 844 838 824 812 809 808 807

2009 SUMMER TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE NORTH REGION TOURN. DATE LAKE LOCATION 20 

NORTH # 5 JUNE 27 TAWAKONI HOLIDAY MARINA Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

2009 TOURNAMENT TRAIL WWW.FISHINGWORLD.COM/BASSNBUCKS

1ST SERIES EAST TEXAS TEAM CIRCUIT, SAM RAYBURN - MAY 30, 2008 ANGLERS / HOMETOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

ELLIOTT, PETE WELLS, JASON MCDONALD, GARY LITTLETON, TODD VAUGHAN, BEN JOHNSTON, STEPHEN SHAW, SHELBY THORNTON, GENE DESPINO, JON LAKE, KENNETH BREWER, BILLY DICKERSON, TOMMY ELLIS, PETE LIVINGSTON, RAY STANFORD, BO HAMMACK, CHARLIE WLECZYK, KENDALL BEBBER, CHARLES BAKER, GARY

CHERRY, DANNY COOPER, VIC CRELIA, PHILIP CHAMBERS, DANIEL LATHAM, MICHAEL ILES, DANNY SCHULTEA, CHRIS HOWARD, TOMMY DESPINO, RANDY WEADE, MIKE ALLEN, RANDY BURNS, JUSTIN DANIEL, SANDY GRANT, LYLE SANDERS, BILL ROZELL, JIM GARRIE, JOHNATHAN CAKA, KEITH DEW, JASON

FISH

BIG BASS

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

9.54 6.04

6.86 6.05 6.74 6.37

6.29 6.09

9.05

WEIGHT

WINNINGS

24.95 $15,000+$1,000+$2,500 BIG BASS + RANGER CUP 22.61 $2,500 20.95 $1,500 20.76 $1,200 19.28 $1,000 18.87 $1,000+$1,000 RANGER CUP 17.79 $1,000 17.46 $800 17.32 $800 16.91 $700 16.72 $700 16.62 $600+$500 RANGER CUP 16.53 $600 16.33 $600 16.16 $600 15.94 $600 15.83 $500 15.71 $500 15.69 $500

2009 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE 2ND SERIES, EAST TEXAS TEAM CIRCUIT DATE LAKE / LOCATION 06/20

TOLEDO BEND/CYPRESS BEND PARK

08/08

SAM RAYBURN/UMPHREY FAMILY PAVILION

CONROE SERIES, EAST TEXAS TEAM CIRCUIT DATE LAKE / LOCATION 06/20

LAKE CONROE/APRIL PLAZA

08/08

LAKE CONROE/APRIL PLAZA

2009 TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP SEPTEMBER 19TH & 20TH LAKE SAM RAYBURN

1ST SERIES EAST TEXAS TEAM CIRCUIT, SAM RAYBURN - APRIL 4, 2008 ANGLERS / HOMETOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

BROUSSARD, BRENT REED, TROY ROGERS, BILL SHAW, SHELBY JEANE, GEORGE JR LOWERY, MICHAEL GREER, STUART WOOLEMS, MARC WILSON, KRIS HUFF, CASEY HARVEY, RUSTY MILLENDER, RANDY GARRETT, COLE CHRISTIAN, GREG MOORHEAD, STEVEN HILTON, SHANE CHAMBLESS, CLINT SKWERES, BILLY SANDERSON, KEVIN WILLIAMS, SHANE TURNER, RANDY

CASTLEDINE, TODD COLLINS, ALBERT BRANUM, BRIAN SCHULTEA, CHRIS BRITTAIN, JERRY LOWERY, LANCE NETTERVILLE, STEELE HOLLIS, BUTCH HARVEY, DAVID HUFF, CASEY II HARVEY, CHRIS NICHOLS, KENNETH CARPENTER, BRENT WILCOX, BILL HANKS, JASON BECK, RAY HARRISON, JAMES NEWBERRY, DICKY SANDERSON, CLARENCE LITTLETON, DONALD MCMILLEN, JERRY

FISH 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

BIG BASS 7.97 8.45 6.22 5.92

8.50

WEIGHT 22.65 21.81 21.22 20.52 18.70 17.33 17.02 16.99 16.75 16.09 16.07 16.05 15.83 15.78 15.46 15.36 15.31 15.30 14.93 14.70 14.65

WINNINGS $15K ,$2,500 RANGERCUP+$1,000 TIREMAX BNS $3,000 $1,500 + $1,000 RANGER CUP $1,200 $1,000 + $500 RANGER CUP $1,000 $1,000 $900 $800 $800 $700 $700 $700 $700 + $1,000BIG BASS $650 $600 $600 $600 $500 $500 $500

SAM RAYBURN/UMPHREY FAMILY PAVILION

07/11

CIRCUIT TOURNAMENT POINT STANDINGS 1ST SERIES - FIVE TEAM TOURNAMENTS FINAL STANDINGS JUNE 2009 ANGLERS

TOTAL

1

JOHNSTON, STEPHEN & ILES, DANNY ......................1222.16 Anglers of the Year - CONGRATULATIONS!

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

HARVEY, DAVID & WILSON, KRIS..............................1211.13 SCHULTEA, CHRIS & SHAW, SHELBY.........................1210.92 MOORHEAD, JASON & MOSS, JOE ............................1171.22 HENNIGAN, PHIL & BARRERAZ, BOBBY ...................1154.66 WEST, CLINT & WEST, CLAY ......................................1149.62 MILLENDER, RANDY & NICHOLS, KENNETH .............1127.04 LOWERY, MICHAEL & LOWERY, LANCE .....................1120.98 MOORHEAD, STEVEN & HANKS, JASON ...................1118.03 NEWBERRY, DICKY & SKWERES, BILLY .....................1102.05

2009 CONROE SERIES, LK CONROE - MARCH 28, 2009 ANGLERS / HOMETOWN 1 REYES, JASON 2 WAGNER, RONNIE 3 SEWELL, BRIAN 4 DORMAN, BRIAN 5 ADDISON, PHIL 6 WISDOM, DAVID 7 HALL, KEITH 8 BROWN, BOB 9 REICH, TERRY 10 BANEY, ROBERT 11 THORNTON, JOHN

MURRAY, JEREMY LUEDKE, TREA SEWELL, CHIP HARPER, JASON MURRAY, TONY MYERS, JOHNNY HALL, DAVID SMITH, BILLY THIERRY, ROBERT PARSONS, MIKE TULLIS, MARK

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

FISH

BIG BASS

WEIGHT

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4

7.82

25.29 20.95 20.59 19.07 17.70 17.36 17.19 16.96 16.77 16.76 16.53

9.32

WINNINGS $3K+$2,500+$1K RANGER CUP & TIREMAX BNS $1,500 + $1,000 RANGER CUP $1,100 $1,000 $900 $600 $500 $500 R & R MARINE Gift Certificates $500 + $500 BIG BASS & RANGER CUP 21

2009 TOURNAMENT TRAIL TOYOTA TUNDRA BASSMASTER WEEKEND SERIES

WWW.AMERICANBASSANGLERS.COM

2009 ABA WEEKEND SERIES, EAST TEXAS - CEDAR CREEK - APRIL 18, 2009 BOATER

ANGLERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Russell Lee Jeffrey Stevens Stan Lawing Trent Menees Scott Dean Brad Morris Bill Ferguson Jeffrey Lewis William Isaacs Shane Gibson

CO ANGLER

HOMETOWN XEnnis TX Flower Mound TX Terrell TX Saginaw TX Terrell TX Flint TX Rowlett TX Weatherford TX Ladonia TX Kilgore TX

WEIGHT 21.16 17.02 14.81 11.94 11.83 11.68 10.81 10.72 10.15 9.96

WINNINGS $5,270 $1,251 $834 $584 $500 $459 $417 $375 $334 $250

ANGLERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

HOMETOWN

Albin Pustejovsky Keith Bryan Tracy Hawkins Mitch Hawkins Chris Douglas Kelly Ferguson Gilbert Herald Nathan Lintner Michael Johnson Christopher Stewart

Malokoff TX Decatur TX Forney TX Forney TX Wills Point TX Royce TX Pittsburgh TX Lewisville TX Lewisville TX Weatherford TX

WEIGHT 12.17 9.9 10.15 8.96 8.62 7.58 6.27 5.11 4.83 4.58

WINNINGS $1,150 $575 $383 $388 $230 $211 $192 $173 $153 $0

2009 ABA WEEKEND SERIES, EAST TEXAS- RICHLAND CHAMBERS - MARCH 21, 2009 BOATER

ANGLERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Russell Lee Brad Morris David Murphey Joe Moss David Gillham Dalton Pratt Chris Nors Michael Petrovic Jeffrey Stevens Jerry Oden

CO ANGLER

HOMETOWN Ennis TX Flint TX Frankston TX Palestine TX Heath TX Terrell TX West TX Arlington TX Flower Mound TX Bullard TX

WEIGHT 19.92 17.11 16.53 16.23 15.79 14.75 14.15 13.42 12.69 11.62

WINNINGS $5,000 $1,234 $823 $576 $769 $453 $411 $370 $329 $247

ANGLERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

HOMETOWN

Mitch Hawkins Guy Morse Jeffrey Everidge Chris Douglas Kelly Ferguson Lesli Lively Scottie Owen Oscar Galindo Bucky Baker Christopher Stewart

Forney TX Cleburne TX Alvaredo TX Wills Point TX Royce TX Grapeland TX Hamilton TX Fort Worth TX Willspoint TX Weatherford TX

WEIGHT 15.02 8.84 8.31 8.07 7.84 7.77 7.45 7.36 6.94 6.7

WINNINGS $1,234 $617 $411 $288 $247 $226 $206 $185 $165 $261

2009 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE EAST TEXAS LOCATION DATE LAKE

EAST TEXAS SEPTEMBER 19 - 20, 2009 LAKE O’ THE PINES

SOUTHEAST TEXAS LOCATION DATE LAKE

SOUTHEAST TEXAS SEPTEMBER 12 - 13, 2009 SAM RAYBURN

2009 ABA WEEKEND SERIES S.E. TEXAS - TOLEDO BEND - MAY 31, 2009 ANGLERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Glen Freeman Todd Driscoll Ryan Pinkston Stanley Burgay Wayne Ebarb Kevin Lasyone Ed Grisham Randy Despino Andrew Upshaw William Cook

CO ANGLER

HOMETOWN Converse LA Jasper TX Center TX Tempson TX Many LA Dry Prong LA Katy TX Colfax LA Hemphill TX Houston TX

WEIGHT 18.9 19.27 18.37 17.72 17.62 17.17 16.41 15.24 15.61 13.21

WINNINGS $5,000 $1,728 $932 $653 $559 $513 $466 $420 $373 $280

ANGLERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

HOMETOWN

Robert Kell Dan Self C. David Mong Larry Upshaw Jacob Heath Sammy Procell Sandy Jeane Robert MIKE Gray Larry Weppler Andy Vote

Point Blank TX Nacgdoches TX Morgan City LA Hemphill TX The Woodlands TX Zwolle LA Hardin TX Conroe TX Houston TX Kingwood TX

6/:3-+7
+;;
715/:;
7-


BOATER

WEIGHT 7.15 7.07 6.58 6.49 5.99 5.89 5.75 5.61 5.48 5.33

WINNINGS $1,394 $697 $465 $325 $279 $256 $232 $209 $186 $139

2009 ABA WEEKEND SERIES, S.E. TEXAS - SAM RAYBURN - MARCH 15, 2009 ANGLERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 22 

Todd Driscoll Ray Beck J. Ken Smith Randy Despino Billy Cline Terry Helgeson James Talbot Ricky Campbell Galen Bennett Roy Sanford

CO ANGLER

HOMETOWN Jasper TX Beaumont TX Richardson TX Colfax LA Grapevine TX Leesville LA Beaumont TX Waxahachie TX Slagle LAW Brookeland TX

WEIGHT 20.99 19.93 18.72 16.48 15.11 14.59 14.5 13.88 13.69 13.6

WINNINGS $5,000 $1,936 $1,034 $724 $620 $569 $517 $465 $414 $310

ANGLERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

HOMETOWN

Andy Vote Michael Mayo John TRAVIS Merritt Neil Ward Jr Anthony Phillip Clint Poole John Stinnett Sandy Jeane Larry Weppler Dan Self

Kingwood TX Jasper TX Iowa LA Brookland TX Spring TX Nacogdoches TX Huntsville TX Hardin TX Houston TX Nacgdoches TX

"!
8@

<2/7;



BOATER

WEIGHT 11.83 10.49 9.61 8.85 8.73 8.22 8.07 7.58 7.56 7.47

WINNINGS $1,744 $776 $517 $362 $310 $284 $259 $233 $207 $155 Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

2009 TOURNAMENT TRAIL WWW. FLWOUTDOORS.COM

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

ANGLERS

HOMETOWN

JIM MILSON RUSSELL CECIL STEPHEN JOHNSTON KEVIN LASYONE MICHAEL HERRON RAY HANSELMAN JIM TUTT CHRISTOPHER BRASHER ROBERT COLLETT WAYLON BULLARD ROGER HARP JOE DON SETINA THERON CALDWELL LENDELL MARTIN JR DICKY NEWBERRY TIM RENEAU BILLY FILLMON GLENN ERSKINE CHRIS RUSSELL DANIEL STOKES JAMES STRICKLIN JR THANH LE PAUL FERGUSON JIM CRISWELL RONNIE BICKHAM CRAIG MOORE CHARLES SIMMONS CHRIS MCCALL ROB BURNS DOUGLAS JONES JEREMY GUIDRY JACK SANANIKONE SHANNAN MOSELEY PETER DANIELS JIM GUZMAN CHARLES HARALSON TERRY ROSE GREG GLEASON JIMMY STEED BUZ CRAFT RICK CARTER GARRY STEINER KEITH COMBS ALBERT HUDSON LUPE GARCIA RANDY WHITE GILBERT HERALD

ODESSA, TX WILLIS, TX HEMPHILL, TX DRY PRONG, LA PARIS, TX DEL RIO, TX LONGVIEW, TX SPRING, TX ZAPATA, TX DEL RIO, TX HUNTSVILLE, AR PITTSBURG, TX COLLEYVILLE, TX NACOGDOCHES, TX HOUSTON, TX DEL RIO, TX DEL RIO, TX SAN ANTONIO, TX MONTGOMERY, TX CYPRESS, TX JASPER, TX LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ WHITEHOUSE, TX DEL RIO, TX NEW BOSTON, TX MONAHANS, TX WACO, TX JASPER, TX PLANO, TX FORT GIBSON, OK OPELOUSAS, LA HURST, TX LOWELL, AR SHREVEPORT, LA COLDSPRING, TX LAREDO, TX EASTLAND, TX HOUMA, LA LAREDO, TX VIDALIA, LA ALBA, TX OCHELATA, OK DEL RIO, TX AUSTIN, TX SPRINGDALE, AR HASLET, TX PITTSBURG, TX

FISH

WEIGHT

WINNINGS

15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 11

52-02 49-13 46-12 46-08 45-09 45-04 41-08 39-09 38-08 32-03

$23,865 $9,546 $7,637 $6,682 $5,728 $5,250 $4,773 $4,296 $3,818 $3,341 $2,864 $2,864 $2,864 $2,864 $2,864 $2,387 $2,387 $2,387 $2,387 $2,387 $1,909 $1,909 $1,909 $1,909 $1,909 $1,432 $1,432 $1,432 $1,432 $1,432 $1,193 $1,193 $1,193 $1,193 $1,193 $1,193 $1,193 $1,193 $1,193 $1,193 $955 $955 $955 $955 $955 $955 $955

BIG BASS AWARD - PROFESSIONAL ANGLERS / HOMETOWN BUZ CRAFT WAYLON BULLARD

DAY 1 2

WEIGHT 7-14 7-00

WINNINGS $420 $420

BIG BASS AWARD - CO-ANGLER ANGLERS / HOMETOWN MIKE POWER CHRIS HULTS

DAY 1 2

WEIGHT 7-12 9-10

WINNINGS $210 $210

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

Photo by Vince Meyer

2009 STREN SERIES, LAKE AMISTAD, DEL RIO - MAY 21, 2009

After a long winless stretch, Jim Milson is back on top of the bass fishing world. The Odessa, Texas pro won the Stren Series Texas Division tournament on Lake Amistad with 52 pounds, 2 ounces.

2009 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE 2009 STREN SERIES, UPCOMING EVENTS TOLEDO BEND CYPRESS BEND PARK MANY, LA OCTOBER 15TH - 17TH, 2009

2009 TEXAS STANDINGS STREN SERIES, THROUGH MAY 21, 2009 NAME 1 STEPHEN JOHNSTON 2 JOE DON SETINA 3 RAY HANSELMAN 4 CHRISTOPHER BRASHER 5 CRAIG MOORE 6 ROBERT COLLETT 7 DICKY NEWBERRY 8 KEITH COMBS 9 JIM TUTT 10 JEREMY GUIDRY

CITY/STATE POINTS HEMPHILL, TX 575 PITTSBURG, TX 568 DEL RIO, TX 548 SPRING, TX 542 MONAHANS, TX 539 ZAPATA, TX 538 HOUSTON, TX 535 DEL RIO, TX 535 LONGVIEW, TX 524 OPELOUSAS, LA 515

WINNINGS $17,637 $69,864 $11,750 $8,546 $6,432 $6,818 $8,364 $6,955 $7,773 $4,443 23

2009 TOURNAMENT TRAIL WWW.COLLEGEFISHING.COM

2009 COLLEGE SERIES, LAKE AMISTAD - DEL RIO, TX- MAY 23, 2009 COLLEGE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ANGELO STATE LAMAR UNIVERSITY TARLETON STATE TEXAS TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY STEPHEN F. AUSTIN BAYLOR UNIVERSITY TEXAS A&M TEXAS A&M LSU SHREVEPORT LAMAR UNIVERSITY TEXAS A&M AT GALVESTON UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA TARLETON STATE TEXAS LSU SHREVEPORT TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI LAMAR UNIVERSITY TEXAS A&M LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY LSU UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS UT ARLINGTON

TEAM NAME JAY MCCOLLUM & DAVID COSNER TAYLOR SULLIVAN & GUILLERMO BENAVIDES JOSH SEALE & AUSTIN ADCOCK MATT MORRISON & DANNY ILES JOHN ANDERSON & TANNER MORGAN RYAN DUPRIEST & DUSTIN PERRY RYAN WATKINS & ALLEN COLEMAN JAY HOLLAND & ANDREW MCADAMS TYLER JAMES & WESTON BROWN PAUL MANLEY & ANDREW SHAFER WILLIAM MOORE & ANDREW HARMESON AARON MALEK & AUSTIN MALEK ANDREW SCHWEITZER & CAMERON HELM PAUL MUZLJAKOVICH & BRIAN SNELLEN STEPHEN CAMPBELL & JAMES BLAND ZACH CAUDLE & JOE LANDRY JACOB HEATH & KENNEDY SCHWARTZBURG JEFF ASHEN & TROY LUCE RYAN BADDERS & KRISTOPHER LUENSMANN JAROD BRANTLEY & TODD CASTLEBERRY DEVIN VALENTA & RYLAN STEPHENS WILLIAM POWELL & JEREMY BERSCHE LANDON WHITE & NICHOLAS DALTON STEVEN HOLLOWELL & BRANDON DICKENSON BRYAN LEWIS & RICHARD PINEAU

FISH

WT

COLL

BASS CLUB

6 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 4 4 6 5 4 6 6 6 6 5 4 4 2 5 3 4

16-10 16-01 15-12 13-09 13-03 12-15 12-14 12-03 11-15 11-01 10-15 10-09 10-09 10-01 9-12 9-11 9-10 8-15 8-09 7-05 7-00 6-14 6-12 6-09 6-07

$5,000 $2,500 $2,000 $1,500 $1,000

$5,000 $2,500 $2,000 $1,500 $1,000

2009 COLLEGE SERIES, SAM RAYBURN RES. - JASPER, TX- MARCH 21, 2009 COLLEGE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

24 

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY LSU SHREVEPORT LAMAR UNIVERSITY TEXAS A&M ANGELO STATE TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI LSU HEALTH SCIENCES TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY BAYLOR UNIVERSITY TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY TEXAS A&M CENTRAL OKLAHOMA ANGELO STATE LSU SHREVEPORT LSU TARLETON STATE TEXAS LAMAR UNIVERSITY SAM HOUSTON STATE LSU UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS LSU HEALTH SCIENCES STEPHEN F. AUSTIN TEXAS A&M OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

TEAM NAME WILLIAM POWELL & JEREMY BERSCHE ZACH CAUDLE & JOE LANDRY MATT MORRISON & DANNY ILES TYLER JAMES & WESTON BROWN JOSH SEALE & AUSTIN ADCOCK JACOB HEATH & KENNEDY SCHWARTZBURG JUDE TAULLIE & MATT WILLIAMS JACOB KINARD & RICHARD WILSON JAY HOLLAND & ANDREW MCADAMS SEAN KUBIAK & CHRISTOPHER LOCHTE PAUL MANLEY & ANDREW SHAFER DUSTIN EDWARDS & DAVID STINE AUDWIN HALL & WES SMITH WILLIAM MOORE & ANDREW HARMESON MATTHEW SONGY & ZACH HERRINGTON JOHN ANDERSON & TANNER MORGAN JUSTIN KIRKPATRICK & JOSH KIRKPATRICK KEVIN BURKE & CLINT NOWELL TRAVIS LAURENT & TJ GOODWYN STEVEN HOLLOWELL & BRANDON DICKENSON YOSUKE TOMA & CODY ARMSTRONG HUNTER LOUVIERE & STEVEN STEWART RYAN WATKINS & ALLEN COLEMAN RYAN BADDERS & KRISTOPHER LUENSMANN DEVIN VALENTA & RYLAN STEPHENS

FISH

WT

COLL

BASS CLUB

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 3 6 6 4 6 6 5 4 4 6 4 6 4 4

18-09 17-15 17-09 16-03 15-10 15-07 14-01 14-01 13-15 13-03 13-00 7-04 12-07 12-06 11-07 11-00 10-14 9-15 9-12 9-10 9-09 9-03 8-14 8-13 7-11

$5,000 $2,500 $2,000 $1,500 $1,000

$5,000 $2,500 $2,000 $1,500 $1,000

The Texas State University team of David Cosner of Austin, Texas, and Jay McCollum of San Marcos, Texas, took top honors at the FLW College Fishing event at Lake Amistad.

William Powell and Jeremy Bersche, representing their Oklahoma State University collegiate bassfishing club, took first place in the National Guard FLW College Fishing event at Sam Rayburn Reservoir with six bass weighing 18 pounds, 9 ounces. For the win, they earned $10,000 in scholarship money for their club and the university. (Photo by Kevin Hunt)

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

BASS ANGLER’S CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY GUIDE SERVICES

MARINAS-LODGES-CAMPING POWELL PARK MARINA

Falcon Lake Guide Service Dan Schoonveld • Professional Bass Angler • Licensed & Insured • Over 15 years experience

Member of FLW

Half or Full Day Trips [email protected] Phone: (318) 305-8571

MARINAS-LODGES-CAMPING MUSTANG RESORT - LAKE FORK

#OUNTY2OADs!LBA 48 0HONEsWWWMUSTANGRESORTCOM -OTEL "OAT3TALLS 260ARK 'UIDE3ERVICE

Tell them you saw their AD in TEXAS BASS FISHING MAGAZINE!! Call 936.588.4500 for Advertising Rates!! Lake Palestine Resort Tyler, Texas

Bass Buster Inn Lake Sam Rayburn

15 Miles North of Jasper, TX

Phone: 409.698.3002

www.bassbusterinn.com

April Plaza Marina, Inc. 10 1/2 Miles West of Conroe on Hwy 105

LAKE CONROE 17742 Hwy 105 W Montgomery, TX 77356 Phone: 936.588.1144 www.aprilplaza.com

THE MINNOW BUCKET MARINA Lodge-Motel-RV Park-Resturant

Lake Fork Reservoir 3035 W. Hwy 154 Quitman, TX 75783

www.minnowbucket marina.com !NNUAL263ITESs"AIT4ACKLE 'ROCERIESs2EFUELING$OCK s#AMPINGs"OAT2AMPS

8900 Ruby Lane Frankston, TX 75763 Phone: 903.876.2253

www.lakepalestineresort.com

Pope’s Landing Marina & Motel 195 Private Road 5551 Alba, Texas 75410 Office: 903.765.2385 www.popeslandingmarina.com

LAKESIDE RV RESORT & MARINA Lake Livingston 15152 US Hwy 190 W Onalaska, TX 77360

RV Reservations: 936.646.3824 Resturant: 936.646.4734 www.lakesideresort.net

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

On Lake Sam Rayburn 971 CR 459 Broaddus, TX 75929 Marina: 409.584.2624 www.powellpark.com Shaded RV Sites - Cabins Boat Slips - Camping Restaurant - Store

Lake Fork Marina & Motel 275 County Road 1558 Alba, TX 75410 Phone: 903.765.2764 www.lakeforkmarina.com

LAKEVIEW MARINA LAKE CONROE

Boat Storage - RV Park Full Service Marina Store

880 Beachwalk Blvd. Conroe, TX 77304 Phone: 936.588.3190 www.lakeview-marina.com

Barefoot Bay Marina and Family Park Lake Bob Sandlin

&-s0ITTSBURG 48s0HONE

SAM RAYBURN MARINA RESORT Lake Sam Rayburn, TX

Phone: 409.698.2696 www.samrayburnmarinaresort.com

>Lˆ˜ÃÊUÊ,6Ê-ˆÌiÃÊUÊ œ>ÌÊ-ˆ«ÃÊUʈň˜}Ê œVŽÊUÊœÌi 25

BASS ANGLER’S CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY MARINAS-LODGES-CAMPING

Lake Fork Resort Located 1/2 Mile South of Hwy 515 on Hwy 17 5004 North FM 17 Alba, Texas 75410 Phone: 903.765.2987 Toll Free: 800.230.4367

WATERFRONT LODGE Marina & RV

LAKE LIVINGSTON 317 Navaho Trail Onalaska, TX 77360 Office: 936.646.3525 www.thewaterfrontlodge.com

Fisherman’s Cove Marina Resort .&-s!LBA 48 0HONEs,AKE&ORK

Choke Canyon Lodge

www.chokecanyonlodge.com

Oakridge Resort and Marina “Eat, Sleep, Fish” Lake Fork

PHONE: 903.968.3183

Tackle, Live Bait, Guide Service, Motor & Trailer Repair

Wall to Wall Tackle Lake Fork 5190 FM 17 N Alba, TX

2425 S. Hwy 83 Zapata, TX 78076 Phone: 956.756.1442 Falcon Lake

Phone: 903.765.2100

NEEDMORE

Falcon Lake Tackle

2195 South Highway 83 Box F-10 4239 Hwy 255 Zapata, TX 78076 Sam Rayburn, TX 75951 Phone: 956.765.4866 Phone: 409.698.9430 www.falconlaketackle.com The source for fishing tackle, supplies www.falconlake.com www.needmoretacklestore.com

141 Jeff Street (Corner of Jeff Street & SH 72) Three Rivers, TX 78071 0HONEs4OLL&REE

16851 ST. HWY 155 N ORE CITY, TX 75683

Robert’s Fish N’ Tackle

TACKLE STORE

www.fishermanscovelakefork.com

DISHMAN’S 155 MARINA

TACKLE/BAIT

2919 W SH 154 Quitman, TX 75783 LAKEFORK, TEXAS 903-878-2529 www.oakridgemarina.com

& info on Lake Sam Rayburn!

Snappy Pappy’s The Calliham Store 2550 FM 21 [email protected] Pittsburg, TX 75686 Choke Canyon Phone: 903.572.6956 Phone: 361.786.2685 Toll Free: 888.572.6956 FOOD &OODs&ISHING3UPPLIES - FISHING SUPPLIES - RV PARK www.snappy-pappys. s260ARK [email protected] com TX 75686 2550 FM21, Pittsburg, P.O. Box 846 903.572.6956 • Junction, TX 76849 1.888.572.6956 Phone: 361.786.2685 www.snappy-pappys.com

RESTAURANTS

MOSER’S RESTAURANT at Lake Fork Marina #2s!LBA 4EXAS Phone: 903.765.2087

Classifieds: 936.588.4500 www.txbassmag.com 26 

Hwy. 255 Piney Point Plaza

Lake Sam Rayburn • 409.698.9495 Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009

Texas Owned Texas Brewed in Conroe Texas Ask for

Southern Star at

local retailers!

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009 your

1207 N. FM 3083 Rd. E, Conroe, Texas 77303 www.southernstarbrewing.com (936) 441-BREW | (936) 441-2739 27

28 

Texas Bass Fishing Magazine | Summer 2009