NATCHITOCHES, La. (June 16, 2014) – Brooke Morrison of Youngsville , La., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 13 pounds, 12 ounces Saturday to win the Bass Fishing League Cowboy Division tournament on the Red River. For his victory, Morrison earned $3,804
“It was very tough,” said Morrison. “The river rose about two feet in the past week and it changed things a lot.
“I practiced for three days earlier in the week, but it didn’t help much. I found two spots to the south that had clearer water,” said Morrison. “But, I was worried that they might get muddied up by Saturday.”
Morrison reported that his fears were well founded. One of his areas had been shot down by the rising water, and the other only produced two fish for him.
“I tried another waypoint from practice and finished out my limit there,” said Morrison. “It was a little indentation off the main river with wood and grass mats in it. I think the current was so hard that it had pushed the fish in there.
“I didn’t remotely think I had enough weight to win, but it feels great” said Morrison. “I’ve always been intimidated by the competition in the Cowboy Division, but I had my eye on this event as I felt like this was the one I had a chance to win.”
Morrison said that he caught his fish on a spinnerbait, a Netbait Paca Craw and a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver. Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd: Reginald Berry, Montgomery, La., four bass, 13-4, $1,902
3rd: Thomas McMillan, Choudrant, La., five bass, 11-13, $1,267
4th: Nicky McNeely, Natchitoches, La., five bass, 11-11, $888
5th: Andy Gaia, Tomball, Texas, five bass, 11-4, $761
6th: Aaron Castino, Orange, Texas, five bass, 10-8, $665
6th: Nick Lebrun, Tyler, Texas, five bass, 10-8, $665
8th: Bill Cook, Houston, Texas, five bass, 10-3, $539
8th: Joshua Moore, Grand Cane, Texas, five bass, 10-3, $539 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
10th: Jim Tutt, Longview, Texas, five bass, 9-9, $444 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
Russell Lewis of Pineville, La., weighed in a five-bass limit totaling 19 pounds, 2 ounces Saturday to win $1,902 in the co-angler division. Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Mike Petrovic, League City, Texas, five bass, 11-1, $951
3rd: Bill Rogers, Jasper, Texas, five bass, 8-8, $631
4th: Doug Estep, Baton Rouge, La., five bass, 8-5, $444
5th: Randy Wooley, Natchitoches, La., five bass, 8-4, $380
6th: Blake Carrier, Lake Charles, La., two bass, 8-2, $349
7th: Michael Greer Jr., Deridder, La., five bass, 7-4, $317
8th: Jimmy Ellis, White Oak, Texas, five bass, 7-3, $285
9th: Justin Dubois, Deville, La., five bass, 6-4, $238
9th: Gene Sharbono, Montgomery, La., four bass, 6-14, $238
The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 9-11 Regional Championship on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.