The Texas B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Region returned to Lake Belton for its 4th event of the 2020 season.  Due to current COVID-19 regulations in regard to social distancing, the Region had to adhere to a speedy weigh-in at Temples Lake Park.

Pre-tournament reports indicated it was a battle to find both quality and quantity, which held true as nearly half of the field did not weigh a fish.  Adding into the difficulty with clear skies and heat was the amount of pleasure boat traffic, making safe navigation an additional challenge.

Regardless of the conditions, some managed to find limits.  The BASS Club angler Kenny Curlee found keepers early on topwater changing to a Carolina-rig later in the day fishing big rocks, earning him the #1 spot with 9.47 pounds.  Vidor Bass Anglers Justin Royal came in a close 2nd with 8.98, followed by fellow VBAA member Mark Martin with 8.68.

Daniel Davis earned the Big Bass spot with his 5.27, Carolina rigging over rock piles in 25 feet.

As summer heat begins, so has the Angler Of The Year race. Ned Westmoreland continues with the AOY lead, but with Daniel Davis in a close second.  However, the Region will take a break until September 19 & 20, where we will finish the year with back-to-back tournaments to finish the unprecedented 2020 season. 

Full Results At:  https://www.texasbassonline.com/se-tournaments

Special thanks to Temples Lake Park for hosting the event, and our sponsors Swagger Tungsten and Jordan Marine.  Also, thank you to the Katy Bassmasters and Seven Coves Bass Club for assisting with the tournament.

Stay safe, enjoy your summer, and we will see you at Sam Rayburn in September!

-DT

Lake Livingston Bass Practice Social Distancing             

The Texas B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Region returned to Lake Livingston for its third event of the 2020 season.  Due to the COVID-19 Virus and social distancing rules, the Region had to postpone the scheduled third and fourth events until September, and able to hold the Livingston tournament within current state and national protocols for events. 

Lake Livingston’s catch rates have seem to be on the decline and practice for most anglers was tough.  Saturday morning at launch time major thunderstorms rolled in, causing many anglers to wait out the storms in their trucks until the second wave passed through.  Most anglers were as wet as the fish as the rain and wind continued off and on throughout the day, only to subside at weigh-in time.

It is believed that Lake Livingston’s bass were also practicing social distancing as the catch rates and quality were low.  Of the 87-Angler field, 67% of the field did not weigh in a fish, 32% did weigh a fish but there were no limits, and only 2 anglers had 4 fish sacks.  The BASS Club’s member Tommy Whitt was one of those anglers with 4-fish, which called him the Livingston Champion with a weight of 11.27.  Tommy’s bag was anchored by a 3.93 bass which also earned him second place Big BASS. 

In Second was The BASS Club’s Daniel Davis with only 2 fish, but his bag was anchored by a 6.74 toad, earning Big Bass honors.  Both Whitt and Davis were in the same boat targeting the mouths of spawning flats with wacky worm or shakey head.

This year has also been unique with all three of our tournaments having first-time winners.  Ned Westmoreland continues to lead the Angler Of The Year race, but the Top-3 are real close. 

Special thanks to The Waterfront Lodge, Marina and RV Park for hosting the event, and our sponsors Swagger Tungsten and Jordan Marine. 

Thank you to all of the anglers for their understanding for difficult decisions during these uncertain times, and to the club presidents for their constant communication to their clubs.

Our next event is currently scheduled for Lake Belton, June 13, at BLORA.    

-DT

*As a special note, the SE Region anglers want to thank our Region Directors, especially Eddie Dillow, for all their hard work and dedication for changes that the weather and COVID-19 has caused this year.

The Texas B.A.S.S. Nation – Southeast Region held its second Region Qualifier of 2020 on February 15.  The tournament was held on Lake Conroe out of Stow-Away Marina.  Lower water levels and back-to-back cold fronts the week prior to the event made for a tough practice and tougher event.

As pre-tournament fishing reports were not favorable, it was evident the reports were true as 56% of the 104 angler field did not weigh in a keeper.  However, we all know “someone always finds them” on tournament day.  This statement rang true for Seven Coves Bass Club angler, Jason Gunter, as he found the only one of two 5-fish limits weighing in at 18.86 pounds, anchored with a 6.09 kicker.

Jason said he caught the first 2 keepers and a dozen short fish on weightless flukes targeting shallow buck bass cruisers in a 2-6 feet creek channel, then following the creek channel out towards the mouth of a cove.  His limit was complete by 10:30 by deflecting a 6th Sense squarebill crankbait off isolated stumps in 4-6 ft.  Gunter then went to deeper water for the “big bite”, but only managed 1 short fish in 3 hours.  Gunter returned to the stumps in the afternoon and was able to catch 3 more in the last hour, culling 1 time for a pound upgrade with the squarebill.  Gunter added, “The fish weren’t pushing up all over the lake, I only had 2 areas and honestly I was blessed in the fact that I caught my limit in one spot after my practice told me I was going to have to make a milk run. I give credit to the Lord as I made a last minute decision in the morning to start in my backup spot.  I got one of those gut feelings as they called my boat number.  It proved to be the right decision and I am truly blessed for a great bag under such tough conditions”.

What made Jason’s first Region win so special to him is his aluminum duck boat turned bass rig.  “I bought a project boat 2 months ago and have spent over 200 hours trying to get it prepared for this very tourney.  All the long nights and hard work I put into it to make it ready is what I’ll remember the most about my 1st win.”  It just goes to show you how tournament angling it’s about the dedication and preparation, not the price tag of the boat rig and equipment.

The BASS Club angler Larry Green followed in 2nd place with 13.50, followed by TBC angler Matt Russell in 3rd place with 4 fish weighing 12.20 pounds. 

The BASS Club angler Brian Jones weighed Big Bass for the tournament with a 7.93, followed by SCBC angler Ned Westmoreland with 7.08.

Thank you to the Seven Coves Bass Club and The BASS Club for assisting at this event, and to all the anglers! The amount of organization, patience, and preparation at launch was evident as it was one of the smoothest take-offs we have had.

Special thanks to sponsor partners Swagger Tungsten, Karnie’s Krawlers, Big Bite Baits, Jordan’s Marine, Angler’s Arsenal, as well as the gracious event host, Stow-Away Marina.

The next event will be held on Sam Rayburn out of Jackson Hill, March 21.  See you at Big Sam!

-DT