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.