SAM RAYBURN, Texas (Sept. 16, 2013) – Todd Castledine of Nacogdoches, Texas, weighed in 10 bass totaling 41 pounds, 5 ounces Sunday to win the Bass Fishing League Cowboy Division super tournament on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. For his victory, Castledine earned $6,126.
Castledine picked up his second BFL win on Sam Rayburn this year in addition to the Cowboy Division Angler of the Year title by staying patient on a lake he knows well.
“I targeted grass the first day,” said Castledine. “The second day I targeted drop-offs on the edges of the grass in 6 to 10 feet. I was on a bunch of fish, but it all changed on Saturday. I only had one fish at 12:15 on the first day. I only caught five fish on the first day and six fish on the second day.
“I wasn’t getting bites in the morning, so Sunday I started doing something a little different,” continued Castledine. “I just stayed with it all day and ended up catching them better. Being patient and not getting ahead of myself was key.
“This is the sixth tournament I’ve won on Sam Rayburn this year,” said Castledine. “The fish changed dramatically from last month to this month, and I had to figure them out again. Having to figure them out and winning the Angler of the Year makes this one special.”
Castledine said he caught his fish on a Kicker Fish Tail Slapper on the first day and on an unnamed out-of-production crankbait the second day. Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd: Phil Marks, Dallas, Texas, 10 bass, 37-14, $2,563
3rd: Keith Honeycutt, Temple, Texas, 10 bass, 33-5, $1,709
4th: Randy Sitz, Frisco, Texas, 10 bass, 30-10, $1,196
5th: Brett Sellers, Denham Springs, La., 10 bass, 29-13, $1,025
6th: Justin Margrabes, Diana, Texas, 10 bass, 28-5, $940
7th: Tommy Dickerson, Orange, Texas, 10 bass, 27-4, $854
8th: Ken Smith, Dallas, Texas, eight bass, 26-7, $769
9th: Kevin Lasyone, Dry Prong, La., 10 bass, 26-1, $683
10th: Randy Despino, Colfax, La., nine bass, 25-14, $598
David Kayda of Huffman, Texas, weighed in a two-day total of 10 bass totaling 31 pounds, 7 ounces Sunday to win $2,563 in the co-angler division.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Joe Mauldin, Hallsville, Texas, nine bass, 22-15, $1,281
3rd: Mike Williams, Granbury, Texas, eight bass, 19-13, $853
4th: Jay Bennett, Lufkin, Texas, seven bass, 19-8, $598
5th: Sammy Strong, Orange, Texas, eight bass, 18-0, $513
6th: James Moore Jr., Lampasas, Texas, eight bass, 16-7, $470
7th: Doug Estep, Baton Rouge, La., six bass, 15-6, $427
8th: Russell Lewis, Pineville, La., five bass, 15-5, $384
9th: Dennis Cornelius, Baytown, Texas, five bass, 14-14, $342
10th: Chad Estep, St. Francisville, La., five bass, 10-10, $299
The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 Regional Championship on Lake Texoma in Pottsboro, Texas. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.