The 2025 Southeast Region Individual Trail kicked off Saturday January 25, 2025, out of Jackson Hill Marina with 72 anglers competing. After a week that included freezing temperatures and snow the pre-tournament practice reports were grim. Anglers were greeted Saturday morning with temperatures just above freezing with strong winds predicted throughout the day. The forecasters did not miss the wind forecast, as a lot of anglers found out once they reached the 147 bridge.
At the conclusion of the weigh-in Nacogdoches Bass Club member Joseph Bruener had topped the field with five bass weighing in at 12.68. Joseph stated that he targeted fish with his LiveScope in depths ranging from 12-30 feet of water on points, flats, and creek channels. Joseph caught his fish utilizing a Crush City Freeloader and a Yum FFS minnow.
Brandon Simoneaux with The Vidor Bass Anglers Association finished second with a five bass limit that weighed 12.49 pounds. Brandon states that he spent Friday looking for areas that would be protected from the wind. He states that he found a lot of fish, but that they were holding close to the bottom and it was hard to get them to bite. So, he spent Saturday looking for fish up in the water column with his Forward-Facing Sonar, Brandon utilized an A-Rig and a Scope Minnow to target those fish, he used as light of weight as he could and a very slow presentation to trigger his bites.
The Bass Club member Brian Jones finished third overall with a five bass limit tipping the scales at 12.14 pounds. Brian stated that he targeted shallow grass with a red chatter bait and red Rat-L-Trap to catch his limit.
Mason McQuerry with The Bass Club caught he Big Bass of the tournament a 4.12 pounder, Mason caught his fish on a Yo-Zuri trap.
Jason Branham with the Katy Bassmasters had the second Big Bass of the day an even 4 pounder, Jason stated he caught it off the rip rap along the bridge with a jerkbait.
We would like to than the regional clubs that provided members to serve as tournament volunteers, as well as the Southeast Region Directors for their assistance in conducting a smooth tournament, and a special thank you goes out to our past Regional Director Matt Russell for showing up at the registration Friday evening to assist us in getting all the kinks worked out to start the new year.
The Southeast Region next individual event is on February 15, 2025, on the Toledo Bend out of the Pendleton Bridge Ramp.
The Southeast Region Texas Bassmaster Open Team Trail will host their second event of the year on Sunday, February 16, 2025, out of the Pendleton Bridge Ramp, as well. For more information go to https://www.texasbassonline.com/team-se-region
Written by: Robert Royal Southeast Region Secretary