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Texas State Bass Tournament
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Individual Division runner-up, Dr. William B. Shelton, Jr., checks in with his 8.91 pound stringer.
Photo by Sam Scroggins |
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Team Division Champions Leonard Watson and Wendell Bond weigh their Sunday catch.
Photo by Sam Scroggins |
(May. 07, 2004 - Toledo Bend, TX)... Thunderstorms and heavy rains, followed by blue-bird skies and strong winds made fishing very difficult for anglers participating in the 49th Annual Texas State Bass Tournament held on Toledo Bend Reservoir on May 1 & 2, 2004. The State Bass Tournament, founded in 1955 by Waco sportswriter Earl Golding, has a prominent reputation as an annual convention of fishing friends as well as a great competitive fishing contest. Open statewide to both amateur and professional anglers, it has never offered prize money to the winners. Instead it provides trophies and a full year’s bragging rights as "State Champion" in its various Divisions. With the wild weather encountered throughout the weekend, the 2004 State Champions and other top finishers truly earned their rewards in this "mother of all bass tournaments".
While many stayed on the bank to avoid the frequent barrages of lightning, a few anglers tricked enough fish on Saturday to make the tournament interesting. At the end of the first day of competition, narrow leads were held by Paul Stringer (Lufkin) in the Individual Division, Gary Baldwin (Longview) and Mike McBurney (Jupiter, FL) in the Team Division, and Gene and Ronna Winchester (Spring) in the Couples Division. Mike and Mathew Davis (Katy) took the lead in the Adult/Boy Division, and Earl and Samantha Zickefoose (Harkin) led the Adult/Girl Division. While most of the fish were caught with spinner-baits around the brush, Don Jones (Whitehouse) and Norman Terry (Jacksonville) developed a substantial advantage in the Senior Team Division by tossing scum frogs into the shallow grass.
During the final day of competition on Sunday, most anglers welcomed the sunny skies, but harsh winds made the overall fishing conditions only marginally better. At the end of the day, the lead had changed in several Divisions with Leonard Watson (Fort Worth) and Wendell Bond (Burleson) capturing the State Champion’s crown in the Team Division with a two-day total of 26.39 pounds. Leonard and Wendell also claimed the Tournament’s Team Division Championship in 1991 and 2002. Close behind were the 2003 Team Division State Champions, Billy Keener (Winnsboro) and Darren Keener (Mayflower, AR). Gary Baldwin and Mike McBurney fell to third.
Eddie Montgomery (Burleson) pulled ahead of the pack in the Individual Division to claim the State Championship title with 16.70 pounds. Dr. William B. Shelton (Lufkin) the 2002 Individual Division State Champion took home 2nd place and the first day leader, Paul Stringer took third.
Mark and Dustin Jenkins (Lufkin) became State Champions of the Adult/Boy Division. First day leaders, Mike and Mathew Davis slipped to second by a very small margin, and the 2002 State Champions, Mark and Katelyn Eberlan (Lufkin) took third.
In the highly competitive Couples Division, Gene and Ronna Winchester held on to take the Championship. William and Anna Polster (Riesel), the 1989 Couples Division State Champions and 2003 runners-up finished in second place and first time participants, Sammy and Retha Peace (Carthage) took third.
Don Jones and Norman Terry held their ground to take the State Championship in the Senior Team Division for the second time. They also won the title on Sam Rayburn in 1999. They were followed at a distant second by Norman Fitzjarrold (Zwolle) and Clarence Steward (Haltom City). Third place was taken by Lonnie Fuller (Hemphill) and Eddie Toole (Hemphill).
Big Bass honors belonged to Leonard Watson of Ft. Worth with a healthy 5.92 pounder. The largest bass caught by a youth was a solid 3.41 pounder landed by Mathew Davis of Katy. The General Motors Bass Club of Arlington took the bass club "Top Five" trophy for the fourth consecutive year.
In other activities, Gary Barcroft of Emory, Jim Poole of New Braunfels, and Jimmy Murray (deceased) of Falcon Heights were inducted into the Texas State Bass Tournament Hall-of-Fame, bringing the total number of inductees to 41.
The event was headquartered at Frontier Park Marina. Sponsors were Strike King Lure Company, Nitro Boats, Waypoint Marine of San Marcos & Austin, and The Sabine County Chamber of Commerce. Frontier Park and the Super 8 Motel provided Lodging and workspaces for the tournament.
The top finishers in each Division follow.
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Couples Division Champions Ronna and Gene Winchester show off one of their winning fish.
Photo by Sam Scroggins | | [Click to enlarge image]
Team Division contestants Lisa Rabe (left) and Sue Langley (right) prepare for weigh-in.
Photo by Sam Scroggins |
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