CORSICANA, Texas (April 4, 2005) - Pro Russell Cecil of Waxahachie caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 35 pounds, 1 ounce to win $50,000 in cash and prizes, including a Ranger 519 VX at the Texas Tournament Trail bass fishing event on Richland Chambers Reservoir. A field of 196 pros and 196 co-anglers competed in the event, which featured a $169,300 purse.
Cecil took advantage of bright skies and warm sunny conditions and flipped shallow cover with a Lake Fork Tackle Craw Tube. He fished the Richland Arm of the reservoir both days. This is Cecil's first win on the Texas Tournament Trail.
Rounding out the top five pros are Thomas Ferro of Willis (10 bass, 34 pounds, 2 ounces, $8,000); David Hogge of Nolanville (nine bass, 32 pounds, 7 ounces, $6,000 plus $4,000 bonus); Kellogg's pro Clark Wendlandt of Cedar Park (10 bass, 31 pounds, 1 ounce, $4,300 plus $3,000 bonus); and Michel Brewton of Nacogdoches (nine bass, 28 pounds, 14 ounces, $3,200 plus $2,500 bonus).
Bonuses are awarded to registered Ranger boat owners. Pros must also fish out the eligible Ranger boat during the tournament to qualify for contingency awards. Cecil's winnings also included a $5,000 bonus as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Charles Dellard of Burleson caught a two-day total of six bass weighing 22 pounds, 5 ounces to win the Co-angler Division and $34,000 in cash and prizes including a fully rigged Ranger 519 VX. Dellard caught a day-one limit weighing an amazing 20 pounds, 3 ounces on a Carolina-rigged Zoom Lizard. He also threw a Wave Worm Tiki-Stick and spinnerbait and fished near the dam to secure the win.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Rick Parker of Kaufman (seven bass, 20 pounds, $3,000 plus $1,650 bonus); Alan Gregston of San Angelo (seven bass, 19 pounds, 9 ounces, $2,000 plus $1,200 bonus); Robert Ballard of Del Rio (two bass, 17 pounds, 13 ounces, $1,000 plus $1,000 bonus); and Danny Joiner of Irving (four bass, 16 pounds, 7 ounces, $800).
Two of the largest bass in the tournament were caught by Ballard who only caught two bass in two days. Ballard's two bass, however, weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces and 9 pounds, 4 ounces respectively.
The next TTT event will be held April 30-May 1 on Lake Texoma near Denison.