JASPER, Texas (March 3, 2008) - Boater Robert Audett of Jasper, Texas, won the Bass Fishing League Louisiana/Texas Division bass fishing tournament on Sam Rayburn Reservoir Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 20 pounds, 2 ounces. The victory earned Audett $4,744 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Ouachita Regional Championship in Mount Ida, Ark., Oct. 23-25, where he could ultimately win a new 198VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Audett fished ditches on the north lake with hard plastics and caught a 7-pounder on his last cast.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Melvin Dunn of Orange, Texas (five bass, 19-02, $2,791); Michael Herron of Paris, Texas (five bass, 18-12, $1,861); Andy Gaia of Tomball, Texas (five bass, 17-01, $1,302) and John Bowen of League City, Texas (five bass, 16-13, $1,116).
Herron took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $895 for a 10-pound, 2-ounce bass he caught on a Senko.
John Ellender Jr. of Hemphill, Texas, earned $2,728 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 21 pounds, 14 ounces that he caught fishing ditches.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Donnie Robinson of Highlands, Texas (five bass, 17-05, $1,364); Kevin Wing of Lumberton, Texas (five bass, 15-01, $911); Clayton Carver of Killeen, Texas (five bass, 14-00, $637) and Todd Ware of Magnolia, Texas (four bass, 13-13, $546).
Ellender earned $437 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 8-pound, 13-ounce bass he caught on a football jig.
Louisiana/Texas Division anglers will visit the Red River in Shreveport, La., April 12 for their second regular-season event, followed by an event on the Red River in Natchitoches, La., May 17. The division's fourth qualifying event will be held on Toledo Bend Reservoir in Many, La., June 28. A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper, Texas, Sept. 20-21.