The Southeast Texas B.A.S.S. Nation held its final event of the 2019 tournament season on Sam Rayburn, Saturday, June 8. After high water conditions all year, the lake held constant as the anticipation for the final event of the year that would determine Angler-Of-The-Year, Club-Of-The-Year, and clinch the final Top-40 Championship qualifiers.
At the end of the day, only 7 of the 117-angler field, weighed in 5-fish limits. Also, there were only 22 anglers that were not able to weigh a fish, 40% of the field. Big Sam held true on the numbers game as many anglers reporting having to “weed through a lot of small ones” to catch keepers. However, the quality that Sam Rayburn is known for was lacking in the Big Bass category with only two bass weighed in over 6 pounds.
Long-time Region and Houston Bass Bandits angler, Bill Watts, managed to besting the field with19.73, taking the win by over two pounds! His 5-fish limit was anchored by a 6.31 pound toad, which also took Big Bass for the tournament. Bill said his success came from flipping soft plastic baits on points all day, mainly in 8-16 foot of water. “I fished the points, and depending on the cover and depth, I was 20 to 200 feet on each side of them”, said Watts.
Seven Coves Bass Club angler Robert Thierry was second with his 5-fish limiting weighing 17.58, followed by The BASS Club angler Colby Bryant with 16.32. Colby’s 3rd place finish solidified his place as the 2019 Angler of The Year! Congrats Colby!
Also, Big Congrats to The BASS Club on their 6th consecutive Club Of The Year Title!
After the tournament checks were presented, the Top-40 Championship Qualifiers were announced, along with this year’s Top-40 Championship site; Stillhouse Hollow Lake. The dates will be September 13-14th, with the host ramp tournament at Stillhouse Park. Further details will be announced mid-summer.
Thank you to the Onalaska Bass Club and Beaumont Bass Anglers for assisting and special thanks to Mill Creek Park for hosting the event.
Special thanks to sponsor partner McCain Rods and Swagger Tungsten. Please know that Swagger is offering a special promotional discount to Region anglers, so please contact your club president for more information.
Full 2019 Results:
https://www.texasbassonline.com/se-tournaments
-DT