(Apr. 23, 2005 - Sam Rayburn Reservoir, TX)... It all began in 1955 when Earl Golding was a young outdoors writer for the Waco Tribune-Herald and Lake Whitney was a new lake, just impounded in 1951. For several months Earl kept hearing arguments around central Texas about who was catching the most fish from this new big lake. Earl decided there was only one way to settle this, so he went to his editor and suggested a competition to see who was really entitled to "the best fisherman" claim. With his editor’s blessing, Earl invited 75 teams from across the state to take part in this unique bass fishing competition. A month later, 73 teams showed up for the one-day event, the Central Texas Invitational on Lake Whitney, and "tournament bass fishing" was born. In the weeks to follow, Earl received numerous letters and phone calls from fishermen across the state who had heard about the Invitational and wanted to make sure they would be part of it in the future. In 1956, seeing that something much bigger was on the horizon, Earl organized what is today recognized as the forerunner to every bass tournament in the world: The Texas State Bass Tournament.
Bucking the trend to lure fishermen through cash and high dollar prizes, the Texas State Bass Tournament draws participants year-in and year-out with one simple goal in mind: to join the ranks of other legendary Texas fishermen who have earned the right to be called the "State Bass Fishing Champion".
On April 16 & 17, participants in six competitive Divisions gathered at Sam Rayburn Reservoir for The Golden Anniversary of "The World’s Oldest Bass Tournament". The fish also seemed to recognize the significance of the event as many cooperated with a short detour to the weigh-trailer. A total of 815 fish with a gross weight of 1901 pounds were caught and released.
In the Individual Division, Gary Russell, Jr. (Waxahachie) moved from fourth place on the first day of competition to first place with 25.38 pounds. He was followed in second place by the 2002 Individual Division State Champion, Dr. William B. Shelton (Lufkin). The first day leader and 2003 Champion, Dan Wilson (Pilot Point), took third.
The father and son duo, Ray Murski (Meridian) and Mike Murski (Dallas), came from third place on the first day to narrowly capture the Team Division Championship from first day leaders Gary Baldwin (Longview) and Mike McBurney (Jupiter, FL). Charles McFarland (Burleson) and Dale Rabe (Arlington) followed closely in third. Ray Murski was the 1996 Individual Division State Champion. This was Mike Murski’s seventh time to win the Team Division Championship. The first 6 wins were shared with partner John Barns (Dallas).
The Couples Division also provided a tight finish when first day leaders Jerry and Lynda Crain (Lufkin) total of 42.69 pounds was just enough to survive a 27+ pound second day surge by the 2001 Champions, Larry and Laurel Ledbetter (Ft. Worth). Robert and Sherry Moore (Ft. Worth) took third.
Don Jones (Whitehouse) and Norman Terry (Jacksonville) captured the Senior Team Division Championship by a whopping 28 pound margin with their two-day total of 61.84 pounds. This was their third Senior Team Championship, and their second in-a-row. They also won the title on Sam Rayburn in 1999. Bob Hubbard (Arlington) and Ed Robertson (Arlington) took second place, while Glen Hamilton (Jacksonville) and John Long (Jacksonville) took third.
The Adult/Boy Division was won going away by John and William Barns (Dallas) with a two-day total of 36.84 pounds. Gary and Colton McAdams (Saginaw) took second place and Mark and Dustin Jenkins (Lufkin) took third. As mentioned before, John is also a 6-time Team Division Champion.
Mark and Kassidy Eberlan (Lufkin) won the Adult/Girl Division with 26.79 pounds. They were followed by the 2004 Champions Earl and Samantha Zickefoose (Hardin) in second place and Troy and Shelby Reed (Douglas) in third.
Big Bass honors belonged to Ronna Winchester (Spring) with a solid 8.37 pounder. Ronna’s catch marked the first time in the history of the State Tournament that Big Bass honors were claimed by a female competitor. (Well done, Ronna.)
The largest bass caught by a youth was a solid 5.30 pound lunker landed by Bill Hopkins (Strawn). Samantha Zickefoose (Hardin) took the Girl’s Big Bass honors with a 2.70 pounder. The His & Hers Bass Club of Lufkin took the bass club "Top Five" trophy, barely edging out the four-time Champion General Motors Bass Club of Arlington.
In other activities, eight new members were inducted into the Texas State Bass Tournament Hall of Fame bringing the total number of inductees to 49. The Hall of Fame was established in 1998 to recognize people who have been out-standing competitors and true sportsmen throughout the long history of the tournament. The 2005 inductees are Wendell Bond of Burleson, Lindy Ellason of Houston, Mary Fuller (deceased) of Dallas, Larry Ledbetter of Ft. Worth, Charlie McFarland of Burleson, Clarence Steward of Ft. Worth, Dr. Bill Wicheta of Austin, and Dr. Tom Wicheta of Austin.
The event was headquartered at Cassells-Boykin Park. Sponsors were Nitro Boats, Strike King Lure Company, Sewin’ Sam’s Outdoor Wear, Waypoint Marine of San Marcos & Austin, and The Lufkin / Angelina County Chamber of Commerce.
The top finishers in each Division follow.
