JASPER, Texas (March 13, 2006) - Pro Scott David of Goodrich, Texas, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 35 pounds, 8 ounces to win $75,000 in cash and prizes, including a Ranger 519VX plus $10,000 cash as well as an additional $20,000 for being a registered Ranger boat owner and meeting contingency guidelines at the Texas Tournament Trail bass fishing event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. A field of 200 pros and 200 co-anglers competed in the event, which featured a $220,500 purse.
With windy conditions and partly cloudy skies, David had to fish several areas to fill his daily limit. He was sight-fishing throughout the tournament, and most of his bites on day one came from a pocket with stained water. "I stayed in stained water the first day because there was less pressure in there," David said. Using a pair of Solar Bat polarized glasses, however, David was able to pick out bedding female bass as well as one male bass guarding fry to put together a nice limit.
Come day two, David had to search a little more to get his bites. He went to the Ash Bayou area to try and catch some bass he'd located in practice, but it didn't come through for him. Ultimately, he searched for scattered fish to finally gather his limit. David threw Zoom Speed Craws and jigs to get his bites.
Rounding out the top five pros are Michael Herron of Paris, Texas (10 bass, 35 pounds, 4 ounces, $8,000 plus $6,000 bonus); Nicholas Albus of Trinity, Texas (10 bass, 33 pounds, 2 ounces, $6,000 plus $4,000 bonus); John Guice of Trophy Club, Texas (10 bass, 32 pounds, 11 ounces, $4,300); and David Mullins of Coppell, Texas (10 bass, 31 pounds, 13 ounces, $3,200 plus $2,500).
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. David's winnings also included a $5,000 bonus as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Carl Fox of Belton, Texas, won the Co-angler Division title with 10 bass weighing 32 pounds, 1 ounce. He earned $44,000, which included a fully rigged Ranger 519VX and $4,000 cash. Fox was throwing a watermelon red weightless Wave Stick Worm in 3 to 5 feet of water to catch his bass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mark King of Gurdon, Ark. (10 bass, 30 pounds, 6 ounces, $3,000 plus $1,650 bonus); Bill Rogers of Jasper, Texas (10 bass, 26 pounds, 2 ounces, $2,000 plus $1,200 bonus); Rusty Harvey of Nederland, Texas (10 bass, 23 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,000 plus $1,000 bonus); and Roy Cheany of Grand Saline, Texas (10 bass, 23 pounds, 3 ounces, $800 plus $900 bonus).
The next TTT event will be held April 1-2 on Cedar Creek Reservoir near Gun Barrel City, Texas. The top 50 pros and co-anglers based on year-end points standings will advance to the $210,000 Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail Championship Nov. 11-12 on Lake Stillhouse near Killeen, Texas. The winning pro at the championship can earn as much as $75,000 in cash and prizes, including a Ranger boat.